The Martinez Police Department has filled almost all of its police officer and dispatcher vacancies, thanks to a half-cent sales tax approved by voters in November 2018.
But those new officers need vehicles, radios, and firearms, and police Chief Manjit Sappal asked the Martinez City Council Wednesday night for a one-time “injection of capital” of nearly $450,000 to pay for that equipment.
“We’re growing, but that comes with some challenges,” said Sappal, who described a handful of proposed duty changes among department leadership he hopes will improve investigation, homeless outreach and neighborhood crime issues. “We’re at the point we’ll need an infusion of funds to cover the equipment we need.”
The passage of Measure X provided money for “quality of life and essential services” including public safety, maintaining open space and recreational programs and local homelessness issues.
That money, Sappal told the Council, has helped his department replenish vacancies and retain officers, dispatchers and support staff. The Martinez Police Department has 34 of its 37 police officer positions filled, with full staffing expected later this year. Six of the department’s eight dispatcher positions are also filled.
Funding decisions such as this will be part of the city’s normal budgeting process, which will pick up in earnest by early April. City Manager Eric Figueroa said Wednesday’s proposal by Sappal “is a significant ask” above and beyond the typical annual police department budgeting.
But council members seemed sympathetic to Sappal’s request. Mayor Rob Schroder said public safety is the city’s top priority, and that he campaigned for passage of Measure X.
“We need to give them the tools to do the job,” Schroder said.
Added Councilwoman Debbie McKillop, “Money’s at a premium, but we will find the money to help ensure our police officers are safe, and that we’re keeping our community safe.”
Sappal also told the council he wants to adjust the department’s administration structure to install a “professional standards sergeant,” and to create new positions (with existing officers) for a school resource officer, a second community resource officer who would work on homelessness issues, two traffic enforcement officers who would focus on accident investigations and speed enforcement, and two officers who would specialize
in neighborhood crime issues.
Council members said they would leave decisions about any department reorganization to the chief.
13 comments
I’ve often wondered if that was the locomotive that pulled a few cars from Martinez to Danville once a week up into the 60’s.I could hear it from home near 4-Corners. It used to stop at Concord Ice & Fuel and (I think) Pearson Lumber at Hookston.
According to the Martinez historical society that loco was taken out of service and donated to the city in 1959. So I think your memory has faded a bit but you are not too far off, as a student at Las Lomas HS in the late 60’s I certainly remember the train (diesel powered) coming once a week right past the school. Some student had a pet donkey ( Henry White? ) stabled near the tracks who would let out a terrific he-haw when the train approached. According to the “abandoned rails” site traffic on that line ceased totally in 1978.
See:
https://martinezgazette.com/martinezs-short-lived-railroad-club-kept-sp-1258-in-town/
Enjoy.
Ok, ok I’m 81, names and dates don’t pop up like before. This was not a big enough deal to research before conversing. Construction of Hwy 680 was also under construction AROUND then and I could hear the pile drivers working the overpass at Monument. I moved to Concord in 1951.
‘”More tools”
How true….
Yes,Ive lived in Martinez.
And, they need to allow the citizens the right (errr privilege) of carrying their tools on their person outside of the house aka CCW.
Every time someone in government says they need an ‘injection’, my wallet gets a little bit lighter.
Didn’t this guy realize that having more police officers would require more cars, radios, guns, etc…? He was either ‘deceptive’ or incompetent. You decide.
…was this expected?
Was this need foretasted when MPD planned to receive “additional” funding?
Seems a little weird that an increase in funding, resulted in an additional need for more funding…maybe it’s just me.
Maybe they can just raise the sales tax again until no one shops in Martinez
Well … he also declared Martinez a sanctuary city without any input from citizens. I’ve met the man and I really don’t trust him so if the city gives him the money hopefully there will be full transparency.
We definitely need speed enforcement cops if he is being sincere that would be great. It’s the Wild West in all of Martinez. Cops ? What cops?
The schools were supposed to already have resource officers but what a joke it’s one cop that visits all six schools once in awhile.
Their answer to speed enforcement is two new radar signs, one at Berrellesa and 1 at Alhambra Ave in the vicinity of Brown st.
It’s ALL about the “sanctuary” and giving Full services to them……including the ‘Boarding’ house whole has brought blight to the neighborhood with their Ghost ship house – the Police were there daily in December for “support”, Abuse of Police resources because City refuses to take action. Total BS!!!
How much money has gone to the Field of Dreams WASTE?
“it’s for the kids” and /or “public safety” have been way overused and ring hollow now. Just another precursor to an additional tax request.
Election year. The school district will probably be asking for a parcal tax again. Martinez just keeps asking for more in taxes and we don’t seem to be getting anything.
My goodness. Didn’t we know this when we hired the police? “Let’s get new officers… umm… cars?” This is just incompetence
Sanctuary for Tinted Windshields.
Hilarious to see vehicles with illegally Tinted Windshields (full windshield) parked in front of the Sheriffs office and court buildings.
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