Mailbag: Police chief shows impressive leadership

Police leadership starts at the top. As I pulled up to City Hall on a recent Monday morning, in front of my car were members of the Costa Mesa SWAT team going through their training drills.

It was great to see their determination and dedication, and it left me with a great sense of pride in our Costa Mesa Police Department.

The timing was perfect, as I was headed to Chief Rob Sharpnack’s office for yet another swearing-in ceremony to welcome the newest officer to join the men and women who work every day to keep us safe.

Being a police officer today is no easy task. These young men and women are keeping the peace and upholding the law. We recently heard a prominent NFL player call out police officers and use them as a symbol of oppression.

But what about the tragic stories, where police officers are killed in the line of duty, injured while protecting and just keeping the peace? We don’t hear a peep from anti-cop protesters about the multiple and vicious attacks on police officers across the country, especially in Dallas and Baton Rouge, La., where a combined eight officers lost their lives.

So it’s no surprise that recruitment is down almost everywhere. But I’m proud to say, not here in Costa Mesa.

Thanks to the combination of major support from our City Hall staff and Sharpnack’s stellar leadership, our police department is on the rise. We continue to attract the best and brightest who want to come to work here. Leadership starts at the top.

In the past six months alone, we have brought aboard 10 new officers, four of them lateral transfers from other departments. The other additions to the team were almost exclusively new officers who were in the top of the class from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Academy.

Sharpnack recently announced that with this increase in staff, he will be moving officers into specialty assignments to combat human trafficking and work in investigations and Community Services and to help us address homeless issues.

On top of that, the department has another 100 non-sworn staff members who assist with everything from dispatch to crime scene investigations. While it’s rarely mentioned by the detractors, our department continues to lead the county in mission and performance.

With a rash of legislation and measures from Sacramento that either releases criminals early from prison or makes felonies now misdemeanors, we need these officers and civilian employees more than ever.

Top that off with a spike in heroin use and the continuing crimes, like prostitution and drug sales that occur regularly at the seedy motels in our town, and it’s clear our new officers have their hands full.

So next time you see a young officer out on the beat, make sure you thank them for choosing Costa Mesa as the place they want to work. I know I will. Police leadership starts at the top!

Mayor Steve Mensinger
Costa Mesa

..

Commission ruling on Banning Ranch

The Coastal Commission is an example of government over the people, not government of or for the people.

Glenn J. White
Newport Beach

..

Kindness of strangers persists

On Sept. 4, you were at the Irvine train station when you helped me without hesitation.

I was in the wrong part of the terminal and darkness was approaching soon. My cellphone did not work at that time, the taxi driver was waiting for me; he went to look for me when you drove me to his parking space.

I am elderly, first time traveling alone to see my family. All I know is that you live in Aliso Viejo and are a professor in one of Orange County colleges. I am truly grateful for your kindness. The taxi took me home safely.

Jennie Wirth
Mission Viejo