By MANJIT SAPPAL
Martinez Chief of Police
On May 29th we had a swearing in and introduction ceremony for several new hires. Cesar Ramos, Devyn Parsons, and Sean Angoco were hired as full-time police officers. We also conducted a swearing in for Reserve Officer James Miles. Officer Ramos was previously an officer with the Martinez Police Department and left to work in another city. He decided to come back to the City of Martinez and we were glad to see him return. Officer Ramos will hit the ground running by immediately filling a vacancy in patrol. Officer Parsons and Angoco, are currently in training. Reserve Officer Miles joined as a volunteer and has undergone the requisite training to be certified as a police officer. He will also undergo a field training program.
Carly Webster was also hired as a Dispatcher to work in our Communications Center. She was a dispatcher with the East Bay Regional Park Police and made the move to join MPD.
We are glad that we were able to make these hires and look forward to watching them grow with the police department and the community.
We are currently hiring police officers and dispatchers. For officers, if you have been through the police academy or currently work at another agency, I would urge you to check us out! We have a great environment, a supportive community, and great people working with and for the City. Policing is challenging, rewarding, and serves as an integral part of creating a vibrant community.
If you have ever thought about working behind the scenes in an important job that helps keep the community safe, think about working as a dispatcher. You can find out more information about our police and dispatch openings at the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cityofmartinez
I thought I would give you some background on hiring police officers, so you can get an idea of the different aspects involved. Since we hire police academy graduates or lateral officers, anyone applying needs to complete a Basic Police Academy. The academy is 26 weeks long and covers a great deal of information. Trainees learn about different aspects of policing that are broken down into 42 learning domains which cover topics such as Criminal Law, Community Policing, Ethics, Defensive Tactics, and Police Vehicle Operations. Students must take exams on each topical area and the passing score in each of these domains is 80%. Trainees also put in many hours of physical training and must show proficiency in defensive tactics, vehicle operations, and firearms operation. Once a student graduates they receive a certificate from the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training and can seek a job as a police officer. Some agencies sponsor new hires through the police academy and we may do the same in the future.
After graduating the police academy, the graduate can apply to different police departments for the position of police officer. The process to get hired typically requires an interview, a thorough background check, a psychological exam, and a medical exam. A very small number of people successfully complete the process, and for those that pass, we try to determine whether they are the right fit for our community. We have an engaged and supportive community that expects a high level of service and we strive to hire officers that can do all of the functions involved in performing the job, as well as focus on providing good customer service and being engaged in the community.
Hiring is continuous, so if you are seeking a challenging and rewarding profession, I would encourage you to apply!
In keeping up with the news lately, it seems that there have been several suicides involving high profile people. Suicide can affect anyone and have a devastating impact on families and communities. When you need help, please know that you are not alone. If you are having suicidal thoughts or just need someone to talk to, get help! You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273- 8255, for 24/7 support, that is free and confidential. You can also visit the NSPL website at suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ for more information or to chat with a specialist.
Another resource for crisis intervention is through calling 2-1-1. 2-1-1 is a free and confidential service that helps people across the U.S. to find local resources they need, to include assistance through a 24-hour crisis line.
If you or anyone you know is having a difficult time and is making references to suicide, please take any references seriously and reach out for help. When you need help, you should know that you are not alone.
– Chief Manjit Sappal
