New PG Police Chief Chosen

Morro Bay chief Amy Christey takes the hot seat at PGPD.

PGPD Help Wanted

“Chief Christey’s hands-on approach to community policing, her emphasis on customer service, her understanding of the needs of a small-town coastal community and her track record as a team player makes her a terrific fit for our Police Department, the municipal organization and the community,” Harvey said.

Vicki Myers served as Pacific Grove’s police chief before Belcher took over on an interim basis in December 2015. She served in a dual role as chief of Pacific Grove and Seaside from 2012 until Pacific Grove terminated its contract with Seaside pertaining to Myers running its police department in September 2015 and gave her a 90-day notice.

Tom Frutchey, who has since left his role as Pacific Grove city manager, told The Herald last year that the split was fairly amicable. He cited two “no-confidence” votes by the Pacific Grove police union and a citywide survey that found residents would like to keep its own separate police department as reasons for the city moving on from Myers.

New PG Police Chief Chosen

Police Chief Vicki Myers Is Out

Friutcheese cites riots in USA as a reason.

PGPD Help Wanted

As dual-city Police Chief Vicki Myers shifts her focus back to Seaside, Pacific Grove is beginning its search for an interim police chief.

Myers, who served as police chief in Seaside and Pacific Grove since 2012, was given a 90-day notice over the weekend that Pacific Grove will terminate its contract with Seaside pertaining to Myers running its police department.

Frutchey also cited two “no-confidence” votes by the Pacific Grove police union and a citywide survey that found residents would like to keep its own separate police department as reasons for the city moving on from Myers.

Police Chief Vicki Myers Is Out

Shared Police Chief Quits P.G.

Was it too quiet for Vicki in Pacific Grove?

PGPD Help Wanted

After three years as police chief for both Pacific Grove and Seaside, Chief Vicki Myers is stepping down as top cop in Pacific Grove so that she can devote her full attention to Seaside.

Myers made this decision about a month after both city’s police officer associations voted that they have no confidence in her.

When we asked Myers about the votes of no confidence, she said it was one of the many reasons she is switching to solely focus on Seaside.

Shared Police Chief Quits P.G.

Police Chief Sharing Is Over

It is too bad that there’s no local candidates for police chief and we need to resort to part time with Seaside.

Since Myers took over both police departments, under a cost-saving contract with the city of Seaside, police union leadership in both cities have denounced her leadership style, adding that her “intimidation tactics” have crippled morale in both departments.

“Given our second vote of ‘no-confidence’ we feel like this is a good direction for our police department and the city to take,” Renfro said.

There have also been calls to investigate what some say is a hostile work environment, including a complaint last year involving seven of her employees in Seaside alleging “inappropriate physical contact” in separate occasions, one employee claiming she was punched by Myers, according to Frank Martin of the Seaside Police Officers Association.

Police Chief Sharing Is Over

Speeders Bring P.G. A New Radar Trailer

What was wrong with the old one? Why not get out and write some tickets instead of teasing people with a robo-safety patrol?

As vehicles pass the trailer, their speed is displayed, as well as red and blue strobe light will blink to catch the attention of motorists. The “speed” trailer cost the department $8,000, which was taken out of the general city funds, said Cmdr. Cassie McSorely.

“We get complaints about speeding cars in every neighborhood. Traffic and speeding is one of the main concerns in our community,” McSorely said.

Speeders Bring P.G. A New Radar Trailer

P.G.’s Police May Be Understaffed, But They Do Have Lidar

The Pacific Grove Police Department said a lot of drivers are from out-of-town and sometimes they don’t realize the speed limits are so low. So they’re using a special tool called Lidar, to detect speeds before the driver even sees the officer.

It was not Lidar, but a huge building that slowed down an out of town driver last week

Coldwell Banker Open House

Sgt. Lafata pulled over two drivers for speeding, among other violations. Both drivers got warnings this time. He said it pays to own up to your mistakes.

“To be honest with you that’s something that we don’t really get very often in this line of work, so I do like to reward that,” said Sgt. Lafata.

If Lidar isn’t working correctly, Sgt. Lafata said any citations written during its use are thrown out.

P.G.’s Police May Be Understaffed, But They Do Have Lidar

P.G. Police Get New Services Technician

What the job entails – if you never heard of a Police Services Technician.

oh, and because Fresno . .

Valerie Renfro will be sworn in as the newest member of the police department at 11:30 a.m. in the Pacific Grove City Council chambers. The public is welcome to attend.

Renfro previously worked as a Fresno County Sheriff’s Department dispatcher,

P.G. Police Get New Services Technician

Pacific Grove Gets A Temporary Police Commander

Pacific Grove, what the heck

PGPD Help Wanted

Cassie McSorley, who retired last July from the Salinas department after 30 years in law enforcement, has taken the job on a full-time but temporary basis while Pacific Grove searches for a permanent hire.

Although there are two vacant commander positions in Pacific Grove, Police Chief Vicki Myers plans to convert one of them to a civilian manager position to save money, McSorley said.

The department has been without a commander since Cmdr. John Miller left for a job with another Northern California police agency several weeks ago.

McSorley said she was “very much enjoying” her retirement but wanted to help out. “I thought what the heck, Pacific Grove is a great city.”

Pacific Grove Gets A Temporary Police Commander

Retired Police Brought In To Fill Vacancies

Filling in for cops that left for greener beats. Does no one see the point of being a cop in P.G. is not the same as being a cop in say, Watsonville and notice that it’s a good thing?

Cassie McSorley, who retired last July from the Salinas department after 30 years in law enforcement, has taken the job on a full-time but temporary basis while Pacific Grove searches for a permanent hire.

McSorley said she was “very much enjoying” her retirement but wanted to help out. “I thought what the heck, Pacific Grove is a great city.”

With its beautiful shoreline and a much lower crime rate than Salinas, McSorley said she’s enjoying the change.

Retired Police Brought In To Fill Vacancies

Survey: P.G. Wants Its Own Cops

Like most humans though, those surveyed changed their minds when told about the cost.

POL Police Car

The report was prepared by Pacific Grove resident Hank Armstrong, vice president of communications for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and police Sgt. Carl Lafata.

Some 76 percent of respondents preferred a city police department, even when told it would cost considerably more than a regional police plan or contracting for services.

But when told contracting for police services or a regional policing plan could save the city as much as $500,000 or $1 million a year, about 69 percent said they would support the idea, while 22 were unlikely to support it.

Survey: P.G. Wants Its Own Cops