[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6586464,"mediaKeyId","5499795-33b716de2917817755983dfb746fb69d","parentId",5499795,"title","Salinas police chief reports staffing shortfalls, recruitment gains and youth diversion progress","audioSeconds",756,"startMs",2929000,"endMs",3685000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5499795-33b716de2917817755983dfb746fb69d&start=2929&end=3685","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5499795-33b716de2917817755983dfb746fb69d/thumbnail_2929000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6586464/Salinas/Monterey-County/California/Salinas-police-chief-reports-staffing-shortfalls-recruitment-gains-and-youth-diversion-progress","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6586464-fd5bfbd2b61545918de3fb8b56bff150/orig.mp4?Expires=1775214965&Signature=FssofNlUMz7Si-mpjfl9Je5isfTz8LKkYejxWNwvRXEBq1hUC1Ik9BVnFa3I9bYoxR6nukurt8FvLyNTnie195Wt1YLunHGiKyW~okgelDeMjJaJBxrjRTFvyDgk320c~QJNzvR1BdMGfrTLJNef5UHxaDW3qjKndSyEU42bE43xS~dn1hVpzm5d1MYbqYqx7XBj55uY52ngVXy~Ok9D9pHFfZXQ86KVKp49RuUZmB8dw5Nm-Um37khLz5uN9jvx5QjGMKErD-GcqFE62B7rhN-MbJy~hzGJsublKdeEZvYTmRRv0FQnjXZ-i~7kB3hXTk2euIvRZzzAM45PBhzXaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","thesalinaschannel","date","2025-07-29T22:41:28Z","article","Salinas Police Chief Carlos Acosta told the Police Community Advisory Committee on July 23 that the department is working to rebuild staffing levels while expanding community engagement, training and youth programs.

\"It is not a secret that we are down several positions in officers,\" Acosta said, outlining staffing and recruiting metrics and new outreach efforts. He said the department has 144 sworn positions filled, is authorized for 161 sworn positions and currently has 13 openings (four of those positions are frozen). He reported seven recruits currently in the police academy and additional recruits in training. Professional staff fills 44 positions, with 11 positions to hire for that group.

Acosta highlighted force diversity and language capacity: the department listed 23 female officers and 69 Spanish-speaking officers — described at the meeting as approximately 48% of sworn positions. He also presented a 66.7% homicide solve rate and noted that Salinas completed 2024 at an 18-year low of six homicides.

On recruitment and retention, Acosta described outreach including an \"oral board work assessment center\" with community participants, partnerships with iHeartRadio, career days at local schools such as Rancho Cielo, and ongoing recruitment events. He said the department has hired seven lateral candidates since his November 2024 appointment.

Acosta and staff detailed youth and diversion programs. The cadet program now counts about 35 cadets who contributed more than 1,200 volunteer hours in 2024; the department held a cadet recognition event in March 2025. The youth diversion program launched in January 2025 and, per staff, currently has six enrolled youth, five pending enrollment, three under evaluation and five who have graduated. Tanya Erickson, police service administrator, confirmed the youth and family support service has assisted 20 families since it began in April 2024.

Funding and staffing for diversion were discussed. The CalVIP grant that helped start diversion was extended to Dec. 31, and the city budget for fiscal year 2025–26 made two of three diversion/community-engagement positions permanent effective July 1; a third position remains unfilled and staff said capacity will be constrained with only two full-time staff.

Acosta also described officer wellness efforts (peer support, chaplaincy, wellness training), community engagement numbers (two dedicated community-engagement staff, 102 presentations and more than 19,000 contacts in 2024) and upcoming events: a promotion ceremony at the Rotunda on Friday, Aug. 1 at 1 p.m., and National Night Out at the Salinas Sportsplex on Tuesday, Aug. 5 from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Committee members asked about Spanish-language proficiency testing, the origin and dates of diversion statistics, homicide investigations and whether additional volunteer or staffing support is possible for community engagement. Erickson and Acosta provided the program dates and confirmed HR administers language-proficiency tests; they noted the department aims to train all sworn members in crisis intervention techniques (CIT) and said about 92–94% of officers had received that training to date.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","07.23.25 Police Community Advisory Committee Meeting of July 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Chief Carlos Acosta told the PCAC the department is recruiting and expanding community programs while operating below authorized staffing. He reported personnel numbers, bilingual staffing gains, a lower homicide count in 2024, youth cadet and diversion program statistics, and upcoming community events.","taxTitle","Salinas, Monterey County, California","taxId",4681,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6586469,"City attorney reviews Brown Act, public records and bylaws with PCAC",1099,1193000,2292000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5499795-33b716de2917817755983dfb746fb69d&start=1193&end=2292","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5499795-33b716de2917817755983dfb746fb69d/thumbnail_1193000.jpg","/articles/6586469/Salinas/Monterey-County/California/City-attorney-reviews-Brown-Act-public-records-and-bylaws-with-PCAC","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6586469-69eec56becdb091df9357e755fc3837f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775214965&Signature=DUGeZiMa3psQKYnX~~-yWcbtw2GkXKSc-1p6aP4W7c~lvBd3JZ9dTmQkbH6SINmhPVVzL7miEgy9nW21l1Dm7tTm~M~ENwe0saXNwM~O3RoO9BQku9TDYKvs48fzixuy9BTss~uQU-tJo3~k1u6MNhF73dyceZXJjsfWIws2FcP2foTr29kuzoDri1Ow0lyH-WTITFTzhfkV7wi6Q5u9I0SN2A532yMm2rQZdsGcYmC3k78zdEQ4dM0zm7bT1K1u0le59KM-8v3kdUVeVFG~~cl5wmjDjgZL8uX-8Aqm6bRrXEH~regK8oFbfVc-W~ALrpoQUO~G0AeUfcq6TjxfYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Attorney Chris Callahan reviewed open-meeting rules, public-records obligations and recent municipal code changes that apply to the Police Community Advisory Committee during the July 23 meeting.

Callahan told members the committee is a legislative body subject to the Brown Act and related California law. \"The Brown Act is what regulates how these meetings are conducted. All of your business needs to be conducted open and publicly,\" he said, noting the committee now uses uniform bylaws the city council adopted in May to align PCAC with other commissions and committees.

Callahan summarized requirements and practical limits: agendas must be posted 72 hours in advance, members must avoid serial meetings or email chains that could create an unposted quorum, and committee communications about PCAC business on social media can create a meeting under assembly bill 992 if four or more members comment. He also reminded members that records—including personal emails that concern PCAC business—are subject to the California Public Records Act and may be disclosed on request.

Callahan described the committee’s role as advisory: it may take action to recommend items to the police chief or the city council, but it does not make final policy decisions. He reviewed quorum and voting rules under the bylaws, explained the chair’s responsibility for managing meetings, and provided guidance on Robert’s Rules of Order (via a simplified Rosenberg’s guide) and the committee’s rules of decorum. He warned there are civil and, in limited circumstances, criminal penalties for Brown Act violations.

Committee members asked how to propose agenda items. Callahan advised using the committee members’ reports portion of meeting agendas to raise topics for the chief’s consideration and noted that the chief sets the meeting agenda. He also said education and ceremonial events where a majority of members might appear are permissible so long as PCAC business is not discussed outside a noticed meeting.

","City Attorney Chris Callahan delivered a Brown Act and records presentation to the Police Community Advisory Committee, outlining public meeting rules, agenda posting, serial meetings, social media limits under AB 992, and the committee's new uniform bylaws adopted in May.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6586474,"PCAC elects Leo De La Rosa chair, Leah Miller vice chair in unanimous votes",730,346000,1076000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5499795-33b716de2917817755983dfb746fb69d&start=346&end=1076","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5499795-33b716de2917817755983dfb746fb69d/thumbnail_346000.jpg","/articles/6586474/Salinas/Monterey-County/California/PCAC-elects-Leo-De-La-Rosa-chair-Leah-Miller-vice-chair-in-unanimous-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6586474-a119924e085b488dcca952a39b8ae329/orig.mp4?Expires=1775214965&Signature=Rs4wMhqRUWBuJGUsPU5PQSdGuDMOAAV4B~xmtz2YSSDN8idge19NhYtseTL7fctg9FRfhtoZrioUIbrHua5HB4vQNmkTqlZNBAVlO9oCn0wwB5bIqDcmCp63KLQ9fEY3mrg8Ezfxl682cgTjeHusq9REyCY1CNzvhHZZuunqNAw9wEfKAg7nb7Ymg~yCxdCh0gWK6zz2~B9NFOZJNdzw1wFE3bWXDO8pTOhfX0RernccMa9hp03JU5y~2X8SmLsxgez-Il7Po8fp4jlV1SQrbw1nUKEnsR23B7Szzl2EgZu3FLPRX2ptdxtxov-o7l-SBAN968JP0vxSmzVPymXOUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Police Community Advisory Committee elected Leo De La Rosa as chair and Leah Miller as vice chair during its July 23 meeting.

Committee members nominated De La Rosa for chair; the motion was offered by committee member Patsy Gasca and seconded by Lisbeth Camacho. After members discussed term limits in the committee bylaws and whether current service affected eligibility, the committee voted by roll call: Bill Rietta, Lisbeth Camacho, Patsy Gasca, Gilroy, Yolanda Hayes and Leah Miller all voted \"yes.\" The motion passed unanimously and De La Rosa was installed as chair.

The committee then considered vice chair. Committee member Yolanda Hayes moved to nominate Leah Miller for vice chair, seconded by Lisbeth Camacho. Chair De La Rosa and committee members Villaretta, Camacho, Gasca, Gilroy, Hayes and Miller voted \"yes\" on the roll call; the motion passed unanimously.

The committee discussed whether partial service or a midterm appointment counts toward the two-consecutive-term limit in the bylaws. City Attorney Chris Callahan advised that the bylaws limit service to two consecutive terms and that assuming another person’s uncompleted chair term typically counts as one term; members sought specific date checks to confirm eligibility before voting. One nominee withdrew their candidacy for chair during that clarification, and the committee proceeded with the nomination on the motion on the floor.

The committee completed the roll-call votes and moved on to approve minutes and other agenda items.

","At the July 23 Police Community Advisory Committee meeting, members nominated and voted to elect Leo De La Rosa as committee chair and Leah Miller as vice chair. Both nominations passed by unanimous roll-call votes after discussion about eligibility and term limits under the committee bylaws.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Salinas police chief reports staffing shortfalls, recruitment gains and youth diversion progress

City attorney reviews Brown Act, public records and bylaws with PCAC

PCAC elects Leo De La Rosa chair, Leah Miller vice chair in unanimous votes