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Newark staff emphasize police‑community partnership and county fire contract amid staffing needs
Summary
Lieutenant Sandoval and City Manager David Benoon described Newark’s public safety approach: police staffing is limited (about six officers commonly on patrol), a new crime analyst helps target resources, and fire services are provided under contract by the Alameda County Fire Department; city will pursue recruitment and community volunteer partnerships to bolster public safety.
At the candidates’ briefing, public safety leaders described how Newark provides police and fire services and what residents can do to help.
Lieutenant Sandoval, speaking for the Newark Police Department with the chief and captain absent, said the department uses a crime analyst to identify trends and direct resources, operates recruitment and FTO programs, and runs community engagement and wellness programs for officers. He urged candidates and residents to support recruitment and civic reporting. “The community partnership that we have is the biggest help to us,” Sandoval said.
Mayor’s staff and Benoon noted the department typically has about six officers patrolling at any time and that hiring and training take significant time: new officers must pass background checks, attend an academy and complete field training, a process that can take a year or longer. Benoon asked residents to report incidents so the department can log and analyze trends.
Deputy Chief Nishimoto described the city’s contract with the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD), including three Newark stations staffed by ACFD crews, mutual aid arrangements and specialized county teams for hazmat, technical rescue and wildland response. He said response standards and shared resources provide capabilities the city could not sustain alone.
Next steps: staff said they will continue recruitment efforts, encourage neighborhood engagement (neighborhood watch and volunteer programs) and maintain investments in technology and analysis tools to maximize limited patrol resources.
