Resident describes long stalking history; email raises concern after K9 donation item removed from agenda

Two items raised during citizens communications put public safety and police staffing at the center of the Jan. 27 Ceres City Council meeting.

An email read into the record from Carol Sullivan said she was disappointed to see an agenda item to accept a donated police K9 removed from the consent calendar and asked City Manager Dunford to explain why the item was stricken. Sullivan, who said she is a former affiliate of the Western States K9 Association, wrote that such donations require training and bonding and expressed concern that removing the item could delay deployment and affect public safety. She also urged the council to review pay disparities and retention for police officers and dispatchers in Ceres.

Separately, a Zoom participant who identified herself as Maria described an 18-year pattern of stalking and harassment by a neighbor, said she had captured video evidence and had forwarded materials to the police and the district attorney with no apparent remedy. Maria described instances she said occurred in front of her son and said officers have sometimes treated her complaints dismissively; she said she would like the new police chief to address officers about how such complaints are handled. Maria said staffing shortages contribute to slow or limited responses.

Council members did not take formal action on either the K9 donation or changes to police staffing at the meeting. The council accepted the consent agenda by roll call earlier in the evening but the email noted the K9 donation had been removed from that calendar before the meeting. Council members acknowledged the concerns and the need to balance budget limits with public-safety staffing and training.

The meeting record shows no vote on the K9 donation and no staff report about immediate changes to police compensation or staffing; Carol Sullivan requested manager-level explanation and Maria asked for follow-up from the police chief.