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Candidates call for more community policing and sheriff engagement in Avalon
Summary
Both council and mayoral candidates said the county sheriff’s presence needs to be more engaged and resident-focused, recommending town halls, deputies living locally, and forums to repair trust between residents and law enforcement.
Public safety and community trust with law enforcement were prominent topics across both forums. Donna Lopez and other candidates urged sheriff personnel to live on-island and engage directly with residents; Michael Ponce suggested hosting a town hall with the sheriff so residents can voice concerns and better understand patrol practices.
Mayoral candidates likewise promoted community-oriented policing, with Grayson Klein citing past neighborhood outreach and training programs and arguing for more visible, proactive contact between deputies and residents. “We need community oriented policing,” Klein said, describing door-to-door outreach and neighborhood conversation as examples of past practices he wants to revive.
