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Welcome
to the
Laguna Beach Police Department
Web Site |
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The members of the department are
dedicated to serving the community and providing the highest level of
service possible. In the furtherance of that philosophy, the
members of the department are dedicated to working closely with the
public in an effort to solve issues and problems and to follow the
principles of community oriented policing. |
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Launching the Community Outreach Officer Program!
The department's partnership with the community often means finding
solutions to problems especially when those community members are homeless.
In keeping to this philosophy, the Laguna Beach Police Department has worked
closely with the Laguna Beach City Council to create the position of
Community Outreach Officer. The new position has been established to
directly respond to the community’s concerns regarding homeless-related
issues.Officer Jason Farris will serve as the Community Outreach Officer.
Officer Farris has served as a Laguna Beach Police Officer for 3-1/2 years.
Jason's interpersonal skills, patience, and perseverance have established
him as an obvious choice for this assignment. |
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Officer Farris works closely with various social
service agencies in an effort to place homeless individuals in short-term
shelters and long-term housing. In addition, he works with agencies to
provide for the basic needs to help end the cycle of homelessness with this
unique group of people. |
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With the creation of the program, the Police Department
recognized the need to take a two-pronged approach to impacting the plight
of the homelessness in the city. Besides utilizing the traditional law
enforcement approach, the police department took the unique path of
participating in social service efforts as well.
The overall goals of the program include ending the
cycle for many of the homeless as well as improving the quality of life for
the residents, property and business owners in the community.
In addition to working with the homeless, the Community Outreach Officer
works with the Chamber of Commerce, the Exchange Club, Women’s Club, Rotary
Club, and any other group that has concerns regarding law enforcement.
Officer Farris can be reached at
outreach@lagunabeachcity.net |
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Keeping the Ranks Filled Due to retirements,
departures to other departments and promotions, our Police Department has
experienced a few holes in our ranks. This past year though, we have
fought back to bring the department back to full strength. While
experienced officers such as Rod McDonald and Robert Thomas have brought
with them years of experience, we have also began bringing on quality entry
level officers.
One example is Officer Spring Sendele. While she has not served as
a police officer her background is still strong. Spring was a Police
Explorer with us for many years. She basically spent high school
evenings in a police car learning our streets, our practices, and our
officers. Spring also worked in a civilian capacity for Newport Beach
Police while attaining her bachelors and masters degrees. Spring spent
almost six months in the Golden
West Police Academy representing our department and is currently
completing a rigorous twenty-two week field training program out on the
streets of Laguna with experienced training officers. She will be on
her own sometime in April!
Another recent addition is Jason Gurka. Jason has a degree in
Sports Management and served as Executive Director for the
Junior Seau Foundation in San
Diego. He has a long road ahead of him before he will work as a solo
officer. Jason started the academy at the beginning of February.
For these new officers, the academy and field training program totals about
eleven months.
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| Fresh from the academy are Matt Meadows, Mike Short, and Darrel
Short. Yes, the two Short brothers are twins. |
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| During the
academy graduation ceremony, the Short brothers were presented with the
academy’s prestigious Director’s Award, which recognizes the single recruit
who best exemplifies the six pillars of good character which are the
cornerstone of the academy’s program: trustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring and concern for others and citizenship. We
believe this is the first time in over 100 academy classes that the award
was presented to two recipients. Darrel received the highest score in
the class for arrest and control techniques.
Mike Short is not stranger to LBPD. Mike worked at our department as a
Summer Beach Patrol Officer and a Records Specialist at the department's
front counter before coming on as an officer. |
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At the academy in formation |
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Because of
his integrity and positive impact he made in his day to day duties he was a
natural choice for sponsoring through the academy. |
When his brother
applied and excelled in the testing, we didn't hesitate to include him in
the academy. We were concerned about the ribbing two twins might take
going through the academy together, but in the end they were both respected
and thought highly of by the academy staff and their peers.
One of those peers, Matt Meadows, who shares Mike and Darrel's values,
decided that Laguna Beach was the right choice for himself. The three
will not be out of training until around mid-August. |
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Police Officer and Dispatcher Openings
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Recruit Officer Testing Coming Soon
Contact the Department Personnel Officer, Greg Walloch, at 949 497-0374
for more information. |
Lateral Officer Openings
Top step officers earn $80,080 and can earn up to 7.5%
additional pay for a total of $86,286!
One third of officers are
corporals topping at $90,432. A bachelors is 5% or an AA is 2.5%.
With a degree and exceptional performance pay, corporals earn up to $97,440! |
Dispatcher
$46,314 - 65,037 as of 7/1/07
Currently working as a dispatcher?
You may qualify for Senior Dispatcher pay topping at $73,392 |
Download
an application
Employees to receive an additional 5% on 7/1/08 and 5% on 7/1/09 |
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Summer Job Opportunities! |
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Community Beach Patrol:
$13.38-$15.50/hr.
Must be at least 18 years of age. Related experience or coursework is
desired. A valid California Driver's License is required.
Parking Services Officer:
$11.63-$13.75/hr. Must be at least 18
years of age. Related experience or coursework is desired. A valid
California Driver’s License is required.
Police Aide:
$8.46-$10.57/hr.
Help with summer
festival traffic. High School graduation or the equivalent required.
Related experience is desired.
For more information, contact Greg Walloch at 949 497-0374. |
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Laguna Beach Police
Department
505 Forest Avenue
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949 497-0701
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