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. 

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. 

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

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.

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. 

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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