CARLSBAD — The Carlsbad City Council approved the creation of a new community-oriented policing team, along with six additional sworn police positions and more than $680,000 in one-time funding on Tuesday.
Carlsbad Police Chief Christie Calderwood advocated for a Community-Oriented Policing and Problem-Solving team, commonly known as COPPS, after an internal assessment was conducted last year. The team would focus on crime prevention, quality-of-life issues, and community engagement, shifting some non-emergency responsibilities away from patrol officers.
The council authorized six new full-time positions — one lieutenant, one sergeant and four police officers — and $684,350 in one-time appropriations from the city’s General Fund for the current fiscal year. Those funds would cover equipment and vehicle purchases needed to launch the team.
