Meeting notes by Lola Sherman
Oceanside police officers are “the best in every way – the “gold standard”, their Chief, Kedrick Sadler, told the MainStreet Monthly Morning Meeting Tuesday.
Sadler took over the top police job last spring upon retirement of then-chief Fred Armijo. Originally from Long Beach, he has been with the Oceanside department for 23 years and has been active in the community from the NAACP to the San Diego Association of Governments.
The father of five and former Marine said he is living out his dream to be a police officer and there is no better place to do it in than Oceanside.
Oceanside,, Sadler said, “has one of the few (police) departments in our region that has good, solid relations with the community,” “It’s reassuring to know,” he said, “that Oceanside Police Department is very much involved in the community.”
“We can not do our job successfully without having the trust of the community,” he said.
“We are transparent and open about what we’re doing,” Sadler said.
He added that “we know there are parts of the community where we have lost that trust
and we are trying to repair it,” he said. “You can have all the policing in the world,” Sadler said but it’s no good without taking into account the local culture, and that’s “my job as a cop.”
Citizen oversight is welcomed, he said., and he has put together a diverse citizens’ committee that meets every other month and represents different groups such as educators and youth and different cultures.
“They tell us what are our blind spots and what we’re missing,” Sadler said. “Things come up during the meeting we had no clue about,” he said.
Sadler passed out a sheet of paper explaining “The Chief’s Vision” in which “The Oceanside Police Department will be the regional leader in the six pillars of 21st Century Policing.”
Those pillars are building trust and legitimacy, policy and oversight, technology and social media, community policing and crime reduction, officer training and education and officer safety and wellness.
In the matter of social media, MainStreet board member Mary Ann Thiem asked that the chief leave contact info for this report. He handed out his business card with a phone number, 760-435-4802 and an e-mail address of ksadler@oceansideca.org. The address is 3855 Mission Ave.
Sadler said his priorities are 1) employee wellness, 2) addressing staffing challenges – recruitment and retention, (He said OPD has 219 sworn officers and 116 other personnel) 3) community engagement/involvement and 4) reducing violent crime, specifically gang crime.
In the matter of violent crime, he specifically mentioned the Back Gate area and a murder committed in broad daylight by a 14-year-old boy .
“Where did we fail?” in that instance, he asked.
Sadler stressed youth mentoring programs and said “I truly believe it takes a village to raise a child.”
On the subject of staffing, Sadler said “We believe we need to have more cops out there.” But also, he said, “we want smart officers out there.” At least 60 college units or military service are required.
There are very few professions, he said, where you go to work every day with the opportunity to affect people’s lives.
“Law enforcement is not a job, it’s a calling.” Sadler said.
Police witness a lot of trauma, like seeing a 2-year-old toddler who had wandered into the street and been hit by a car, he said, and they have high rates of divorce and suicide so, he has started a wellness unit providing on-call counseling.
His “expectations” include Constitutional policing – protecting the inalienable rights of citizens (regardless of how poorly they may be behaving – “I have dealt with the scum of the earth”) and treating all persons with respect and decency, which he called “policing with humanity.”
“I expect you to hold the Police Department accountable,” Sadler said.
The meeting’s other presentation was from Moss Rosen, Nancy Cesh and David Dolohan, of Oceanside Dog Beach Inc., wearing “Unleash my beach” T-shirts. They supported a referendum planned next year for a section of beach to be set aside for canines off leash.
“We want Oceanside to be truly dog friendly.” Rosen said, adding that 9,000 signatures in favor have been obtained so far.
MainStreet board member Tom De Mooy worried about the effect of dog poop on the beach – or in the water. Rosen said people have to pick up after their dogs.
–Lydia Petroff, Welcome Center manager for Visit Oceanside, told of its Fall Mixer that afternoon with bites from One Kitchen Collaborative, desserts from Bliss Tea and Treats, local brews from North Pine Brewing Co. and wine from Carruth Cellars.
–Pete Hess said events at the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot will begin at 6:30 that day and continue to 10:30. “Hope to see everybody out there,” he said.
–Jane Marshall, president of Oceanside Coastal Neighborhood Association, said it will meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 at St. Mary’s School, 515 Wisconsin St.
–Linda Piña of Carla and Linda’s Local Tours said it is amazing the support they have been getting from local businesses, and Escarcega mentioned the Shop Local program with prizes
–Alex Goodman, managing director of Oceanside Theatre Company at the Brooks Theatre, said opening day for “The Little Mermaid” was a sellout, a traditional “La Pastorela” will be performed Dec. 2-3, “Seasons,” a Christmas tale with music is scheduled Dec. 8-10 and there will be a sober New Year’s Eve program for teens.
Meeting notes by Lola Sherman
The MainStreet Morning Meeting is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m.
We welcome all parties interested in the progress of Downtown Oceanside, including businesspeople, residents, and City staff.
This informative one-hour meeting is held in an informal discussion format. The general public is always welcome! Come meet your city officials, MainStreet Oceanside staff and members and find out about upcoming events and changes to YOUR downtown and city.
The MainStreet Morning Meeting is held at the MainStreet Oceanside meeting room at 701 Mission Avenue. Call our office for more information or directions at (760) 754-4512.
