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Covina Police Management Team
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Covina police department—Looking Forward
With a little more than three months in his post as Interim
Police Chief, Bill Baker is hard at work with many projects underway.
The 35+ year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department is
energetic and up to the challenges facing the Covina Police Department.
When asked about his first impressions of Covina and the department
charged with protecting its residents, Baker is positive. “The
men and women of the Covina Police Department have one of the most important
factors clearly in their favor—the solid support of the community.”
Since September, the Department has undergone considerable
turnover, primarily in the retirements of key supervisory and management
positions. Baker’s main directive has been to use his tenure as
Interim Chief to conduct the Police Department’s portion of the
management audit, slated for all City departments this year. Although
his work is far from finished, Chief Baker has already identified and
implemented some changes in areas where new and continued emphasis must
be placed.
• In an expansion of the Community Policing philosophy,
Baker has expanded the number of senior officers directly involved in
community problem solving. This addition to the successful effort previously
undertaken will add tenured officers, all with years of experience and
respected by the community to each Police Department watch. These officers
will be the point persons in helping residents and business people address
specific problems.
• The Department is also launching a very aggressive
recruitment campaign. Filling front line vacancies with the best and
brightest is no easy task, but with creative and innovative efforts,
Baker is confident the right candidates will be found to compliment
the current make-up of the force.
• To address risk management and liability exposure,
a new position of Training Manager has been developed and implemented.
Sgt. Scott Pierson has been assigned to this important new post. Pierson
will report directly to Chief Baker, and under his direction, all civilian
and sworn personnel will undergo training in the latest technical, supervisory
and management strategies. Insulating the City against potential litigation
to the greatest possible extent is an important element of running an
effective and efficient police department and ensuring tax dollars are
spent for community services.
• Looking to fiscal year 2001-2002, Chief Baker hopes
to increase the number of first line supervisors in the department.
This will provide the support necessary to ensure the new recruits are
as successful in serving Covina as their highly respected predecessors.
Under the experienced guidance of Chief Bill Baker, the Covina Police Department is taking care of our community today and preparing for the future.
TEAMWORK—City Staff and Volunteers Working With the Community
Over the past six years, those of us who live and/or work
in Covina have become accustomed to seeing Community Volunteers on Patrol—CVPs
for short. We see these Volunteers serving as crossing guards for our
children, patrolling neighborhoods when residents are on vacation, issuing
tickets to those illegally parked in a parking space for the handicapped,
helping with community events and much more. In fiscal 1999-2000, 28
individuals donated 7,786 hours to the CVP program. This equates to
$159,613 saved.
To accomplish many of their assigned tasks, the CVPs needed
more reliable vehicles. At the inception of the program, two 1990 Chevrolet
vehicles which were no longer viable as police patrol vehicles were
put to good use by the CVPs. By 1999, these cars were indeed ready for
full retirement; however, funds were not available to purchase new vehicles.
Covina Police Officer, Dave Foster, who works with and appreciates the
CVPs, learned of a Federal program where surplus military equipment
was made available to local governments at no charge—FREE!
Officer Foster pursued the program with the same tenacity
he displays when protecting our community. He found two replacement
vehicles and approached the City’s Public Works Vehicle Maintenance
Division to see if the lower mileage 1990 Chevrolet Corsicas were viable
replacements. Equipment Maintenance Foreman, Bob Hogan, scrutinized
the vehicles and determined that, with some work, the vehicles were
up to the task.
The two equipment mechanics, Hai Tran and Jamie Munoz,
who maintain all City cars, trucks, heavy equipment and mechanical tools
went to work making the Corsicas mechanically sound while continuing
with their normal duties. Except for minor body work, paint and emergency
equipment installation, all work was done by these City employees. The
Volunteers now have dependable transportation in service; two vehicles
estimated to last five years or more at a total cost of less than $7,200.
The teamwork of the Police and Public Works Departments staff and the CVPs resulted in increased safety at dramatic savings, and better service to our community. This is one of many examples of community volunteers and city staff working together for a better Covina.