LAKEPORT, Calif. – A group of new young officers are filling out the ranks of the Lakeport Police Department, which thanks to the new hires has now reached full staffing, according to the department's chief.
Over the last several years the department has struggled to keep its staffing up in the face of retirements and officers leaving for more pay at other agencies.
But following a series of recruitments – including one in which the department sought out trainees interested in attending the academy – Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said he now has a full crew.
The newest officer to join the force is Joseph Medici, 27, who was sworn in at a Monday morning ceremony at Lakeport City Hall.
Medici comes from Orange County, and graduated from the Fullerton College Police Academy in May 2014, Rasmussen said.
Medici's mother, Linda Martin, stepfather Rick Martin and grandfather James Medici traveled from Southern California to celebrate his swearing in, with his mother pinning on his new badge.
Prior to the Lakeport Police Department hiring him, Medici worked as a code enforcement officer for the North County Transit District in San Diego County, Rasmussen said.
Shortly before Medici started, Victor Rico joined the Lakeport Police force.
Rico, 25, had worked for the Lake County Sheriff's Office for a deputy prior to moving to the police department, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen introduced Rico to the Lakeport City Council at its May 17 meeting, with his parents and little brother on hand for his public debut.
Rico – born and raised in Lake County, and a Lakeport resident – is fluent in Spanish. Rasmussen said Rico is the department's only bilingual officer.
With the hiring of Medici and Rico, the Lakeport Police Department is now at full staff, based on the 12 officers in this fiscal year's budget, said Rasmussen.
That number also includes two police officer trainees, Dale Hoskins, 24, and Andrew Welter, 23, who are attending the police academy in Windsor. Rasmussen said both young men have been doing well in the academy, and are set to graduate in August.
While the department is now fully staffed, its ranks could still see another increase. That's because later this month the Lakeport Unified School District Board is expected to approve its budget, which includes a full-time school resource officer, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said that agreement also will go to the Lakeport City Council, which will be asked to cover the position during the months when school isn't in session.
Rasmussen said he expects both the board and the council to approve the agreement.
If they do, Rasmussen said his agency would be budgeted for 13 full-time sworn officers when the 2016-17 fiscal year budget goes into effect in July.
In addition to the new sworn officers, Rasmussen said the Lakeport Police Department has brought on a police intern, Natalie Sylar.
Sylar, a 2011 Clear Lake High School graduate, is attending California State University, Chico, he said.
“She will be with us learning about policing until school starts in the fall,” Rasmussen said.
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