CLEARLAKE, Calif. – At its most recent meeting, the Clearlake City Council received the latest annual report from the Clearlake Police Department, which outline the agency’s challenges and accomplishments for the past year.

Lt. Tim Celli, Clearlake Police’s acting chief, gave the council the report at its Feb. 9 meeting.

Celli has been heading the department since December 2015, when Chief Craig Clausen was put on an injury leave two months after being injured on the job during a critical incident.

In giving his report, Celli outlined the outside influences that impact the department – in particular, correctional realignment or AB 109, passed in 2011, which has caused an increase in the local jail population; and Proposition 47, passed in 2014, which reduced certain felony crimes to misdemeanors and reduced county jail populations to a more manageable level but had a negative impact on crime in California.

Last fall, voters passed Proposition 57, which reduces crimes that were previously considered violent felonies. Celli said there are concerns that felons will be back on the street under early release considerations.

In his report, Celli gave a brief outline of the department budget, which for fiscal year 2016-17 includes $2.7 million in the general fund, $854,749 for Measure P and $89,550 for animal control.

In 2016, the department reached its full, budgeted staffing level of 23.5, which included a school resource officer funded by the Konocti Unified School District.

Celli said that the department logged 24,235 incidents or calls for service in 2016, including 3,042 traffic enforcement actions and an average of 6.1 arrests daily.

Regarding “part one” crimes, those which are reported to the California Bureau of Crime Statistics and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting Division, Celli said in 2016 there wa one homicide, a reduction of 80 percent, with aggravated assault down by 37 percent and arson by 52 percent.

Part one crimes that were up in 2016 were forcible rape, 117 percent; robbery, 33 percent; burglary, 7 percent; larceny, 11 percent; and vehicle theft, 19 percent, he reported.

Clearlake Police officers made 2,223 arrests in 2016, up by 12.6 percent over the previous year, Celli said.

Last year, the police department developed a plan to increase traffic enforcement, which included designating a traffic enforcement officer and supervisor, repairing and recertifying old radar units, and purchase of a Lidar unit. Celli said officers made 3,042 traffic enforcement actions in 2016.

Celli said the department’s 2016 accomplishments include working with the finance department to identify funding to purchase two new SUV police vehicles as well as new dispatch equipment; using asset forfeiture money to purchase needed equipment; purchasing updated body cameras; streamlining the hiring process; maintaining the school resource officer; working through critical incidents; adding to the gang and homeless liaison program; reducing citizen complaints and enhancing customer service; increasing training, community outreach and information sharing; and increasing community partnerships both with citizens and businesses.

Celli said two officers received special recognition in 2016: Sgt. Travis Lenz received an award for valor for placing himself in harm’s way while saving a hostage; and Officer Trevor Franklin received an award for pulling people from a burning building.

One of the major challenges for the department was the Clayton fire in August. Celli said Clearlake Police officers, with outside law enforcement help, safely evacuated nearly 5,000 people out of the fire’s path, and were assisted in providing extra patrol and protecting homes from looters.

The agency has believed that illegal marijuana grows had a direct impact on violent crime in the city, Celli said.

In 2015 there were more than 500 known outdoor marijuana grows. In 2016, Celli said officers authored and served more than 70 search warrants and eradicated more than 60,000 marijuana plants.

Along with hundreds of firearms – many illegal or illegally possessed – and thousands of pounds of processed marijuana, police seized $100,000 in cash that’s pending judicial asset forfeiture proceedings, Celli said.

Looking ahead, Celli said a new consideration for the department is the passage by voters last fall of Proposition 64, which he said has essentially reduced punishments or eliminated penalties for crimes related to cultivation possession and sales of marijuana.

Regarding the department’s K9 program – which is funded through donations from the community – Celli said the K9 “Harley” retired in 2016 and now lives with Officer Mike Ray and his family.

Two new police K9 handlers and dogs were teamed and have been trained and certified. The dogs were named through a contest for elementary school children, who dubbed them “Zip” and “Bear.” Zip is partnered with Officer Mark Harden and Bear is partnered with Officer Travis Parson, Celli said.

Celli said the police department’s support services commander oversees the Clearlake Animal Control unit.

In 2016, he said the city’s animal control officer was dispatched to 363 calls for service; wrote 18 reports, seven of which were for animal-cruelty related cases; impounded 619 animals; issued 109 notices of violation and 45 citations; took 124 animal bite reports; and issued more than 1,200 dog licenses.

Most of that workload, Celli said, was undertaken by just one employee. However, later in 2016 the city hired a part-time kennel worker.

He also recognized the assistance from Volunteers in Policing, noting the police department relies on the help from VIPs.

Celli said the volunteers provide many valuable support services to police personnel, such as traffic control, serving subpoenas, offender registrations, records services, the “You Are Not Alone” program to check on local seniors and more.

In 2016 VIPs logged more than 5,000 hours assisting police personnel, Celli said.

He ended by reading a statement “because it makes me proud.”

“The men and women of the Clearlake Police Department have worked countless hours to serve our citizens,” he said. “Their tireless efforts have had a positive impact in our community. As a leader, a supervisor and a co-worker, I am proud of the work we have accomplished. As a citizen and a homeowner who is raising a family in Clearlake, I am very thankful to the dedicated employees that come to work every day to make our city a great place to live. We will continue to work hard to overcome new challenges as they are presented. We have already started identifying new goals and objectives for 2017.”

Celli ended by saying he was proud of the community and proud to work for the department, adding he’s appreciated the opportunity to serve as the acting chief of police this past year.

Also at the Feb. 9 meeting, the council presented a proclamation to members of the Lake County NAACP chapter declaring February 2017 as Black History Month; considered modifications to the mayor's 2017 appointments and the FPPC Form 806; and confirmed the mayor's appointments to the Code Enforcement Ad Hoc Committee and the Universal Garbage Ad Hoc Committee.

A planned update from North Coast Opportunities, the Lake County Community Action Group and Lake County Council of Church Women United Shoe Program was postponed to a future date.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.