Police chief reflects on past six months
It's been about six months since Ian Schmutzler was named chief of the Vacaville Police Department, where he has served 22 of his 25 years in law enforcement.
Both he and the Department continue to grow and evolve, he said Friday, and that's a good thing.
“It's been fantastic,” he admitted of the first months of his tenure as the city's top cop.
“With the command staff I have (captains Dave Kellis and Chris Polen) and just the incredible (employees) we have, they just take care of the community,” Schmutzler enthused. “They're encouraged to do community outreach, and they do.”
His people have been out and about at schools, events and other locales, making themselves known and connecting with people both on and off duty. It's been a welcome respite from late 2020 through 2021, he said, when the Department fielded everything from anti-police rallies and protests and even a vandalism to an issue regarding K-9 training and more.
An audit of the Police Department, its policies and practices is nearly done, the chief said, now at the point of data collection and analysis.
“We'll use the results to help us create a roadmap for what we need to improve,” he shared, acknowledging that there are improvements to be made.
He detailed plans for the near future.
“I am very much looking forward to additional opportunities for me and our staff to engage with community members throughout the city,” he began.
Schmutzler pointed out that there would be vacancies soon, as several officers are retiring. But those vacancies create opportunity, he said, for current officers hoping to promote and others who want to join the police force.
As well, the community has an opportunity to help shape their city's police force.
“As we continue to seek, recruit and hire within Vacaville and beyond, I also look for
ward to hearing from members of the community and their thoughts and ideas about the future of policing in this growing city. I want that feedback from all of the different parts of the city, be it
voting districts or individual neighborhoods…each may have unique safety needs and quality of life concerns that we, the Department along with community members, can work to address specifically and directly,” he said.
The District Commander Program helps with discovering some of the specific concerns among the six voting
districts as community members have a direct link to patrol supervisors and watch commanders, the chief advised, adding that all input is appreciated.
“…Engaging with members of neighborhoods before concerns become criminal or quality of life issues, that is our goal,” he said, “prevent problems before they get bigger.”