Opinion on Maintaining a Bear Valley Police Department

Going past the gatehouse is an every day occurrence for most residents of Bear Valley Springs. Its no exception for the multiple sheriffs and law enforcement officers who choose to make this community their home. The gate and our own local police department are a first line of safety for residents and our local law enforcement recognize that benefit.

A retired Assistant Sheriff resident told me that he recently spoke with four sheriffs living in Bear Valley, all of whom stated that they chose to live in this community in significant part because of the dedicated police department and controlled access.

Our local police department provides a rapid local response, community familiarity, and trust that distant county sheriff coverage cannot match. We know that officers who live and work in the same community develop close ties with our residents, know the roads, weather hazards, and residents, and can respond more quickly across the large geographic area than larger agencies traveling long distances and unfamiliar with local conditions.

The local police provide specialized rural services including wildlife response, welfare checks, emergency equestrian assistance, rural crime prevention, search and rescue, and community safety workshops. Local officers handle wildlife incidents, animal control, mail theft and other rural crime patterns, equestrian emergencies (given limited large-animal veterinary availability), welfare checks, search and rescue, and proactive education on domestic violence, suicide prevention, fraud/scams, and general safety.

The call to disband the local police force, which is being promoted by some members of the community, would mean losing dedicated officers, effecting longer response times for emergencies, and a more vulnerable gated community—outcomes that neither save money nor improve safety.

I know that rural departments foster strong community ties, personalized service, specialized skills matched to local needs, and efficient use of resources. I will maintain the BVPD as a cost-effective community asset that delivers greater security and tailored service than any other alternative.