Public Safety
A safe neighborhood is a neighborhood where kids can run and play without fear of harm or abduction. Vulnerable residents feel comfortable going to every part of the city without fear of harm. Within our homes, we are safe and secure and enjoy the protections of our persons, houses, papers, and effects provided by the Fourth Amendment. When an emergency occurs, the appropriate responder is there—ready, capable, and professional—in rendering public service. The service provided actually responds, to the fullest extent possible, to the emergency, crisis, or concern of the resident.
Every resident deserves to walk out to a car with its contents undisturbed, even if they forgot to lock—or even close—the car door. There should not be an incessant need to make prisons of our homes by keeping every window and door locked and shut. At the same time, every resident should be prepared to defend themselves, understanding that most burglaries occur during the day. In La Verne, we should live free from victimization. The only victims should be those who seek to harm our residents or community. At that point, they have forfeited any claim to victimhood.
That being said, we need police officers, firefighters, and paramedics who are prepared to respond to the worst at their best. Whether it is a mental health crisis that needs to be de-escalated without needless loss of life, a mother concerned about a missing parent or child, or a false alarm, we need the very best of the La Verne Police Department and our first responders. If it is an armed robbery or burglary, we need the absolute best. There are no excuses for failing to be ready, and if we expect excellence, we must be willing to invest in and care for the people who provide it.
I want to see compassionate control from our police and fire personnel. We should make it clear that unlawful conduct will not be tolerated while matching compassion to the circumstances. Everyone deserves compassion as the starting point. What happens after that is shaped by the actions of everyone involved. I expect our police officers to be among the very best—professionals who can de-escalate tense situations whenever possible and, when necessary, respond decisively in a manner that protects officer safety while striving to ensure everyone goes home safely.
ChatGPT revision
One of the fundamental responsibilities of local government is protecting the freedom of its residents. Public safety is not merely about responding to emergencies—it is about creating a community where people can live without fear.
To me, a safe La Verne is one where children can ride their bicycles, walk to school, and play in neighborhood parks without parents constantly worrying about their safety. It is a city where seniors feel comfortable walking through our neighborhoods, shopping at local businesses, and participating in community events. It is a community where families feel secure in their homes and enjoy the protections guaranteed by our Constitution.
Crime should never become an accepted cost of living in La Verne. Residents should not feel compelled to turn their homes into fortresses because they fear theft or violence. Every resident deserves to leave for work knowing their home, vehicle, and neighborhood will be just as they left them.
Achieving that standard requires exceptional public servants.
Whether responding to a structure fire, a medical emergency, a missing child, a mental health crisis, or a violent crime, our police officers, firefighters, and paramedics must be prepared to respond to the worst moments in people's lives with professionalism, competence, courage, and compassion.
That level of service requires investment. If we expect excellence, we must provide our first responders with the training, equipment, staffing, and support necessary to perform at the highest level. Taking care of those who protect our community is one of the best investments a city can make.
I also believe public safety and compassion are not competing values.
Lawlessness cannot be tolerated. At the same time, every person deserves to be treated with dignity. The best police officers are those who possess both strength and restraint—officers capable of de-escalating difficult situations whenever possible while acting decisively when necessary to protect innocent people and one another.
Public safety is about more than emergency response. Prevention matters just as much as enforcement. I support expanding neighborhood watch programs, improving street lighting, reducing speeds in areas where children and seniors regularly gather, and strengthening community partnerships that discourage crime before it occurs.
Ultimately, my vision is simple: a La Verne where freedom is protected, families feel secure, first responders are fully supported, and every resident can confidently enjoy the community we are privileged to call home.