Vallejo Declares State of Emergency Over Police Officer Shortage

In a unanimous vote Tuesday night, and after hearing emotional public pleas urging the City to find ways to support the police department, the Vallejo City Council approved the Emergency Proclamation for a public safety staffing emergency in the Vallejo Police Department.

Interim Police Chief Jason Ta, responding to the City Council vote says, “In times of great challenge with limited resources, decisive leadership is required to identify priorities, obstacles, and solutions. These are difficult discussions and even harder choices. I am optimistic that city leadership, elected officials, and the police department can collaboratively formulate a public safety plan that can immediately enhance community safety.”

The Emergency Proclamation will help expedite the process of finding ways to utilize resources such as staff from nearby law enforcement agencies or retired officers and potentially changing shifts or allowing outside officers fill-in on the graveyard shifts.

Assistant City Manager Gillian Hayes says, “This is an important first step in the right direction towards bringing additional resources and stability to the Police Department staffing. It’s critical to keep the dialogue open with all parties affected to ensure public safety and successful recruitment.”

City Management staff will work closely with Interim Chief Ta to fund efforts to efficiently help with staffing in the Vallejo Police Department. Since it takes approximately 18 months for recruits to graduate and complete backgrounds, city staff and the City Council agreed they should look into creative ways to recruit such as higher pay for lateral officers and incentives to retain current officers.

The City Council expressed unanimous support and said the Emergency Proclamation should help improve public safety and asked staff for monthly progress reports to ensure transparency and success towards recruiting and retention in the Vallejo Police Department.

June Crime Statistics

July 25: Lack of Cops May Prompt Vallejo to Declare State of Emergency: The move could come as 5 officers lateraled to other agencies and as of July 22, there were just 34 officers assigned to patrol. This is also prompting service model reductions such as responding to alarm calls, while also temporarily disbanded the traffic division. It also has reduced staffing in the detective division.

To view the staff report, click here