Katrina Foley Wants to Strenghten Costa Mesa Police Force

COSTA MESA, Calif. - Oct. 15, 2014 - PRLog -- Attorney and long-time resident of Costa Mesa, Katrina Foley, wants positive change to take place in her community.  The increase in crime in the city, due directly to current City Council member's decisions, is one of the reasons this local leader is campaigning for one of two seats needing to be filled on the Costa Mesa City Council.

Foley, who seldom speaks publically without first researching all the  facts, states that "since 2011 there have been 43 police officers who left the Costa Mesa Police Department. 17 moved to other local departments like Newport Beach, Irvine, and even Beverly Hills to work with our former [Police] Chief. We are down to 98 officers from 167 when I was previously on council. We are becoming a force that is almost entirely comprised of new inexperienced officers. It will take time to rebuild. We can't recruit well trained lateral officers from other cities as replacements because experienced officers no longer see Costa Mesa Police Department as a destination department. The speciality divisions like K-9, Narcotics, Special Victims, Fraud, & Gang have all been either eliminated or reduced to one person who is also required to perform patrol duties due to the staffing shortage."

She questions why other neighboring cities are not following this approach?  She believes it is because it's bad public policy. "The majority [currently serving on the City Council] actually believes what Jim Righeimer said at the recent  Eastside Forum: 'You could double the police department and it wouldn't impact crime... We would just all get more speeding tickets.' They believe we need to change the people who live in the city as the solution to prevent crime. They ignore that many of the burglaries and crimes against people occurring are perpetrated by out-of-towners -- not residents," said Foley.

Foley believes that the inceased crime is a real problem in Costa Mesa. "My family and neighbors have personal experience with the increased crime. We want it addressed. Immediately, said Foley."

Foley is joined by candidate Jay Humphrey as they both feel that the only solution to the city's problems is a change of leadership.  They are both dedicated to making Costa Mesa a SAFE city for families once again.

These two candidates for Costa Mesa City Council 2014 are urging voters to go to the polls and choose new leaders that want Costa Mesa to return to it's once SAFE roots.  For more information about these two candidates, visit www.katrinafoley.com.