Lompoc Police Chief Hosts Town Hall Meeting

Lompoc’s new Police Chief Pat Walsh reached out to mostly the Hispanic community Thursday night at a town hall-style question and answer session.

Chief Walsh offered reassurances to dozens of people at Trinity Nazarene Church who had concerns about getting and keeping a drivers license, immigration enforcement and staying safe from gang-related activity.

Chief Walsh said one of the concerns he has is re-establishing trust between the Lompoc Police Department and the local Hispanic community.

“I work for you”, Chief Walsh told those in attendance, “this is your opportunity, and I will be having other meetings as well, if you have any concerns, you have any questions.”

There were questions about driving without a license and getting stopped by a police officer.

“Obviously people shouldn’t drive a car without a drivers license”, Chief Walsh said, “but to sit out there on H Street and make a bunch of traffic stops would to me be targeting a certain section of your society and that’s now what we want to do and that’s not what the Lompoc Police is about.”

Others asked the Chief about living in fear of deportation with or without a drivers license or any other legal document.

“People are concerned about going to the DMV because they think the police are going to stop them, tow their cars and give them tickets”, Chief Walsh said, “I have been very clear to my officers that we are not going to do that, its really important that you know that we are not immigration officers, we are police officers.”

As for concerns about gang activity or drug-related activity in their neighborhoods, Chief Walsh encouraged everyone to report what they see to police when they see it including information like vehicle license plate numbers, pointing out everyone in the community has a role to play in helping police do their job.