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By Mike Hazlip—
Saturday marked 15 years since the Citrus Heights Police Department officially went live at 6:15 a.m. on June 26, 2006.
The Sentinel spoke with Police Chief Ronald Lawrence, and Councilwoman Jeannie Bruins to find out what the department looked like a decade-and-a-half ago, and what the future might look like for law enforcement in Citrus Heights.
Bruins, the longest-tenured member of the City Council who was first elected in 2002, recalled the need for added police patrols as a driving force behind the effort to make Citrus Heights a city in the late 1990s. Before incorporation, and up until 2006, Citrus Heights had its police services provided by the Sacramento County Sheriff.
“We had crime, we had a lot of traffic issues,” Bruins said. “We had always felt that we were a very neglected part of Sacramento County.”
Bruins said there has been a “night and day” difference from the time before the formation of the police department to today.
The city contracted with the sheriff’s department for nine years, before a citizen’s committee eventually recommended forming an independent agency, Bruins recalled. Christopher Boyd was the first chief of police for the fledgling department, and served in that position until becoming city manager in 2016.
Bruins recalled the excitement around the first day the new police force was in operation.
“It was a really phenomenal day” she said. “Every council member rode with an officer and there was a contest about who was going to write the first ticket, or who was going to make the first arrest.”
Over the years, the Citrus Heights Police Department has become an award winning agency. The police website lists a number of recognitions, including the James Q. Wilson award for excellence in community policing in 2012, the APCO International Public Safety Communications Team of the Year award in 2012, and the MADD California Hero Award in 2012 and 2009.
Chief Lawrence credits his department for what has been a significant reduction in crime and collision rates in the city over the past 15 years.
“As the second police chief in the department’s history, I could not be more proud to lead such outstanding police professionals and serve such a wonderful community,” Lawrence said.
Although there have been many retirements and changes in personnel over the years, the police chief said there are still 18 current employees who have been with the force since the beginning. Commander Jason Russo is among those, having joined as a sergeant and later being promoted to lieutenant and now serving in his current position.
An earlier report by The Sentinel shows the Citrus Heights Police Department has also served as a model for the formation of a new police department in Menifee, a suburb in Riverside County about the size of Citrus Heights. A police lieutenant from CHPD was also hired as a commander by Menifee PD to help launch the new department last year.
From last year: Citrus Heights credited with helping So Cal city launch own police dept
Bruins said the Citrus Heights Police Department has set an example as a community oriented agency, saying “They are the epitome of true community policing.”
She noted efforts the agency has made in areas like Sayonara Drive, where she said police are now a welcome part of the community. Bruins said it is not uncommon for members of the department to replace a stolen bicycle or repair a broken fence.
“Just the way they engage with our community,” Bruins said. “They really partner with our community in a way that other police departments talk about, but they really do it.”
So what does the future look like for the Citrus Heights Police Department?
For Lawrence, he is looking forward to fostering an even closer relationship with the community. He said the department has collectively adopted a new vision statement putting the community first.
“As a Community First police department, with a legacy of excellence, we continue to transform lives through adaptive policing with progressive crime reduction methods, innovation, and partnerships with our community,” the statement reads.
Lawrence said the vision reinforces the concept of community policing for the entire staff.
“[I]t is an indication that our police professionals recognize that we are the community, and the community are the police; that we want to serve our community — first and foremost,” he said.
