The members of the Salinas Police Department operate under the philosophy of Community-Oriented Policing in an effort to enhance the quality of life in the City. We are very proud of the many programs and partnerships, which have been developed within the Salinas Police Department.
“Working in partnership with the people of Salinas to enhance the quality of life through the delivery of professional, superior and compassionate police services to the community.”
MISSION STATEMENT
Organizational Value Statement
The Salinas Police Department exists to serve the community. We do this by protecting life and property, preventing crime, enforcing the law, and by maintaining order for all citizens. We consider service to our community to be our primary responsibility. We will always strive to professionally and enthusiastically respond to the community’s needs.
Accountability
We are accountable to each other and to the residents we serve; they are the source of our authority. We communicate openly and honestly among ourselves and with the community. We understand the importance of community values and expectations. We acknowledge our mistakes and are open to constructive criticism. We manage our resources effectively. We thoroughly investigate complaints against our employees.
Our Values are Characteristics and Qualities of Worth
They are non-negotiable. We hold our values constantly before us; to teach and remind both our department and the community, of our ideals. In fulfilling our mission, we need the support of our citizens, elected representatives, and city officials in order to provide the quality of service our values commit us to provide.
We, the members of the Salinas Police Department, value:
Cooperation
We believe that cooperation and teamwork will enable us to combine our diverse backgrounds, skills, and styles to achieve common goals. We work as a team. We understand our role in achieving department and community goals and objectives.
We share our responsibility to serve the citizens of Salinas with many other agencies and organizations. We strive to understand those who disagree with us. We seek the help and cooperation of others. We seek to resolve conflicts. We rely on community support and involvement. We work toward realistic, mutually agreed upon goals.
Human Life
We value human life and dignity above all else. We give first priority to situations which threaten life. We use force only when necessary. We treat all people with courtesy and respect. We are compassionate and caring.
Problem Solving
We are most efficient when we help identify and solve community problems. We work to anticipate and prevent problems. We give high priority to preventing crime and helping citizens feel safe.
We actively seek opinions and ideas from others. We plan, analyze, and evaluate. We recognize that crime is a community problem. We listen to problems and complaints with empathy and sensitivity. We seek innovative solutions.
Integrity
We believe integrity is the basis for community trust. We are honest and truthful. We are consistent in our beliefs and actions. We hold ourselves to high standards of moral and ethical conduct. We are role models for the community.
Ourselves
We are capable, caring people who are doing important and satisfying work for the citizens of Salinas. We respect, trust, support, and care about each other. We enjoy our work and take pride in our accomplishments.
We are disciplined and reliable. We keep our perspective and sense of humor. We balance our professional and personal lives. We consult the people who will be affected by our decisions. We have a positive, “can do” attitude. We cultivate our best characteristics: initiative, enthusiasm, creativity, patience, competence, judgment, compassion, and understanding.
The Law & Constitution
We believe in the principles of our constitution. We recognize the authority of Federal, State, and local laws. We respect and protect the rights of all citizens. We treat all persons fairly and without favoritism. We are knowledgeable of the law. We enforce the law. We obey the law.
Excellence
We strive for personal and professional excellence. We do our best. We have a vision for the future. We seek adequate resources: staffing, facilities, equipment, training, salaries, and benefits. We recruit and hire the best people. We train and develop our employees to their highest potential. We are committed to fair and equitable personnel practices. We provide organizational mobility. We recognize and reward good performance. We support reasonable risk taking and are tolerant of honest mistakes. We are receptive to new ideas and to change. We lead by example.
