SALINAS, Calif- City Manager Ray Corpuz has named Salinas Deputy Chief Kelly McMillin as one of three candidates for Salinas Police Chief. In the hunt for Salinas' top cop Central Coast News will do an in depth look at each of the three candidates. Monday we went in depth with a look at Deputy Chief Kelly McMillin.
As a deputy chief for Salinas Police it is Kelly McMillin's job to make sure you don't break the law. When teens get in trouble, he wants to help them get back on their feet with programs and organizations like Rancho Cielo Recognize.
"Kelly is someone who is forward thinking and who reaches out to collaborate pro-actively. Kelly has been a lynchpin in this effort to get Salinas a national profile," Said Susie Brusa with Rancho Cielo
Salinas and McMillin did get national recognition last month when the White House honored him, and 11 other people, as Champions of Change for his role in reducing youth violence.
"So to have the youth voice in and hear what they expect and hear their fantastic ideas and their great energy really changed the dynamic, as this was one of the most energetic forum sessions we've had," Said Kelly McMillin in an April interview.
McMillin is the only candidate for chief that currently works in the Salinas Police Department. He joined Salinas Police in 1988. He graduated from Hartnell College as well as the Panetta Institute's Masters of Public Policy Program at CSU-Monterey Bay.
McMillin worked his way up from patrol and hopes that his background in special weapons and tactics, as well as violence prevention, makes his Salinas' next top cop.
Georgina Mendoza with the Community Alliance for Safety and Peace told Central Coast News that McMillin represents the new age of law enforcement. Something the people at Rancho Cielo agree with. "I have full confidence in their process and so I'm sure they'll pick the right person. We've had great success working with Kelly and he's a delightful collaborator and a great leader," said Brusa.
