Salinas looks to private security to patrol popular park
Salina CA September 29, 2023
As the city of Salinas struggles with a shrinking police force, city leaders are now looking to private security to help protect its neighbors.
On Tuesday, the council will consider spending $80,000 to pay for private security to help patrol Closter Park in east Salinas.
The council has already spent more than $31,000 on a five-month pilot program that has one guard patrolling the park from 3-11 p.m. every evening.
“There were a lot of drugs, alcohol in here, and that’s what we’re protecting right now, taking care of that, so that the family feels safer here in the park, they can come with their families to enjoy the evenings,” said security guard Vidal Carrango, of Kysmet Security & Patrol, the security firm hired to patrol the park.
Closter Park is the most used park in Salinas, but it also has the most problems when it comes to drug and alcohol use, according to Tony Barrera, who represents the Closter Park area.
Barrera said in some cases, parkgoers were afraid to use the restrooms for fear of being assaulted.
“They were all here, all the gang members would be here. We had multiple shootings here, and now everything’s more calm, more mellow since security’s been here,” said Jose Medrano, a trainer at the Salinas Boxing Club, which is located in the park.
Fed up with the gangs and violence and a shrinking police force, Councilman Barrera got the city to fund the pilot project.
“So, we’re trying different things and the great thing about it, they’re building relationships not only with the children but with everybody that comes here, so we’re trying different things. Police department can’t be here all the time,” said Councilman Barrera.
Barrera has got a point. With Salinas police down 21 officers and calls for service now prioritizing violent crimes, private security is filling the void.
According to incident reports from the security guards, most of the contacts involve drug or alcohol use.
A report prepared by staff recommends approving the $80,000 allocation for security. According to a survey of park users, they say the private security is making a positive difference.
“Oh, a lot better. A lot of people don’t drink as much here, there’s less drugs out there, security’s on it. If he sees anybody with a beer can, he’ll go and tell them, ‘Hey, you got to get out of here.’ If they’re acting up, he calls the police department, gets them out,” said boxing trainer Medrano.
