Police Department Earns Kudos for Crime Rate Decline

Former Watsonville Mayor Luis Alejo made a special appearance at the Watsonville City Council meeting Tuesday night to recognize the city's police department for the its crime-fighting prowess.

The first-term state Assemblyman presented at state proclamation to Deputy Police Chief Bob Knill and about dozen sworn officers.

The city recorded its lowest crime rate in 30 years in 2010.

“Thanks to the Watsonville Police Department for doing a tremendous job fighting violence in our community,” Alejo said in a prepared statement released before Tuesday's event. “...I commend the great work of the Watsonville Police Department for its superior record of law enforcement.”

Alejo highlighted some of the most significant achievements:

• The overall crime rate was down 15 percent last year.
• Youth arrests dropped 34 percent.
• Violent crime fell by 8 percent.
• Property crimes were down 17 percent.
• Homicides dropped 75 percent when compared to 2009.

Both Alejo and Knill pointed to the many partnerships the police department has with other agencies, especially those that work with at-risk youth.

One of those groups also earned accolades at Tuesday's meeting.

The —a program started by county probation officer Gina Castaneda to give young gang members a positive activity—was commended for its efforts in the community. Mayor Daniel Dodge awarded Castaneda a city proclamation, an event ESPN was there to cover.

, a college-prep soccer program started in 2009, made a brief presentation about its work using soccer get kids thinking about attending college.