By Olin Ericksden
Staff Writer

December 8 -- With Santa Monica's new top cop ready to report for duty Sunday, residents citywide can expect the City and its police force to make community outreach and communication a top priority in the coming months.

That was the message delivered Wednesday at a town-hall style meeting, where nearly 50 residents from the Sunset Park neighborhood gathered to discuss crime in their area -- from burglary to gang-violence.

With the arrival of new Police Chief Timothy Jackman, opening the lines of communication between local police, most of whom live outside the city, and the community they serve will be imperative, City officials and members of the audience agreed.

"I've heard loud and clear we need better communication with the police department," Mayor Richard Bloom told the crowd one day after the City Council chose him for the mostly ceremonial post.

Siovhan Schenz – a block captain for crime watch – echoed the sentiments of many in the audience when she complained that she must dig to seek out information on violent crime in the neighborhood around her, often emailing police and calling them repeatedly.

Despite an effort to bring police to local community meetings, relationships are strained, Schenz added.

"I have not seen change so far," she said.

Sanchez was just one of several residents who said they had difficulty receiving information after Grant Elementary was locked down on October 23 after police apprehended two suspects that allegedly stole a car nearby.

While the event ended peacefully, it reminded some of a close call two years ago at nearby Edison Elementary School, where a shooting that resulted in no injuries led to a heated meeting on violence near schools. (see story)

Police said they would do their part to reach out to residents in coming months, as the new chief settles into his post and gets to know the City and those he will eventually help protect.

"He'll be attending neighborhood watch meetings, business meetings and the bottom line is he'll walk around the community to get to know people," said Captain Alex Padilla, the police department spokesman.

"He'll take a look at what we're doing in our community to get their feedback on how they want to change it," Padilla said.

One policy that could be reviewed is the department’s approach to neighborhood-based policing, a model that has been criticized by some in the gang-prone Pico neighborhood.

"He will tweak it in the way he wants to tweak it to be the way he wants it to be,” Padilla said. “And the best way to do that is to come out to meetings like tonight.

Jackman will “be coming out in the future to meet the community members and see what their concerns are, so we can adequately address those concerns," Padilla said.

"He understands the community's concerns and he's anxious to get involved."

As for opening more lines of communication with the public – including updating the police Web site and possibly sending out email alerts when there are serious incidents in the area – Padilla said the department is on board.

"It's all about public safety, and if the community does not feel safe then we need to take a look at that," Padilla said.

The arrival of Jackman -- a deputy Chief from Long Beach tapped for the top law enforcement post by the City manager last month -- marks a “crossroads" for Santa Monica, Bloom said.

Jackman’s appointment is the last in a series of high-profile appointments at the upper echelons of City government, Bloom said.

"All of these changes are opportunities," Bloom said, noting that the City has recently brought in a new City Manager, as well as new Planning and Finance directors.

Now, with all the pieces in place, the City must continue to work on the difficult task of extinguishing the simmering violence that took the life of Samohi sophomore Eddie Lopez in March. (see story)

"We really do have to pull together,” Bloom said, “and should not lose one more life to gang violence."