Two join Stockton police; force dips as officers leave

Aug. 02--STOCKTON -- The Stockton Police Department added two new officers Friday during a swearing-in ceremony in the Community Room on the second floor of the police station, but attrition is an ongoing struggle that could take some time to overcome, officials said.

The Police Department had 358 officers after Sean Rogers, 24, was sworn in July 16. After administering the oath to Miguel Morales, 32, and Ricardo Zamora, 21, on Friday, Police Chief Eric Jones had 357 sworn officers.

Officer Joe Silva, a spokesman for the Police Department, explained that the number of sworn officers dipped to 355 over the past two weeks because of retirements and officers leaving to take jobs with other agencies.

"We've been battling our retention rate at the Police Department for some time, so anytime you can hire additional officers and put them on the street, that's encouraging," Silva said. "It's a step in the right direction."

In November, Stockton voters approved Measure A, a 3/4-cent sales tax that will allow the city to hire an additional 120 officers. That sales tax is now being collected, but before the Police Department can tap those funds it must first reach its non-Measure A staffing maximum of 365 officers.

The Police Department's goal is to have 485 sworn officers by June 30, 2017, but Jones has said that will be a "tall order." The additions of Morales and Zamora will help the department inch toward its goal.

Morales graduated from the Napa Valley College police academy on June 14. He studied criminal justice at Phoenix Junior College in Phoenix, his hometown, and previously worked as a claims investigator for State Farm Insurance.

"Ever since I was a little kid, I would look up to police officers every day, just knowing they were out there doing the right thing and catching criminals," Morales said. "That's something I've wanted to do my whole life."

Zamora graduated from the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Center in Monterey on March 3. He grew up in Salinas and previously worked as a security guard.

"Stockton is very similar to where I come from," he said. "That's why I chose this town to come to and, hopefully, make a difference."

Jones on Friday also introduced police officer trainee Jackson Siphan, 29, who is attending the San Joaquin Delta College police academy.

Morales and Zamora both said they were aware of the city's struggle to suppress violent crime.

"I've read a little bit about Stockton," Morales said. "I know they have some crime in this city, and they need good people to go out there and do the job."

Contact reporter Jason Anderson at (209) 546-8279 or [email protected]. Follow him at www.recordnet.com/crimeblog and on Twitter @Stockton911.

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