Page 1 - Parlier Post 12-6-17

VOL. 34 NO. 49, PARLIER (FRESNO COUNTY) 93648 1 SECTION, 10 PAGES WEDNESDAY, December 6, 2017
Parlier Police awarded more than $200,000
Staff report
The Parlier Police department was awarded a grant of more than $200,000 through the Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office's COPS Hiring Program (CHP).
On Nov. 20, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced more than $98 million in grant funding through the Department of Justice's COPS office would go to 179 law enforcement agencies across the nation. The action allows those agencies to hire 802 additional full-time law enforcement officers.
The hiring program provides grant funding to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to support hiring additional law enforcement officers for three years to address
specific crime problems through community policing strategies.
Parlier Police received a total of $224,247 to hire an additional officer. "With the crimes that our officers face on a day-to-day basis, there just wasn't enough boots on the ground to cover every crime possible," Mayor
Alma Beltran said.
The grant will help police
target violence in the community, specifically gang activity, Beltran said.
The funds also will allow police to address violence that comes from drugs and, domestic violence.
Gang, drug violence
The city has a high gang population that has grown since voters passed Proposition 47, which reduces certain felonies to misdemeanors.
According to city officials, because small cities don't have as many officers as large cities the
felons have made their new home in Parlier.
Jose Garza, Parlier police chief, said current staffing only allows the department to handle calls of service. The department is not able to do anything specifically proactive to pursue violent gang members because of the lack of resources.
The new position now would allow the department to work in an enforcement capacity and a proactive way to pursue those gang members with the help of specialized teams such as the Fresno County Multi-Agency Gang Consortium (MAGEC) and a probation apprehension team.
The funds would allow Parlier Police to have representation on the MAGEC team again.
There also is a high number of adults on probation with many having warrants for their arrest.
The city also has a high number of parolees and registered sex offenders.
Domestic Violence
Sonia Hall, the city's grant writer, said Parlier has a high population of immigrants that come from Mexico. Whether they are legal or illegal, many women don't know their rights regarding domestic violence.
"We want all residents to feel like they can trust the police department and city to provide help if they are being abused, without the fear of deportation," she said.
The officer will identify the crime hot spots and address the violence that comes from the gangs, drugs, homeless living in empty homes, domestic violence, through using community oriented policing strategies.
POLICE... Continued on Page 10
Photo Contributed
Parlier police will be battling gangs and drug violence with the help of a grant through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Domestic violence also will be addressed. The grant creates a new full- time position for three years.
Community
Christmas
party
By Karina Vargas
parlierpost@midvalleypublishing.com
Lirio de Los Valles church will be hosting its annual Community Christmas party on Wednesday, Dec. 20, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Parlier Community Center.
Pastor Abel Santiago said the event is a way for the community to come together during the holidays.
Lirio de Los Valles hosts several outreach programs to assist with the needs of the community.
This year, the church is are partnering with Crosscity Christian Church from Clovis to host a bike repair for the community.
"That is so that we can get together as a church to help the community," he said.
The party also will feature games and Christmas craft booths where children attending get to participate and make holiday decorations.
Food will be provided and bikes will also be raffled out.
This year, organizers added a new feature where children wrap their own present.
"We have a big tent where the kids get to go in and wrap their own present that they get," Santiago said.
"Plans for this year are — children come in, pick their gifts, they wrap it and they take it home," Santiago said.
Santiago said last year's event was such a big success that the church ran out of presents.
Lions plan canned food drive
PHS girls drop opener
Benavidez family hosts Thanksgiving feast
Photo Contributed / Photo Contributed
Family members of the late Ben Benavidez held a Thanksgiving dinner for students, parents and community members on Nov. 15 at S. Ben Benavidez Elementary School. Parlier High students volunteered serving the community. Informational booths also were featured. Benavidez died in 2016.
Karina Vargas / File Photo
Parlier High School's Leo Club and NJROTC program participated in the Lions Club's annual canned food drive in 2016. This year, the Parlier Police Department will also be joining the effort on Dec. 8.
Staff report
The Parlier Lions Club — in collaboration with the Parlier High School Leo Club, Parlier NJROTC, and the Parlier Police Department — will be holding its annual canned food drive on Saturday, Dec. 8.
This year, several Parlier police officers also will be assisting the Lions.
"This is one of our key projects that we've had for 27 years," said Lydia Martinez, a Lions Club member and chairperson for the drive, said. "We always do it for the month of December and it's our way to support our community."
The Lions have been running the effort for more than 27 years.
LIONS...See Page 10
Javier Martinez / Photo Contributed
Parlier High senior center Karen Sanchez shoots a free throw during the Panther girls' 58-44 season-opening loss to Orange Cove on Nov. 28. Parlier (0-4) trailed by six points entering the final quarter before the visitors closed the game with a 12-4 run. The Panthers hosted Tranquillity on Dec. 5 before traveling to Laton on Monday, Dec. 11, for a non-league game.
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