Community Safety and Violence Prevention:

Community safety is one of my highest priorities. I believe Seaside must take a serious approach to violent crime: support our first responders, hold offenders accountable, and work to stop violence before it starts.

That is why I support a community safety model that combines effective policing, violence prevention, behavioral health response, and strong communication with residents. Seaside has already put important pieces in place, including the Community Safety Advisory Commission and the Family and Community Support Program, and I believe we should keep building on that foundation.

I do not believe law enforcement should be the only response to every non-violent situation. When a mental health or behavioral health response is the better fit, we should use it. That helps residents get the right support and allows Seaside Police to stay focused on serious crime and urgent threats to public safety. The City’s Family and Community Support Program already operates in mobile crisis response with Seaside Police and Fire, which makes this a credible local model rather than just a talking point.

I also support continued investment in violence prevention, community-based services, and early intervention. If we want safer neighborhoods, we cannot wait until harm is done. We have to reach people earlier, support families, and interrupt the cycle of violence before it grows.

Trust matters too. Public safety works best when residents feel respected, when they are willing to report crime, and when they believe the system is working for them. That is why transparency, accountability, and steady communication must remain part of our approach. The Community Safety Advisory Commission was created as a forum for community safety concerns and police-community relations, not as a review board for specific police actions, which fits this message well.

If I am re-elected, I will continue fighting to support effective policing, expand behavioral health response, invest in violence prevention, strengthen trust between residents and public safety departments, and move Fire Station No. 2 toward bidding and construction once funding is secured. Current city project materials say environmental review and cost estimating are complete, with final design being prepared for bidding when funding is identified and secured.

Seaside deserves a public safety approach that is firm, balanced, and focused on results. My goal is simple: safer neighborhoods, stronger trust, and a city where residents feel protected and heard.

“A safer Seaside requires more than enforcement alone. It requires prevention, accountability, and a shared commitment to protect one another.” — Ian N. Oglesby