Chief's Advisory Committee

Chief's Advisory Committee: Applications for the 2024-25 cycle are now closed.

The Mammoth Lakes Police Department understands the importance of community collaboration to truly serve the people of Mammoth Lakes. A new Chief’s Advisory Committee (C.A.C.) is being created to act as a resource for the Chief in the formation of strategies, development of community policing concepts, and increased public awareness. The committee is intended to provide a forum for discussions concerning community issues and the goal is to have a broad spectrum of viewpoints represented.

The Chief’s Advisory Committee is a tool to provide the Chief of Police and the Mammoth Lakes Police Department with direct community input and to provide community members with direct access to the Chief about perceived issues, the formation of strategies and concepts around community policing, and to increase public awareness about the department. The Committee can also provide neutral, third-party insight that supports a productive and inclusive exchange of ideas to be considered in MLPD’s decision-making process.

OVERALL PURPOSE

The purpose of the Chief’s Advisory Committee is to strengthen the relationship between the Mammoth Lakes Police Department and community members by creating a structured and intentional vehicle for dialogue. In strengthening this relationship, the department aims to advance the following ideals:

  • Ensure the Chief and MLPD personnel receive timely information and feedback about community concerns, crime, policing practices and policies directly from the community it serves.
  • Build stronger partnerships between the department and the community to reduce crime and improve safety for all community members.
  • Develop a pathway for increasing the department’s understanding of the perspectives of the community members who have not traditionally been engaged or included.

SCOPE

The scope of the panel shall include (but not be limited to):

  • Acting as a sounding board for the Chief of Police regarding community needs and concerns; as well as providing community feedback about proposed police programs and priorities.
  • Apprising the Chief of Police directly of the community’s vision for police services or of the need to discuss a police policy or procedure.
  • Assisting in educating the community at large about the function and role of the Mammoth Lakes Police Department.
  • Connecting community members, particularly persons or communities who may be reluctant to approach the department on their own, to better understand the needs of the community and how the Mammoth Lakes Police Department can support meeting those needs.
  • Advising the Chief of Police directly about the public perception or perceived image of the Mammoth Lakes Police Department or any specific aspect of it.

Note: The scope of the panel does not include participation in departmental disciplinary actions, legal issues, ongoing criminal or internal investigations, or active critical incidents. The panel does not make or dictate department policy and is not a policy-making body.

MEMBERSHIP

The Chief’s Advisory Committee will be led by the Chief of Police or his/her chosen Chairperson. Members of the Chief’s Advisory Committee are selected from a pool of Mammoth Lakes community members and will serve either a renewable one-year or two-year term.  Criteria used for recommending and ultimately selecting committee members will include:

  • Reflect a diverse representation of the Mammoth Lakes community relative to race, religion, country of origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, socioeconomic status, and age, and/or
  • Reflect a diverse cross-section of professions, employment, education, social interests, and geographic residency, and/or
  • Have a historical knowledge of the Mammoth Lakes community, and/or
  • Current Mammoth Lakes community members who have a genuine interest in contributing to solutions that address local community concerns about the relationship between the Mammoth Lakes Police Department and the community members, and/or
  • Commit to the time obligation required to be a member of the Chief’s Advisory Committee.

Applicants are asked to fill out a basic application and are subject to a background check similar to one required for a police ride-along. The background check will not require fingerprinting, but the applicant will need to sign a waiver allowing the police department to check state and local law enforcement databases only. Please note: An applicant’s immigration status is not a consideration for membership and shall not preclude any applicant from serving on the Chief’s Advisory Committee. An applicant’s immigration status will not be shared with any other law enforcement or governmental agency, whether local, state or federal.

PANEL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

Members of the Chief’s Advisory Committee will provide their insights and concerns fielded from their respective circles and networks and the segment of the community they represent. To this end, the time commitment and responsibilities including:

  • Participation in an orientation to the Mammoth Lakes Police Department and the Chief’s Advisory Committee
  • Members of the Chief’s Advisory Committee are required to attend regularly scheduled meetings and be prepared to engage in an honest and productive dialog.
  • Members of the Chief’s Advisory Committee are expected to treat each other with dignity and respect.
  • Members of the Chief’s Advisory Committee shall maintain confidentiality of information that is designated as confidential during the meetings.
  • Members of the Chief’s Advisory Committee are not to utilize the meetings to facilitate personal agendas.
  • Members of the Chief’s Advisory Committee will be required to intentionally connect with their community networks to share relevant information and elicit the community’s opinions, experiences and feedback.

Any additional roles and responsibilities and group format will be developed collaboratively during regularly scheduled meetings.

MEETING LOGISTICS

Regular meetings will be scheduled monthly in the afternoon to early evening hours. This time may change based upon the needs of the Chief’s Advisory Committee. The intention of the Chief’s Advisory Committee will be to meet in person.

Please call 760-965-3700 with any questions.