Feds work to build trust between Salinas police, residents

SALINAS, Calif. (KGO) -- Shootings in Ferguson, Missouri on Wednesday night that left two officers injured were committed by someone that Attorney General Eric Holder describes as a "damn punk." To heal the wounds of mistrust, six cities have been chosen to try innovative new policing programs. The cities are Fort Worth, Texas; Gary, Indiana; Stockton, California; Birmingham, Alabama; Minneapolis; and Pittsburgh. And although it's not one of the pilot cities, a top official with the U.S. Department of Justice has been dispatched to Salinas, which has had its share of trouble.

That official is former East Palo Alto Police Chief Ronald Davis. He now heads the U.S. Department of Justice's COPS program, which stands for Community Oriented Policing Services. Tensions have been high in Salinas since the fatal shootings. In fact, it was the police chief himself who asked the DOJ to rebuild trust with the community. And on Thursday, the department accepted.

There have been large rallies and marches in the wake of the shootings. At least one turned violent. That was after the shooting last May of a gardener that was captured by cellphone video and security cameras.

The videos show two officers with guns drawn following 44-year-old Carlos Mehia as he walked down the street, holding a backpack and garden shears. The officer yelled commands and a Taser malfunctioned as one officer moved to the side. Multiple shots were fired and Mehia fell to the sidewalk.

The most recent shooting happened last July, when 39-year-old Frank Alvarado was killed after police said he used his cellphone to simulate a gun. The victim's father was among protestors who showed up Thursday outside the meeting.

"We got killers on the police department," said Frank Alvarado Sr. "Those killers got to go."

Inside the auditorium, Davis said his staff would look deep and hard at the Salinas police force.

"The truth hurts, we all know that," he said. "But selective ignorance is fatal."

With that said, U.S. Department of Justice staffers will be embedded with Salinas police for a two year collaborative program to implement community policing and build trust with an often hostile community.

"The department will receive technical assistance through the analysis of policies, training, and tactics," said U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag.

Police Chief Kelly McMillin welcomes the training for his officers, which includes alternatives to lethal force.

"The challenge is making sure the appropriate level of force is used given the circumstances," he said.

But activists are skeptical.

"It can't just be coming in and a little kumbaya and everybody kinda holds hands and have a conversation and then we have the feds walk away," said community activist Margaret Serna Bonetti.

Everyone agrees on one thing -- the challenges are just beginning.