After being sworn in on Thursday afternoon, Lodi's new Chief of Police David Main has his stars pinned on by his wife, Roya, left, and mother, Clara, right. (Jerry R. Tyson/News-Sentinel)

Meet Lodi's new chief

David Main aims to focus on a safer city, customer service, employees and public's trust

David Main was sworn in Thursday as Lodi's police chief. The veteran officer has spent the last 24 years as a Lodi officer, most recently as captain. He sat down for a few minutes Thursday with News-Sentinel Staff Writer Layla Bohm to talk about his plans for the future.

Q: What are your goals for the Police Department?

A: I don't have particular goals so much as I have four areas I want to focus on.

One is for our people to feel safe and secure. ... We really do need to focus on repeat offenders — these people who prey on others time and time again.

I'd also like to focus on prevention. ... How can we as an organization motivate people in our community to feel a sense of responsibility when it comes to crime? ... It can be little things like not leaving your GPS in your car — how many break-ins could that prevent? And in the winter months, if people don't warm up their cars, there wouldn't be as many auto thefts. ... People can be better neighbors, caring for one another. ... We can better educate the public — one way is through our Web site — so the public can be better prepared to protect themselves.

I'd like to get a team together and identify several problem areas in Lodi and focus on them, but not just on enforcement. We should initiate problem-solving before people get frustrated about crime. Let's not wait until the residents are upset and frustrated; we need to do a better job.

Another area I want to focus on is great customer service — not good customer service, but great customer service. We need to respond to calls, call people back, follow through on things. One way we can measure that is, like any business, through a survey. ... We will pick random crime reports and call people to ask about the service they received.

The third area is employee development and satisfaction. ... We want to develop leaders; things rise and fall on leadership.

The last area is maintaining trust and confidence of the public. One way is walk-and-talks with the public, as I did in the Swain Drive neighborhood after the homicide there. ... I want to increase visibility, get officers out of their cars more, talking to people.

How can we improve? I want, next year, to do better as a police chief than this year, and I want that from my department, too.

Q: Lodi's Eastside is known for having more crime. How would you like to tackle that?

A: By focusing on repeat offenders, specific geographic areas and utilizing any materials we can. I'm asking district commanders to be innovative and come up with new ideas.

One thing I'd like to look at is directed patrols instead of random patrols. Maybe on a Friday or Saturday night, when eight officers are working, have six on patrol and put two out on foot, walking the Eastside.

Q: What are Lodi's biggest safety concerns?

A: Gangs and drugs. Those are the biggest two.

Q: How do you plan to address Lodi's gang troubles?

A: Obviously we have our share of gangs; it's something we have resources dedicated to. I don't think gangs are entirely a policy problem; it's also a societal problem. I can't control the breakdown of a family.

The incidents of gang violence have actually decreased over the years. There are an estimated 300 documented gang members, with another 300 wannabes. About 35 are responsible for 90 percent of the crime, so we need to focus on repeat offenders.

But putting them in jail is not always the answer because the county jail is overcrowded and the governor is about to release 20,000 prisoners (due to state prison overcrowding). Maybe we'll refer more people to Peacekeepers, a Stockton organization.

Q: How can you combat that drug problem?

A: The meth use does impact burglaries and other crimes. Maybe more educational efforts in the schools at an earlier age. Enforcement, especially those who sell drugs, is important.

If citizens are willing to stand up, willing to be part of the solution, they can be armed with information to help fight crime.

Q: What's the biggest challenge you face as chief?

A: The biggest challenge is the budget — being able to get through difficult financial times and still provide a high level of service. ... We're going to rally and do the best we can.

We're probably going to have to hold some positions open.

Q: What qualities do you bring to the job?

A: I've got a lot of commitment. I'm going to do my best to serve the citizens of Lodi. But let other people answer that question.