PRESS RELEASE

City of Porterville                                                                                          
291 N. Main Street
Porterville, CA 93257
www.ci.porterville.ca.us/newslist.php

For more information contact:
Yuriko Velarde, Administrative Analyst
yvelarde@ci.porterville.ca.us

February 9, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PORTERVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE

At the Porterville City Council meeting on February 7, 2023, Police Chief Jake Castellow, announced that the Porterville Police Department had been recognized for excellence in policy management and training in 2022. The recognition came from the Department’s policy and procedure management company, Lexipol, which is the nation’s leading provider of policy, training, and wellness support for first responders. Chief Castellow wanted to share the recognition to highlight the training and preparation efforts the Department takes to ensure the safety of the community and its personnel.

In order to implement and stay current with the continuous policy updates, the Police Department has a unit assigned to keeping up with legislative changes, expectations and training requirements to ensure fair and equitable policing. The Professional Standards and Training Unit (PSTU) reviews and issues these updates and is comprised of three Officers, Sergeant Orlando Ortiz, Corporal Marciel Morales, and Officer Jesus Gallardo. With the assistance of Lexipol, PSTU provides Officers with the most up-to-date state-specific law enforcement policies along with mental health support to ensure Officers are operating legally and stay safe and healthy.

Thanks to these continuous training efforts, the Porterville Police Department was able to achieve “Gold Recognition,” which is the highest achievable standard by Lexipol for the third consecutive year. Chief Castellow recognized Captain Dominic Barteau and Sergeant Orlando Ortiz for providing the consistent and timely policy updates to personnel, which made the Gold Recognition possible. Sergeant Ortiz was also presented with a plaque in appreciation for his dedication to policy maintenance and training. Receiving the Gold Recognition is an achievement Chief Castellow was proud to share with the community to demonstrate the hard work by the Professional Standard and Training Unit.