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

August 4, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PORTERVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM RECOGNIZED AT CITY COUNCIL MEETING

At its meeting on August 1, 2023, the Porterville City Council recognized the Porterville Police Department’s Crisis Response Team for their outstanding efforts in protecting the community. The Crisis Response Team is deployed when arrests for violent offenders need to be made, acting as negotiators who use de-escalation techniques to make arrests without the need of excessive force. Chief of Police, Jake Castellow, presented Certificates of Special Recognition to Sergeant Carl Jordan, Sergeant Jay Starling and Sergeant Orlando Ortiz for the tremendous work they have accomplished in responding to these incidents.

The use of de-escalation techniques has been a strategy which has proven to help Police Officers make arrests and diffuse conflict with minimal force. These techniques involve communication, active listening and empathy. Chief Castellow stated that 2023 has been the busiest year for the Crisis Intervention Team and the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), which have successfully applied the de-escalation techniques when responding to calls. There have been ten (10) critical deployments of the SWAT since January, which have resulted in a 100% success rate in arrests ranging from homicide crimes to felony assaults. The success of the deployments is a result of thousands of hours of training and dedication by the Officers.

The efforts and training by the negotiations team has helped create a safer community. These Officers are working under the most stressful circumstances and have been able to successfully make arrests and give mutual aid to surrounding law enforcement agencies like the Tulare County Sherriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office and various other agencies. The Officers have been able to build trust with the individuals that they are contacting and their ongoing efforts help keep the city safe. The City of Porterville would like to thank these Officers and all First Responders for their continued dedication and service to the health and safety of our community.