Rebuild Community Trust
Sheriff Penzone has been committed to rebuilding relationships and has engaged in robust community outreach to better understand concerns and needs as well as to educate about the MCSO and its practices. Under his leadership, the MCSO Community Outreach Division has hosted and attended hundreds of community events across the County, many of which are dedicated to dialogue with Hispanic communities. This year, MCSO won a national award for their partnership with the Guadalupe Boxing Gym. This partnership is a collaborative program between the Agency and the Town of Guadalupe community members targeting at-risk youth focusing on sportsmanship, fair play, and physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health. In addition, The MCSO Pathways to Justice program engages young adults from predominantly minority and low-income areas to learn more about careers in public safety, while also building relationships and trust. Sheriff Penzone initiated several community advisory boards that provide guidance and feedback, which include the Hispanic Advisory Board, the African American Advisory Board and a LGBTQ Advisory Board. The MCSO also holds Community Academies several times a year, with every other academy for first language Spanish residents, with the goal of fostering a greater partnership with the community.