News

The Association's Presentation to the City Council

An address to the Baldwin Park City Council, given by Officer Mark Adams at the April 7, 2004 city council meeting:

It’s not often that the Police Association acknowledges the good decisions of the City Council. Today, however we must thank you for one of the best decisions you have ever made, when, almost exactly 3 years ago - on April 1, 2001, you appointed Mark Kling as interim Chief of Police; then, in August of that same year, as the official Chief of the Baldwin Park Police Department.

During those 3 years, Chief Kling often reflected on the wry coincidence that his appointment occurred on April Fools Day.
He never joked, however, about his commitment to the Department and to its employees.

During Chief Kling’s short time with the Department he has: (1) Introduced systems for the maintenance of valuable equipment, (2) Established a video security for the department for both the protection and accountability of employees and the public, (3) Revitalized the community relations section and has expanded both neighborhood and business watch to include more participants than at any time in this department’s history, (4) Expanded the Traffic Section to enhance highway safety, and reduce parking problems. (5) Started a narcotics enforcement team that has resulted in the seizure of hundreds of thousands of dollars and hundreds of pounds of narcotics, (6) Started a full-time gang enforcement team strictly dedicated to the suppression of gang crimes, (7) Has equipped, and will continue to equip the sworn members of the department with modern and effective defensive weapons in order to ensure the successful conclusion of dangerous encounters with little or no harm to our personnel.

But most of all, Chief Kling has established an atmosphere of trust and fairness within the Police Department. He has insisted that his staff treat the employees as persons who are genuinely valuable.

He is one of the few people who realize that no one section of the department should be improved at the expense of another, and that all of the department’s divisions continually work together toward the goal of public safety.

Chief Kling’s leadership has turned this Department from an environment to leave from into a highly desirable agency in which one is fortunate to work.

So, the Baldwin Park Police Association would like to thank you, the City Council, for your farsighted decision in Chief Kling’s appointment and your continued support of the Police Department. We would also like to acknowledge and thank Chief Kling for literally turning this agency around and making it the most enviable department in the San Gabriel Valley.