RIPON — In support of the Ripon Police Department’s philosophy of Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving, the city has been geographically divided into four areas or beats covered by 24 officers.

Each area is the responsibility of a patrol sergeant and officers are assigned their specific area to patrol within the community. 

“This provides a ‘team’ concept in our efforts to work with the community and to ensure that problems are properly identified and resolved,” said police spokesman First Sergeant Steve Merchant.

The Ripon Police Department will again be hosting a series of quarterly community meetings in the coming months to discuss concerns and issues that may be occurring in the Ripon neighborhoods.

All of the question and answer sessions will be held in the police department’s training room beginning at 7 p.m. The goal is to improve communications between residents and the officers who patrol the existing neighborhoods.  Officers will also be providing information and safety tips that may be unique to a given area.

The first session is slated for Feb. 8 under the direction of Sgt. Terri Jensen.  The second meeting of the year is set on May 9 is to be hosted by Sgt. Richard Kalebjian.  On July 11 the community meeting is to be led by Sgt. Tim Bailey.  On Nov. 14 Sgt. Don Luthey will lead the discussions.