Cathedral City selects new chief of police

A new chief of police will be taking over for the Cathedral City Police Department in December.

City officials announced Friday that Captain George Crum of the Fullerton Police Department has been selected for the job. He’s served in law enforcement for more than 27 years and holds a master’s degree in emergency management from California State University, Long Beach.

According to a release, Capt. Crum has been recognized for his outstanding leadership and vast involvement is his local community. Mothers Against Drunk Driving recently honored him with the organization’s first ever ‘Drug Recognition Expert Award of Excellence’.

Officials said he’ll take over for the Cathedral City Police Department on December 10 as current Police Chief Kevin Conner retires. Chief Conner has served in the Cathedral City Police Department for more than 30 years.

“Throughout the selection process, I was impressed with Mr. Crum’s understanding of how the police department and the community must work together to keep the community safe and protected,” said City Manager Charlie McClendon. “I look forward to working with him as he brings his vision, experience and leadership to serve the City of Cathedral City.”

Crum plans to serve the Cathedral City community through a three-pronged approach.

Engaging in dialogue with the community through meetings and city events, and by reaching out to residents in their neighborhoods. He said visibility is the key to understanding a communities concerns and addressing the issues.
He wants to develop a Homeless Liaison Team that works in collaboration with county mental health counselors and other safety-net organizations. Crum believes that a comprehensive approach that links social and mental health services to the individual will produce far greater results not only for the city, but also for the individual involved.
Finally Chief Crum wants to form an advisory council that brings together different groups within the community to provide input on how best to improve police services, address community concerns, and share information about the operation of the police department.

The decision to hire Chief Crum came after several months of community and staff input, officials said in the release.