KMPH Fox 26 Central San Joaquin Valley News Source in Fresno, California Entertainment, News, Sports and Weather | Orange Cove Welcomes New Police Department

Orange Cove Welcomes New Police Department

Wednesday was a day of celebration in Orange Cove, when the town welcomed it's new Police Department.

"It's a new day in Orange Cove," said new Police Chief Frank Steenport. "We're bringing back to life something that has been out of the City of Orange Cove for about 25 year."

The last Police Department in the city shut down back in the 1980's, leaving the Fresno County Sheriff's Department to take over.

 However the city has grown, and Steenport says it was time for a Department of their own. "The issue of public safety is such a high importance, if you don't address it people who live here won't want to stay and new businesses don't want to come in," he said.

  The new department is made up of 13 full-time officers, and 10 reserve officers.

  Steenport says officers will start to make their presence known around the city gradually, getting to know the people and the problems of the city.

They will focus on issues such as gangs, drugs and unemployment crimes.

 Stay with KMPH and KMPH.com as we continue to follow this story.