I Sat Down with Italy's Top Chief Candidate

I had a conversation with Brandon Torres this week. For those who haven't heard, the City of Italy identified Torres as the top candidate for police chief during the last council meeting. We talked for about half an hour.

It was a good conversation. I wanted the community to know it happened.

Part of that conversation included me doing my due diligence. I made Torres aware of the mold situation at the current police department. Given his background, I felt he needed that information before potentially stepping into the role. He deserved that honesty, and I gave it to him.

If Brandon Torres ends up being the person the council votes in, I believe his priorities are community safety and doing what is best for the city. Half an hour is a limited window, but his reputation reinforces what I heard. I'm cautiously optimistic.

That said, I have concerns. Italy could be walking into another situation where a known problem ends up costing taxpayers and pulling resources away from where they're needed most. Street patrols. School zone enforcement. Community safety. I've seen the complaints on Italy Talk about speeding in school zones. Those concerns are real, and they demand a fully resourced police department, not one hamstrung by a building problem the city has known about for years.

I want the city to get this right. Navigate the mold situation in a way that doesn't further restrict the resources dedicated to keeping this community safe. Torres or not, that problem needs a solution.

The city probably didn't expect me to have a long conversation with their top Chief candidate this week. I may not be in the Italy council chambers anymore, but that doesn't mean I'm not always watching.