Public Safety · Initiative
PUBLIC SAFETY &
COMMUNITY
INFRASTRUCTURE
POLICE · ANIMAL SERVICES · FIRE
Turlock will continue building a safe, caring, and high-quality community by investing in modern public safety and animal services infrastructure. A well-equipped police department, a modern animal shelter, and a forward-looking fire service are essential to protecting residents, supporting families, and enhancing overall quality of life.
Modernization is a process, not a purchase. Staffing pipelines, new facilities, and public-private partnerships for animal services all take planning and time. If pursued, assessments begin when the decision is made — delivery follows over the term.
Funding Principle
Public safety investments are core City responsibilities funded through the general fund, capital improvement programs, and state and federal public safety grants. New facilities and staffing expansions are phased to align with revenue growth — no new taxes are assumed to fund these improvements.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Full staffing, modern equipment, and MPS-aligned recruitment and leadership development.
ANIMAL SERVICES
A modern shelter built through public-private partnership, diversified funding, and Horizon integration.
FIRE SERVICES
Updated Fire Master Plan, new station assessment, and MPS-coordinated firefighter recruitment and training.
Police Department
STAFFING, EQUIPMENT
& READINESS
A safe Turlock starts with a fully staffed, well-equipped police department. The City will continue prioritizing the resources, recruitment, and retention strategies needed to maintain a professional force ready for today's needs and tomorrow's growth.
FULL STAFFING & PATROL COVERAGE
Continue prioritizing full staffing of the Turlock Police Department to ensure adequate patrol coverage, timely emergency response, proactive crime prevention, and strong neighborhood visibility.
EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY & READINESS
Provide officers with the necessary equipment, technology, vehicles, protective gear, communications systems, and training resources needed to perform their duties safely and effectively.
RECRUITMENT & RETENTION
Strengthen recruitment and retention efforts to maintain a professional, well-trained police force capable of meeting current public safety needs while preparing for future city growth.
MPS PATHWAY ALIGNMENT
Align police recruitment, leadership development, and advanced training opportunities with the Master of Public Safety (MPS) pathway — while preserving immediate staffing and operational readiness as a core city responsibility.
FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE FUNDING
Ensure public safety funding decisions are guided by measurable service needs, response-time expectations, officer safety, community trust, and long-term fiscal sustainability.
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
MODERNIZATION
Turlock's animals and the community that cares for them deserve a modern, well-resourced shelter. The City will pursue a public-private partnership model that combines public accountability with private fundraising capacity — building a facility that reflects Turlock's values.
Modern Shelter Design
Develop a modern, efficient animal shelter designed to improve animal welfare, increase live-release rates, and provide high-quality community services.
Public-Private Partnership
Pursue a public-private partnership model in collaboration with organizations such as the Friends of Turlock Animal Shelter — combining public oversight with private fundraising expertise and operational efficiency.
Diversified Funding
Utilize diversified funding strategies including state and national grants, corporate sponsorships, naming rights, community capital campaigns, and potential on-site revenue opportunities such as low-cost veterinary services or pet-related retail.
Site Selection
Evaluate optimal site locations that provide visibility, accessibility, and integration with surrounding community assets.
Horizon Integration
Integrate animal services with other Horizon initiatives — including youth education and entrepreneurship programs through PARCC and TUSD, as well as support for pet-friendly housing and homelessness solutions.
Community Partnership
The Friends of Turlock Animal Shelter and similar community organizations represent exactly the kind of public-private partnership model the Turlock Horizon is built on — combining the City's public oversight and accountability with the community's fundraising energy, volunteer capacity, and operational expertise. This is how Turlock builds better facilities without putting the full burden on taxpayers.
Fire Services
FIRE SERVICES
MODERNIZATION &
INFRASTRUCTURE
As Turlock grows — particularly with the Horizon District and transit-oriented development — the City's fire service infrastructure must keep pace. A data-driven Fire Master Plan, strategic station placement, and MPS-aligned recruitment will ensure Turlock's fire service is ready for the next generation of growth.
MPS PATHWAY COORDINATION
Coordinate firefighter recruitment, emergency services training, and leadership development with the Master of Public Safety (MPS) pathway — building a credentialed, regionally trained fire service workforce.
FIRE MASTER PLAN & STANDARDS OF COVERAGE
Conduct an updated Fire Master Plan and Standards of Coverage study to evaluate response coverage, staffing requirements, facility conditions, and long-term infrastructure needs driven by city growth — including the Horizon District and transit-oriented development.
NEW OR RELOCATED FIRE STATION
Assess the need for a new or relocated fire station, particularly in high-growth areas such as the west side of the city, to ensure response times keep pace with development.
EXISTING STATION MODERNIZATION
Modernize and maintain existing fire stations through dedicated infrastructure planning and reserve strategies — ensuring facilities meet current operational standards.
RECRUITMENT & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Strengthen firefighter recruitment, training, and professional development through targeted educational outreach, workforce pipeline development, and proactive city-led recruitment initiatives.
DIVERSIFIED FUNDING
Explore diversified funding approaches including grants, developer impact fees from new growth, and other sustainable funding sources consistent with the Horizon funding philosophy.
Funding Philosophy
STRATEGIC, SUSTAINABLE
SOLUTIONS
Public safety infrastructure is a core city responsibility — and it must be funded responsibly. The Turlock Horizon applies the same diversified funding philosophy to public safety that it applies to every major initiative.
GRANTS & STATE FUNDING
Pursue state and federal grants for shelter construction, fire station modernization, and public safety equipment — reducing the burden on the general fund.
DEVELOPER IMPACT FEES
New growth in the Horizon District and transit-oriented development areas generates developer impact fees that can fund fire station expansion and public safety infrastructure in high-growth zones.
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
For animal services and community-facing programs, public-private partnerships combine city oversight with private fundraising capacity — delivering better outcomes at lower cost to taxpayers.
"
A safe community is the foundation everything else is built on. We owe it to our officers, our firefighters, and every resident to make sure Turlock has the infrastructure, the staffing, and the resources to protect and serve — today and for the next generation.
— Jeremy Rocha
BUILD A SAFER TURLOCK
Support the campaign and help invest in the public safety infrastructure Turlock deserves.