LAKEPORT, Calif. — After several particularly challenging years in which it struggled to find officers, the Lakeport Police Department is once again fully staffed.

During the Lakeport City Council’s regular Tuesday night meeting, Police Chief Brad Rasmussen introduced his department’s newest trainee and officers.

They include Alex Pizano, who is heading off to the police academy; officers Jonatan Moreno and Austin Eldred; and Sgt. Sarah Hardisty.

Before they were brought forward, Todd Freitas, the new president of the Lakeport Police Officer’s Association, spoke during public comment, telling the council, “Today is an important day,” with the introduction of the new department members.

Freitas said he’s pleased to see the new department members’ careers blossom, and he thanked city management for their work to fill the jobs.

“The last several years have been difficult times for law enforcement, not just locally but across the nation,” he said.

The police department is composed of a diverse group of law enforcement professionals, and Freitas commended Rasmussen, City Manager Kevin Ingram and Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Kelly Buendia, who he said have worked to provide open and honest communication with him and his association.

Freitas said his work is to ensure the association and the city retain quality staff. He added that he’s grateful to be a city of Lakeport employee, as he feels valued and supported.

Rasmussen, in his introduction of the new officers, thanked Freitas, the council, Ingram and Buendia, offering his gratitude for the help in restaffing his department, which has 13 sworn officers positions budgeted.

Rasmussen said Pizano is headed to the police academy in Santa Rosa, with an anticipated graduation date in December.

Pizano was born in Mexico and at age 2 came with his family to the United States, where he has grown up.

Rasmussen said Pizano was working at a local business when he applied for the Lakeport Police Department’s trainee program, testing well and being accepted. The program pays for the cost of a police officer candidate to attend the police academy.

Moreno is a veteran of the United States Navy, attended the police academy and had been working as a correctional deputy for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office when he was hired.

A community resident, Moreno is now in the field training process, required before he can go solo on the streets.

Eldred previously worked at the Ukiah Police Department.

Rasmussen said Eldred wanted to work in Lakeport since he lived here, so he also tested and was hired. He also is now in field training.

The fourth new hire is Hardisty, a 16-year law enforcement veteran who started her career with the Clearlake Police Department before moving on to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for the last 15 years.

Hardisty found out the Lakeport Police Department was testing for sergeants and she applied, and was hired at that rank. Rasmussen said she started with his agency four weeks ago, and she required a shorter training before immediately being put to work training other officers.

“She is the first female that has ever held a supervisory position in our entire existence, which goes back to 1888,” Rasmussen said of the department.

Ingram said it wasn’t an accident that there were four new employees being introduced, as the city has been working very hard on recruitment.

“This is a national problem where we’ve seen shortages of officers,” Ingram said.

While it has been a challenge, Ingram said they have had success going out to the community to look for new hires. Trying out those new things “has been a huge help.”

He said it’s still a process, and it can take up to a year to get an officer on the street. With the new hires, “We’ve crossed a threshold that we haven’t been at in a long time,” he said, adding that all positions in the department are now allocated although the training requirements for the new officers mean they are still short of officers on the street.

Ingram added that Hardisty’s daughters have said she looks better in the blue uniform of the Lakeport Police Department. The sheriff’s office’s uniforms are tan and green.

“They are all a sight for sore eyes. We are really happy to have you,” Mayor Stacey Mattina told the new officers.

Councilwoman Kim Costa said she was glad they were there.

Later in the meeting, Costa recounted how she had seen a bull and cow heading onto the city streets near her home by Westside Park, and she called in the Lakeport Police Department.

The cows ended up heading back into the park. “Public safety was maintained,” Costa said.

She said police brought out a cowboy who she could hear calling to the cow, “Come on, Matilda.”

Hardisty responded to that incident. It was noted that the cows were owned by the same person who owned an emu that had escaped.

Costa said it was a lighthearted police interaction.

In other police department-related news, the council held a public hearing and unanimously approved a military equipment policy that is being updated to authorize the department to purchase a Daniel Defense SOCOMMK18 SBR CAL NATO 5.56mm x 45mm 10.3-inch barrel rifle.

Rasmussen also reported that the city will host its National Night Out event from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 3 at Library Park.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.