Community policing is a philosophy as well as a way of preventing crime. The commitment to work with communities to tackle the immediate and longer-term causes of crime through joint problem-solving reduces crime and improves quality of life for all.
Collaborative partnerships between Liberty Church, the Grande Village Homeowners’ Association, The Leaven, Fairfield Police Department, Bethel Church, Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District, City of Fairfield Parks and Recreation Department and City of Fairfield Housing Division have all dedicated time, resources, and empathy to improve the quality of life and reduce crime and police calls for service within Grande Circle.
Following a homicide in broad daylight in February 2021 department staff lead by Lt. Matthew Bloesch utilized 21st century policing principles by building trust, legitimacy, community policing and crime reduction strategies. The community-building effort includes Family Fun Nights, food distribution, backpack giveaways and a National Night Out BBQ. Members of the participating agencies are building relationships with residents and creating an environment that is safe for everyone. Trust and legitimacy grow from positive interactions based on more than just enforcement interactions.
Along with the community building effort, detectives from the Police Department Investigations Division’s Special Operations Team have been conducting surveillance and monitoring drug activity on Grande Circle. Detectives developed evidence of drug sales, persons loitering with the intent to sell drugs, and other public nuisance crimes and presented the case to the Solano County District Attorney’s Office to obtain arrest warrants and search warrants for the persons committing these crimes.
Detectives wrote seven arrest warrants and three search warrants for persons and residences involved in this activity. Search warrants were served for the homes of Claude Washington, 61-year-old Suisun City resident, Clarence Johnson, 56-year-old Suisun City resident, and August Johnson, 51-year-old Fairfield resident. All three search warrants resulted in arrests. Claude Washington, was arrested for possession of marijuana for sales, possession of narcotics (oxycodone) for sales, loitering in area for drug activities. Clarence Johnson was arrested for possession of body armor by prohibited person, possession of marijuana for sales, possession of narcotics (heroin), loitering in an area for drug activities, and violation of probation. August Johnson was arrested for possession of ammunition by prohibited person, possession of marijuana for sales, and loitering in an area for drug activities. All three were booked into Solano County Jail on their respective charges. None of the persons live on Grande Circle.
At the time of this release, three of the seven arrest warrants have been served. Those arrested were Brandon Walker, 30-year-old Fairfield resident; Deandre Washington, 22-year-old Fairfield resident; and Trevor Lampe, 24 year old Fairfield resident. All three were arrested on the charge of loitering in an area for drug activities. Detectives are working to locate and arrest the remaining people with warrants.
By identifying and arresting the persons suspected of much of the drug activity on Grande Circle, the goal is to give a safe space for residents and community partners to create a safe and comfortable environment.
