Police turned to northwest Bakersfield residents to gauge how to improve service to the city, and to answer questions about call prioritization and response times.

Chief Greg Williamson said he was happy with the turnout to the first of six city meetings Tuesday.

“Between 400 and 500 people were here for two hours, listening to how we’re implementing new programs at the police department, to how we’re reducing response times, to how we’re reducing crime,” he said.

Williamson said the community’s input is critical to make BPD better.

“We need the community trust to be able to do our jobs effectively,” he said. “So, we felt that it was appropriate to go out and meet with the community in every zone, and we’ll do it twice a year in each zone,” he said.

The meeting took place at the Riverlakes Community Church on Calloway Drive in the newly-created north zone.

The meetings and six-zone set-up were recommended last year by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

– Anthony Pollreisz