Mill Valley Police Dept. Community Services Officer Christopher DeLa Torre.
From weather-induced emergencies and property crime to helping elderly residents and making small talk in line at the cafe, Mill Valley Police Dept. officers are jacks and jills of all trades.
The department’s newest addition takes that trait to the extreme.
Christopher DeLa Torre is the department’s non-sworn Community Services Officer, a job that primarily focuses on interacting with the community but also a vast list of other duties. They include running the department’s evidence room, assisting on emergency response programs, conducting live scan fingerprinting, checking in with Mill Valley business owners, giving tours to everyone from Boy Scout troops to school groups, and much more.
“I’m really enjoying the community involvement,” says DeLa Torre, who replaces Allely Albert. “Everyone seems very connected here. Winterfest provided such a great example of that. There’s definitely a small town feel and a cooperative attitude that comes along with that. Someone will come in for live scan fingerprinting and then I’ll see them at the cafe a few days later."
DeLa Torre grew up in American Canyon, Calif., attending Vintage High School in Napa before studying sociology and behavioral science at Napa Valley Junior College and then criminal justice at Sonoma State.
During his senior year of college, DeLa Torre was hired as a police cadet at the San Rafael Police Dept., an internship that propelled him to graduation from Sonoma State's criminal justice program. That laid the groundwork for his role in Mill Valley.
"I’m really grateful that I didn’t have a specific niche there – it really allowed me to get acquainted with all aspects of the department, and has eased my transition into this position,” he says.
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