FORT BRAGG, CA., 2/21/26 — On a cold, blustery Wednesday morning, about 25 community members gathered at Fort Bragg Town Hall for an informal session with newly appointed Police Chief Eric Swift and City Manager Isaac Whippy. Ft. Bragg Public Experience Liaison Adelaide La Torre also joined the session. Coffee and pastries were available to attendees, helping take the chill off the morning.
As participants filtered into Town Hall and warmed up with coffee, Swift, who was named chief in late Nov., 2025, explained that he has more than 23 years of law enforcement experience, including 12 years with the Santa Rosa Police Department, about eight years with the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, and roughly three years with Georgia’s Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
Working in different communities and assignments, he said, has given him a broad range of experience he believes will benefit Fort Bragg.
Swift described the city as unique. “It’s a small community, but a resilient one,” he said. “People here have lived in Fort Bragg for generations and have faced many challenges, including redefining themselves as the community shifted from a historic economic base to a service economy.” He added, “I like it here, and I am still in the honeymoon phase.”
Swift also noted that Fort Bragg’s geographic isolation has shaped its character.
“In some ways, you have to survive on your own, but you also have to learn how to work with others to survive and thrive,” he said. “All of that adds to what makes Fort Bragg unique.”
As he opened the meeting, Whippy said, “We are here to listen, address concerns, and hear your ideas on how to make Fort Bragg more vibrant and safer, as well as what practical improvements could be implemented over the next six months.”
Swift said that he looks forward to meeting residents, supporting department staff, and learning the needs of the community. He emphasized priorities of accountability and collaboration.
Fort Bragg resident Marcy Snyder asked how the police would respond if it experienced an incident similar to that seen in Minneapolis, with an influx of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, and what Swift’s vision would be for Fort Bragg in such a situation.
Swift responded, “If ICE were here and involved in any incident, we have a responsibility under California’s state legislation and local ordinances. We have the right legally to investigate.”
He added that the Fort Bragg Police Department is not in the business of enforcing immigration laws. “That is not our mission. ICE has their mission, and we have our mission. The bottom line is to keep our community safe and ensure that if anything is going on, we isolate that incident and keep people safe.”
Under 2017’s California Values Act, state and local law enforcement agencies are restricted from participating in federal immigration enforcement activities, according to California Government Code § 7284.
Whippy also referred to Resolution No. 4886-2025, adopted by the Fort Bragg City Council, which reaffirms the city’s commitment to non-discrimination and its support for immigrants in the community. Consistent with long-standing city policy, the police department does not participate in or assist with immigration raids, sweeps or detentions conducted solely to determine an individual’s immigration status.
Concerns about gang activity were raised and how locals could be part of community policing. “It starts right here—having conversations and reaching out to us,” Swift said.
Fort Bragg resident Magda Canul expressed concern for children’s safety. “Kids are not safe. Kids are being recruited, and if they refuse, they get assaulted,” Canul said, speaking of pressure to join gangs. “This is happening near the school. Some of them drive by in cars and harass kids.”
Swift said the department is aware of the gang problems and is working with schools and parents to address youth safety and gang-related activity.
“We cannot arrest our way out of this. It’s not isolated to a specific demographic, and it’s a deeper issue,” he said. He added that officers are receiving more training to better understand and address gang-related issues.
“We’re also working comprehensively with the city to expand youth programs and internships, and young people need mentors,” Swift said. He mentioned community-driven prevention activities that provide youth with a sense of identity, belonging, and positive outlets for expression that he monitored during his time in Santa Rosa.
“Whippy acknowledged that opportunities for youth in Fort Bragg remain limited. He said the city is exploring a scholarship fund at the C.V. Starr Center in the next budget cycle. ‘We do have programs at Flockworks and at the C.V. Starr Center,’ he added, ‘but we know more are needed.’”
Residents shared plenty of ideas: Susan Collins, a member of Native Daughters of the Golden West, said the organization offers scholarships and wants to help get youth more involved in community service. One attendee asked that National Night Out events be spread across neighborhoods rather than only being held downtown, so neighbors could meet each other. Another proposed adding nighttime and weekend transit to downtown events like First Friday or movies. Others wanted to turn the former Georgia-Pacific mill site into affordable housing for families. And several said that they needed to juggle two or three jobs to get by.
Whippy said Fort Bragg faces longstanding economic challenges common to low-income, tourism-dependent communities. “Back in 2024, we launched strategic initiatives to diversify Fort Bragg’s economy,” Whippy said. “That includes business support, downtown revitalization and workforce development.”
Racism in the city was also raised. “I’m glad this came up,” said Lima Sierra Mims. “As a Black woman, it is hard here, and that’s why I’m involved with Mendocino Mermaids. We’re about diverse community—we sponsor monthly beach cleanups and educate about ocean awareness.”
Mims also raised concerns about how limited lifeguard staffing at the C.V. Starr Center restricts pool access. “We have a lot of talent and human capital here,” she said. “How do we activate it?”
Whippy responded that the city has tried paid training and retention bonuses, but most lifeguard staff are high school students, making long-term retention challenging.
After the meeting, Fort Bragg resident and Mendocino Coast Children’s Fund Community Resource Specialist Juliana Sanchez shared her impressions.
“Our new chief is easy to talk to and brings the experience we need,” Sanchez said. “Whippy is transparent about the budget and what we can and cannot do. The biggest barriers to youth activities are insurance and permit costs. That’s where the community can help—with funding, volunteering and scholarships. We could have kayaking trips and training programs. We need to have kids outside. This is all in our backyard.”
La Torre explained that the city plans another public discussion in about two months. For more information contact ALaTorre@fortbraggca.gov.
I am excited for this community. I look forward to more events like this. I missed it by a hair.
Same! Glad to hear we will get another chance to participate in a couple of months.
Thanks to everyone who did attend, Manager Whippy and Chief Swift. And thanks to the Mendocino Voice and Mary Rose for the good and vitally important local journalism!