There are some new faces patrolling the streets of Lathrop.
Earlier this month the Lathrop City Council met the three new deputies that are transferring in to police the city – including the son of a longtime deputy that previously patrolled Lathrop for more than a decade.
The new deputes include:
*Nathan Chunn, a 24-year-old graduate of the Stanislaus Police Academy and Stanislaus State University, will begin his career on the same assignment that his father, Vince Chunn, worked for 12 years.
*Jimmy Claude, a 21-year-old former San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department Explorer and Cadet, who graduated from the Stanislaus Police Academy in August of 2018. Claude holds an Associates degree in interdisciplinary arts and humanities.
*Marcel Gomez, a 24-year-old Stockton native that attended Edison High School and graduated from the Stanislaus Police Academy in 2017. Since joining the Sherriff’s Office Gomez has been active on county patrol and received a letter of commendation for the apprehension of a missing juvenile and her coach in a high-profile case that just recently culminated in a prison sentence for the man responsible.
According to acting Lathrop Police Chief Ryan Biedermann, the three new deputies have shown promise in their relatively young law enforcement careers and were chosen by him because of their abilities.
“All of these selections were handpicked to replace staff and vacant positions for Lathrop Police Services – they have shown promise in their tenure and training with the Sheriff’s Office,” Biedermann said. “Each choice shows the administration’s commitment to provide the best level of service to the citizens of Lathrop.”
Joining the new deputies in Lathrop will be Sergeant Kili Seto, who began his career with the Sheriff’s Office in 2002. Seto worked as a patrol deputy from his hiring date through 2014 and was an instructor for weaponless self-defense, impact weapons, interpersonal and tactical communications, first aid and CPR and active shooter scenarios. He has also been a range master, and the field training officer coordinator, where from 2007 to 2018 he helped train new deputies as they began their careers in law enforcement. Seto was also on the AB109 task force from 2014 through 2016, and the Boating Safety Unit from 2016 through 2018.
The new faces aren’t the only new additions to the Lathrop Police Services lineup, however.
According to Biedermann, the department has recently gotten authorization to have a second motor officer assigned to the city in order to provide focused traffic enforcement every day of the week.
“Due to a lot of complaints for traffic issues – the majority of our complaints are related to traffic – we have deployed another motor officer during the day,” Biedermann said. “It’s not to increase the number of tickets, but to address traffic and safety issues, particularly around Lathrop Road.”
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
