Paula knows what it means to need help in a moment of crisis. Years ago, a tragic act of domestic violence claimed the life of her four-year-old son and nearly her own.

In her darkest hour, the Westminster Police Department was there when she needed them most. That experience shaped her understanding of how critical it is for every family — from Westminster to Huntington Beach — to feel safe in their neighborhood.

Paula will fight to keep our families and neighborhoods safe by ensuring first responders have the resources they need while investing in the prevention and community partnerships that stop problems before they start.

• Ensure our public safety departments have the staffing, resources, and training they need to keep our communities safe — including mental health co-response teams and community policing initiatives that build trust between officers and the neighborhoods they serve.

• Fund youth programs, after-school activities, community centers, and job training that keep young people on the right path — because the best way to reduce crime is to stop it before it starts.

• Expand mental health crisis response and give law enforcement partners who can respond to mental health emergencies so people in crisis get the help they need.

• Support transparency and oversight so residents trust that their public safety agencies are working for them because effective policing depends on community trust.

• Reduce recidivism and keep communities safer by strengthening re-entry programs that help people find jobs, housing, and stability after incarceration because when people successfully reintegrate, we're all safer.