1 City of San Clemente, CA: COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELFARE COMMITTEE APPLICATION A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted.
Form Name:
Date & Time:
Response #:
Submitter ID:
Service Application ‐ Community Safety and Welfare Committee 05/08/2025 10:53 PM
9 34657
Time to complete: 27 min. , 7 sec.
Survey Details
1. Name
Stephen Lamb
2. How long have you lived in San Clemente?
One year.
3. What is your occupation?
Special Agent, US Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations
4. Please explain why you would like to serve on the Community Safety and Welfare Committee.
Since a young age I have put a high value on civic engagement, this value led me to my career in law enforcement.
Unfortunately, my career has also kept me from being engaged in other meaningful ways in my community. As a Special Agent for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and then as a Special Agent for the US Secret Service I was precluded from civic engagement by expectations to maintain undercover work and an erratic schedule. Now, as a Special Agent for the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations based in San Clemente, I have found a position that lends the time and stability for me to engage and invest in my local community.
After having to move six times in the last ten years I feel that I can say with experience that San Clemente is one of the most amazing places to live. In the past year, my wife and our five year old son have loved everything the city has to offer, the annual fishing derby, the amazing Halloween and Christmas festivities, clean beaches, and a beautiful, calm, and safe neighborhood.
I know that everything that makes San Clemente amazing is not inherent, it takes work. It takes dedicated community members doing their part. I would like to become part of the Community Safety and Welfare Committee to lend my background, unique perspectives, and skills to do my part in contributing to this wonderful city. 2 5. Please explain your background and experience in the public safety field.
I have a unique background in public safety. As a student at Brigham Young University I studied Spanish with the aim of utilizing the Spanish language to serve in a public safety capacity. Upon graduating I worked as a Special Agent for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. In this position I was assigned to work in panhandle Oklahoma, in a solo capacity, with my nearest colleague living around 200 miles away. Living in a sparsely populated section of the United States with limited resources I came to appreciate and understand the power of cooperation across various local, state and federal agencies to assist each other in creating positive community outcomes. In this position I did gain a great experience in counternarcotics operations, but also found myself assisting in search and rescue operations, community awareness programs, prescription drug takebacks, and translating to assist Spanish speaking members of the community to find services.
As I looked to expand my career and experience, I was hired by the US Secret Service. In this position I was trained in close protection, and financial and computer crimes. I was fortunate to be put into positions of leadership and responsibility. On dozens of occasions I was given the opportunity to act as the site planner for major events for protectees including Presidents, Vice Presidents, their family, foreign heads of state and other designated individuals. This necessitated the coordination between private, city, state, and federal entities to coordinate the safety of the protectees and the public. In some cases this involved the coordination of hundreds of law enforcement officers. In planning for these events, I came to appreciate that proper coordination and planning across many partners brought greater capabilities and made the burden of providing a safe environment much easier.
Seeking a more stable life, I applied for and was hired by the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations as a Special Agent. In this position I am assigned to investigate crimes that affect public health. This can include counterfeit medicine, adulterated products, and clinical trial fraud and many other crimes. In this job I have come to appreciate that public safety is more than protecting the public from violence, exploitation, and financial fraud. Working for the FDA, I have found that effective public communication matters and that effective communication is also more than what is said, it is building trust.
6. What is your educational background?
High School/Colleges Attended Major/Field of Study Degree? 1 Ogden High School N/A Yes/Diploma
2 Brigham Young University BA in Spanish Yes/Bachelors
3 Not answered Not answered Not answered
7. Please explain any experience that you have in community, governmental, charitable or educational affairs.
My career in government service has given me great experience in understanding the structures and functions of local, state and federal institutions and their roles. My positions have allowed me to be involved in various community initiatives like making formal presentations on the dangers of drugs or financial fraud, coordinating prescription drug take back events, assisting in translating for Child Protective Services among many others.
Unfortunately, my experience in being more directly involved in my local communities has been precluded by my previous government positions. Some of the most fulfilling memories I have are working on community projects in my youth through my church group, Eagle Scout project, or student government. In college I was most proud of my volunteer work as a translator for the Brigham Young University Law School and Utah County Family Justice Center's pro bono legal clinic.
8. Please describe your understanding of the principal roles and responsibilities of the Community Safety and Welfare Committee.
As I listened to the most recent recorded meeting of the San Clemente Public Safety Committee I heard the news that the Public Safety Committee and the Human Affairs Committee would be combining responsibilities and be renamed the Community Safety and Welfare Committee. From listening to previous meetings of both committees I understand that their responsibilities are to provide advice and accountability regarding their pertinent services. For the Public Safety Committee this includes the Orange County Sheriff's Department, Orange County Fire Authority, Marine Safety Division, and contracted ambulance services. The Human Affairs Committee interfaces with the public to act as a sounding board for concerns for human needs, like homelessness. In bringing these committees together I anticipate a positive relationship where human and community concerns can be more directly addressed by those in public safety. 3 9. The Community Safety and Welfare Committee meets bimonthly on the fourth Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Please explain any challenges, if any, you may have in meeting this commitment.
I do not anticipate any challenges to this commitment.
10. Please use the space below to explain any other factors about yourself that you would like for the Councilmembers to consider as they review your application.
Not answered
11. Applying for:
Community Safety and Welfare Committee
12. CONFIDENTIAL The following information will only be used by Staff unless you authorize it to be released to the public.
13. The information provided is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
Digital Signature:
First Name Stephen Last Name: Lamb Date: 05/08/2025
Thank you,
City of San Clemente, CA
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