The Salinas Police Community Advisory Committee will hold a press conference tomorrow to endorse Measure K, the 1-cent sales tax that committee members say, if not successful, could lead to more gang bloodshed.

"If Measure K fails, more youngsters will die or be lured into the dead end trap of gang membership," said Committee Member Mike Payne, in a prepared statement. "We need to invest in our community to provide critically needed resources for the Police Department, and alternatives for our youth."

As reported in today's cover story: City officials want to use the $18 million a year generated from Measure K to fund Police Chief Louis Fetherolf’s wish list for 84 more cops. Fetherolf envisions a new direction of community-oriented policing, but warns that there aren’t enough men and women in blue now to even maintain beats. But banking on more police to sell a tax hike in the midst of an economic slump has been met with mixed reviews, given the Salinas P.D.’s rocky record, and doubts whether more cops are the answer.