This report covers the notable SMPD incidents and statistics from August 24 to August 30, 2024.
LEAD Program: Whitewater Rafting Trip
The SMPD’s LEAD (Leadership, Education, and Diversion) program, which focuses on youth development, recently sponsored a whitewater rafting trip for several students and adult chaperones. The trip, which took place on the American River, was a joint effort with students and adults from St. Joseph’s Youth Resource Team (YRT). The outing aimed to reward youth for their leadership in this summer’s leadership series.
"Whitewater rafting was a great opportunity to show the youth the true meaning of teamwork," said SMPD Officer Alex Bullock. "Despite what each individual kid may be going through, it was nice to see everyone put their troubles aside and engage in the activity."
Officer Chad Madrid echoed this sentiment, highlighting the positive impact of the trip: "What an amazing opportunity it was to watch these specific youth get out in nature and conquer it. Seeing them flourish in their capabilities and working as a team was a special experience."
In addition to the rafting adventure, the group visited the Capitol Building to learn about the legislative process, further enriching the educational experience.
Weekly Police Department Statistics
During the reporting period, SMPD received a total of 2,680 calls for service (CFS), bringing the year-to-date total to 84,663. Of these calls, 1,607 were citizen-initiated (60% of total CFS), and 1,073 were officer-initiated (40% of total CFS).
Key statistics include:
- Homeless-Related Calls: 17% YTD
- Encampment Calls: 30 (1,049 YTD)
- 5150 Calls (Mental Health Evaluations): 9 (432 YTD)
- Total Arrests: 69 (1,816 YTD)
Notable Incidents
The week saw a range of significant incidents:
- Sexual Battery: On Olympic Blvd, a victim reported being groped by a suspect who then fled. The suspect was not located.
- Encampment Vandalism: In Palisades Park, a homeless individual was arrested after vandalizing a police vehicle during a cleanup operation.
- Wanted Murder Suspect: SMPD, in collaboration with LAPD, located and arrested a murder suspect hiding in a tent outside city limits.
- Assault and Robbery: At Estes and Lincoln Blvd, a suspect involved in a prior robbery climbed onto a building's roof and eventually was arrested after a lengthy standoff.
- Domestic Violence: On the Beach, a suspect was arrested for felony domestic violence after allegedly strangling and threatening a victim.
- Grand Theft Auto: A stolen Chevy Silverado was recovered near Big 5, and the suspect was arrested at Bristol Farms.
Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) Team
The HLP team responded to 602 incidents, including 122 calls for service and 24 handled 311 requests. They made two felony and four misdemeanor arrests. Notably, the team addressed five encampments and referred 110 individuals to services.
Highlights from the HLP team’s activities include:
- A cleanup operation in downtown and a significant vandalism incident in Palisades Park.
- Placement of a subject on a 5150 hold due to severe mental health issues.
- Collaborations with organizations like Salvation Army and Clare Matrix to provide resources and address municipal code violations.
Directed Action Response Team (DART)
DART focused on code enforcement and municipal violations, issuing two citations and nine field interviews. Notable incidents include:
- The arrest of a subject with a no-bail warrant at Santa Monica Pier.
- The recovery of a missing individual with Down Syndrome at the Pier.
- The arrest of a subject for drug possession and a parole warrant at Ocean Front Walk.
Crime Impact Team (CIT)
CIT made five felony and two misdemeanor arrests, conducted 16 traffic stops, and issued two citations. Noteworthy incidents involved the arrest of a wanted suspect at Reed Park and drug-related arrests in various locations.
Community Affairs Unit (CAU)
CAU engaged in community outreach and partnerships, including:
- Participation in the department-wide roll call presentations of the 2024-2028 SMPD Strategic Plan.
- Hosting a Coffee with a Cop event at Target, which fostered dialogue between officers and community members.
Beat Updates
- Beat 1: NRO Hollowell collaborated with DTSM on improving communication and noise ordinance enforcement.
- Beat 2: NRO Navarro held a Neighborhood Watch meeting and addressed traffic signage and recycling enforcement.
- Beat 3: NROs provided security at a community meeting and addressed neighborhood disturbances.
- Beat 4: NRO Wang handled vandalism, tenant disputes, and addressed homelessness issues.
As the Santa Monica Police Department continues to address a variety of challenges and engage with the community, their efforts in transparency and community involvement remain a cornerstone of their mission.
Authored by Erika Aklufi
Lieutenant, Santa Monica Police Department