The Blue Notebook - A Weekly SMPD Recap November 2 -8 2024

November 12, 2024 2:04 PM
by Erika Aklufi

November 2-November 8, 2024

Voter Safety: As the City of Santa Monica prepared for the recent elections, the Santa Monica Police Department took proactive measures to ensure a smooth and safe process for all voters. We were vigilant in scanning for any potential threats that could disrupt voting at polling centers and ballot boxes across the city. By closely monitoring social media platforms, we aimed to detect any early signs of possible interference or unrest. Additionally, we were engaged in regular meetings with surrounding law enforcement agencies, the local NAACP, and the Los Angeles ADL office to stay informed and work collaboratively with community partners. https://www.santamonica.gov/blog/smpd-s-comprehensive-plan-for-a-safe-and-secure-election-season
No Shave November: Starting on Nov. 1, Santa. Monica Police Department personnel were authorized to wear a full beard, goatee, or mustache for the duration of both November and December after making a donation to the Santa Monica YMCA in support of men's health awareness on issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. Tragically, "law enforcement officers have a 54 percent increase in suicide risk when compared to the civilian population" (McAward, 2022). One of the most effective steps an agency can take to reduce the stigma is to offer prevention and wellness programs that encourage officers to speak out about their mental health issues. Taking advantage of existing programs and helping to develop new ones is a great start. SMPD staff are encouraged to reach out to our Peer Support Team, offer suggestions on ways to improve the many wellness programs offered and of course, to wear their beard/stache with pride.
Did You Know? SMPD recently asked community members on social media about the duties of officers on the Mounted Unit after showing a video of one of our very own in action. Viewers learned that horses are excellent at navigating crowded areas like boardwalks and sandy beaches, giving officers better control in places where patrol cars and even foot patrols might struggle. They also discovered that in addition to crowd control, our Mounted Unit Officers can also issue citations and make arrests.

Department-wide Statistics

Total Calls for Service (CFS): 2,462. YTD (through 11/02): 110,187

Source of calls:

Citizen Initiated: 1,420 calls for service. 66,503 YTD (60% of total CFS).
Officer Initiated: 1,042 calls for service. 43,684 YTD (40% of total CFS).
Disposition for CFS: Homeless related = 18% YTD.
Encampment Calls: 41. 1,441 YTD.
5150 Calls: 12. 579 YTD.
Arrests: 68 total arrests. 2,373 YTD.

Patrol Operations Division

Notable Incidents:

Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Stabbing) -Tongva Park. The homeless victim was seated on a bench in Tongva Park when he was approached by an unknown suspect and stabbed once in the upper body. The victim was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
Threats / Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 1700 Block of Cloverfield Blvd. The suspect and victim got into an argument and the suspect produced a knife. The suspect threatened to kill the victim and, while several feet away, swung the knife in the victim’s direction. The victim was not injured. The suspect and knife were located; the suspect was arrested.
Commercial Burglary - 1908 Santa Monica Blvd. Multiple suspects forced their way through a security gate and stole cash and miscellaneous non-narcotic medications.
Suicidal Subject (Negotiation) – 1900 Block of Pico Blvd. A distraught individual climbed over a third-story railing, tied a rope around his neck, and threatened to jump. Members of SMPD’s Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) responded and negotiated with the individual for approximately three hours before he agreed to come down. The subject was taken to a local hospital on a mental health hold.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon - 1500 Block of 4th Street. Downtown Services Officers responded to a radio call of a subject striking a victim with a hockey stick. Surveillance footage showed the suspect pulling the hockey stick out of his cart and striking the victim multiple times. The victim sustained moderate injuries while trying to defend himself and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Officers located the subject and recovered the weapon.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 9th Street and Montana Avenue. A police officer was parked and sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by a subject on foot. The subject entered his vehicle and reversed it into the front end of the police vehicle (no significant damage to the vehicle and no injury to the officer). The officer followed the subject a short distance until the subject stopped his car and was arrested.
Narcotics Sales – 2000 Block of the Beach. DART Officers contacted a subject for a municipal code violation. The subject was in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine and marijuana along with other items that indicated the drugs were for sale.
Court Order Violation / Probation Violation – 4th Street/Broadway. DART officers contacted a subject for a municipal code violation and learned that the subject has a current stay away order for DTSM. The subject was also in violation of his probation.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon - 200 Block of Santa Monica Blvd. Downtown Services Unit officers responded to a radio call of a female who was disturbing the peace. The officers heard from witnesses that the subject removed a glass bottle from a dumpster and threw it at a victim when asked to leave private property. The victim was not injured. Officers located the subject in the 1500 block of 4th Street and a short foot pursuit ensued. The subject was taken into custody without further incident.

Crime Impact Team (CIT)

WEEKLY STATS:

13 Traffic Stops
11 Ped Stops
3 Bike Stops
0 Felony Arrests
3 Misdemeanor Arrests
2 Citations
9 Field Interviews
7 Radio Calls

CIT assisted the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) with a search and arrest warrant outside Santa Monica.

Special Deployments:

CIT Officers deployed throughout the city to address downtown livability issues, including narcotics, theft, and other related problems. In addition, an emphasis was placed on burglary suppression and promoting Halloween safety with increased police presence.

Traffic Stops – 5
Pedestrian Stops – 3
Field Interviews – 4
Misdemeanor Citations – 2

CIT conducted a crime suppression operation in the downtown area.

Traffic Stops – 6
Pedestrian Stops – 5
Field Interviews – 3
Misdemeanor Citations – 1

CIT and CID personnel conducted surveillance for narcotic activity in Reed Park and the surrounding area. The purpose of the operation was to attempt to observe narcotic sales activity, identify the subjects involved and make the appropriate arrests. With very little activity occurring in the park, CIT officers also conducted crime suppression in the surrounding area.

Traffic Stops - 2
Pedestrian Stops - 3
Misdemeanor Citations - 1
Vehicles Towed - 1
Field Interviews – 2

Notable Incidents:

CIT officers conducted a pedestrian stop on two subjects in the 1200 block of Palisades Park for smoking methamphetamine in public. Both were in possession of methamphetamine and meth pipes.
CIT officers conducted a traffic stop in the 1700 block of 11th St. for an equipment violation. The occupants of the vehicle were the same subjects from a burglary that occurred in Beat 3 approximately four months prior. A juvenile occupant had a no bail warrant out of LAPD. A records check revealed all subjects had gang involvement. Field Interviews were completed, and photos were taken of the subjects and the vehicle. The information was forwarded to CID and a bulletin created.
CIT officers conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block Wilshire Blvd. The vehicle was occupied by two males from Columbia, neither with a driver license. The vehicle’s registration was also expired over six months. No contraband located inside vehicle. Vehicle was towed for the expired registration and Field Interviews were completed.
CIT Officers observed a subject walking in the 1800 block of Euclid smoking marijuana and possibly casing for a burglary (looking in windows, garages, etc.) The subject was identified, field interviewed and advised.

Directed Action Response Team (DART)

Code Enforcement:

72 Contacts, including 47 verbal and 3 written warnings
3 Citations

SMPD:

9 Citations
9 Field Interviews
11 Arrests
7 Encampments Advised / Removed

Notable Incidents:

Warrant Arrest - 2600 Block of Ocean Front Walk. DART officers contacted a subject for a municipal code violation for an encampment. The subject was arrested for a No Bail warrant for being a Parolee at Large.
Municipal Code Violation – 2000 Block of the Beach. DART officers contacted a subject for municipal code violation. The subject presented to officers another person’s passport. The subject attempted to flee. He was arrested for the municipal code violation, resisting and delaying arrest.
Drunk in Public - 1700 Block of the Beach. DART officers were flagged down regarding a subject causing a disturbance by waving a glass bottle around near bystanders and children at Muscle Beach. The subject was arrested for drunk in public.
Parolee Arrest – 800 Block of Santa Monica Boulevard. DART officers contacted a subject on parole for sex and drug offenses. The subject was in possession of a meth pipe and methamphetamine. A parole hold was obtained.
No Bail Warrant Arrest - 5th Street and Colorado Avenue. DART officers contact a suspect on parole for robbery and known to have a No Bail warrant.
Parolee Arrest – 300 Block of the Santa Monica Pier. A DART officer contacted a subject on parole for robbery and sexual offences. The subject is a documented gang member and was wearing gang related colors/paraphernalia, a violation of the conditions of his release. His Parole Officer was contacted, and a hold obtained.
Sex Registrant Out of Compliance - 1200 Block of 3rd Street. A DART officer observed a subject who is a sex registrant out of compliance.
Known Parolee – Beach Lot 1 North. A DART officer contacted a subject known to be on parole for felon in possession of a firearm. The subject was checked and found to be in violation of a protective order. A parole hold was issued, and he was arrested.

Community Affairs Unit (CAU)

Community Academy week #4: Gangs & Narcotics / DUI

CPC Suzie Lockwood/Kim retired officially Nov 1st – We will miss you!

Beat 1 – NRO Hollowell CPC Lockwood

NRO Hollowell has been working on enforcement of E-Bikes and E-Scooters pertaining to multiple resident complaints. Most of the complaints involve possible juveniles in and around park locations. NRO Hollowell is working on an Operations Plan with the Community Affairs Sergeant to actively address the issue while keeping in mind how to balance the risks of enforcement and to the public. The NROs and other units in the PD have been working towards solutions:

There have been some criminal complaints involving E-Bikes and scooters, so NRO Hollowell has met with YSD Detectives and Motors for input and deconfliction. At this juncture, the law can be complex as it applies to off-road bikes and our impound policies and procedures here at the Police Department.
Public Service Officers have attempted to place physical barriers in strategic locations and provide extra presence in the affected parks. Motor officers have had little success stopping the violators; the e-bike riders are failing to yield, creating a very dangerous environment for pedestrians and other drivers.
NRO Hollowell is working with dispatch personnel to ensure that they are entering calls for service for e-bike related issues so that complaints (including time, date and location data) are being memorialized for planning purposes. To date, the SMPD has received over 250 calls from service related to e-bikes and scooters at Ocean View Park alone.
NRO Hollowell has met with the Parks Commissioners, all of whom have been very helpful in creating solutions to the e-bike issues. This problem is not only occurring in the City of Santa Monica but is currently a problem statewide. Cities that have seen success with new policies to address time, place, and manner are the City of Irvine along with the City of Manhattan Beach. Recently the Parks Commission submitted recommendations to city staff to help curb the issue.

Beat 2 – NRO Navarro with CPC Barreto

NRO Navarro was alerted by area residents of the 1300 block of Grant St. that a subject had been living inside a salvage vehicle parked at a property on the block. NRO Navarro was familiar with the owner who lives out of town, and he called her. She had patrol personnel check the vehicle which was empty. She is also in the process of giving the car to a charity and expects it will be towed away by mid-November. She also has hired a contractor to make security improvements based on the recommendations provided by CPC Barreto.
NRO Navarro has received numerous complaints from residents in the 1200 block of Pico Boulevard about a person defecating and urinating outside their front doors. He will also walk on Pico Blvd and commit vandalism by injecting glue into locking mechanisms. The residents are willing to meet in person. Information will be collected and shared with management and property crimes detectives.

Beat 3 – NRO Galvan with CPC Barreto

NRO Galvan received complaints from residents in the 1900 block of 19th St. Several complaints regarding transients in the alley setting up encampments and loitering in the alley blocking vehicle access. NRO Galvan drove to the area and contacted several groups of transients while addressing the encampments. The encampments were taken down by the individuals who were made aware of the municipal code violations and were offered services to The Peoples Concern and the Salvation Army. NRO Galvan also notified Sgt. McGowan and the Crime Impact Team who have been monitoring activity in the alley.

Beat 4 – NRO Wang with CPC Lockwood

NRO Wang was in communication with the Santa Monica Protective Association and the involvement of SMPD. NRO Wang and involved community members will be meeting in person soon.
NRO Wang reached out to a Beat 4 resident regarding a homeless complaint near her residence. HLP Team members engaged Housing and Human Services staff to conduct outreach in the general area.
NRO Wang was contacted by the City Attorney regarding the drug rehab facility on 17th Street; they discussed recent calls for service from this location.
NRO Wang was contacted by a resident regarding quality-of-life issues and homelessness at Douglas Park. NRO Wang will be monitoring this situation more closely.
NRO Wang was in communication with RAND Corp regarding an upcoming Board of Trustees meeting.

Authored By

Erika Aklufi
Lieutenant

Authored By

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