𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞: Santa Monica Police Tackle Crime and Enforce Public Safety in Weekly Roundup

 

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞: Santa Monica Police Tackle Crime and Enforce Public Safety in Weekly Roundup

Reporting Period: March 30 – April 6, 2025

Published: April 16, 2025 – 10:23 AM

By Lt. Lewis Gilmour, Santa Monica Police Department

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) continued its commitment to proactive policing, public safety, and community engagement during the week of March 30 through April 6, 2025. With rising calls for service and increasing pressure on urban safety, officers delivered a week of high-visibility enforcement, targeted operations, and coordinated outreach.

📌 Enforcement Focus Intensifies

Throughout the reporting period, SMPD officers maintained an assertive enforcement posture across the city. Strategic patrols, rapid response units, and specialized teams worked to disrupt criminal activity and restore public confidence. Officers utilized drones, K9 teams, and inter-agency support to execute high-risk arrests without escalation. From burglary suspects to weapon seizures, the department reinforced its zero-tolerance approach to violent crime while balancing service delivery and civil engagement priorities.

📊 Departmentwide Activity

• Total YTD Calls for Service: 30,226

• This Week: 2,426
   • Officer-Initiated: 1,033
   • Citizen-Initiated: 1,393

• Homeless-Related Calls: 658 this week; 7,001 YTD

• Arrests: 74 (including 53 involving unhoused individuals)

🚨 Significant Incidents

• Burglary Arrest at Civic Auditorium: Officers responded to an alarm and discovered an unhoused suspect inside with burglary tools.

• Loaded Weapon and Narcotics Arrest: A suspect was arrested near 1550 PCH with a loaded Glock handgun and cocaine during a routine traffic stop.

• Armed Robbery at Palisades Park: Three suspects robbed victims of clothing and an iPhone. All were later apprehended.

• Attempted Bank Robbery on Wilshire: A suspect passed a demand note but fled empty-handed after the teller refused. SMPD made an arrest; suspect had prior robbery history.

• Burglary at SMC Emeritus Campus: After property destruction and refusal to surrender, the suspect was located using a drone and taken into custody with assistance from a K9 unit.

🚔 Traffic Enforcement & Education

• Traffic Stops: 51 (plus 28 during OTS-funded operations)

• Citations Issued: 46

• DUI & Pedestrian/Bicycle Enforcement Ops: 2

• Vehicles Impounded: 1

👮‍♂️ Specialized Units in Action

Directed Action Response Team (DART)

• Arrests: 18

• Encampments Addressed: 8

• High-Profile Enforcement: Multiple drug sales suspects arrested near 5th and Colorado. Seizures included methamphetamine, cocaine, PCP, weapons, and active warrants.

Crime Impact Team (CIT)

• Focused on Pico Neighborhood, Virginia Avenue Park, and Downtown.

• Arrests: 2 (1 felony, 1 misdemeanor)

• Community Feedback: Residents reported decreased criminal activity in targeted zones.

Community Engagement Team (CET)

• Participated in public meetings with Friends of Sunset Park and NOMA.

• Responded to concerns involving encampments, illegal rentals, and local business coordination.

• Supported the closure of the Pavilions Motel alongside the City Attorney’s Office and Code Enforcement.

🏠 Homeless Liaison Team (HLP)

• Encampments Addressed: 10

• Service Referrals: 78

• Notable Interventions:
   • Assisted in detaining a gravely disabled individual under 5150 hold.
   • Provided support to a long-term resident displaced by rent increase.
   • Continued outreach to individuals sheltering in vehicles or transient encampments.

🐾 Animal Services

• Animals Impounded: 7 (5 dogs, 2 cats)

• Notable Calls:
   • Unattended Dog in Vehicle: Recovered and medically cleared after a suspected neglect call.
   • Marine Rescue: A distressed sea lion was safely transported to the Marine Mammal Rescue Center in San Pedro.

🌊 Harbor Control Unit

• Calls for Service: 15

• Responded to beachside overdoses, medical emergencies, and a critical missing person case.

• Continued oversight of beach and pier activity, marine life incidents, and vessel safety enforcement.

🔍 Community Safety & Visibility

High-visibility patrols remained active throughout city parks and Ocean Front Walk. Officers conducted routine checks on known problem properties and coordinated with Code Enforcement and mental health partners to address complex safety challenges involving drug use, homelessness, and behavioral health crises.

The Santa Monica Police Department remains committed to transparency, enforcement, and collaborative community solutions. Residents are encouraged to stay informed, submit tips, and attend upcoming engagement meetings.

For questions or feedback, contact SMPD’s Community Affairs Unit.

— Santa Monica Closeup encourages continued community engagement and will follow developments closely.