View 2016 Annual Report (PDF)

Chief's Message

On behalf of the dedicated members of the Garden Grove Police Department, I am privileged to present to you our 2016 Annual Report. This annual report is a snapshot of some of the work we completed in 2016. It also provides insight into some of the challenges we face and gives you a brief look at the inner workings of your police department.

I continue to be amazed at what we are able to accomplish as a police department, considering the limited resources we have at our disposal. The number of officers “injured on duty” and employees leaving the organization through retirements or resignations was staggering (35 positions). As a result, the number of sworn officers and civilian staff was significantly reduced. The department’s sworn officer contingent average was 139 this year, far short of the 166 authorized sworn positions. With that said, we continued to perform exceptionally well, handling over 67,000 calls for service, making more than 5,900 arrests, and keeping our average response times to well under five minutes on priority calls for service.

In 2015, Garden Grove saw a drastic increase (40%) in major crimes due to the combined effects of the Public Safety Realignment Act (AB109) and the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act (Prop. 47). In 2016 there was a slight drop (4%) in major crimes, which may be an indication that the effects of the above legislation are beginning to “level out.” However, because California voters passed the Parole for Non-Violent Criminals and Juvenile Courts Initiative (Prop. 57) in November, even more criminals will qualify for early release from state prison. We are bracing for a potential increase in crime and calls for service, so it will be imperative that we remain diligent, effectively utilize new technologies, and continue to work with our community partners to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for Garden Grove residents.

In 2016, we continued to work on fine-tuning the fully integrated department-wide computer system that went live in September, 2015. One of the final steps towards our ultimate goal of a paperless reporting system was to deploy tablet computers to field personnel; deployment began in mid-2016. The Department also officially launched its Special Resources Team (SRT) to address the city’s homeless and mentally ill populations, as 2015 saw a 40% increase in calls for service related to these issues. The SRT works with these at-risk populations to offer referrals to outreach programs, veterans resources, faith groups, shelter projects, and rehabilitation programs to find solutions that address the growing needs of our community.

In closing, it is a privilege for me to represent one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the state of California. The professionalism shown by the men and women of this organization, together with unending community support, is overwhelming. Moving forward, your police department remains committed to looking for new ways to maximize our efficiencies and will continue strengthening our relationships with the community we serve. Keeping the City of Garden Grove safe is all of our responsibility, and we look forward to leading efforts to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for our citizens in 2017 and beyond.

Todd D. Elgin
Chief of Police