Police Department Report

Chief's Message

On behalf of the dedicated members of the Garden Grove Police Department, it is my privilege to present to you our 2017 Annual Report. This report is a snapshot of some of the
great work done in 2017, but it also provides insight into some of the challenges we’ll continue to face in the coming years.

Higher crime rates, sharp increases in the homeless population and an increase in calls for service have strained the department’s already limited resources and pushed the limits of our staff. Recent voter-approved legislation -the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act (Prop. 47) and the Public Safety and Rehabilitation Act of 2016 (Prop. 57), along with the Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011 (AB109) continues to tie the hands of law enforcement. In 2017, major crimes were up 6% from 2016, homeless-related calls for service were up 33%, and overall calls for service were up 10%. Department personnel handled more than 74,000 calls for service in 2017, and made more than 7,000 arrests, up 18% from 2016.

State budget cuts and increased crime rates have put this department in a precarious position. The department is authorized for 167 sworn officers but, due to various factors, we averaged only 142 sworn officers working in 2017. We are working with city leaders to find new revenue sources that would allow us to put more police officers on the street to handle the increase in crime and call volume.

On a different note, remodeling projects in the Records and Communications divisions, as well as the front lobby, were completed in 2017. The police station was built in 1972, and although some improvements have been made over the years, a major remodel was necessary to improve the work environment and overall safety. More information about these projects can be found in the Records and Communications write-ups.

Policing our city is everyone’s responsibility so we urge the citizens of Garden Grove to stay vigilant, because you are the eyes and ears of the community. Be proactive about your own personal safety, look out for your neighbor, and be aware of what’s going on in your community. Informed, alert citizens play a critical role in keeping our community safe, so “If You See Something, Say Something.”

It is a privilege for me to represent one of the finest law enforcement agencies in California –the Garden Grove Police Department- and thank you to the community for your support. No matter what challenges lie ahead, the Garden Grove Police Department will continue to lead the effort to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life in Garden Grove.

Todd D. Elgin
Chief of Police

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

Chief's Message

On behalf of the over 250 dedicated members of the Garden Grove Police Department, I am privileged to present to you our 2015 Annual Report. This annual report is a reflection of the work we completed this past year and a brief look into your police department.

Having worked my way through the ranks for nearly 30 years, I was honored to be chosen as Chief of Police in January 2015. I have always been very proud and humbled by the accomplishments of the men and women of this Department, and even though 2015 proved to be a very challenging year, our sworn and civilian staff addressed the needs of our diverse community with professionalism and determination.

In 2011, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 109 (AB109) – The Public Safety Realignment Act. This Act has resulted in the early release of thousands of offenders into communities throughout California, including Garden Grove. Then, in 2014, California voters approved Proposition 47 (Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act), which reduced many felony charges to misdemeanor charges and means no jail time if convicted. The impact of Proposition 47 was felt immediately by all law enforcement, as jails stopped accepting bookings for crimes such as possession of drugs and certain property crimes. At the same time, the state prison system had to reevaluate its population and release thousands of prisoners serving time for crimes now classified as misdemeanors under the newly-enacted Proposition 47. These pieces of legislation have contributed to a substantial increase in calls for service and a 40% increase in crime in Garden Grove, our first overall increase in more than 10 years.

During 2015, the Department responded to more than 74,000 calls for service and made more than 6,200 arrests. Crimes related to the mentally ill and/or homeless population saw a noticeable increase over past year. In spite of the substantially increased workload, we continued to participate in many community-based activities, including community cleanup days, mental health/homeless outreach, and the 2015 Special Olympics World Games.

In the fall, we deployed a new department-wide software system to replace the existing 20-year old computer aided dispatch and records management system. The new system offers completely integrated, real-time data to every division in the Department, and contains a crime statistics component which the public will be able to access through the department web page.

It is a privilege and an honor to serve as your Chief, and I would like to thank the Department and the community for your support. Moving forward into 2016 and beyond, it is critically important to grow the ranks of the police department to keep pace with residential redevelopment, increased tourism and changes in legislation. No matter what challenges lie ahead, the Garden Grove Police Department will continue to work closely with community leaders and residents to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life in the city.

Todd D. Elgin
Chief of Police

Chief's Message

I am proud to present the 2014 Annual Report for the Garden Grove Police Department. This report will highlight some of the major accomplishments completed by your Police Department for the year. As in past years, I will highlight the Part I Crime Report for the city, as the crime statistics in this report will provide an overall view of the crime rate in Garden Grove for 2014. As you read this Annual Report I will have retired as the Chief of Police, so I wish to take this final opportunity to also share my professional thoughts regarding some of the law enforcement challenges facing this community.

The 2014 Part I Crime Report for the City of Garden Grove shows a 10.7% reduction in violent crime and an 8.8% reduction in property crime. This is the second consecutive year that the Part I Crime Rate has declined in the city and is also a continuation of an overall trend that has been occurring over the past 15 years. Considering the changes in the California criminal justice system and the Department’s historically low ratio of police officer to resident staffing, I believe our ability to effectively respond to crime issues is a tribute to the successful partnership we enjoy with the community.

National events in 2014 brought forward a discussion regarding the importance of community trust and equal treatment under the law. Both of these principles are the cornerstone of the Garden Grove Police Department’s philosophy and culture. Garden Grove, as we all know, is a diverse community, and we celebrate this diversity as a community strength. Although there are language and cultural differences, these differences are respected. Every employee of the Police Department strives to provide quality service, regardless of national origin. We strive to have a workforce reflective of the community we serve. In order to successfully accomplish this we need members of our community to understand the importance of law enforcement service. I encourage all members of our community to embrace the opportunity to serve the community in which they live. By doing so, you can make a positive difference in our community and ensure the service we provide to our community is reflective of our community values.

In closing, I would like to thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving as your Chief of Police, with a Department that has been part of my life since 1976. The support this community gives to its Police Department is important. I have felt your support over the years, and ask that you continue to support not only the Department as an organization, but also the individual men and women of this Department who work tirelessly to make this community a safe one in which to live and raise your families.

Kevin J. Raney
Chief of Police

Chief's Message

I am proud to present you with the 2013 Annual Report for the Garden Grove Police Department. I am pleased to report that, over the past year, our Part I Crime Rate dropped by 13%. This reduction is impressive, and I believe it was accomplished through the Department’s cooperative and collaborative relationships with all segments of the Garden Grove community.

In last year’s Annual Report I described a significant increase that had been reported in property crimes occurring in Garden Grove. Throughout 2013, considerable effort was focused on this problem in an attempt to reverse the upward trend in these types of crimes. Statewide figures for 2013 showed an almost 8% increase in property crimes, however, property crimes in Garden Grove decreased by more than 15% during that time, because we kept our residents informed of current crime trends and our residents took responsibility and got involved.

The Department is still feeling the long-term effects of the economic downturn caused by the 2008 recession, especially in the area of sworn and civilian staffing. Of the 51 cities in California that have populations between 100,000 and 500,000 residents, Garden Grove ranks 47th in staffing. Our officers handle the third highest volume of calls for service for municipal police agencies in Orange County. In spite of this challenge of low staffing and high volume of calls for service, I am proud to say that our average response time to emergency calls for service in 2013 was an impressive three minutes and 59 seconds.

Events such as the Prison Realignment Act of 2011, inadequate bed space in county jails and budget shortfalls impacting the court system continue to squeeze the entire criminal justice system. In spite of these challenges, your police department is committed to working tirelessly to ensure the safety of this community. We can’t do it alone. Please, stay involved with the issues that impact the safety of this community and join us in making Garden Grove a safe and vibrant place to live and work.

Kevin J. Raney
Chief of Police

Chief's Message

I am proud to present you with the 2012 Annual Report for the Garden Grove Police Department. While this report highlights the accomplishments of your Police Department, it also addresses the fact that our community is experiencing an increase in crime. I believe the partnership we enjoy with all members of this community will successfully mitigate this upward trend, however, there is still hard work to be done in order to succeed in this endeavor.

During 2012, an automated report writing system was put into service in the Department. This system, which also features case management, scanning and archiving capabilities, is a significant step towards the goal of automating all reports taken and retained by the Police Department. The process of automating documents should be completed during 2013, and will make all reporting records “paperless.”

Providing current crime information to the community is a critical component of successfully reducing the crime rate, and the Police Department is committed to ensuring that residents and business owners have as much information as possible in order to better safeguard themselves. To that end, the Department added an Internet application to the Garden Grove Police Department website that provides data for all crimes reported in the city of Garden Grove. This information will allow residents to factually determine what crimes may be occurring in their neighborhoods. The Department also has the ability to activate a geography-based telephonic notification system, which alerts residents and business owners to crime trends impacting specific areas of the city.

During 2012 there was a marked increase in property crimes, many of which were preventable. Many factors can drive our crime rate to go up or down, however, we can all take steps to reduce our vulnerability and prevent becoming victims. The unfortunate truth is that there are people in this community who desire to steal your property, so I urge you to make sure and lock your vehicles and homes, and to not leave valuables visible in your automobiles.

The State of California is beginning its second year of Parole Realignment, and more than 65,000 prison inmates will be released from prison sooner than they would have been prior to this legislation. This underscores the need for all citizens to remain vigilant and stay aware of what is occurring in their neighborhoods.

Each member of this Department is committed to providing effective, professional and respectful law enforcement services to this community. I am proud to be the leader of this fine department, and look forward to working with the community to ensure Garden Grove maintains its high quality of life.

Kevin J. Raney
Chief of Police

Chief's Message

I am proud to present you with the 2011 Annual Report for the Garden Grove Police Department, which will highlight not only our shared successes for 2011, but also our efforts to prepare for the future.

The men and women of the Garden Grove Police Department strive to provide this community with professional and effective law enforcement services. Our most important partners in this endeavor are the members of this community, and each member of this Department is charged with developing partnerships with all segments of the Garden Grove community. I am very pleased to announce that, through this partnership, Garden Grove experienced almost an 8% reduction in violent crimes during 2011. I believe the effectiveness of the partnership existing between the Garden Grove Police Department and the members of this community is, in large part, responsible for this successful decrease in crime.

We must, however, continue to work together. Our City government is responsible for providing services that ensure Garden Grove is a safe and vibrant community within which to live, work or visit; yet we continue to be plagued by the persistent state budget deficit. Ongoing economic difficulties at every level of state government present ever-greater challenges to residents of not only our community but of the entire state. Changes in state law, specifically those that govern our prisons and sentencing guidelines for those convicted, will also increase the burden on already depleted budgets, as those responsibilities are shifted from the state to local government.

The Garden Grove Police Department will continue to be an efficient provider of service, however we must never trade efficiency for effectiveness. To assist in our goals, the Department is utilizing technology to improve our efficiency, yet still offer all employees the tools they need to provide effective law enforcement services to the community. Although we face many financial challenges as both a City and a Department, I am confident that the many strong community partnerships we have formed and maintained over the years will allow us to continue to serve Garden Grove with Courage, Courtesy and Commitment.

Kevin J. Raney
Chief of Police

Chief's Message

It is my pleasure to provide you with the 2010 Annual Report for the Garden Grove Police Department.

First, I would like to thank Chief Joseph Polisar for his 13 years of dedicated service to both the Garden Grove Police Department and the residents of Garden Grove. Chief Polisar retired in 2010 after 34 years in law enforcement, and his leadership will always be remembered here. His influence on law enforcement also extends to the international level, due to his long-standing commitment to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).

2010 was a very challenging year for all members of the Garden Grove Police Department. The continuing economic recession necessitated, yet again, citywide reductions in personnel, and Police Department staffing levels were greatly impacted. Despite the significant staffing reductions, all members of the Police Department continued to provide quality law enforcement services to the community, without reducing service levels. Even during this challenging time, the Department maintained high levels of professionalism and delivered quality service. This, in addition to maintaining compliance with nationally recognized standards, earned the Garden Grove Police Department its seventh Accreditation Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in April. The Department was further distinguished as a CALEA Flagship Agency, a designation earned by only the top 5% of accredited agencies.

During 2010, the Police Department implemented “Problem Solving Policing.” Under the existing Community Policing philosophy, and utilizing state of the art Crime Analysis data, Department personnel were tasked with identifying existing crime trends and then working collaboratively to reduce or eliminate the impact these crime trends had on the community. I am very pleased to say the efforts resulted in significant reductions in the identified crime trends, as well as the arrests of many repeat offenders. Members of the Department also established residential and commercial “watch” groups as a long-term strategy designed to reduce crime in the impacted areas. The Police Department will continue to utilize the latest available technology to enhance our service to the community. We also remain committed to developing strong partnerships and to collaborate with community members in order to keep Garden Grove a safe and enjoyable city in which to live and work.

Kevin J. Raney
Chief of Police