New Year's Eve Information

The Santa Cruz Police Department is preparing for New Year's Eve and will have additional officers on hand throughout the evening to proactively enforce all laws - especially alcohol-related violations. As has been the case in previous years, there will be some minor road closures and a safety enhancement (triple fine) zone in the downtown area. A map of the road closures and zone can be found here.

The safety enhancement zone is currently in effect and will be until tomorrow (January 1st) at 5:00 am. We encourage everyone to designate a driver for the evening!

Update on Takeover of 75 River Street

Throughout the past 4-weeks, Santa Cruz Police Department investigators have worked tirelessly to identify those responsible for the takeover and vandalism of the vacant building located at 75 River Street on Wednesday November 30, 2011.  Much of the information regarding the identity of those responsible for the illegal entry and takeover was the direct result of information provided to SCPD by concerned community members after viewing photographs of the individuals responsible for participating in this incident.

Thus far, Santa Cruz Police Investigators have identified 13 individuals who are suspected of being responsible for planning, organizing and participating in these unlawful acts.  The names and other identifying information for these 13 people have been submitted to the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office and arrest warrants have been requested in conjunction with this case.  We expect to begin making arrests as soon as the warrants are issued.  This is the first wave of names that have been submitted for arrest warrants.  As this investigation progresses, we expect to identify additional individuals who are responsible and we intend to hold them accountable for their unlawful actions as well.

The Santa Cruz Police Department would like to thank the community for their assistance in helping identify those responsible for this illegal takeover.  We would also like to encourage anyone who has information on the identity or whereabouts of anyone who was involved in this incident to contact Santa Cruz Police Investigations at (831) 420-5820.  You may leave an anonymous tip at (831) 420-5995.  You may also submit a tip using our iPhone app, or via our website by clicking here. 

Sincerely,

Kevin Vogel
Chief of Police          

Predictive Policing 5 Month Overview

The Santa Cruz Police Department is five months into the groundbreaking predictive policing study. We plan a full evaluation, with professors at Santa Clara University and UCLA, in January. But we've done a preliminary look at the first five months of data.  

The program predicts hot spot locations based on seven years-worth of historical data. It is updated daily and suggests patrol deployment based on a combination of historic and current data.

So, is it working?

In the first six months of 2011 before we started the project we were on pace to set a record for the number of burglaries in our city. Since we have implemented the program we are now averaging 20% fewer burglaries than in the first six months. 

How does this compare to 2010?

Compared with the same 5 months in 2010 we've seen a 11% decline in the number of burglaries. December (the six month of the study) has historically been problematic for burglaries. Vehicle burglaries tend to rise near the holidays (meaning the holidays have a higher than average monthly burglary rate). This was not the case last year but has been the case in 6 of the last 10 years. 

We are interested to see if the program can continue to reduce the overall number of burglaries in our city and we will provide the full analysis compiled by the professors (which will hopefully be completed at some point in late January). Chief Kevin Vogel, Deputy Chiefs Rick Martinez and Steve Clark and Crime Analyst Zach Friend will work with Professor George Mohler and Professor Jeff Brantingham on the final analysis.

Happy Holidays!

From the Santa Cruz Police Family to yours, Happy Holidays!

May 2012 bring you and your family nothing but the best in health, safety and happiness.

All the best-
Kevin

Kevin Vogel
Chief of Police

Know This Suspect? He's Using Stolen Credit Cards

The person in these photos is suspected of using stolen credit cards at two different gas stations recently.  If you know who he is please call Detective Damon Williams at 831.420.5839 or leave a tip on our website or on our iPhone app. Thank you!

SCPD Most Wanted: Week of December 22nd UPDATE: ARRESTED

UPDATE: On January 3, 2012 Mr. Follett was arrested. Thank you for your help!

Santa Cruz Police Most Wanted: Week of December 22nd

Name:  David Follett
Wanted for:  Bank Robbery
Description:  26 years-old, 5-07, 145 lbs., Brown Hair, Hazel Eyes, Resident of Prescott, Arizona

Details:  A bank robbery was committed in the City of Santa Cruz on November 17, 2011. Through an exhaustive investigation, Santa Cruz Police Detectives identified David Follett as the suspect in the bank robbery.  Detectives obtained a $100,000 warrant for Follett’s arrest. Follett is believed to have fled to Arizona after the robbery.

Help Us Identify This Burglar

We need your help in identifying the suspect in these photos. He is wanted for breaking in to a local bike shop.

If you recognize this suspect, please call Detective Damon Williams at 831.420.5839. You can also leave a tip via our website or on our iPhone app.

KSBW Offers Kudos For The Finesse Shown By Police and Sheriff's Deputies

This weekend, KSBW President and General Manager Joseph W. Heston's editorial piece focuses on the manner in which the Santa Cruz Police Department, along with other local law enforcement agencies, handled the Occupy movement in Santa Cruz.  The editorial characterized our handling of the Occupy situation in Santa Cruz as a "shining example" when compared to clumsily handled situations in other jurisdictions.  KSBW offered, "Kudos for the finesse shown by police and sheriff's deputies for how they handled a potentially ugly situation with Occupiers."  We appreciate that KSBW took the time to examine our situation in Santa Cruz and report on it in a thoughtful manner.  Please take a few minutes to watch the editorial by clicking here.  If you prefer to read the text version of the editorial, please click here.

SCPD/City Schools Jeopardy Challenge Winners!

The Santa Cruz Police Department joined the final four schools, Gault, Bay View, Westlake and De La Veaga elementary schools in the Jeopardy-style challenge on December 14th at the City Council Chambers. Chief Kevin Vogel, Deputy Chief Rick Martinez and Deputy Chief Steve Clark partnered with Councilmember Ryan Coonerty to judge the challenge. The schools and students did an outstanding job - Lillian Greene from De la Veaga ended up the ultimate challenge winner. Special thanks goes to the Community Services Section including volunteer Patti Whitlock, Sgt. Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez for organizing the event. Here are some photos from the event!

Sounds of SCPD: Holiday Edition

It's time for the next edition of Sounds of SCPD. This time we are doing holiday music. Now, we walked through the building and actually didn't hear any holiday music so we decided to ask people what their favorite holiday music was. Some didn't want to admit they listened to holiday music - others started showing holiday playlists on their iPods. Here is a sampling...

Chief Kevin Vogel (the classics)

• Baby It's Cold Outside - Dinah Shore/Buddy Clark
• Cherry, Cherry Christmas - Neil Diamond
• Sleigh Ride - Andre Kostelanetz

Deputy Chief Rick Martinez  (the 80's mix) -

•  Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) U2
• Christmas in Hollis - Run DMC
• Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas - Sinatra 

Apparently it isn't Christmas unless you have Run DMC in the Martinez household.

Deputy Chief Steve Clark (classic and 80's)

• The Music of Christmas - Steven Curtis Chapman
• Merry Christmas Baby - Bruce Sprinstein
• Please Come Home for Christmas - Vonda Shepard

Bonnie Stow - (50's and 80's)

•  Last Christmas - Wham
• Blue Christmas - Elvis

Police Spokesman Zach Friend (80's but timeless)

• Charlie Brown Christmas - Vince Guaraldi

It's not Run DMC but it's hard not to have Charlie Brown on during the holidays.

SCPD Most Wanted: Week of December 15th

Santa Cruz Police Department Most Wanted: Week of December 15th

Name: Randolph Howe
Wanted For: Prowling
Description: 52 years-old, 6-00, 170, Brown Hair and Blue Eyes, Santa Cruz Resident

Details: Mr. Howe has a warrant for his arrest for prowling. He failed to comply with terms of his conditional sentence, by not reporting for confinement. If you see Mr. Howe please call 911 for an officer response or call Police Investigations at 420-5820. You can also leave a tip via our iPhone app or on our website.

New Year's Eve Road Closures and Safety Enhancement Zone

The Santa Cruz Police Department is preparing for New Year's Eve and will have additional officers on hand throughout the evening to proactively enforce all laws - especially alcohol-related violations. As has been the case in previous years, there will be some minor road closures and a safety enhancement (triple fine) zone in the downtown area. A map of the road closures and zone can be found here.

The safety enhancement zone will be in effect from December 29th at 5:00 pm - January 1st at 5:00 am. We encourage everyone to designate a driver for the evening!

SCPD Joins with Toyota to Prevent Catalytic Converter Thefts

Today the Santa Cruz Police Department joined with Toyota of Santa Cruz on a catalytic converter education and theft prevention campaign. Deputy Chief Steve Clark reached out to Toyota after a rash of catalytic converter thefts in our community to see what could be done for customers to prevent thefts. Toyota created  a program to help secure the converters for Toyota owners for free through the month of December. In addition, customers can reach out to Toyota of Santa Cruz for information about catalytic converters and ways to protect them from theft. Converters are stolen and then sold to junk and scrap yards for their valuable metals. Here are some photos from today's event:

Battle of the Badges: Red Cross and SCPD and SCFD Blood Drive

The Santa Cruz Police Department and Santa Cruz Fire Department will be participating in the Battle of the Badges: a blood drive for the Red Cross. Details of the blood drive, in January, are below. All are welcome to join!

BATTLE OF THE BADGES BLOOD DRIVE

Santa Cruz Police vs. Santa Cruz Fire

Depot Park Freight Building - 119 Center Street

Saturday, January 14, 2012 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

To schedule your appointment you can log on to redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: battlesc
You can also call 1-800-RED CROSS. Identification is required to donate blood.

SCPD Partners with City Elementary Schools on a Jeopardy-Style Challenge

Over the past several weeks the Community Services Section of the Santa Cruz Police Department has been hosting a Jeopardy-style game at each of the four Santa Cruz public elementary schools.  A champion from each campus has been selected to represent their respective school in a final Jeopardy game scheduled for December 14, 2011 in the Santa Cruz City Council Chambers. Mayor Ryan Coonerty and Chief Kevin Vogel will be co-hosting the event. The finalists will be competing for a small cash prize to be awarded to their school, as well as to earn bragging rights for their schools.  All students, teachers, staff, family and friends are invited and encouraged to attend. The program helps build connections between the Santa Cruz Police Department and local schools in an educational and supportive environment. The events have been organized by Sgt. Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez of the Community Services Section. 

Jeopardy-Style Challenge with Local City Elementary Schools

December 14, 2011 - 4:00 PM
Santa Cruz City Council Chambers 

809 Center Street

Department's iPhone App Nominated for Award

The Santa Cruz Police Department's iPhone app has been nominated for the 2012 GovFresh award. Here are details from GovFresh:

Every day, tech-minded citizens across the country are doing good by their communities, literally geeking out about how they can help re-define the relationship government has with its citizens, using technology as a democratic tool to collaboratively empower both.
So much is happening in the civic technology community – website redesigns, new websites, open data initiatives, apps, camps, developer contests, and more – it’s hard to get a perspective on or truly appreciate the collective work of these dot-dogooders both inside and outside government.

You can vote for the department's app by clicking here. Thanks!

San Lorenzo Park Benchlands Illegal Encampment Has Ended - Six People Arrested

On Thursday December 8th, the Santa Cruz Police Department, along with other local law enforcement agencies, arrested six people and ended the illegal encampment at the San Lorenzo Park Benchlands.  This action, led by the Santa Cruz Police Department, follows a nuisance abatement order that was issued by the City of Santa Cruz last week.  The people responsible for the illegal encampment were given until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday December 7^th to remove themselves and their property from the park.  The nuisance abatement order was challenged in Superior Court on Wednesday afternoon by an attorney representing this group.  The attorney attempted to seek a temporary restraining order that would have prevented the City from enforcing the nuisance abatement order.  On Wednesday afternoon, a Superior Court Judge conducted a hearing on this matter and issued an order denying the application for a temporary restraining order which cleared the way for the nuisance abatement order to take effect as scheduled.  As of 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, a number of those participating in the illegal encampment chose to leave the park, however many decided to stay.

This morning at approximately 7:15 a.m., a contingent of 90 police officers and deputies from the Santa Cruz Police Department, Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, UCSC, cities of Watsonville, Capitola, Scotts Valley and State Park Rangers descended upon the San Lorenzo Park Benchlands to clear out the illegal encampment that has existed there for two months.  When police arrived, there were a number of people in the park in violation of the nuisance abatement order.  The police department gave a series of warnings over a loudspeaker advising people to leave the park immediately.  Some people vacated the park, however several remained.  After waiting more than 10 minutes, police swept through the park in a slow, deliberate manner.  During the sweep, six people were arrested for failing to leave the park and other various charges, including resisting arrest and threatening a police officer.  One person was arrested for a felony drug possession warrant.  Many of the people who were seen in the park before the sweep were anarchists, such as those responsible for the May Day riot downtown in 2010.  Those arrested by the Santa Cruz Police Department include the following individuals:

Gabriella Ripley Phipps

Alfonso Martinez

Patrick Wilhelmy

Amanda Senseman

Christina Foster

Unknown woman who refused to identify herself

Gabriella Ripley Phipps was the lead negotiator with police for the group that took over and occupied the vacant building at 75 River Street last week for three days.

In addition to the six arrests, more than12 tons of trash were removed from the park by City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation and Public Works staff.

The Santa Cruz Police Department would like to thank the community for its patience in the manner in which we chose to address the illegal encampment over the past two months.  We have watched how other jurisdictions have handled these types of incidents and learned valuable lessons along the way, which we used to our advantage in our strategic planning efforts to address the illegal encampment and occupation of the San Lorenzo Park Benchlands. 

Finally, we cannot thank the community enough for their support during this time and their calls of encouragement of how we handled the illegal encampment.   I personally share the frustrations of many that this was a completely unacceptable way to garner attention to their vague cause.  It is a pleasure to be able to return San Lorenzo Park to this community so that it may be used for its intended purpose, a neighborhood park that creates a safe and inviting environment for everyone to enjoy.  

As always, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Kevin Vogel

Chief of Police

November Citywide Crime Stats Released

Today we posted the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) information for November. The quick version? Violent crime is down significantly and property crimes are down in two of the four measured categories. UCR data measures the following crime types:

• Homicide
• Sexual Assault
• Robbery
• Aggrivated Assault
• Burglary 
• Larceny
• Auto Theft
• Arson

We've seen a strong uptick in burglaries and larcenies (petty theft) this year. The implementation of the predictive policing program has reduced the total growth in those crimes the last five months. We expect the year to end higher than last year in those two crime types.

Click here for this and other statistical crime reports from our agency.

Additional Photos - Need your Help with Identification

These photos were taken by local media outlets (Patch and Sentinel). If you can identify any of the individuals please contact SCPD Investigations at 831.420.5820 or leave a tip via our iPhone app or website.

Help us ID These People from the 75 River Takeover

We need your help identifying any and all of the people in these photos. The photos were taken by Bradley Stuart. If you can identify someone please contact SCPD Investigations at 831.420.5820 or leave a tip via our iPhone app or on our website.

We will post additional photos as we collect them. Thank you for your help!

Notice Provided to San Lorenzo Benchland Encampment

The following notice was provided to those camping in the San Lorenzo Park Benchlands as part of the Occupy Santa Cruz protest. Our department is hopeful that the campers will respect the notice and leave the location peacefully with minimal trash and impact left on the park. The notices were provided last night and will be provided again today.

EVACUATION NOTICE

-        On November 30, 2011 the City Parks and Recreation DEPARTMENT Director, Pursuant to Santa Cruz Municipal Code Chapter 4.16, administratively declared the San Lorenzo PARK Benchlands  encampment to constitute a public nuisance and authorized abatement of that nuisance.

-        Accordingly you are hereby directed to cease and desist all camping activity on THE SAN LORENZO PARK BENCHLANDS PROPERTY ON or before 5:00 p.m. on wEDNESDAY, December 7, 2011 and to thereafter not enter onto THAT property between SUNSET and SUNRISE on any day of the week or to re-establish an encampment on thAT property at any time OF DAY OR NIGHT.

-        All persons participating in an encampment on thAT property after the date and time set forth above will be cited or arrested and thereafter prosecuted.

-        All camping equipment and personal property left on thAT property after the date and time set forth above will be deemed abandoned.  ABANDONED Perishable and unsanitary property will be disposed of immediately.  Other ABANDONED property will be taken into custody and held by the Police Department at 155 Center Street.  Upon positive proof of ownership, that property may be re-claimed by the owner within ninety (90) days of the Department’s possession of the property.  After ninety (90) days, the Department will dispose of the property.

-        Please be advised that the Homeless Resource Center’s Winter Shelter Program is now in service.  Homeless individuals requiring daily overnight shelter through this program at the National Guard Armory in Delaveaga Park should contact the Homeless Resource Center at 115 Coral Street in Santa Cruz or telephone the Center at (831) 458-6020.

-        Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.

SCPD Most Wanted: Week of December 5th

Santa Cruz Police Most Wanted: Week of December 5th

Suspect:          Patrick McDonald

Description:  26 years old, 5’ 10” 165 pounds, brown hair and green eyes.Santa Cruz City resident. 

Note:               Patrick McDonald is currently wanted on two outstanding warrants.

                        Patrick McDonald’s warrants are for possession of dangerous drugs, issued by the California Department of Corrections.  He also has a warrant out of county and is a suspect in a Santa Cruz Police Department case.If you see Mr. McDonald, please call 911 for a police response or leave a tip on our iPhone app or website. You can also call Investigations at 420.5820