Officers Honored Today with Chief Steve Belcher Award & Employee of the Month Award - SCPD PROUD

Congratulations, Sgt Jones & Ofc Becerra honored today for reflecting the highest skills and consistent quality performance as professional SCPD police officers.

Chief Steve Belcher Award

Steve Belcher, Sgt Jones & Chief Mills
Sgt Carter Jones received the premier Steve Belcher Award given to the person who most exemplifies the high ideas of Chief Steve Belcher. Chief Belcher was responsible for bringing problem-oriented and community policing to Santa Cruz. Belcher's forward-thinking and thoughtful leadership 1994 -2003 made the Santa Cruz Police Department an organization to be admired as a leader in policing.

Carter Jones is this year's recipient of the Steve Belcher award. Sergeant Jones has demonstrated, through his engaging personality, that police officers can have a positive impact on the community served. Sergeant Jones has comported himself in a professional manner that demonstrates his leadership in the area of community policing and problem-solving.

"TRUE BEAT COP" Officer Becerra Awarded Top Cop of the Month

DC Martinez, DC Flippo, PO Becerra & Chief Mills
Congratulations to Officer Juan Becerra, SCPD's November Employee of the Month. Officer Becerra made a sexual battery arrest and two burglary arrests this month in addition to his many other duties. More importantly, he followed up on the crimes obtaining confessions from the suspects.

Juan exhibits a positive, calm demeanor were not much riles him. He is quick and proactive, as demonstrated in a recent arrest, where he obtained a photo from surveillance cameras on the way to the call, looked at the suspect, and spotted him away from the scene. After the arrest, Juan was able to return the victim's property the same day.

A Neighborhood Policing Sergeant said it best, Juan is a "true beat cop, who knows his beat and works every day to better the quality of life in his area of service."

Thank you for your dedication to duty, outstanding service, and sincere desire to improve the Santa Cruz Police Department. PO Becerra November 2019 SCPD Employee of the Month! 

SCPD is closer to getting a new K-9. THANK YOU to Joanne Parker!

For Joanne's 90th birthday, instead of gifts, she asked her friends to chip in and donate money toward a dog for SCPD. Joanne's awesome friends pulled together a generous $2700 legacy for her to donate to the SCPD K-9 fund. The donation will apply towards the purchase of a much-needed third K-9 to serve our community.

Today, Joanne had an extraordinary visit with K-9 Luna, Luna's handler, Officer Terry, K-9 Ryder, and handler Officer Whaley. While the officers spoke with Joanne about K9 duties, training, and gear, Joanne spoiled both K-9s with scratches behind the ears and received dog kisses in return.

Earlier this year, K-9 Ryder came to SCPD thanks to a generous $10,000 donation from Tiki Delamora for the purchase and training of our handsome Belgian Malinois. She also chose the name "Ryder."

Their kindness and generosity is an excellent example for all to follow ;) You can help the SCPD K-9 Unit, too. If you wish to donate to help finance the purchase of the dog, training expenses, and K9 related costs, send checks payable to the SCPD K-9 Fund to 155 Center Street, Santa Cruz CA 95060. Our lobby is open Monday - Thursday 9 am - 4 pm and Friday 10 am - 3 pm. For questions about the SCPD K-9 Unit contact Lt. Warren Barry at wbarry@cityofsantacruz.com

Deputy Chief Martinez To Retire After 30 Years of Service

Santa Cruz Police Deputy Chief Rick Martinez announces retirement after 30 years of service. He will be honored at a community event on December 18, 2019.

The public is invited to a community celebration of Deputy Chief Rick Martinez, who is retiring December 19 after a 30-year career with the Santa Cruz Police Department.

Deputy Chief Martinez's retirement reception is scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm a day earlier, on December 18, at the Santa Cruz Police Department community room. The program will include remarks from elected officials and invited community leaders.

"As police leaders, we work in a challenging environment, but we also have great opportunities to impact our community positively. Santa Cruz has been very fortunate to have Deputy Chief Martinez on our SCPD executive team," Police Chief Andy Mills said. "This send-off event is a great opportunity for the Santa Cruz community to come out and say Thank You for what Rick has done for our department and our city."

Martinez started his career with the City of Santa Cruz in the summer of 1989, working as a Beach Ranger/Park Ranger for the Parks and Recreation Department. In that capacity, he was asked to help as a first responder on October 17, 1989, following the destructive Loma Prieta Earthquake. His initial earthquake response was in rescue operations before he transitioned into a law enforcement role.

Martinez started his career with the Santa Cruz Police Department, serving as a Reserve Police Officer, in 1990. A year later, he was hired as a Police Officer.

Martinez was assigned to the Investigations Section as Detective in 1995 and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2000, to the rank of Lieutenant in 2004, and to the rank of Deputy Chief in 2010. He has worked in patrol, neighborhood services, investigations, professional standards, police administration, and was one of the first commanders of the Emergency Services Unit.

Deputy Chief Martinez believes strongly in the Community Oriented Policing model and has spent hundreds of hours each year meeting with community members, business owners, and elected officials to address core issues impacting the City of Santa Cruz. As the commander of the Downtown Unit, he drafted key policies relating to high-risk alcohol outlets. He also spearheaded a block-by-block communication model to provide residents and business owners with direct access to local government resources.

During his years with the department, Deputy Chief Martinez has taught safety classes to local students, worked as a liaison to the Commission for the Prevention of Violence against Women, provided gang training information to local schools, and has taught sections of the citizen's police academy. He was also instrumental in the development and implementation of the department's mobile phone app, establishing policies and procedures related to mental health outreach in the field, developing a collaborative Mental Health Liaison pilot program, and implementing a crisis intervention team model.

He currently serves as a Board Member and is a past Board Chair of the Board of Directors of the Central Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross, co-chairs the north county BASTA Operations Team (Broad-based Apprehension, Suppression, and Treatment Alternatives), is a member of the Smart Solutions to Homelessness Leadership Council, and is part of the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce Community Affairs Committee. He is a past Board Member for the Santa Cruz County Mental Health Advisory Board and Women's Crisis Support of Santa Cruz County.

Martinez has earned a number of awards: the Law Enforcement Community Hero Award in 2010, the Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership in 2017, and a Lifesaving Award from Red Cross Headquarters in Washington, D.C. in 2019. Chief Mills also awarded him a Lifesaving award for the same action related to an incident at a homeless camp in the city late last year.

"I am both honored and appreciative of the opportunity to have worked with our community and the men and women of the Santa Cruz Police Department," Martinez said. "I retire knowing the department is poised not just to keep Santa Cruz safe, but continue to grow and serve with professionalism."

Deputy Chief Martinez's "Final Radio Call" and "Honorary Walk Out" will take place on December 19, 2019.