March 9 TOWN HALL MEETING - Precautions Due To COVID-19

The Monday, March 9th Town Hall Meeting will move forward as planned at Delaveaga Elementary School on 1145 Morrissey Blvd from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. 

While COVID-19 represents a severe public health threat at this time, the risk to Santa Cruz County residents remains low. As a precaution, the elderly and those with respiratory issues susceptible to the coronavirus should stay away. We request community members who are sick not to attend.

Santa Cruz Police Department is closely monitoring the Santa Cruz County Public Health Department updates and will make adjustments as needed.

Law Enforcement Prepared for Coronavirus Spread
Local county police chiefs and sheriffs met in preparation for contingency plans should a worst-case coronavirus scenario outbreak continue. Officers are instructed on and equipped for dealing with potential coronavirus cases.

COVID-19 Precautions
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To learn more about the proposed ordinances, including the opportunity to leave comments, questions, and suggestions, visit www.cityofsantacruz.com/PoliceTownHall.

Detective Steve Pendleton Awarded Officer of the Month for November 2018

Santa Cruz Police Department is pleased to recognize Detective Steve Pendleton as  our officer of the month. Thank you for your dedication to duty and going the extra mile to serve our community.

Detective Pendleton worked tirelessly on solving the recent arson cases. His efforts lead to the identification and arrest of the two suspect arsonists. Detective Pendleton did an outstanding job of investigating the recent arson cases which affected the community and threatened public safety.

"We have a dedicated police department." Chief Mills said. "Steve is a hard-working professional for SCPD. Whether he's working as a Detective in Investigations closing cases or as a Parks Officer in our open spaces dealing with the most challenging population."

The Officer of the Month award recognizes Detective Pendelton for his outstanding example of work ethic excellence at SCPD.

SCPD Celebrates Graduates In P.R.I.D.E. Youth Program

This week, Santa Cruz Police Department celebrated the successful graduation of 28 youths from the P.R.I.D.E. program. The event marks the 10th graduating class for P.R.I.D.E. PERSONALLY RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT IN ETHICS. The program is a multi-faceted approach to support middle schoolers in making better choices.

Mayor David Terrazas, City Manager Martín Bernal, Chief of Police Andrew Mills and Deputy Chief of Police Dan Flippo presented diplomas to the graduates in the community room crowded with proud family and friends.

The SCPD P.R.I.D.E. The program ran from October 25, 2017, until May 26, 2018, and included 36 field trips, guest speakers’ presentations, and mentorship events. A record number of 28 students from Mission Hill and Branciforte Middle Schools participated along with 15 mentors from UCSC.

 

The teens have the opportunity to reflect upon the direction of their lives and the consequences of their choices. "It is a program where the students felt very empowered,” said program director Officer Leo Gomez. SCPD coordinates the P.R.I.D.E. program in conjunction with Santa Cruz City Schools and the County Office of Education. 

Our P.R.I.D.E.program dedicated to helping youth avoid a life of crime and gangs. We realize that the continually growing gang problem is not going to disappear on its own. The children of our community need to know that there are alternatives to gangs. We have developed a place where they feel safe physically and mentally. These young people need to know that there are concerned adults who will care about them now and in the future.

The P.R.I.D.E. program is voluntary and free of charge, and its activities include guest speakers, mentor connections, parental involvement and recreational outings help participants make decisions that lead to healthy and productive lives. 

Congratulations 2018 P.R.I.D.E. Graduates! Thank you P.R.I.D.E. mentors and community businesses for supporting our youth. 

UPDATE: Bank Robber Captured

Great job by Santa Cruz Police Investigators for arresting the bank robber from the heist at US Bank on 110 Morrissey Boulevard. Randall Young is in custody.

The Santa Cruz Police Department positively identified the suspect in the January 10, 2018 robbery at US Bank at 110 Morrissey Boulevard. The suspect, Randall Young, is a former resident of Santa Cruz County and has a recent address in Mountain View, California.
On April 4, 2018, Investigators for the Santa Cruz Police Department have obtained a $100,000.00 Warrant for Mr. Young charging him with Robbery, Kidnapping, and other charges surrounding his prior felony convictions. Mr. Young is currently in custody at the San Mateo County Jail on different charges. The extradition process to bring Mr. Young back to Santa Cruz County is being planned.

History:
On Wednesday, January 10, 2018, The Santa Cruz Police Department responded to US Bank at 110 Morrissey Blvd. after reports of a Bank Robbery.
Officers responded quickly. The suspect involved already fled the scene. During the investigation, SCPD determined through statements from the victims, witnesses, and security footage the
suspect displayed a firearm and demanded money from the bank tellers. During the robbery, the suspect ordered the bank staff to open the drawers, and was successful in stealing an undisclosed amount of cash.

SCPD Wrapping Up Cases While You Wrap Presents

Neighborhood Enforcement Team and K9 Luna Nab Drugs and Two Probation Violators

On Friday evening, December 22nd, 2017 around 11:00 pm, Officers from the Santa Cruz Police Department Neighborhood Enforcement Team responded to complaints about suspicious activity from a first floor hotel room in the 600 block of Riverside Avenue. Officers located a suspicious vehicle associated to the hotel room in question and identified one of the occupants as Sean Oliver, a 32 year old resident of Santa Cruz. Officers confirmed that Sean Oliver was on probation and attempted to conduct a probation compliance check. When Officers knocked on the door to the hotel room, the occupants dead-bolted the door and refused to allow the Officers to enter. SCPD Officers, with help from K-9 Luna, forced entry into the hotel room. Officers initially arrested Sean Oliver and a second subject, Tyler Huffman. Mr. Huffman, a 21 year old resident of Felton, is also on probation Both were charged with resisting, obstructing and delaying a peace officer, and probation violation.

The following investigation revealed that Sean Oliver and Tyler Huffman were in possession of methamphetamine, digital scales and other drug paraphernalia. They also disposed of a large quantity of methamphetamine before Officers made entry to the hotel room. Both subjects were additionally booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on several other related charges, including maintaining a place where drugs are used or sold, and possession of potentially stolen property with the serial numbers removed.

                     Sean Oliver         Tyler Huffman                  

The Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team is a proactive specialized unit. NET works to focus on mid to long-term issues often times associated with gangs, drugs and other chronic problems throughout the City of Santa Cruz. If you have criminal activity or chronic problems in your neighborhood, please contact the SCPD Neighborhood Enforcement Team at: NET@cityofsantacruz.com

The Santa Cruz Police Department is dedicated to our community with ongoing efforts to keep Santa Cruz a safe place to live, while improving the quality of life throughout the city.

Santa Cruz Police Town Hall Meeting Series Start Monday, October 9th - Come to the Meeting that best suits your schedule.

SCPD kicks off a series of Town Hall meetings this week to get input and outline public safety priorities from the community. The first community forum takes place Monday, October 9th, from 6-7 p.m. at Westlake Elementary at 1000 High Street. Attendees will engage with police staff in group workshop-style discussions regarding concerns in their neighborhood.

The meetings are designed to allow neighborhoods, community stakeholders, and police to discuss problems and to engage in the problem-solving process. Feedback in Town Hall meetings will play an essential role in future citywide public safety strategies.

All five SCPD Town Hall Meetings held throughout the city are open to the public.

Not sure which meeting to attend? Come to the Town Hall Meeting that best suits your schedule. 

Upper West Side/Mission Hill
Monday, October 9th - 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
WESTLAKE ELEMENTARY, 1000 High Street

East Side (Emeline/Market/ Upper Ocean)
Thursday, October 12th - 6:00 pm - 7:00pm
MARKET STREET SENIOR CENTER, 222 Market Street

Downtown/Lower Ocean /Beach Hill
Tuesday, October 17th - 11:00 am-Noon
SANTA CRUZ POLICE COMMUNITY ROOM
155 Center Street

East Side/ Midtown
(Branciforte/Seabright/ Lower Ocean /Prospect Heights)
Monday, October 23rd 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
DELAVEAGA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1145 Morrissey Blvd, Santa Cruz, CA 95065

Lower Westside/ Beach Flats
Wednesday, October 25th 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm
BAYVIEW ELEMENTARY 1231 Bay Street

“These town hall meetings are a great opportunity to influence the future of public safety in your neighborhood. Join us! We want to hear from you.” – Andrew Mills Chief of Police

Retiring Police Chief Vogel Receives Memorable Farewell

Members of the Santa Cruz community and leadership turned out to this week to pay tribute to Chief Vogel. He was presented with numerous plaques and a commemorative badge to honor his time and achievements at the Santa Cruz Police Department.

"It's been my honor and privilege to serve the City of Santa Cruz,” said Chief Vogel.

To show their appreciation for more than three decades of dedicated service to the community, the department's officers gave him a send-off Thursday afternoon when he left his office for the final time.

The traditional "walk-out" when he left headquarters included a broadcast radio sign off duty for the last time. SCPD also presented Chief Vogel with the flag that flew on his last day.

Click here for Chief Vogel’s final radio log off with a photo montage. 

"It has been an amazing journey working with our community. I am honored to have worked alongside the dedicated and brave officers at the Santa Cruz Police Department.”- Chief Vogel

The SCPD Online Reporting Tool - It Really Works!!

The SCPD Online Reporting System offers a way for you to make quick reports that do not necessarily require a police officer to witness or take the information from you. This system is being provided for your convenience. If this is an emergency, do not file your report online. Please dial 911.
Our Online Crime Reporting System allows you to report the following crimes: Theft - Lost Property –Vandalism - Identity Theft - Hit & Run - Vehicle Burglary - Vehicle Tampering - Harassing Phone Calls

The SCPD Online Reporting System is a tool to assist SCPD with solving crimes. Reports that include detailed descriptions, serial numbers (crucial for bikes) and other valuable property information are important. When provided the brand, model, and serial numbers, the SCPD Team is able to list and quickly identify missing property in our stolen property systems. That information is then accessible by SCPD Officers in the field. It can speed up the process to return property and develop probable cause to make an arrest.
Click direct to SCPD Online Reporting System 

Success Story with SCPD Online Reporting System

This man lost his wallet and eventually got it back. He used the SCPD Online Reporting System to make a quick report on 3/22/16. Perfect timing….because on 3/23/16 an alert SCPD Officer arrested John Walkenbach for an outstanding bench warrant on another matter. In Walkenbach’s possession was the wallet and credit cards of our visitor. The online report included essential details so that the arresting officer could quickly connect the wallet back to the owner. In the short time the wallet was missing, a new cell phone was fraudulently purchased on one of the credit cards. Mr. Walkenbach went to jail with the added charge of theft.Thanks for taking the time to fill out an online report.

The Santa Cruz Police Department continues to encourage residents to be partners in public safety. We are committed to reducing crime in the City of Santa Cruz. Anyone with information regarding suspicious or criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department.

SCPD Investigates Butane Hash Oil Explosion in Apt. Complex

On Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at approximately 8:00 pm, Santa Cruz Police Department and Santa Cruz Fire personnel responded to an apartment complex on a report of an explosion and fire. Upon arrival, there was significant damage to a ground level garage.

Officers evacuated several people who were in nearby apartments. Santa Cruz Firefighters on the scene discovered that the explosion and fire was the result of someone in the garage trying to produce concentrated cannabis in a process known as “BHO” or Butane Hash Oil.

SCPD Officers located the suspect in the apartment located above the garage on the 3rd floor. The suspect sustained multiple burns from the blast.

The explosion sent an adult male, age 48, to a Bay Area medical center burn unit for further treatment. His name is being withheld pending the conclusion of the investigation. After the explosion, the suspect ran upstairs to his family residence. The suspect’s wife and young child were in the apartment and did not have any injuries from the explosion.

During the subsequent search in the garage and residence, officers located several items used for the manufacturing of concentrated cannabis. This type of operation is commonly referred to as a “Honey Oil” or BHO lab.

Butane Hash Oil labs are becoming a major public safety concern in our communities. Butane gas, which is highly flammable, is used in the hash oil extraction process. Santa Cruz has experienced a number of such explosions causing major injury and exposing neighborhoods to a serious safety threat.

The Santa Cruz Police Department encourages community to use extreme caution if you suspect this type of operation. If you see something suspicious, please report it to the authorities.

If anyone has any information regarding this case please call the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigation Unit at (831) 420-5820.

Holy Cross School's Annual Cookies for Courage Event

Holy Cross School’s Annual Cookies for Courage event is a treasured tradition at the Santa Cruz Police Department.

On Friday September 11th, Holy Cross School hosted its annual Cookies for Courage honoring Police Officers, Firefighters, Paramedics and First Responders in Santa Cruz County.

Holy Cross students prepared and decorated a plentiful array of platters full of cookies. The entire student body at Holy Cross School participated in this thoughtful tribute that included songs, letters and prayers. 

Everyone was honored by the support of the families and students at Holy Cross School as they presented firefighters, paramedics and police with trays of fresh-baked cookies as a symbol of appreciation for their work.

Principal Kimberly Cheng explained that Cookies for Courage was a chance for the Holy Cross School and parish community to show their appreciation for the men and women who keep Santa Cruz safe.

Father Rodolfo Contreras blessed the vehicles of all First Responders wishing them a safe return from service calls. 

Chief Vogel said “Cookies for Courage will always be a very special and favorite event for us at the SCPD. All emergency personnel represented here appreciate the efforts and enjoy seeing the students, staff and families at Holy Cross School. This is a wonderful event and the cookies are delicious!”

This event was the invention of Riley Sisk after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Riley was 6th grade student at Holy Cross. She came up with the idea to have a meaningful event that honored all the first responders and remembered the sacrifices made. The event has carried on at Holy Cross School ever since.

Police Officers, Firefighters, and Paramedics are honored each year at this ceremony and loaded with delicious cookies to bring back and share with our staff.

A heartfelt THANKS to Holy Cross School Principal Cheng and all the staff at Holy Cross School. Huge THANK YOU'S to all the students and their parents. And, THANK YOU to Riley Sisk for starting this wonderful tradition. We are truly honored by this great ceremony and outpouring of support.

SCPD NET & SC Co Anti-Crime Team join forces again. They STOPPED $42,000 of drugs from hitting our streets.

On July 10, 2015 at about 10:30 AM, the Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team stopped a vehicle driven by Gabriel Guzman on HWY 17 in Scotts Valley. During the stop, Mr. Guzman was found to be in possession of 2.2 ounces of heroin, 1 ounce of methamphetamine, and 4 grams of cocaine. Guzman was also in possession of about $16,000 cash.

Gabriel Guzman, 41 years old and a resident of Vacaville, California.

After the discovery of the narcotics Guzman was transporting, a search warrant was served at Guzman’s residence in Vacaville, CA by the Neighborhood Enforcement Team with the assistance of the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team. During this search warrant officers found at the suspect’s residence in Vacaville:
9.1 ounces of cocaine,
6.2 ounces of methamphetamine,
1.4 ounces of marijuana,
0 .6 ounces of heroin.
Three firearms were recovered from the residence, one of which had been reported stolen from Washington. $12,000 cash was also located in the residence.

In all, the drugs seized during the traffic stop plus the house warrant carries a street value of approximately $42,000. The cash seized from the traffic stop and the house warrant totaled $28,000.

Guzman was arrested for (1) 11351HS - possession of cocaine for sale, (2) 11351HS - possession of heroin for sale, (3) 11352(a)HS – transport narcotics, (4) 11352(b)HS – transport narcotics between counties, (6) 11378HS – possession of methamphetamine for sale, 11379(a)HS – transport methamphetamine, (7) 11379(b)HS – transport methamphetamine between counties.

This successful drug arrest is due to the combined logistics of the Santa Cruz Police Neighborhood Enforcement Team and the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team.

This is a continuing effort to keep Santa Cruz a safe place to live, work, and raise a family.

ROAD CLOSURES and NO PARKING Areas 7/3 through 7/5/15

Road closures and traffic plan detours will be in effect throughout the City of Santa Cruz this 4th of July weekend.

In addition, the Santa Cruz City Council has approved a citywide Safety Enhancement Zone from July 3rd to July 5th, 2015. The Safety Enhancement Zone enacts “Triple Fines” for certain violations of the Municipal Code.

ROAD CLOSURES and NO PARKING Areas 7/3 to 7/5

East Cliff Point Parking -- July 3rd through July 4th
Starting Friday July 3rd, in the area at E. Cliff will be fenced off and not available to the public. This area will be posted “No Parking” effective 8:00 am on July 3rd and will remain in
place through July 4th.

FIRECRACKER 10K -- July 4th, 6:30 am to 10:30 am
The race begins at 8:30 at the Harvey West Scout house and travels through trails in Pogonip Park, onto Spring Street and through the upper West Side to the High Street bicycle path and ending at Harvey West Park. 

SEABRIGHT AREA ROAD CLOSURE --July 3rd through July 5th. At 6:00 pm, all roads through the lower Seabright neighborhood (south of Murray Street) and the Murray Street Bridge will be closed to through traffic. Residents and those with legitimate business will be allowed to access the area. 

HOLY GHOST PARADE -- July 5th 10:00 am to 11: 00 am
The parade will occur on Sunday morning July 5th. The parade is planned to start 10:15 am and
end by 1100. Once the parade passes through road closures, the road will be re-opened.

The following are the scheduled street closures for this parade:
Cathcart Street between Cedar Street and Pacific Avenue
Pacific Avenue between Elm Street and Water Street
Lincoln Street between Cedar Street and Pacific Avenue
Soquel Ave. between Pacific Ave and Parking garage
Cooper Street. between Pacific Ave and Parking garage.
Church Street. between Pacific Ave and Parking garage.
Locust Street. between Pacific Ave and Parking garage. 

Front Street between River Street and Water Street
Water Street. between Pacific Ave and River St.
Mission Street between Pacific Avenue and Chestnut Street
Emmett Street between Mission Street and High Street 

All fireworks are illegal in the City of Santa Cruz.

 
Santa Cruz Police & Fire Department are relying on our partnership with the community to keep us all safe this 4th of July.