MEDIA RELEASE: SCPD to Proactively Enforce State and Santa Cruz County Public Health Orders

A message from the Chief of Police | Response to COVID19

Following a state and public health order issued to help slow the spread of COVID-19 across California, Police Chief Andrew Mills outlines what it means for the City of Santa Cruz's residents and businesses.

The Santa Cruz Police will seek out businesses that appear to violate this Public Health Order and individuals who are grouping. Generally, SCPD issues warnings. If compliance not achieved, a criminal citation will be issued. We do not take this enforcement stance lightly. The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious community health threat, and the Public Health Order is enforceable.

The Santa Cruz Police Department's (SCPD) primary role in supporting the governor's stay at home order is to help educate the community about how to comply. Most residents are following the "Safer at Home" order, which allows essential businesses and critical public functions to remain open, but directs most other people to stay home and avoid gatherings.

Non-essential businesses that remain open and individuals who gather in groups place the community-at-large at risk. "Ideally, we would prefer to gain the public's cooperation and avoid unnecessary enforcement," said Chief Mills. If we work together, we will accomplish the goal of keeping our community safe. "

In response to mandates and to better protect closed local businesses, the Santa Cruz Police Department officers check on businesses to educate and ensure compliance. SCPD also deployed burglary suppression units to increase patrols, particularly during nighttime shifts.

Chief Andy Mills - "Our command strategy is to implement 12-hour shifts to enhance officer availability. The added patrols increase the nighttime staffing numbers and will concentrate on retail and commercial areas of the City while responding to all calls for service.

Chief Mills addresses those individuals who may be thinking and planning on taking advantage of our hardworking community members who had to close down their shops or suspend services. We are working with the District Attorney to ensure criminals are held accountable during this state of emergency.

While the Santa Cruz Police Department is increasing our nighttime visibility in business and commercial districts, we ask business owners to help by:

· Keep your business lit at night, inside and out.

· Keep windows uncovered and free of obstruction.

· Make sure alarms, and video surveillance systems are working correctly and contact SCPD immediately regarding any suspicious activity.

· Empty cash registers and make it evident to others that they are empty by leaving them open with the drawers removed.

"Public health and safety remain paramount, and we ask residents to stay informed and follow the emergency measures outlined by the state and the City," said Chief Mills.

For information regarding COVID-19 cases and directives from Santa Cruz County Public Health officials, please visit http://www.santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus.

For the latest information about the COVID-19 virus, updates on the City's operations, and our response to COVID-19, visit http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/coronavirus.

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! 

Pop-Up Mixer with Chief of Police & Planning Director on Tuesday, August 29th from 5-7pm

Please join us on Tuesday, August 29th from 5-7pm at the Museum of Art & History, 705 Front Street in the Courtyard.
 

The new Chief of Police, Andy Mills and new Planning Director, Lee Butler, would love the chance to meet those they serve.
 

Members of the public, city employees, community leaders, and local business owners are encouraged to stop in.
 

It is an excellent opportunity to see this amazing space at Abbott Square and meet two of our newest city leaders.

Join SCPD In Welcoming Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills

Today, Chief Andrew Mills begins his new post at the Santa Cruz Police Department. Chief Mills’ official swearing-in ceremony will take place at City Hall Courtyard on August 7, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony to meet Chief Mills.

Andrew Mills recently served as the Chief of Police for the City of Eureka, California. Eureka, a city of about 30,000 residents, situated in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Eureka is surrounded by jolly gigantic redwood trees, a mesmerizing ocean and some of the best outdoor adventures in California. It is also home to urban problems in a rural community. While in Eureka Chief Mills helped the department become community centric, regain respect as a police agency, and yet compassionately confront some of the societies the most difficult problems, including homelessness. He also serves on as a representative for the California Chiefs of Police Association.

Formerly Andy was a San Diego Police captain assigned to Eastern and Western Divisions. Each of the commands served populations of about 150,000 residents and 200 employees. Before that, he served as the commanding officer of Criminal Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, two tours in the Gang Unit where he implemented Intelligence Led Policing, created an in house intelligence collection system and served on a statewide executive committee for gangs. Recently Mills helped create and implement the Major City Chief’s Criminal Intelligence Enterprise, adopted by the Major City Chiefs from the largest cities in the nation.

Mills was the 2000 recipient of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Gary P. Hayes Award for his contributions to improving the quality of police service nationally. Andy managed one patrol team that won the Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing and three others that were Goldstein finalists. His work in the field is documented in several publications produced by PERF and the COPS Office. Mills has published articles on the National Criminal Intelligence Enterprise (NCIE), police leadership, problem-solving and police ethics in Problem Solving Quarterly, Law Enforcement News and several National Institute of Justice publications. He has lectured at conferences and has provided training to scores of police agencies, including agencies in Washington, D.C., Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Bogota, Mexicali, Rio de Janeiro and Wellington NZ.

Swearing-In Ceremony for Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills

City Manager Martin Bernal will be hosting a swearing in ceremony for the newly selected Chief of the Santa Cruz Police Department, Andrew Mills. The ceremony is scheduled to take place Monday, August 7th at 4:00 p.m. at the City Hall Courtyard. Following the oath of office, Chief Mills will comment on his new position as head of the Santa Cruz Police Department.

WHO: Mayor Cynthia Chase, City Manager Martin Bernal, and Chief Andrew Mills
WHAT: Swearing in Ceremony for Police Chief Andrew Mills
WHERE: City Hall Courtyard 809 Center Street, Santa Cruz
WHEN: Monday, August 7th, 2017 4:00 p.m.