2023 Annual Report
Grover Beach Police Department
“Committed to Our Community”
Agenda Item No. 2
COMMUNITY
MESSAGE
Greetings to the community of Grover Beach,
It is with great pleasure that I present to you the Grover Beach Police Department's Annual Report for the year 2023. This document is a testament to the outstanding efforts and collaboration between our department and the community over the past twelve months. In a year filled with challenges and achievements, we have striven to serve and protect our community with dedication and professionalism.
Throughout 2023, our team embraced the opportunity to serve Grover Beach, responding to calls for assistance, providing support during challenging moments, and organizing a variety of outreach initiatives. The unwavering commitment of our staff has played a pivotal role in fostering a safe and vibrant community where people can live, work, and play in Grover Beach.
This report outlines our continuous endeavors to ensure safety and deliver professional services to all. Despite facing a 13% decrease in calls for service, primarily due to staffing shortages and injuries among officers, our department has maintained its dedication to public safety. The decrease in calls allowed us to focus on quality response, even as our average response time adjusted slightly from one minute and forty-eight seconds in 2022 to two minutes and twentythree seconds in 2023. The SpidrTech Community Surveys completed by many of our residents and businesses after our response to their calls for service highlighted a 95% satisfaction rate in our performance. More importantly, this period saw a significant reduction in crime, with overall rates dropping by 17%, including a 7% decrease in violent crime and a remarkable 23% reduction in property crime.
Another notable achievement in 2023 was our continued success in reducing traffic collisions, a long-standing objective for our department. Through persistent efforts in public education, enforcement, and collaboration with the Public Works Department on roadway safety measures, we have achieved a 26% reduction in traffic collisions from 2022 and a 35% reduction since 2015. Last year, we recorded 139 traffic collisions, marking a considerable decrease from the previous year.
Looking ahead to 2024, our commitment to enhancing community safety remains steadfast. We plan to expand our workforce, integrate advanced technology, and leverage these resources to detect, deter, and investigate criminal activities more effectively. Our continued investments in technology will further our ability to solve crimes and reinforce Grover Beach as an ideal place to call home.
Embracing our motto, "Committed to Our Community," we are confident that our team of professionals will continue to provide exemplary service, ensuring the safety and well-being of you, your businesses, and your families. We are grateful for your ongoing support and invite you to visit our station to meet our team or go on a ride-along to learn more about our work.
Together, we look forward to a year of progress, safety, and community engagement. Thank you for your trust and collaboration.
In Appreciation,
2 A MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY FROM
CHIEF OF POLICE, JOHN PETERS
John Peters
Chief of Police
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Our Principles & Purpose
Your Grover Beach Police Department
Organizational Chart
Operations Division
Special Assignments
Support Services Division
2023 - Statistics
2023 Survey Responses
Committed to Our Community
Employee Accomplishments
New Employees
2023 Highlights
Training
Follow us on the Socials!
3 4
5 6
7 8
9 11
3 14
16 18
21 22
23 OUR
PURPOSE &
PRINCIPLES
4 5
THE
DEPARTMENT
The police department consists of 32 staff members. 25 sworn peace officers and 7 civilian staff make up our team. The department has two division Commanders who oversee the Administrative/Support Services and the Operational Services. The Administrative Commander is responsible for the management of the professional staff and the detective bureau. The Operations Commander oversees the patrol staff.
Patrol consists of four Sergeants, four Senior Police Officers, nine Police Officers, one Reserve Officer, two full-time Community Services Technicians and one part-time Community Service Technician.
Inside GBPD
5 Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Sergeant
Weekend
Nightshift
Senior
Police Officer
Police Officer
(2)
Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Sergeant
Weekend
Dayshift
Senior
Police Officer
Police Officer
(2)
Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Sergeant
Weekday
Nightshift
Senior
Police Officer
Police Officer
(3)
Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Sergeant
Weekday
Dayshift
Senior
Police Officer
Police Officer
(2)
Community
Service Tech
Chief of Police Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Operations
Commander
Chief of Police Administrative
Commander
Chief of Police Management
Analyst
Organizational
Chart
Chief Records/
Property Tech
Police
Chief of Police
Records/
Property
Tech
Records/
Property
Tech
Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Chief of Police
Detective
(Cannabis)
Detective
Sergeant
Detective
Chief of Police Management
Analyst
P/T Community
Service Tech Chief of Police Reserve Officer Community
Service Tech
6 ORGANIZATIONAL
CHART
This chart shows the 2023
funded positions at the Grover
Beach Police Department. While
not all of these positions were
filled throughout the year, 2023
was a successful year of
recruitment. In 2023, nine new
employees were hired.
OPERATIONS
DIVISION
7 The Operations Division is managed by Commander Bryan Millard who oversees the Patrol Bureau, Range Qualifications, U.A.S. “drone” team, S.W.A.T. Team operators and Crisis Negotiators, Bicycle Team, Use of Force/Vehicle Pursuit Reviews, Community Services Technicians, and special events planning.
Officers and Sergeants assigned to Patrol are responsible for patrolling the city’s 2.25 square miles while recognizing that the most important product they offer is a high quality of service.
Currently, 21 personnel are allocated to Patrol which includes 1 Commander, 4 Sergeants, 13 Police Officers, 1 Reserve Officer, 2 Full-time Community Service Technicians and one Parttime Community Service Technician.
Patrol personnel work 12-hour shifts assigned to patrol teams that provide 24 hours of patrol coverage per day. On average, our Police Officers respond to 70 calls for service each day.
Those calls include proactive officer-initiated activity to prevent crime, and citizen-generated calls for service such as homelessness, mental health assistance, property crimes, and crimes against a person.
SPECIAL
ASSIGNMENTS
SAN LUIS OBISPO REGIONAL SWAT TEAM AND CRISIS NEGOTIATION TEAM GBPD authorizes the assignment of three specially trained “Operators” to the San Luis Obispo County Regional SWAT team. These highly trained officers respond to high-risk situations as needed throughout SLO county, utilizing special equipment and an armored urban rescue vehicle known as a “Bearcat”. In addition to the SWAT team members, GBPD provides 3 trained Crisis Negotiators to the regional team. Crisis Negotiators respond to critical incidents where a negotiator works to de-escalate a situation and provide a safe resolution. Crisis negotiators and SWAT team members train together frequently to hone skills that lead to successful outcomes in highstress situations.
E-BICYCLE PATROL UNIT
FIELD TRAINING OFFICER
8 The police department deploys a fleet of state-of-the-art Recon “Interceptor” electric police bicycles for use by our bike patrol team. The interceptors are purpose-built for law enforcement and include integrated emergency lighting and police equipment along with a high-output electric assist motor to help bike officers respond quickly to emergencies. The police e-bicycle team consists of 10 cross-trained patrol officers who utilize bicycles to patrol harder-to-access areas of the city, such as our parks and natural areas. The bicycle team is active throughout the year participating in community outreach with youth and veterans, and during special events such as the annual holiday parade and Stone Soup Music Festival.
When new officers come on board, whether it be out of the academy or as a lateral from another agency, they enter a 16-week training program.
In this training program, they are assigned to a Field Training Officer (FTO) who will train and guide them on the Grover Beach Police Department’s policies and procedures. The trainee works different shifts throughout the program with various FTOs, who will assess their progression throughout the program. The trainee is evaluated on all aspects of the job during this period and it is a big responsibility for the FTO to make sure that the trainee is meeting the needs of the department.
SUPPORT
SERVICES
DIVISION
Detective Bureau
The department’s Detective Bureau is overseen by Commander Jim Munro, the Support Services Commander. Current staffing includes: (1) Detective Sergeant, (1) Detective assigned to primary cases, (1) Detective assigned to cannabis compliance, and (1) Community Service Technician. The Detective Bureau is also supported by (1) Management Analyst who provides crime analysis and technical investigative support as needed.
Detectives are experienced Police Officers who applied for and were appointed to their special assignments by the Chief of Police after a competitive testing process. They receive ongoing specialized training in a range of areas such as interview techniques, hightech surveillance methods, sexual assault response, homicide, and other specialized investigations.
Detectives are responsible for follow-up investigations to all priority criminal activity reported to the department or initiated by our patrol staff. This can include a variety of activities such as researching the identity of suspects and involved parties in recent crimes, writing search warrants for critical evidence, and gathering statements from people and businesses involved in reported crimes. In addition to follow up investigations, Detectives examine local crime trends and assist to reduce overall criminal activity. 9 SUPPORT
SERVICES
DIVISION
Items processed by Records/Property:
1,768
Reports
408
Citations Livescans Property/Evidence
Items booked in
1,289
605
369 225
Items Destroyed
Evidence: 366
Found: 315
Criminal Citations
Non-Haz Citations
Hazardous Citations
Crime & Accident Reports 342 Parking Citations
10 The Grover Beach Records and Property Bureau is staffed by two Records/Property Technicians. The Records/Property Technicians catalog and file all department reports, citations and court notices.
They handle all public records requests and provide outstanding customer service to individuals who come to the police department for assistance. In 2023, they assisted in implementing a new records management system.
Additionally, the Records and Property Technicians handle all of the property and evidence that is collected by the police officers in the field. They are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the item while it is in our custody and are responsible for the proper return/disposal of the items per state statute or once the item is no longer needed for court.
Records & Property
In addition to the items processed above, Records and Property Technicians also fulfilled 160 DA Discovery requests, processed 68 Found Bicycles, and released 196 items back to their rightful owners. 2023
STATISTICS
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
0 5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
11 19,585
21,734 21,944
24,703
CALLS FOR SERVICE
21,323
ASSISTED OTHER AGENCIES
223
SELF INITIATED ACTIVITY
51%
RESPONSE TIME
2:23
Calls for Service where our Officers were sent to assist neighboring agencies.
We appreciate the working relationship we have with our surrounding cities.
They often return the favor and respond when we need their assistance. 51% of the Calls for Service were “officer initiated”. This represents our officers’ dedication to proactive policing through traffic enforcement, extra patrols of businesses, and actively patrolling the community.
On average our officers responded to calls for
service in two minutes and twenty-three seconds.
TRAFFIC STOPS
1,908
2023
STATISTICS
Group A
Offense 2022 2023 Change
Homicide 0 0 NA
Rape 4 5 + 25%
Robbery 4 2 - 50%
Aggravated
Assault
25 17 - 32%
Assault -
Simple
55 56 + 1.82 %
Burglary 58 32 - 44.83%
Arson 3 3 0%
Auto Theft
(10851) 17 20 + 17.65%
DUI 48 33 - 31%
Fraud 24 45 + 87.5 %
Drug/Narcotics
Violations
89 93 + 4.49 %
OVERALL
CRIME 17%
BURGLARY
THEFT
TRAFFIC
ACCIDENTS
CITATIONS
ARRESTS
45%
32%
26%
23%
4%
DUI Arrests
33 2023 D.U.I.
84 48
2021 2022
12 638
Arrests Citations Traffic Collision
Reports
26% decrease from 2022
139
2022: 615
2021: 759
1,581
Recovered
Vehicles
2021 - 14
2022 - 4
15 309
Warrants
Misdemeanor & Felony
Avg 51 arrests/month 23% increase from 2022
Group A offenses are reported to the State in compliance with CIBRS/NIBRS
CUSTOMER
SERVICE
SURVEYS
85%
13 HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH THE PROFESSIONALISM 4.71 OF 5 OF THE OFFICER THAT YOU INTERACTED WITH? FROM 450 RESPONSES
WAS YOUR SITUATION RESOLVED TO YOUR SATISFACTION?
OVERALL, HOW SATISFIED WERE YOU WITH THE GROVER
BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT?
FROM 642 RESPONSES
FROM 450 RESPONSES
YES
NO
4.65 OF 5
WHAT OUR COMMUNITY SAYS ABOUT GBPD:
KIND COMPASSIONATE POSITIVE EXPERIENCE
QUICK RESPONSE THEY LISTEN RELIABLE
GOOD PEOPLE COURTEOUS
THEY HAVE BEEN AWESOME
UNDERSTANDING PROFESSIONAL DOING A GREAT JOB THEY WERE GREAT! RESPONSIVE 14 COMMITTED TO
OUR COMMUNITY
“AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, MY FUNDAMENTAL DUTY IS
TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY”
- LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF ETHICS
15 COMMITTED TO
OUR COMMUNITY
STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS TO PROMOTE AN ETHICAL
AND TRANSPARENT CITY GOVERNMENT.
-GBPD PRINCIPLES
EMPLOYEE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Records & Evidence Technician
Luis Garcia
16 Senior Police Officer
Jared Allegranza
Officer of the Year
2023
Civilian of the Year
2023
Senior Police Officer Jared Allegranza is a 5-year
veteran of the Grover Beach Police Department.
Officer Allegranza’s assignment is currently on patrol
where he serves as a Senior Police Officer, Field
Training Officer training new Police Officers, a
Firearms Instructor, and is a Sniper on the SLO
County Regional SWAT Team. In 2023, Officer
Allegranza was instrumental in several investigations
that he started while on patrol. He was responsible
for serving search warrants on narcotics offenders,
ridding neighborhoods of drug dealers and was
responsible for catching card skimming suspects
who were installing skimming devices on a local
ATM machine. SPO Allegranza was nominated and
chosen by his peers as the 2023 Officer of the Year.
Property Records Technician Luis Garcia is an 18-
year veteran of the Grover Beach Police
Department. Luis joined the Police Department as
a Dispatcher and was promoted to Lead
Dispatcher. In 2020, Luis joined our Records
department to help process police reports,
property and evidence and front counter requests
for public services. Luis is bilingual and his skills in working with the public have been instrumental for
our front lobby services. Luis always has a positive
attitude and is willing to help the officers with their reporting needs. Luis was nominated and chosen
by his peers as the 2023 Professional Employee of
the Year.
EMPLOYEE
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
17 CATO Precision Rifle Symposium “Top Shot”
Senior Police Officer Jared Allegranza
Senior Police Officer Jared Allegranza, and his partner, Corporal Kyle Carson from the Paso Robles Police Department attended a 3-day symposium and competed against 32 sniper teams from across the state of California. Together, the two were awarded for being the most accurate sniper team. Corporal Carson and SPO Allegranza are both members of the San Luis Obispo
Regional SWAT Team. They are both assigned as snipers on SWAT. We are proud of these two for winning the “Precision Rifle” award from the California Association of Tactical Officers - CATO.
Certified UAS FAA Drone Pilots
The GBPD Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) team was established in 2021 and is currently the largest drone unit in San Luis Obispo County. The unit has 12 members, consisting of 9 FAAcertified pilots and 3 more in pilot training who are under the direction of a patrol Sergeant.
GBPD drone pilots support patrol and investigations during special incidents such as search and rescue operations, building searches, barricaded person calls, evidence photography, special events, assisting other agencies, and community outreach events among other duties. Drone technology allows GBPD to search wider areas in less time, with greater accuracy, and provides real time information for greater officer safety. In 2023, the UAS unit flew 78 missions.
NEW
EMPLOYEES
18 Officer Cian Lenehan
January 23
Officer Lenehan joined us in January 2023 as a lateral
from a police department in Santa Barbara County. He
brings several years of military and law enforcement
experience. Officer Lenehan looks forward to the Special Assignment opportunities available within Grover Beach
Police Department.
Community Services Technician
Kameron Day
February 6
Community Service Technician Day originally joined us in January 2023 as a college intern while he finished his
degree at CSU Long Beach. He applied for our full time
Community Services Technician position and was hired for that role in June 2023.
Community Services Technician
Max Rhyne
March 20
Community Service Technician Rhyne joined the Grover
Beach Police Department as a part-time Community
Services Technician and plans to eventually attend the
police academy and become a Police Officer.
NEW
EMPLOYEES
19 Officer Trenten Howell
June 12
Police Management Analyst
Michaela Basanese
March 20
Police Management Analyst Basanese joined us in March
2023 after spending nine years as an Evidence
Technician at an agency in Monterey County. MA
Basanese grew up coming to the Central Coast for
vacation and was happy to become a “SLO-Cal” resident.
Officer Howell joined us in July, 2023 after a military career, followed by a role as a correctional deputy in the Santa Barbara County Jail. Ofc. Howell graduated the
Allan Hancock Police Academy in December 2023 and
began the field training program.
Officer Raul Chavez
October 2
Officer Chavez joins us as a police academy graduate.
Ofc. Chavez had previous experience as a Community
Service Technician at another Central Coast agency. He
is excited to start his career as a Police Officer.
NEW
EMPLOYEES
20 Officer Isabella Martinez
October 30
Officer Martinez joins us as a lateral Police Officer from a Santa Barbara County agency. Ofc. Martinez is currently in the field training program. Upon completion, Officer Martinez will be assigned to a patrol shift and looks
forward to the opportunities available here at the Grover Beach Police Department.
Trainee Samuel Castillo
December 26
Police Trainee Castillo joins us from a neighboring county correctional facility. Prior to his time as a Corrections Deputy, Police Trainee Castillo was in the military. He will begin the Allan Hancock Police Academy in January 2024 .
Trainee Jonathan Smiley
December 26
Police Trainee Smiley joins us after serving several years as a Sergeant at a mental health hospital. Trainee Smiley is looking forward to attending the Police Academy in July 2024.
2023
HIGHLIGHTS
21 One of the most significant highlights of 2023 is our new wellness area for police department staff. In the summer of 2023, the department took on the project of decommissioning our temporary holding facility and repurposing the space into an additional locker room, wellness room, and gym. These updates provided staff with a space to exercise both their mental and physical wellness.
WELLNESS GRANT 2023
BEARDS!
One common thing you will find in law
enforcement nationwide is the approval
of facial hair for police officers. In May of
2023, the Grover Beach Police
Department updated the policy on facial
hair to include neatly kept beards.
22 TRAINING
At the Grover Beach Police Department, the proper and ongoing training of our staff is a top priority. In the past few years, we’ve made significant investments in training and have increased our training budget. In 2023, our sworn and civilian staff completed hundreds of hours of training.
FOLLOW
US!
23 Facebook.com/groverbeachpolicedepartment
@groverbeachpd
Grover Beach Police Department
@grover_beachPD
Committed to Our Community