PISMO BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item #12.A
Meeting Date: April 1, 2025
TITLE:
Police Department Semi-Annual Update
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the Police Department Semi-Annual Update.
DISCUSSION:
The Police Department is set to present an overview of its activities from January 2024 to December 2024. This report to the City Council encompasses crime trends and statistics, staffing updates, dispatch operations, parking matters, the Community Service Technician position, and community engagement initiatives. The City Council will receive insights into both the achievements and the difficulties encountered by the department throughout the 2024 calendar year.
Semi-Annual Department Update:
The City Council will receive crime statics which are reported to the National Incident- Based Reporting System (NIBRS). This data classifies offenses into two categories:
Group A and Group B. Group A offenses include all incidents occurring within a law enforcement agency's jurisdiction, regardless of whether an arrest is made. These offenses are further categorized into Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Property, and Crimes Against Society. Examples of Group A offenses include arson, burglary, drug/narcotic offenses, and vandalism. Group B offenses, on the other hand, are used solely for reporting arrest data related to specified crimes within the group, primarily consisting of Crimes Against Society. Examples of Group B offenses include writing a bad check, driving under the influence, and trespassing.
During the period from January 2024 to December 2024, the Police Department observed a 12% increase in overall workload compared to the previous year. Notably, there was a 25% increase in self-initiated calls for service, a 26% increase in traffic citations, a 44% increase in other citations, and a 30% increase in warnings. Despite this rise in workload, the department recorded a 9% decrease in Group A: Crimes Against Persons and a 13% decrease in Group A: Crimes Against Property. However, there was a 15% increase in Group A: Crimes Against Society, primarily driven by the uptick in officer-initiated activity, which resulted in a 12% increase in narcotics offenses and a 33% increase in weapons offenses.
In 2024, the Police Department also recorded a 9% decrease in the number of traffic collisions within the city. This included a 40% reduction in pedestrian collisions, a 33% reduction in bicycle collisions, and a 6% decrease in vehicle collisions. These statistics reflect the increased police presence and proactive measures taken to enhance traffic safety within the community. Additionally, there was a 25% increase in the number of traffic stops and a 26% increase in citations issued for traffic violations.
Council Agenda 4-1-2025 12.A-1
Despite these positive trends, the Police Department faced challenges throughout 2024, particularly regarding officer vacancies. This issue aligns with a broader trend affecting law enforcement agencies across California. However, we have begun to see progress in recruitment and retention, and we remain optimistic about achieving full staffing levels by the end of 2025.
This report highlights both the achievements and ongoing efforts of the Police Department in addressing the complexities of law enforcement while continuing to serve and protect the Pismo Beach community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact from this report.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
Submitted by: Jeff Smith, Police Chief
City Manager Approval:
Council Agenda 4-1-2025 12.A-2