PISMO BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAF REPOR
Agenda Item #12.B
Meetin Date: pril 7, 2026
TITLE:
Police Department Semi-Annual Update
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive the Police Department Semi-Annual Update.
DISCUSSION:
Staff will present an overview of the Police Department’s activities from January 2025 to December 2025. This report to the City Council includes crime trends and statistics, staffing updates, dispatch operations, parking data, the Community Service Technician position, and community engagement highlights.
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 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 2025 to December 2025, the Police Department observed an 18% increase in overall workload compared to the previous year. Notably, there was a 29% increase in self-initiated calls for service, a 1% increase in traffic citations, an 18% increase in community-generated calls for service, and a 29% increase in warnings. Despite this rise in workload, the Department recorded a 1% decrease in Group A: Crimes Against Persons and a 14% decrease in Group A: Crimes Against Property and a 36% decrease in Group A: Crimes Against Society. The primary decrease in these crimes was related to narcotics arrests, down 39%, and weapons arrests, down 36%.
In 2025, the Police Department recorded a 26% increase in documented traffic collisions within the city. This included no change in pedestrian collisions, a 75% increase in bicycle collisions, and a 49% increase in vehicle collisions. Despite the overall rise in collisions, DUI-related collisions decreased by 36%, reflecting continued enforcement and education efforts addressing impaired driving. Additionally, there was a 78% increase in traffic stops and a 1% increase in citations issued for traffic violations, demonstrating the department’s continued commitment to proactive traffic enforcement.
The Police Department made progress in staffing during 2025. The Department Council Agenda 4-7-2026 12.B-1
successfully hired three new police officers who are currently completing the field training program. Two officers graduated from the police academy in December, and one officer joined the Department as a lateral hire from the Bakersfield Police Department. Currently, the Department has two officer vacancies and one dispatch vacancy. Recruitment efforts are ongoing to fill these remaining vacant positions. Staff remains hopeful about continued progress toward full staffing.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact from this report.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Submitted by: Jeff Smith, Police Chief
City Manager Approval:
Council Agenda 4-7-2026 12.B-2