Blue Notebook - A Weekly Recap August 16-22, 2026
September 8, 2026 7:03 PM
by
From August 16-22, SMPD made 110 arrests while responding to significant incidents across the City and maintaining focused enforcement in downtown, beach, residential, and school areas.
The most significant incident of the reporting period occurred August 22 in Palisades Park. Officers investigating an unrelated matter were confronted by a man armed with a knife who advanced toward them with the knife raised. Officers gave commands and attempted to create distance before an officer-involved shooting occurred. One officer discharged their firearm, striking the man. Officers immediately began lifesaving measures. Santa Monica Fire Department personnel responded, continued providing emergency medical care and transported the man to a local hospital. Despite those efforts, he was pronounced deceased. No officers were injured; CID and Forensics personnel responded as part of the investigation.
Across the remainder of the week, personnel document firearm recoveries, arrests tied to organized retail theft and residential burglary, and coordinated investigations supported by SMART Center resources. Traffic personnel emphasized school-zone safety during the first week of classes, while the Homeless Liaison Program combined enforcement with shelter placement, substance-use referrals, and a successful family reunification. Community engagement centered on school visits, neighborhood outreach, Pier safety coordination, and animal-welfare services.
Key Takeaways:
· Coordinated enforcement produced several high-value outcomes. Patrol and specialized units recovered loaded firearms, arrested a residential-burglary suspect, detained organized-retail-theft suspects, recovered stolen property, and advanced an investigation involving stolen mail and postal keys.
· Homelessness response paired accountability with pathways off the street. HLP helped one individual reunite with family in Miami and secured a Samoshel placement for another person who had resisted services for approximately two years.
· School reopening shaped visible enforcement and outreach. Officers monitored school zones, arrested a reckless driver near Lincoln Middle School, visited campuses on the first day of school, and continued follow-up on neighborhood traffic concerns
By the Numbers:
August 16 - August 22, 2026
Metric
|
This Period
|
Last Period
|
YTD 2026
|
YTD Change vs. 2025
|
Calls for Service
|
2,426
|
2,475
|
83,478
|
+6.9%
|
Resident-Initiated Calls
|
1,463
|
1,290
|
44,089
|
-5.6%
|
Officer-Initiated Activity
|
963
|
1,185
|
39,389
|
+25.3%
|
Homeless-Related Dispositions
|
523
|
527
|
18,956
|
-7.9%
|
Arrests
|
110
|
123
|
3,457
|
+67.7%
|
Crime
Suppression
Patrol and specialized teams addressed violent
incidents, weapons violations, burglary, theft, narcotics activity, and
outstanding warrants throughout the reporting period. Several cases demonstrate
the value of coordinated work among patrol, CIT, SIU, K9, DSU, neighboring
agencies, and SMART Center personnel. Enforcement included the recovery of
loaded firearms and stolen property, while follow-up investigative work
connected a parolee to a Santa Monica mailbox burglary and additional stolen
items.
Notable Incidents and Investigations
Incident
|
Summary
|
Loaded Firearm Recovery
1900 block, Pico Boulevard Juvenile
Arrest |
Officers responding to the aftermath of a
fight detained a juvenile carrying a loaded handgun with an altered serial
number. The juvenile was arrested on multiple firearm-related charges.
|
Organized Retail Theft
5th Street/Arizona Avenue and
1500 block, Ocean Avenue Multiple
Arrests |
SMART Center resources located a vehicle
associated with thefts from Alo stores in multiple cities and used drone
support to locate the suspects. CIT detained both suspects, recovered the
stolen merchandise, returned it to the retailer, and transferred custody to
Beverly Hills Police.
|
Felony Vandalism / Firearm
1900 block, Olympic Boulevard
Arrest |
Officers investigated vandalism involving
seven victims. The suspect fled into the roadway, was struck by a vehicle,
and was transported for treatment. Officers recovered a loaded firearm the
suspect had discarded.
|
Residential Burglary
1100 Block of 26th Street Arrest |
A witness saw a suspect remove a window
screen and enter a neighboring apartment. Officers located the suspect inside
and made an arrest without incident.
|
Narcotics Sales Arrest
1100 block, Palisades Park Arrest |
Bike officers contacted a subject and
recovered approximately 151 gross grams of non-prescription Xanax along with
small baggies consistent with sales. The subject was booked for possession
for sale.
|
Traffic
Enforcement
Traffic enforcement emphasized school zones, construction-related
concerns, overweight vehicles, neighborhood requests, and high-visibility
enforcement in Downtown Santa Monica and along Main Street.
August
16 - August 22, 2026
|
Traffic Stops |
Citations |
Advisals/Warnings |
|
214 |
137 |
75 |
Notable Traffic Activity:
|
Activity |
Outcome |
|
School-Zone Enforcement 1501 California Avenue / Lincoln
Middle School Arrest |
A motor officer monitoring
first-week drop-off observed a driver speeding through the school zone and
intersections staffed by crossing guards. The driver was arrested for
reckless driving and later cited. |
|
Major Accident Response Team
Assist 1400 block, Ocean Avenue |
Motor officers assisted the
officer-involved-shooting investigation with FARO scanning and
unmanned-aircraft-system support. |
|
Traffic Investigations |
Investigators approved 10 reports, cleared two
hit-and-run cases, investigated five misdemeanor/felony hit-and-run cases and
one other traffic case. |
Homelessness
Response
SMPD's homelessness response continued to
combine outreach, service coordination, and enforcement at parks, the beach,
downtown, and reported encampment locations. The week's most significant
outcomes included a same-day family reunification and a shelter placement for a
person who had resisted services for approximately two years.
HLP Team Stats:
|
Radio Calls |
SAMO Bridge / Samoshel Referrals |
HLP Self-Initiated Activity |
Citations |
Total Arrests |
Encampments |
|
100 |
3 |
76 |
29 |
11 |
10 |
Key Homeless Response Incidents:
Notable Outreach and Enforcement
|
Activity |
Outcome |
|
Family Reunification Montana business district |
HLP responded to a 311 encampment request and connected an
individual with the Salvation Army HOPE team. His family in Miami was
contacted, and he departed by bus later that day to reunite with them. |
|
Samoshel Placement |
After approximately two years of repeated contacts and
resistance to resources, an individual told HLP officers he was ready to
accept help. Officers secured an available Samoshel bed, transported him, and
completed the intake. |
|
SaMoBridge Referral |
An HLP officer and DMH clinician contacted an individual
interested in substance-use services. Following enforcement related to drug
paraphernalia, the individual was transported to SaMoBridge for referrals. |
|
Sex-Offender Compliance 400 Block of Broadway Arrest |
An officer contacted a person violating a posted-doorway
ordinance and observed drug paraphernalia. A records check showed the subject
was an out-of-compliance sex registrant; the subject was arrested and a
stay-away order was requested. |
|
Felony Warrant 1500 block, Palisades Park Arrest |
An HLP officer contacted an individual and learned the person
had an LASD felony warrant for assault on a police officer. The arrest was
completed without incident. |
|
Weapons / Narcotics Civic Center parking structure Arrest |
Officers contacted a person loitering in the structure and
recovered narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and a concealed dagger. Prior drug
convictions elevated the narcotics charge to a felony. |
Community
& Youth Engagement
Community engagement focused on school reopening,
neighborhood communication, Pier safety, emergency preparedness, and accessible
public-safety services. CET coordinated first-day-of-school visits, met with
neighborhood stakeholders, and continued follow-up on burglary, traffic, and
business-related concerns. Animal Control also supported community welfare
through shelter services, field response, public education, and the annual
Clear the Shelters event.
|
Activity |
Location/Partner |
Outcome |
|
First Day of School |
Schools citywide |
CET coordinated department
assignments, and CET personnel and Command Staff greeted students, families,
and school employees at elementary and middle schools. |
|
Pier Safety Coordination |
Santa Monica Pier |
Personnel joined the City Attorney's Office, Code
Enforcement, Communications, and Parking Operations to develop an initial
response strategy for an aggressive performer near the Pier ramp, including
signage, notice, monitoring, and enforcement coordination. |
|
Emergency Preparedness |
Pier stakeholder network |
CET began coordinating quarterly
preparedness meetings and a unified communication strategy for significant
incidents, including explosive-device threats and weapons-related
emergencies. |
|
Neighborhood Outreach |
Mid City / Pearl Street / Wilshire West |
CET shared crime information at the Mid City
Neighbors meeting, scheduled a Pearl Street Neighborhood Watch meeting in
response to burglary concerns, and prepared for a Wilshire West community
meeting. |
|
Community Pop-Up |
Main Street Farmers Market |
CET hosted a public-safety
pop-up and participated in the Pink Patch Project Chief Meet-Up. |
|
Support for Children |
Department-wide |
CET coordinated a donation of plush toys from the
LA Strong Foundation for patrol officers to provide to children during
traumatic or difficult calls. |
|
Clear the Shelters |
Three cats were adopted during the August 22nd
event, adding to the 5 dogs and 8 cats adopted throughout the week. 19 dogs
and 39 cats remain in care. |
|
