January 27, 2026 12:34 PM
by

During the week of January 11 through January 17, 2026, the Santa Monica Police Department maintained focused enforcement, investigative follow-up, and proactive deployments across the city. Officers responded to a range of incidents, including mental health crises and significant public safety calls, while continuing directed patrols in high-activity areas such as Downtown, the beach, and neighborhood corridors.

The Department emphasized visible traffic enforcement, probation and parole compliance operations, and coordinated responses to homelessness-related concerns.

January 11th – January 17th : By the Numbers

  

 

Year-to-Date Comparison

·       5,837 calls for service in 2026 compared to 5,333 during the same period in 2025 (+9.5%)

·       203 arrests year-to-date, compared to 148 last year (+37.2%)

 

Crime Suppression

SMPD officers and detectives investigated multiple incidents this week, including felony assaults, firearm-related arrests, sexual assault investigations, and a child abandonment case that prompted an immediate multi-disciplinary response involving CID, Forensics, Fire, and DCFS. Officers also safely resolved several mental health crises, including suicide attempts, utilizing crisis negotiation techniques and coordinated Fire Department assistance.

Proactive enforcement efforts yielded notable arrests for stolen vehicles, probation and parole violations, and illegal firearms possession. A coordinated probation and parole compliance operation conducted by the Crime Impact Team and Directed Surveillance Unit resulted in 11 felony arrests, reinforcing accountability and compliance within the Downtown and citywide footprint.

Key Crime Suppression Incidents:

Incident Type	Description
Felony Assault / Stolen Vehicle Recovery	Officers arrested two suspects after victims located their stolen vehicle using tracking technology and were assaulted during a confrontation. A weapon was recovered, and both suspects were taken into custody.
Child Abandonment Investigation	Officers responded to reports of a newborn left on a sidewalk after an apparent unattended birth. The infant and mother were transported to a hospital for care. CID and Forensics responded, and the case remains under investigation with DCFS involvement.
Firearm-Related Arrests	Officers recovered loaded and unregistered firearms during separate traffic stops, resulting in arrests and removal of illegal weapons from the community.
Pier Incidents	Attempted Stabbing: On the Santa Monica Pier, a suspect was arrested after attempting to stab a victim with a sharp object; the victim was uninjured.   Assault on Lifeguard: A chronic "pier jumper" was rescued from the water on January 12. During the rescue, the suspect spat in a lifeguard's face and was arrested for a stay-away order violation.

Traffic Enforcement

Traffic safety remained a priority, with patrol watches and the Traffic Enforcement Section conducting focused operations throughout the city. Officers completed 357 traffic stops, emphasizing speed enforcement, distracted driving, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and school zone compliance.

Grant-funded traffic operations addressed posted sign violations and high-risk behaviors, resulting in multiple citations and one warrant arrest. Motor officers and traffic units also supported patrol during priority calls and foot pursuits where vehicle access was limited, enhancing officer safety and enforcement effectiveness in high-density areas.

Traffic Enforcement Data:

 

Notable Traffic Incidents:

Incident Type	Description
Enforcement Operations	The Traffic Enforcement Section conducted specialized details for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety resulting in 32 stops and 26 citations.   Distracted Driving Enforcement resulted in 26 stops and an equal number of citations.
Lincoln Middle School	Officers focused on traffic violations during drop-off at Lincoln Middle School after receiving community complaints. Two citations were issued.

Homelessness Response

The Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) continued a balanced approach centered on enforcement, outreach, and service connection. During the reporting period, HLP conducted 108 self-initiated activities, completed 29 periodic checks, and addressed four encampments across the city.

Notably, officers connected a chronic unhoused veteran to a VA housing voucher and assisted another individual in transitioning from an encampment into temporary shelter with support from City and nonprofit partners. Enforcement actions also led to multiple warrant arrests and narcotics-related bookings.

Key Homeless Response Incidents:

Incident Type	Description
Narcotics Enforcement at Encampments	Officers made several arrests and citations after locating methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during consensual encounters and encampment-related enforcement actions. Encampments were removed following enforcement and sanitation coordination.
Outreach Success	HLP assisted a veteran who had been unhoused in Santa Monica for two years in obtaining a VA housing voucher and a California ID. Another individual was successfully placed at SamoShel.
Encampments	During beach and pier enforcement, officers addressed unlawful camping violations that resulted in both arrests and successful referrals to treatment and shelter, including placement into rehabilitation and temporary housing through SamoBridge and partner agencies.

Community & Youth Engagement

Community Engagement Team (CET) officers and Neighborhood Resource Officers maintained active engagement with residents, businesses, and City partners. Officers addressed ongoing quality-of-life concerns through proactive checks, neighborhood meetings, business outreach, and coordination with Public Works, Beach Maintenance, Code Enforcement, and HLP.

Notable Events:

Incident Type	Description
Neighborhood Meetings and Outreach	Personnel attended meetings at Virginia Ave Park and Sunset Park to address resident concerns related to safety, parking, and vehicle dwelling.
Neighborhood and Business Quality-of-Life Response	Officers responded to recurring quality-of-life concerns at commercial locations and residential areas, including Downtown businesses and neighborhood corridors. Officers provided guidance to property managers and tenants, conducted follow-up patrols, and coordinated with Code Enforcement and HLP to reduce repeat calls for service.

 

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