February 3, 2026 1:43 PM
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Police Department Weekly Update

During the week of January 18 through January 24, 2026, the Santa Monica Police Department maintained a strong operational posture focused on violent crime suppression, firearms enforcement, traffic safety, homelessness outreach, and proactive community engagement. Officers conducted coordinated enforcement and suppression operations citywide, with particular emphasis on Downtown Santa Monica, beach areas, parks, and major corridors.

The Department responded to several high-risk incidents, including firearm-related arrests and a shots-fired call, all of which were resolved without injury to officers or the public. Proactive policing efforts continued to drive enforcement activity, with officer-initiated activity exceeding resident-initiated calls for service. SMPD also supported the City’s annual homeless count, increased high-visibility traffic operations, and sustained multi-disciplinary outreach efforts alongside City and regional partners.

January 18^th – January 24^th : By the Numbers

 

Year-to-Date Comparison

·       8,486 calls for service in 2026 compared to 7,421 during the same period in 2025 (+14.4%)

·       310 arrests year-to-date, compared to 192 last year (+61.5%)

Crime Suppression

During the reporting period, multiple suspects were taken into custody for firearm possession, outstanding felony warrants, parole and probation violations, and assault-related offenses, including several incidents resolved through coordinated perimeter, air support, and K9 deployments.

Downtown Santa Monica, the beach, and park areas remained a primary focus, with the Downtown Services Unit, Crime Impact Team, K9 Unit, and patrol officers executing proactive operations that resulted in numerous arrests and citations. These efforts emphasized officer-initiated activity, high-risk offender apprehension, and visible enforcement aimed at reducing repeat offending and improving overall public safety.

Key Crime Suppression Incidents:

Incident Type	Description
Shots Fired/Firearm Arrest 2700 Block of Olympic Blvd	Officers responded to a report of a man with a firearm near a commercial location. A single shot was fired before a containment was established.  The suspect was taken into custody without incident and a firearm was recovered. Further investigation determined the suspect was shooting into the air.
Firearm & Narcotics Arrest 1600 Block of the Beach	Officers conducting a periodic check contacted a subject who was found in possession of a loaded firearm and narcotics. The suspect was arrested without incident.
Assault on Officer / Shoplifting 3200 block of Pico	Officers located a shoplifting suspect who assaulted an officer during detention. A short foot pursuit followed and the suspect was taken into custody.
Warrant Arrest DTSM	Officers contacted a subject during proactive patrol and discovered a no-bail felony warrant. The subject was arrested without incident.

Traffic Enforcement

Traffic safety efforts remained a priority throughout the week, with officers conducting targeted enforcement and education operations citywide.

Motor officers focused on school zones, Downtown Santa Monica, and posted-sign compliance, while DUI saturation patrols and high-visibility enforcement addressed impaired driving and hazardous violations. These efforts supported collision prevention, pedestrian safety, and overall roadway compliance.

Traffic Enforcement Data:

 

Notable Traffic Incidents:

Incident Type	Description
Vehicle–Pedestrian Collision 24th and Pearl St.	Officers investigated a non-injury collision near a local elementary school involving an autonomous vehicle. Traffic investigators reviewed video evidence and completed the investigation.
Citywide DUI Saturation Patrol	Officers conducted a DUI saturation patrol resulting in multiple traffic stops, field sobriety evaluations, and one drug-related arrest.
Traffic Safety Enforcement Lincoln Corridor & School Zones	High-visibility enforcement focused on posted-sign and moving violations resulted in multiple citations and advisals. Officers conducted traffic enforcement and safety education near school campuses during peak drop-off and pick-up hours.

Homelessness Response

SMPD’s Homeless Liaison Program, patrol officers, and specialized units continued coordinated outreach, enforcement, and service-based engagement throughout the city. Directed deployments focused on balancing municipal code enforcement with referrals to services and mental health support. During the reporting period, HLP conducted 203 self-initiated activities, completed 86 periodic checks, and addressed nine encampments across the city.

The Department also supported the City’s Annual Homeless Count by deploying officers, drones, and specialized teams to assist with data collection in hard-to-access areas.

Key Homeless Response Incidents:

Incident Type	Description
Narcotics Enforcement at Beach-Area Encampments	Officers addressed repeat violations related to tents and obstruction, resulting in citations and arrests when necessary.
Warrant Arrest	Officers contacted a subject in violation of posted regulations and discovered an outstanding warrant. The subject was arrested and later placed on a mental health hold.
SamoBridge SUccess	Officers transported a subject requesting housing assistance to SamoBridge, where the individual was successfully accepted into services.

Community & Youth Engagement

SMPD officers and civilian staff remained actively engaged with residents, businesses, and community partners throughout the week, reinforcing public trust and addressing neighborhood-specific concerns. Community Engagement Team officers participated in neighborhood and merchant meetings, conducted security assessments, and collaborated with City departments to address quality-of-life issues, pedestrian safety, and crime prevention strategies.

 

Additional engagement efforts included business outreach, resident Zoom meetings, school and hospital coordination, and support for City events and Department initiatives. These interactions complemented enforcement activity by strengthening partnerships, improving information sharing, and ensuring community concerns were addressed through both problem-solving and proactive policing.

 

Notable Events:

Incident Type	Description
Neighborhood Meetings and Outreach	Personnel  participated in resident and merchant meetings to discuss crime trends, safety strategies, and quality-of-life concerns.
Security Assessments	Personnel conducted security assessments and follow-ups with local businesses to address lighting, access, and safety concerns.

 

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Safety