Edition:
April 21, 2006
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Reporter
The Canyon Lake Police Department, through the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, released its 2005 Annual Report at this month’s City Council meeting, held Wednesday, April 5. The annual report provides information on the city’s crime statistics as well as the department’s performance.
Background
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has provided Canyon Lake with contract law enforcement services since May 1996; Canyon Lake previously contracted with the City of Perris, whose services commenced with the city’s incorporation in 1990. In all, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for a total of 7,310 square miles, including municipal police duties in 13 of the county’s 24 incorporated cities, Canyon Lake included.
Ranking as the third largest sheriff’s department in California, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department consists of more than 3,000 employees, both sworn and unsworn. Through the contractual agreement with Canyon Lake, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department provides the city with a department Captain to act as Police Chief; 24 hours of supported daily patrol services; one full-time Community Oriented Policing (COP) officer; and administrative, investigative and logistical support.
Canyon Lake’s law enforcement budget increased approximately $110,000 from the previous year to $1.2 million because of an increase in contract costs with the Sheriff’s Department. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Grant Unit assists Canyon Lake in obtaining supplemental funding from the state through CAL-COPS grants for several enforcement programs, including bicycle and mounted patrols, DUI enforcement and marine patrol. These extra funds are also utilized to supplement the city’s police staff during large community events. Air Quality Management District (AQMD) funding was also obtained for non-motorized patrol activities.
Crime statistics
The Canyon Lake Police Department saw an overall decrease in crimes against persons (homicide, rape, robbery and felony assault) of nine percent from the previous year, although reports of both rape and robbery increased. A substantial percentage of the reported rapes were closed by investigators as unfounded due to insufficient evidence to proceed or as a result of lack of cooperation from the victim.
Property crimes (burglary, grand theft, auto theft and arson) also experienced an overall decrease of five percent from 2004 statistics, with incidents of auto theft and arson posting increases. Grand theft reports, the majority of which are incidents of identity theft, decreased by 33 percent while reported auto thefts increased 57 percent; 12 of the 44 reported stolen vehicles were golf carts.
All categories of misdemeanor crimes displayed decreases across the board, with total offenses down 20 percent from the prior year. Incidents of vandalism and graffiti, which had decreased by 40 percent in 2004, again posted a slight decline thanks to continuing concerted efforts to target commonly vandalized areas.
Public intoxication, driving under the influence and disturbing the peace showed the most significant decreases; incidents of public intoxication were down 62 percent from the prior year, while there were 22 percent fewer arrests made for DUI. The Canyon Lake Police Department credits higher visibility patrols as well as occasional safety and sobriety checkpoints for helping to bring down the numbers in those categories.
Traffic enforcement
The City of Canyon Lake has few public roads subject to traffic enforcement due to private dedication of the roadways within the gated portion of the community, however DUI and school bus violations are enforceable by the Canyon Lake Police Department on private roads under the vehicle code.
The department categorizes traffic citations as ‘hazardous’ (pertaining to moving violations), ‘non-hazardous’ (equipment violations) and parking. A total of 231 citations were issued by officers last year, with hazardous and non-hazardous citations both decreasing by 30 percent from 2004.
Traffic enforcement in 2005 was supplemented through the use of grant funds, allowing for additional radar enforcement. Traffic collisions showed little change as a whole, with one less accident in 2005 than the prior year; however, the number of injury and fatality accidents increased by 63 percent and 300 percent, respectively.
The Canyon Lake Police Department indicates that the reduction of non-injury collisions (down 17 percent) can be directly related to increased radar enforcement. The increase in injury collisions was attributable to injury-alcohol related collisions within the gated portion of the community.
Arrests
Overall, arrests for both felonies and misdemeanors rose by 47 percent, with officers affecting a total of 191 arrests in 2005. While misdemeanor arrests increased by 31 percent, felony arrests jumped 240 percent, a significant increase attributed to arrests of subjects with outstanding warrants during routine patrol activities. In addition, some investigations into felony crimes have netted multiple arrests. All criminal and traffic investigation activity decreased minimally from 2004, down three percent with 3,781 total calls for service in 2005.
2005 Accomplishments
Through the community-based policing program, the department last year established an enhanced tracking system for crimes associated with young adults and juveniles. In addition, the department embarked on an extensive crime prevention and public safety program designed to ensure the safety of Canyon Lake residents on the roadways, in public parks and on the water. The program utilizes bike and mounted patrols, marine patrols and traffic enforcement/DUI officers and was effective in reducing criminal activity in general while maintaining a family atmosphere at public beaches and waterways.
These enhanced patrols were financed through state and federal grants; in 2005 the department received approximately $114,000 in law enforcement grant funding. In cooperation with the Canyon Lake Market, the department continued to operate a good citizenship award program. Children and young adults who display proper bicycle safety, wear flotation devices while boating on the lake or demonstrate a good attitude are issued a ‘citation’ by officers that entitle them to a free ice cream or cookie at the market.
2006 Goals
For 2006, the Canyon Lake Police Department has identified its goals to improve service to Canyon Lake. Based on the correlation between increased enforcement and decreasing traffic collisions, the department will continue with aggressive enforcement and higher visibility patrols in an effort to further reduce the number of accidents. Response time to calls for service decreased overall by two percent in 2005, a trend the department would like to continue.
Lastly, the department will continue to expand the established Explorers Post Program in Canyon Lake. Explorers are involved in a variety of activities emphasizing community service and leadership development as well as being exposed to careers in the law enforcement field.
For more information...
A copy of the Canyon Lake Police Department’s 2005 Annual Report is available for residents to review in its entirety at the counter at Canyon Lake City Hall. Residents are encouraged to contact the Canyon Lake Police Department directly to report any criminal activity in the city. Emergencies should always be called in to 9-1-1, while non-emergencies can be reported to the main switchboard at 800-950-2444. Deputy Chad Loeffler, Canyon Lake’s designated Community Oriented Policing (COP) Officer, can be reached at City Hall at 244-2955, ext. 16 to answer any questions residents may have.
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