PUBLIC SAFETY TEAM
The Public Safety Program is centered on law enforcement
services provided through a contract arrangement with the Los Angeles County
Sheriff’s Department. Civilian
Public Safety Officers, the City Prosecutor, the District Attorney, Probation
and Parole Officers, Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch Volunteers, the volunteer
HAM Radio Officers and Public Safety Volunteers provide an extensive network
of support. The team works cooperatively
with the residents and businesses to identify and resolve crime problems and
encourages active public participation in crime prevention efforts.
The
City of La Mirada contracts with the Los Angeles County Department of Animal
Control. The Animal Control Officer
assigned to the City of La Mirada patrols the City for violations such as
unleashed animals and unlicensed dogs. The
officer also responds to emergency calls related to animals, educations,
shelter, pet adoption, and answers requests for service that are received from
La Mirada residents.
Bicycle patrol is deployed in parks, shopping centers,
and at community events. Sheriff’s
Deputies and Public Safety Officers are able to effectively secure community
events and parking areas. Bicycles
enhance the effectiveness of enforcement efforts by providing greater maneuverability.
Also, Sheriff’s Deputies and Officers assigned to bicycle patrol set
a positive example of safe bicycling habits for other cyclists.
The City Prosecutor’s Office works with the City’s Public Safety Officers
assigned to municipal code enforcement and with Sheriff’s Deputies to prosecute
violations of the La Mirada Municipal Code.
The
Detective Bureau is responsible for the investigation of crimes.
In the last couple of years, the Detective Bureau has effectively attained
the necessary information in order to submit a successful investigation to the
District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
The Crime Analysis Unit is responsible for the
timely dissemination of crime patterns and trends and works closely with
Detective Bureau personnel to assist in suspect and property identification,
develop investigative leads and provide follow-up information to increase
apprehensions and case clearances.
The
City of La Mirada contracts with the County of Los Angeles for a District
Attorney through the Strategies Against Gang Environments (SAGE), and Heightened
Enforcement And Targeting (HEAT) programs.
Using a target approach to crime suppression, the Deputy District
Attorney assists field deputies and probation and parole officers in identifying
problems, developing enforcement strategies, and preparing search warrants and
crime reports. The
District Attorney ensures that the courts and prosecuting attorneys are aware of
the City’s position regarding specific cases.
The City of La Mirada contracts with the Los
Angeles County Fire Department. Located
at 13720 La Mirada Boulevard, Station #49 is the only fire station in the area
equipped with the Quint fire truck, offering a 75’ aerial ladder, more than
200’ of ground ladders, 1,500’ of hose, 300 gallons of water, pumps, “jaws
of life” rescue equipment, small hand tools, and air bags on one engine.
The La Mirada Public Safety Team’s Patrol Division
consists of Patrol Officers, Sergeants and a Lieutenant.
Deputies patrol the City twenty-four hours a day,
seven days a week.
The primary function of this division is crime prevention.
We achieve this goal by utilizing many different tools.
The patrol division is the front line of the team.
When residents call 9-1-1 with an emergency, a Sheriff’s Deputy will
respond. In the case of an emergency,
call 9-1-1, or to report a non-emergency, call the La Mirada Community Sheriff’s
Station at (562) 902-2960.
A patrol sergeant is assigned to each shift.
The patrol sergeant reports to the La Mirada Lieutenant and supervises deputies assigned to general law and traffic
enforcements under their command. The
patrol sergeant enforces department procedures, monitors calls handled by patrol
deputies, reviews incident reports, and offers guidance to deputies when needed.
When patrol deputies are not answering dispatched
calls, they are encouraged to conduct proactive patrols, which include and are
not limited to looking for potential problems, suspicious persons or situations,
and executing arrest warrants.
The Lieutenant is responsible for the direct oversight of field personnel
and their activities, review and approval of all bookings of arrestees in the
Norwalk Sheriff’s Station, and coordination of resources in emergency case
situations. In addition, the
Lieutenant receives and records personnel complaints, investigates force and
resolves personnel conflicts.
Sworn
law enforcement services are provided under a contract with the Los Angeles
County Sheriff’s Department.
The City expends more than $5.6 million dollars a year for 24-hour police
patrol, traffic enforcement, and crime investigation.
Additionally, a five-member Special Assignment Team proactively enforces
against gang, juvenile, and narcotics activities.
Special Assignment Deputies coordinate with the general law and traffic
enforcement teams, detectives, and civilian Public Safety Officers to develop
information necessary to resolve ongoing crimes and nuisances.
For more information about the Los Angeles Sheriff’s
Department, visit their website at www.lasd.org.
The Park / Party Unit is a special detail utilized
on weekends or during special events in parks and enforces municipal codes.
These deputies are specially trained to handle parties or large
gatherings where the host fails to police their own party.
The City of La Mirada contracts with the Los Angeles County Parole Office. The parole officer is responsible for all parolees living in the City.
The City contracts with the Los
Angeles County Probation Department for the services of a juvenile and an adult
Probation Officer. The
Probation Officers monitor the activities of formal and informal probationers,
work with the City’s law enforcement team to reduce crime and delinquency, and
conducts presentations for community organizations.
Public
Safety Assistants are employees of the City who are trained by the Sheriff’s
Department to handle complaints and requests for law enforcement services
utilizing specialized Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) terminals.
In addition to imputing calls for service for dispatching, Public Safety
Assistants are responsible for answering questions received in person at the La
Mirada Community Sheriff’s Station or by telephone, provide clerical assistance to the team, and
prepare crime and other statistical reports for the City and Sheriff’s
Department.
Public
Safety Officers are employees of the City who are trained to issue animal and
bicycle licenses, fingerprint, and write non-hazardous reports, such as forgery,
vandalism, and burglaries.
Officers also answer telephone inquiries, educate school children on
safety issues, assist deputies in the field, and patrol the City for parking
and municipal code violations.
The
City’s five-member Special Assignment Team of deputies proactively enforce against
gang, juvenile, and narcotic activities.
The deputies coordinate with the general law and traffic enforcement
deputies, Detectives, the Deputy District Attorney, Probation and Parole Officers,
and civilian Public Safety Officers to develop information necessary o resolve
ongoing crimes and nuisances.
The team is committed to community-based, problem-oriented
policing and has implemented aggressive crime suppression programs.
Their involvement in the “BEAT Program" has enhanced the responsiveness
of law enforcement and public safety services and encourages increased community
involvement in crime prevention and public safety programs.
The Special Assignment Team is dedicated to maintaining La Mirada’s high
standards and quality of life through proactive enforcement and collaborative
efforts with the community.
Teams
Against Special Crimes (T.A.S.C.) -
The T.A.S.C. unit is deployed when
special enforcement is determined to be necessary.
Members of T.A.S.C. participate in special activities, including narcotic
searches, conducting D.U.I. checkpoints, special security at the La Mirada Golf
Course, and assist the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.
Traffic
and Parking Enforcement –
The
purpose of the Traffic Unit is to reduce injury traffic collisions and property
damage through enforcement of primary accident causing violation and education.
Specially assigned deputies patrol the City
specifically looking for accident causing or “moving” violations and take
enforcement action. The types of
violations traffic deputies look for are those that can cause serious injury or
death if a collision occurred. For
example, speed, failure to stop at a red signal, failure to obey traffic signs,
seatbelt laws, improper use of child safety seats, and jaywalking are all
violations that traffic deputies cite for.
Speed is enforced by the use of Laser in the City
of La Mirada. The officers use hand
held and stationary Laser guns, which are tested daily to ensure proper function
and accuracy. The City of La Mirada
has the units calibrated by a certified technician on an annual basis.
For more information on the Public Safety Team,
call the La Mirada Community Sheriff’s Station at (562) 902-2960