PUBLIC SAFETY
POLICE OPERATIONS SUMMARY OF SERVICES
Police Operations provides a variety of field, traffic, and operations support, including emergency service requests; citizen assistance; and responding to in-progress, reported crimes and a wide range of non- criminal activities.
Accomplishments
For the 13 th consecutive year, Irvine was the Safest City of its size for Violent Part 1 crime, according to FBI data. Traffic Safety remains a top priority of the Public Safety Department. Many initiatives were undertaken over the past year to enhance traffic safety in our community. Three crossing guards were added near our schools, bringing the total number of intersections protected to 53. To further enhance safety at our schools, all traffic officers have been assigned to specific campuses to facilitate safer pick-up and drop-off of students. Additionally, 16 Smart Start classes were presented at Irvine High Schools to new drivers. Further efforts included 10 DUI checkpoint operations, funded by the Office of Traffic Safety. High visibility enforcement operations were a common occurrence, providing education and enforcement. The Traffic Unit also launched its own Facebook page to communicate safety messaging to the community. Distracted driving, stop sign safety and roundabout awareness were a few of the key messages. In addition, Public Safety is spearheading a Traffic Safety working group comprised of a cross-section of personnel from several City Departments. In 2018, the number of injury traffic collisions in our City decreased to 2.19 per 1,000 residents, down from 2.53 a year earlier. With the approval of City Council, Public Safety formed an Unmanned Aircraft System team. A UAS, also known as a drone, is an efficient, cost-effective crime-fighting tool. A new policy clearly defines permitted and restricted uses of the drone. Approved uses include surveying a crime scene or major traffic collision scene; searching for suspects or missing persons inside an established perimeter; mapping wildlife paths of travel; assisting inmedical aid calls; gaining visual access where it is otherwise difficult, such as rooftops; and assisting in natural disaster evaluation and response. The focus on our lifesaving capabilities continued into FY 2018-19. Public Safety now employs 13 police officers who have achieved an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) license from the County. In addition, Public Safety has upgraded the emergency medical box carried in each car to a more functional, durable backpack that includes vital clotting agents and tourniquets. Further, we continue to administer Naloxone, a drug that can save the life of an individual who has overdosed on opioids. These enhanced efforts resulted in 15 lives saved by our officers over the past year. The Irvine Police Department Mounted Unit, established in 2017, saw continued success in 2018. The Unit participated in six community events, took part in Open Space patrols and assisted in five mutual aid calls from neighboring cities.
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FY 2019-21 Proposed Budget
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