With ‘defunding’ dead, sheriffs drove down crime in 2023

The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station will highlight a marked decrease in Part 1 Crimes when deputies present their year-end statistics at City Council’s meeting tonight, the final report of a tumultuous year in which the council walked back the controversial staffing cuts they forced on the department a year prior. 

Part 1 Crimes dropped by 8% for January through October 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. This decrease is largely attributed to a significant reduction in total thefts, which include grand theft, petty theft, and vehicle burglary, accounting for 65% of all Part 1 Crimes. Grand and petty theft continue to be the main drivers of Part 1 Crime totals in the area.

The West District of West Hollywood has seen a dramatic 21% decrease in Part 1 Crime. Almost every crime category in this district has witnessed notable declines. A critical factor contributing to this decrease has been the successful disruption of Organized Theft Groups (OTG) from South America, which have been targeting nightclub patrons for their cell phones and wallets. Special enforcement operations have been instrumental in this achievement, leading to 14 arrests of suspected OTG members. Vehicle burglaries have shown a significant drop of 114%, and serious crimes such as aggravated assault and armed robbery have also seen meaningful reductions. With 1,088 Part 1 Crimes reported, the West District accounts for 53% of all Part 1 Crime in the city.

However, the City Center has experienced a relatively static trend with only a 1% reduction in Part 1 Crimes. A worrying increase in residential burglary (up 75%) has been observed, although the total number of incidents remains relatively low at 21. The serious nature of residential burglaries and the potential for significant losses have prompted station personnel to focus on reducing such incidents. Other burglaries, which include mail thefts and theft from unlocked vehicles and bicycles in apartment complex mailrooms and subterranean parking garages, rose by 19%. The City Center, with 400 Part 1 Crimes, accounts for 19% of the city’s total.

The downward trend did not hold true for the city’s East Side, which saw a 23% increase in Part 1 Crime compared to the same period in 2022, making it the only area in the city to show rising Part 1 Crimes. Concerning increases have been observed in strong-arm robberies (up 114%) and vehicle burglaries (up 90%). The East Side has been particularly affected by strong-arm Estes robberies at BevMo and Target, with 10 incidents, and petty theft shoplifting, with 91 incidents. This district accounts for 28% of all Part 1 Crime citywide.

From January through October 2023, there were 311 arrests of homeless people, many of whom were detained more than once. Additionally, 25% (33 out of 130) of all aggravated assaults involved a transient suspect, highlighting the intersection of homelessness and crime in the area.

WHO’S DOING WHAT

The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station has also been active in community engagement and crime prevention. The Community Impact Team (CIT), which includes the Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) Team and the Entertainment Policing Team (EPT), is led by Lt. Fanny Lapkin and Sgt. Jason Duron. The CIT manages community concerns and promotes crime prevention through various intervention and enforcement techniques, while the EPT deals with law enforcement issues related to nightlife and alcohol in the city, patrolling more than 90 bars, nightclubs and hotels. They address crowd-control issues, Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) enforcement, and work closely with the Sunset Strip Business Association (SSBA) and city code compliance officers.

The COPPS Team collaborates with city officials, residents, and businesses to address community concerns. They provide information and assistance regarding shelters, medical attention, jobs, and substance use disorder education. The team conducts park patrols and works closely with local businesses to address their concerns, instituting a “Letter of Agency” where appropriate for enforcing trespassing on private property.

The West Hollywood Detective Bureau, which conducts follow-up investigations on all criminal complaints filed at the station, has been actively involved in addressing crimes ranging from disorderly conduct and vandalism to robberies, assaults, and hate crimes. Between January and October 2023, the Detective Bureau received 892 active criminal cases, a 3% reduction from the previous year. The Bureau has been instrumental in solving various high-profile cases, including armed robberies and residential burglaries, using surveillance footage and collaborating with neighboring law enforcement agencies.

The Traffic Division of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, comprising two Traffic Motor deputies, six Traffic Enforcement cars, and two detectives, monitors general traffic issues and conducts special enforcement operations. The division has seen a 9% decrease in reported traffic collisions but a significant decrease in DUI traffic collision investigations and arrests. The division’s proactive approach, including DUI training for Patrol and Traffic deputies and implementation of DUI checkpoints, has contributed to these positive trends.

The station’s Youth Activities League (YAL) program, however, has been suspended due to staffing shortages. The station also benefits from the supportof volunteers who assist with various tasks, including front desk reception, clerical duties, and traffic control. These volunteers play a vital role in maintaining the station’s community engagement and operational efficiency.

The Narcotics Bureau of the West Hollywood Station, part of the Northwest Region Narcotics Team, responds to and investigates narcotics-related arrests generated by station patrol and their own cases. The “Safe Drug Drop Off” program remains active, offering residents a safe way to discard hazardous materials and expired prescription medications.

The station’s diverse teams, from detectives to traffic and community impact personnel, continue to work collaboratively to maintain law and order and improve the quality of life for the residents of West Hollywood.