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Sheriff's captain tells Cudahy Council response times are under targets, flags staffing and homelessness as challenges
Summary
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department presented its annual report to the Cudahy City Council, reporting average response times below departmental targets, describing staffing shortages and homelessness as ongoing challenges, and describing the department’s practice for interactions with federal immigration agents.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told the Cudahy City Council on Sept. 16 that average response times in Cudahy are below departmental targets but that staffing shortages and homelessness remain persistent challenges.
Captain Melvin, representing the East Los Angeles Sheriff Station, said emergency calls average 5.2 minutes, priority calls 8.5 minutes and routine calls 51.3 minutes in Cudahy. “For emergency calls, we average 5.2 minutes, our priority calls 8.5 minutes, and our routine calls 51.3 minutes,” he said.
The report described the department’s community policing activities over the prior six months, including National Night Out, school visits, a mental evaluation team, and K-9 and mounted-unit participation at community events. Captain Melvin said those events helped deputies reconnect with residents and young people.
Why this matters: response-time performance and staffing levels shape residents’ day-to-day public-safety experience and influence how the city plans public-safety budgets and community programs.
Council members asked for more regular statistics and outreach. Council Member Gomez asked to see the slide of call-type percentages and requested monthly statistics. Council Member Fuentes recommended adding a clear 911 button or quick-dial option to the city app so residents can call quickly from a mobile device.
On enforcement around federal immigration operations, Captain Melvin said deputies are not trained to enforce immigration law and will not ask residents about immigration status. He described a practice of verifying federal agents’ identity when county deputies receive reports of immigration-enforcement activity, then stepping back if federal agents are present. “The Sheriff's Department and all the deputies are not trained in immigration enforcement because that is not our job. That is a federal function,” he said.
The captain said the department is short-staffed and asked for community help recruiting applicants. “We currently do not have enough applicants, to fulfill the vacancies that we have within law enforcement,” he said.
Council members asked for more town halls and closer coordination when significant incidents occur, and Vice Mayor Dr. Gonzales and Council Member Lomeli said they support expanded community meetings to improve transparency and rumor control.
No formal action was taken; the presentation was received and followed by council questions and comments.
