Whittier police report: burglar alarms, thefts and homelessness drove most Santa Fe Springs calls in 2024

Captain Aaron Ruiz, with the Whittier Police Department, told the Santa Fe Springs City Council on the evening the department’s 2024 public-safety review showed property crimes — especially thefts tied to business parking lots — were the leading driver of calls for service in the city.

Ruiz told the council the regional dispatch center handled “approximately over 200,000 calls for service” last year, and that “approximately 18,000 translated into calls for service specifically in Southeast Springs.” He said the city made about “a little over 1,500 arrests,” mostly for narcotics, theft and outstanding warrants.

Why it matters: The presentation linked rising theft and retail incidents to the city’s commercial profile and to limited post-arrest consequences countywide. The council heard details about response times, enforcement priorities and surveillance tools that city staff say have helped clear cases and recover property.

Ruiz highlighted response-time performance and enforcement priorities. “The national average for emergency response calls…is between 5 to 7 minutes. We were…approximately 4 minutes and 47 seconds,” he said. He added the average nonemergency response time was about 14 minutes and 25 seconds, and noted staffing and concurrent incidents can affect those numbers.

The officer also reviewed crime-category trends, noting a modest rise in reported incidents in 2024 compared with 2023 but fewer violent crimes overall. He said an uptick in reported robberies in the statistics was largely driven by shoplifting encounters that escalated to robbery-level classifications when a suspect used force or created fear during confrontation.

Technology and staffing changes were a major focus. Ruiz described automatic license-plate reader (ALPR) cameras, drones and Axon-brand equipment as “invaluable” tools. He said the department had 30 ALPR cameras in 2022 and planned to add about 11 more, and described examples where ALPRs and drones helped identify suspects and recover stolen property.

On nonlethal tools, Ruiz said the city will bring a budget item forward to replace aging tasers and body-worn cameras. “Axon…is no longer going to support these [older tasers], so we're going to have to ask you all to support funding this,” he said, describing replacements as a de-escalation tool.

Council members and the mayor praised officers and asked about homelessness-related calls and a tactical response team. Council members were told staff are coordinating with the county supervisor’s office and that a study-session update on funding and strategy will follow during upcoming budget discussions.

The presentation closed with recognition of geographic sergeants assigned to parts of the city and a brief award ceremony honoring Sergeant Mike Rosario for a life-saving response earlier in 2024.

Ending note: No formal council action was taken on the presentation itself; councilmembers requested follow-up information about tactical resources, potential additional traffic enforcement staffing and the timing of the proposed Axon replacement budget item.