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La Verne police commend officers, report rise in vehicle burglaries and motor-vehicle thefts; launch summer enforcement
Summary
Police Chief Christopher Mays presented letters of commendation to three officers for a March 28 barricade arrest, released the department's first annual report and outlined targeted summer enforcement after reporting increases in vehicle burglary, motor-vehicle theft and robbery.
La Verne Police Chief Christopher Mays presented letters of commendation and a chief's coin to three officers on May 6 after a March 28 domestic incident and barricaded-suspect arrest that ended without the use of deadly force.
The recognition came as Mays reviewed the department's new annual report and year-to-date crime comparisons. "Your handling of a potentially dangerous and hazardous call for service with prompt and efficient actions reflects great credit upon yourself and the La Verne Police Department," Mays read, presenting the commendations.
The department's year-to-date figures through April showed increases in vehicle burglary, motor-vehicle theft and robbery, while residential burglary declined about 12.5 percent, assaults (including domestic assaults) fell nearly 10 percent and overall theft was down about 24 percent. Shoplifting counts were down about 88.6 percent. Overdoses and homicides were flat compared with the same period last year.
Mays said the department will analyze incident data to target resources by neighborhood, day of week and time of day. He also announced "Operation State Safe Streets," a coordinated enforcement effort with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department and the Tennessee Highway Patrol that will focus on traffic enforcement in May, June, July and August. He said a short online survey shared through the department's Facebook page has produced 29 responses so far and that the department will cross-reference survey results with crash data to set enforcement priorities.
The chief asked the board to help remind drivers that the area in front of La Verne Middle School through David's Way and La Verne Lake Elementary has a 15 mph limit at all times, not just when school is in session; staff said they would work with the department's social media point person to post reminders.
Mays said he intends for the annual report — the first compiled by the department — to become a regular, annual publication and that limited print copies will be available at the police lobby when the department posts the report to its website.
No formal board action was required for the commendations or the enforcement plan; the chief asked staff to publish reminders and to proceed with the summer enforcement program.
The police report and the commendation presentation took place during the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on May 6, 2025.
