Clear Lake Police report 2024 crime down, highlight staffing and community outreach; two officers sworn in

Chief Bobbs, Clear Lake Police Chief, told the City Council on Feb. 20 that the department's 2024 statistics showed declines in several crime categories and improvements in some operational measures.

The department recorded just over 35,000 total incidents in 2024, of which just under 22,000 were calls for service and about 13,000 were officer-initiated events, Chief Bobbs said. Arrests fell slightly to just over 1,800 and police reports completed declined to just under 3,200, he said.

"Total crime statistics: crimes against persons were down about 1.5 percent, property crime down about 21.5 percent and crimes against society down about 18.25 percent," Chief Bobbs said. He added the overall crime rate for the offenses reported dropped about 14.5 percent from 2023 to 2024.

The department also reported traffic and response-time improvements. Chief Bobbs said there were 48 total traffic collisions in 2024, a roughly 20 percent decrease from 2023; fatal collisions fell from six to three. Priority 1 response time, measured from when the dispatcher receives the call to officer arrival, averaged 5 minutes, 18 seconds in 2024; if measured from officer dispatch it averaged about four minutes.

Chief Bobbs described evidence and property-room activity (about 4,300 items processed and 90 firearms seized) and noted the department disposed of roughly 120 pounds of prescription medication. Use-of-force incidents were low: 34 reportable instances across more than 35,000 documented contacts.

The report covered recruitment and staffing challenges. Chief Bobbs said certain hiring categories remain difficult: for police officers the department received 41 applicants for one recruitment cycle, seven made it to background checks and three were hired; dispatch recruitment had about 15 applicants, three backgrounds, and three hires. Code enforcement case counts declined (about 453 property cases) while administrative citations rose.

Lieutenant Peterson and other staff noted code enforcement is prioritizing longer, more intensive work on specific problem properties and preparing abatement under a CalRecycle grant that will target about 40 properties.

During the presentation Chief Bobbs and Lieutenant Peterson described community engagement programs, training totals and employee recognition. Chief Bobbs introduced Sergeant Eagle, promoted in January, and Officer Rivera, recently hired after graduating the College of the Sequoias Police Academy; both took the oath of office in council chambers.

Vice Mayor Slooten asked whether the 2024 traffic fatalities were concentrated on Highway 53; Chief Bobbs said some years have many incidents on the highway but it varies. Mayor Kramer and councilmembers thanked the department for the report and for increased enforcement visibility.

The council took no formal action on the annual report; the swearing-in and presentation were received for the record.