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Police lieutenant outlines ranger patrols, drone plan; commissioners and public push for regular, park‑level reports
Summary
Lieutenant Carlos Diaz and Costa Mesa Park Rangers described daily park patrols, 2024 enforcement figures and a planned drone program. Commissioners and residents urged monthly, park‑specific reporting and clearer data to guide prevention and resource decisions for Fairview Park, Lions Park and others.
Lieutenant Carlos Diaz, area 1 commander with the Costa Mesa Police Department, presented the park ranger unit’s role and data at the Parks and Community Services Commission meeting and answered commissioners’ questions about patrol coverage, enforcement and new tools.
Diaz said the ranger unit staffs parks seven days a week in two shifts, adjusts hours seasonally and patrols Fairview Park daily with two‑person teams. He reported that in 2024 park rangers issued 16 citations, arrested 41 individuals and initiated 541 calls for service; those figures included ranger activity and some work by field operations. Diaz said rangers spend substantial time on trail patrols, encampment clearance, e‑bike enforcement and dog‑leash violations.
Diaz also described steps to expand aerial support: the department has selected two park rangers for FAA Part 107 drone pilot certification and is formalizing a drone program to supplement patrols and “extend our view” at large parks. He said drone deployment will follow protocols to minimize wildlife impacts and noted a 400‑foot ceiling as a planning parameter.
Commissioners and multiple public speakers urged more frequent and clearer reporting. Several speakers (including residents and civic commenters) said prior monthly ranger reports that listed violations by municipal code were difficult to interpret; they asked for park‑level statistics presented in plain language (for example, counts of dog‑leash violations, encampment removals, e‑bike incidents, fires and after‑hours vehicle parking) and for a pattern‑focused summary to guide prevention and budget requests.
Commissioners suggested the report should show whether incidents were patrol‑initiated (outbound) or the result of public calls (inbound), seasonality, and other contextual details that support prevention planning (for example, fencing, better trail design or targeted outreach). Diaz said preparing a verified patterned report requires staff time — roughly two to eight man‑hours depending on verification — but welcomed the dialogue and offered ride‑along opportunities so commissioners can see ranger work firsthand.
Commissioners and staff said they will work with the police department to develop a reporting cadence and format to balance operational workload and the commission’s need for usable data. Members suggested quarterly pattern summaries with underlying monthly raw data available for analysis by the commission and public.
