LA County sheriff reports 36% drop in Part 1 crimes; rolls out virtual deputy, FAST and SORT programs for Artesia

Captain Holguin, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department captain assigned to Lakewood Station, told the Artesia City Council on Sept. 8 that reported Part 1 crimes in Artesia are down roughly 36% for the first seven months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.

Holguin said homicides fell from four in the first seven months of 2024 to zero in the same period in 2025; robberies rose from nine to 13 (a 44% increase) but remain low in absolute terms; aggravated assaults fell from 29 victims to 19 (about a 34% decrease); burglaries fell to 45 incidents from 58 (about a 22% decrease); larcenies dropped to 72 from 131 (about 45%); and grand theft auto incidents fell from 51 to 32 (about 37%). Holguin attributed part of the reduction in repeat thefts to changes in post-arrest handling under Proposition 36 and to technologies such as license-plate readers.

Why it matters: The sheriff’s data suggest declining overall crime in Artesia even as specific categories—most notably robberies—require ongoing attention. The department described programs intended to maintain or improve response capacity despite staffing shortages.

What the sheriff presented: Holguin said average response times for emergent (code 3) calls are about four minutes, priority calls average 13.5 minutes and routine calls average 49.2 minutes — all below LA County thresholds. He reported the station is operating with about a 20% reduction in deputy personnel and professional staff but said response times are not yet affected.

New or expanded programs described

- SORT (Sheriff’s Online Reporting and Tracking): Residents may file limited property-crime reports (stolen/lost property under $950, vandalism under $400) online 24/7 and receive an email copy of the report.

- Virtual Deputy: Launched Aug. 18 at Lakewood Station, the virtual deputy service lets residents book a remote appointment with a deputy via Microsoft 365–based video sessions for non-emergency reporting and to submit digital evidence; a nine-question screening helps direct callers to 911 when needed.

- FAST (Field Arrest Support Transport) pilot: FAST assigns a dedicated deputy to transport arrestees and manage booking so arresting deputies can remain in the field; Lakewood Station started a 90-day pilot the week before the council meeting and the captain said the station will evaluate performance at 90 days.

Council response and questions: Mayor Pro Tem Trevino, Councilmember Manalo and Councilmember Ramoso each thanked the captain and asked about program details. Manalo asked whether catalytic-converter etching and anti-theft efforts were contributing to larceny declines; Holguin confirmed catalytic-converter thefts are counted within larcenies and said arrests of repeat suspects reduce reoffending. Trevino asked whether FAST was active for Artesia; Holguin said the program started that week and covers the station’s five-jurisdiction area, including Artesia.

Other points: Holguin reported a “smash-and-grab” jewelry case involving roughly 20 suspects; investigators had arrested six people and were seeking more suspects. He emphasized that while percentages can look large when base counts are small, the overall downward trend across categories is the primary performance signal.

What’s next: Council members asked for a 90‑day update on the FAST pilot. Holguin and the council indicated the station will report findings after the pilot period.

Sources: Presentation to Artesia City Council by Captain Holguin, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; council questions and responses at council meeting, Sept. 8, 2025.