Salinas Police present 2024 annual report; city approved civilian hires and vehicle cameras

Assistant Chief Luis Bravo presented a condensed version of the Salinas Police Department’s 2024 annual report to the Salinas Police Advisory Committee on Aug. 27, highlighting an overall fall in homicide numbers, sustained response-time performance for high-priority calls and growth in community programs such as the cadet and outreach efforts.

The presentation said the department handled approximately 132,147 calls for service in 2024 and recorded about 2,115 arrests. Bravo told the committee that the department’s priority 1 response time — measured from the moment a dispatcher directs officers to respond until the officer arrives on scene — averaged roughly three to four minutes, and that homicide counts fell to six in 2024, a roughly 45% decrease from prior years. "1 is too many," Bravo said of homicides.

Why it matters: the report and council actions discussed at the meeting show how the department is positioning staffing, technology and community outreach alongside enforcement. Committee members asked for clarity on how priority levels are defined, how online reporting is handled and what steps the department is taking on motor-vehicle theft and Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigations.

Key figures and programs: the department reported about 139 sworn officers at the time of the annual report, with an authorized strength of 161 and a mix of recruits and vacancies. The department emphasized a growing Spanish-speaking presence — roughly half of officers were reported as Spanish-speaking — and an increase in female hires. Cadet programs expanded (the department reported 35 cadets at one point during discussion), and the outreach team attended more than 100 events in 2024. Canine operations recorded roughly 99 deployments with multiple contraband and firearms seizures; the department stated it had eight canines in 2024 and that retired dogs live with their handlers.

Investigations: detectives investigated roughly 395 assigned cases in 2024, clearing 371 by arrest or referral to the district attorney. Assistant Chief Bravo described continued work on cold cases and said four of the six homicides from 2024 were cleared and two remained under investigation. The department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit reported collaborative operations with other agencies and 13 arrests tied to those investigations in 2024. The department said ICAC-centered outreach to children and parents is "on our radar" and that planners expect expanded activity in the coming year.

Technology and evidence: the department reported increases in digital-reporting use, approximately 23,000 evidence items booked in 2024, and continued investments in technology such as license-plate readers and drones; the Violence Suppression Task Force reported about 194 firearms seized and roughly 358 drone deployments. Assistant Chief Bravo said the department is using Axon cloud and evidence licensing to manage digital evidence.

City Council and grant updates reported to the committee: council approved two new civilian police positions — a recruitment coordinator and a community communications specialist — and approved purchase of 10 additional Axon fleet camera systems and 20 additional Axon evidence licenses for installation in new vehicles. Separately, staff said the department received tentative approval for two Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) grants that fund selective traffic enforcement; those grants are expected to be presented to council for formal acceptance. Separately, staff reported the department and the city received a state grant of $3.6 million (awarded in 2023) to focus on organized retail theft and motor-vehicle theft; department staff said the program is now fully staffed and will increase enforcement focused on vehicle theft.

Questions and clarifications from committee members and public commenters focused on: the definition and examples of priority 1 and 2 calls (priority 1 includes shootings, homicides and in-progress incidents where life is in danger), how the two- to four-minute response metric is measured (from dispatch to on-scene arrival), why officers ask victims whether they wish to press charges (officers said misdemeanors not committed in the officer's presence generally require a victim to request prosecution), and whether the department can expand ICAC outreach to children and parents (staff said this is planned but capacity-limited).

Public comment: resident Eric Peterson urged proactive training for officers on interacting with people with disabilities and praised the department’s cadet program as a recruitment pathway, noting at least one cadet became a sworn officer. Bravo and departmental staff noted success stories from the cadet program and growing community partnerships such as National Night Out, which department staff estimated drew about 2,000 attendees.

Votes at a glance: the committee approved the consent-item minutes from its July 23, 2025 meeting. Committee member Gasca moved to approve the minutes; committee member Camacho seconded. The roll call vote recorded Pirotta, Camacho, Miller, Gasca, Hayes and Chair Dela Rosa as voting yes; committee member Gilori was noted as absent.

What’s next: staff encouraged the public to consult the department’s full 2024 annual report on the Salinas Police Department website for detailed tables and interactive elements. Committee members requested that staff provide written definitions for call priority levels and clarified phone and email contacts for area commanders.

Ending: the meeting concluded after the chief’s report and committee member updates; the committee adjourned at 6:16 p.m. The department said it will post the full annual report and associated budget and grant materials on the City of Salinas website.