Police and fire report operational updates; resident raises street-racing and tree-trimming concerns

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Carson Station and the Los Angeles County Fire Department provided the City of Carson Council with recent public-safety updates on May 21, while a resident urged city action on street racing and on trimming palm trees that have repeatedly contacted power lines.

Captain Norman of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Carson Station, told the council the station launched its summer crime-enforcement program in early May and has made both felony and misdemeanor arrests. "Our team has been actively conducting operations, making arrests, both felony and misdemeanor throughout the city and county," Norman said. He told the council the department impounded about 30 vehicles and reported more than 300 citations issued during April. Norman said the station is "trending down" for Part I crimes, reporting a 1.8% decrease for the month ending April 30.

Assistant Chief Cain of the Los Angeles County Fire Department provided April statistics: "We had 883 totals calls for service during this month. We had 27 fires, all of which were minor in nature," Cain said. He said 17 of those fires were rubbish or brush fires and that 14 of the rubbish/brush incidents were related to people experiencing homelessness. Fire personnel responded to 647 EMS calls in April, 362 of which were advanced life-support (ALS) incidents. Cain said the department handled a gas leak inside a structure and an electrical short circuit at a commercial building; both incidents were mitigated with no injuries.

During public comment, resident Nancy Cormier told the council she has observed repeated drifting and street-racing activity at the intersection of Dominguez Street and Santa Fe Avenue, often late at night. "They're seriously drifting," Cormier said, adding the activity poses a hazard to nearby properties and pedestrians.

Councilmembers and the captain said they would coordinate a task-force response drawing on the city's street-racing ordinance. "We have an ordinance against street racing," Councilmember Jim Dear said; Captain Norman acknowledged the report and told the resident officers would address the location. Councilmembers recommended targeted enforcement and repeated patrols in the affected area.

Cormier also raised ongoing concerns about palm fronds and tree stumps on city-owned parkway strips. She said falling palm fronds have contacted power lines during wind events, at times resulting in fire and service outages. Public works staff and Director of Public Works Dr. Arlington Rogers were in the chamber; Rogers told Cormier staff would follow up to inspect and address the trees in question.

The council also recognized the department's mental health evaluation team during a proclamation for Mental Health Awareness Month. Captain Norman described a mental evaluation team that "responds out, to assist our deputies that are dealing with residents that are in crisis."