Santa Barbara Police outline 'Blue Envelope' program and expanded community outreach

Samantha Costa, community engagement coordinator for the Santa Barbara Police Department, told the Fire and Police Commission on July 24 that the department launched a Blue Envelope program in February 2025 and has dramatically increased outreach events this year.

Costa said the Blue Envelope program "is designed to serve as an enhanced communication awareness tool" to help officers and community members who have difficulties with communication. "How it works is we provide these blue envelope branded products, everyday wear items that interested parties can obtain from us," she said. Costa described the envelope as a place to keep identification, emergency contact, medical information, vehicle registration and insurance and said other items such as bracelets, lanyards and seatbelt covers are available on request.

The program is free and, Costa said, "there's no vetting process when it comes to the Blue Envelope program. It's completely free. The only required information is a name and an address so we know where to mail the products that they requested." Participants can also opt in to allow dispatch to flag their name or address so officers are notified when they are part of the program.

Costa presented broader outreach numbers to the commission: the department held 23 community events in 2024 and 74 through mid‑2025, and increased its social media posts from 118 in 2024 to 149 in the same period this year.

Commissioners and staff praised the larger number and variety of events. Commissioner Linda Dozier said students had responded positively to school visits that include a donut drop: "A lot of students...have commented on receiving donuts at high school, and they're very excited." During questioning, Costa confirmed that "so far, we've had 20 participants sign up" for the Blue Envelope materials and that guardians and parents may sign up on behalf of people in their care.

Costa listed community partners who helped shape the program and assisted outreach: PathPoint, Special Olympics, Momentum Inc. and Tri‑Counties Regional Center. She said the department provided a press release, social media posts and community presentations to partner organizations to explain how the program is intended to work.

Commissioners asked about outreach to seniors and whether the program had been taken to retirement communities; Costa and a department representative said the department conducts scam‑safety talks and tailored events such as ice cream socials and visits to senior centers.

The presentation closed with commissioners commending the new community engagement coordinator and the department's approach to broadening contact with residents.