Dana Point police report: 3,563 calls for service in first quarter; department highlights community outreach and enforcement

Captain Frank Gonzales presented the Dana Point Police Services quarterly report to the City Council on April 15, outlining community outreach, volunteer recruitment and enforcement statistics for the first quarter.

Gonzales summarized community engagement events (Officer Friendly at local preschools, Girl Scouts station tours, Coffee with a Cop and Festival of the Whales outreach). He said the department closed volunteer recruitment and was interviewing next-round volunteers who toured the departmenttechnology center. Gonzales also highlighted awards for deputies Tyler McClurg and Tyler Smith.

On activity, Gonzales reported deputies responded to 3,563 calls for service during the quarter and conducted 1,291 observed calls for service. He said the department made 107 total arrests (60 misdemeanor, 30 warrant arrests and 17 felony arrests), issued 402 traffic citations (24 with criminal findings), and conducted proactive contacts including 308 car stops, 43 pedestrian checks, 10 bicycle stops and 226 patrol checks. Gonzales said deputies handled about 164 homelessness-related contacts and 18 mental-health crisis contacts; those categories may overlap.

Gonzales credited the city's camera registry (FUSIS) and "flock" cameras with helping to recover more than 50 bottles of stolen liquor and identify suspects. He encouraged residents to register private cameras in the city's program so staff can request footage when crimes occur.

Council members welcomed Gonzales to the role and asked him to include a candid assessment of strengths and weaknesses in the next quarterly report. Mayor Pagano and Council Member Vilar praised the department's community-policing emphasis and outreach.