Laguna Beach police cite tech investments, report 23% drop in crime in 2024

Laguna Beach Police Chief Jeff Calvert said the department expanded its use of automated license plate readers, added drones with new capabilities and upgraded its records and dispatch systems as part of a push to reduce crime and improve response times.

Calvert made the remarks during an interview on the Fair Game radio program hosted by Alex Renogy. "We actually had a 23% reduction in crime in 2024, compared to 2023," Calvert said, adding that the department has combined community engagement with technology and data-driven policing to guide resource deployment.

The chief described several specific investments. He said Laguna Beach first installed 10 automated license plate readers (ALPRs) at primary ingress and egress points after receiving a post-9/11 grant, then expanded to 22 cameras placed throughout the city to improve coverage. "In 2024, we had 50 warrants that were alerted through the ALPR and 36 stolen vehicles," Calvert said, explaining how alerts feed to dispatch so officers can locate suspect vehicles.

Calvert also discussed a drone program the department has grown to six drones with differing capabilities. He said drones now are used for crime-scene and traffic mapping, reducing the time a major collision scene requires lane closures (previously 12 to 14 hours when mapped manually), and for interior searches to allow a remote threat assessment before sending officers into a building. "When a call for service comes out ... that drone is on scene 99.9% of the time faster than a first responder," Calvert said, summarizing findings from Chula Vista’s deployment as a model for "drones as first responders." He cautioned that Laguna Beach would need infrastructure and funding to deploy a rooftop‑based drone system like the one he described.

Calvert said the department is working to integrate its systems with a county-level real-time crime center in Tustin operated by the sheriff's department. He described that center as a roughly $110,000,000 technology hub that can track vehicles and camera systems across jurisdictions, and said the integration will support regional responses.

On records and dispatch, Calvert said the department signed a 10-year lease agreement approved by the city council with Axon Technologies that provides body‑worn cameras for sworn and professional staff, in-car cameras, and less‑lethal devices. He said the department also replaced a 17‑year‑old report management system and is planning about a yearlong upgrade to its computer‑aided dispatch (CAD) system to improve response decision-making and provide an outward-facing portal where residents can view public incident data.

Calvert framed these technology investments as force multipliers, not substitutes for community policing. "Policing is a relationship-based business," he said, noting the department relies on residents to report concerns and on mutual aid agreements with neighboring cities. He cited an example in which ALPR data helped identify suspects in a string of commercial burglaries in December.

Regional partners mentioned by Calvert included the Orange County sheriff's department, Chula Vista Police Department and Newport Beach, which Calvert said has invested in a multi‑year drone program. He said Newport Beach has budgeted about $2,000,000 over five years for drones-as-first-responders and that Laguna Beach currently participates in a joint SWAT team with Newport.

Calvert said the department holds a monthly meeting called COPS (Community Outreach and Prevention Strategies) to review crime data and coordinate prevention activities, and described efforts to use community service officers for public education. He emphasized that many of the technologies improve officer safety and situational awareness.

The interview included thanks from the host for the department’s work and for regional collaboration; Calvert closed by attributing progress to sustained community support for the department over his 27 years of service.

Looking ahead, Calvert said funding and infrastructure will determine the pace of further investments, including any move to a drones-as-first-responders model. He did not announce specific new purchases or city council actions during the interview.