Hemet police report: staffing up since Measure U, organized retail-theft arrests and new mail-theft partnership
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Summary
Police Chief Mariano told the council the department has increased sworn staffing since Measure U and presented multi-year crime trends showing recent declines. He highlighted an organized retail-theft unit and a new partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service that led to 14 arrests for mail theft since Aug. 7, 2025.
Police Chief Mariano delivered a detailed public-safety briefing on Oct. 28, describing staffing increases since Measure U, multi-year crime trends, and several operational initiatives aimed at theft and quality-of-life problems.
Chief Mariano said police staffing has risen about 45.8% since Measure U (fiscal year 2016–17 baseline) and that the department has its highest authorized officer level in more than 15 years. He presented crime data showing declines in violent and property crimes since 2016 with an uptick after 2020 that is now reversing. “We're at a staffing level we haven't seen in over 15 and a half years,” he said.
The chief highlighted the Organized Retail Theft (ORT) team, which the department built in part with a multi-year grant. Retail loss-prevention representatives said the program increased reporting and helped build multi-store cases that lead to felony filings under recently enacted state rules. Matt Bellinger, area loss-prevention manager for Harbor Freight Tools, told the council retail theft reports and employee morale have improved since the ORT team started working with stores.
The department also signed a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on Aug. 7, 2025 to have a part-time task-force officer focusing on mail theft and related fraud. Chief Mariano said the joint work has produced 14 arrests for mail theft and the city will continue the partnership.
Mariano described implementation of Prop 36 (state drug and theft law changes) affecting new theft- and drug-related filing options; he said about 30 penalty-elevation theft cases (Penal Code 666.1) had been filed citywide since the law’s enactment and that the ORT team’s work has enabled more felony filings than previously possible. He also outlined plans to expand the traffic bureau and the city’s outreach/quality-of-life team (ARRO) to provide more day-to-day enforcement and outreach.
Council members asked about catalytic-converter thefts and other trends; Mariano said vehicle thefts have declined about 48% from a recent peak and credited technology (fixed and mobile cameras) and increased patrols.
Chief Mariano recommended continuing community outreach and quarterly retailer meetings that share suspect information and coordinate prosecutions. He said the department will return with updates on staffing and enforcement results.
