Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Taft police report: 1,061 incidents in August; council, police discuss rails‑to‑trails encampments
Summary
Taft Police Department reported 1,061 incidents for August 2025 and 71 arrests; councilmembers and police debated enforcement limits for gatherings, encampments and repeat offenders and staff said municipal code changes for trails are forthcoming.
The Taft Police Department presented its August 2025 monthly report during the Sept. 2 City Council meeting, reporting 1,061 individual incidents, including 445 calls for service, 616 officer‑initiated incidents, and 71 arrests (about 60 misdemeanors and 11 felonies). The department also noted two officers are currently in field training.
Lieutenant McClurg (presenting the report) described persistent challenges with repeat contacts of the same individuals. "We've all seen ... positive news coming out of the state and even the county," McClurg said while outlining enforcement limits and services; he added officers sometimes provide bus passes or other assistance and urged residents to call the department when they observe concerns.
Council members pressed the lieutenant about rails‑to‑trails gatherings and whether those gatherings are illegal. McClurg answered that "it is not illegal for the homeless to gather," but it becomes illegal when conduct involves criminal activity (alcohol, drugs, public urination, or when gatherings turn into encampments in areas restricted by local ordinances). He described existing enforcement tools including no‑loitering and no‑trespassing signage and low‑level citations and said citations can remain on someone’s record.
Councilmember Scribe and others had raised recent public posts and reports about behavior along the trail; Scribe asked the police whether concerns are valid and urged photo documentation and reporting so officers can follow up. McClurg said the department routinely monitors social media reports and will respond to specific calls for service.
On municipal policy, City Manager Joan told the council staff are working with special counsel to modify Taft municipal code related to trails and parks and that proposed code changes will return to the council for review and first reading at a future meeting.
Council discussion emphasized the tension between enforcement and limited county resources for court or treatment options; McClurg noted that many arrested persons are promptly released because of county bed availability and court backlogs, complicating long‑term solutions.
Next steps: staff will develop proposed municipal code changes on trails/parks for future council consideration; police continue to request residents report specific incidents so officers can respond.
