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Capitola police outline ebike safety outreach and a regional radio upgrade
Summary
Chief Sarah Ryan said Capitola PD is focusing on ebike safety education and enforcement and will participate in a multi‑agency 'Ring Project' to modernize interoperable radio communications; she also noted department staffing levels and community‑engagement programs.
Chief Sarah Ryan told the Nov. 20 town hall that Capitola’s police department provides a high level of local service with about 22 sworn officers and 31 full‑time staff overall. She highlighted outreach and enforcement efforts around electric bicycles—confiscating bikes in some cases and contacting parents—and said the department is pursuing partnerships to educate riders and align with state law changes.
Ryan also described a regional, interoperable radio upgrade dubbed the 'Ring Project' to improve public‑safety communications across coastal terrain and mitigate coverage issues caused by fog and topography; she said the project is expensive and will take several years to implement. She urged residents to stay connected via Nixle, CruiseAware and department social media for emergency notifications.
The chief encouraged community engagement with programs such as a Citizens Academy, volunteer committees and other city outreach opportunities. No enforcement policy changes or new program budgets were approved at the meeting.
