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Whittier Police captain tells Santa Fe Springs council Part 1 crimes down 13% and no homicides in 2025
Summary
Captain David Alizarz reported to the Santa Fe Springs City Council that Part 1 crimes fell about 13% in 2025, average emergency response time was 5 minutes 3 seconds, and the city recorded zero homicides; he also outlined technology and enforcement initiatives including LPR cameras, SET operations and new body‑worn cameras and Tasers.
Captain David Alizarz of the Whittier Police Department presented a year‑end public safety update to the Santa Fe Springs City Council summarizing crime trends, response times, traffic enforcement and technology upgrades.
Alizarz said reported Part 1 crimes for 2025 were down about 13% overall, while noting localized increases in aggravated assaults, residential burglaries and other theft categories. "We are down in total reported part 1 crimes, 13%," he said. On a positive note he added that the city’s homicides for the year were "at a 0."
Response times and workload: the presentation reported an average emergency response time of 5 minutes and 3 seconds in 2025 (within a national 5–7 minute range) and an average non‑emergency response time of 15 minutes, 56 seconds. Dispatch handled close to 200,000 phone calls in 2025; the department also recorded 3,748 text‑to‑911 messages and more than 17,000 patrol calls for service, with 990 arrests during the year.
Enforcement and technology initiatives: council heard that the city installed 30 license plate reader (LPR) cameras; the LPR system generated 231 calls for service in 2025 and assisted in locating 39 stolen or wanted vehicles. The special enforcement team conducted 13 AB109 probation/parole checks in coordination with Los Angeles County probation and the district attorney’s community violence reduction team; a single investigation mentioned recovered over 30 pounds of THC, multiple firearms and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition.
Alizarz noted that the council funded next‑generation body‑worn cameras and Taser 10 devices in last year’s budget and that both tools are deployed and staff have been trained. He also told council that the department is exploring drone response capabilities and has tested systems for that purpose.
Council follow‑up: members asked for clarification about what counts as an emergency for response time reporting, about whether staffing levels require additional officers and about camera deployment for graffiti and vandalism; Alizarz said staffing can always be increased, that supplementary units can be requested from Whittier when needed, and that cameras have aided apprehensions.
No formal action was taken by council on the report; the presentation was informational.
