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Deputy reports lower e‑bike incidents after education; schools remain a focus of child-safety outreach
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Summary
Deputy Dornbusch told the Rancho Santa Margarita City Council that school-focused programs, active‑shooter training and twice‑yearly e‑bike presentations have coincided with lower reported e‑bike incidents; she provided local contact and program details.
Deputy Dornbusch, the school resource officer and child‑safety deputy for the Rancho Santa Margarita sheriff's unit, told the council the department continues a range of school outreach programs and has stepped up e‑bike education and enforcement.
Dornbusch said the department runs programs such as pumpkin giveaways, career fairs and the grant‑funded "Every 15 Minutes" program, and conducts threat assessments, lockdown and active‑shooter trainings with local schools. "Most of the schools... are pretty... all of the admins at the schools have been there for quite a while," she said, adding that steady staff helps maintain consistent safety practices.
On e‑bikes, Dornbusch gave local activity counts and enforcement figures: about 181 e‑bike related calls-for-service, roughly 173 e‑bike contacts, 11 e‑bike traffic accidents reported in 2025 and 44 e‑bike citations (many for helmet violations). She said citations include helmet nonuse and improperly buckled helmets, and noted the department is tracking participants in its education sessions so officers can show that riders had been offered instruction. "So something we added... is no e‑bikes are allowed around the lake," she said, and the city enforces a 5 mph sidewalk speed limit.
Council members praised outreach and enforcement. Council Member McGurk credited the city’s e‑bike ordinance combined with education for apparent improvements in rider behavior; Council Member Holloway asked whether Mission Hospital still provides helmets for events, and Dornbusch said hospitals participate when schedules allow. Council Member Barrett and others said continuing parent involvement and repeat presentations (twice yearly) are key to maintaining gains.
The presentation also covered school‑based safety programs and interagency trainings that Dornbusch said help prepare campuses and students for threats and traffic safety education. The council did not take any formal action on the report; staff and deputies said they will continue regular school engagement and e‑bike safety events.
The council thanked Dornbusch for the report and for ongoing work with students, parents and school administrators.
