Sheriff's substation reports fewer calls but more deputy‑initiated activity in 2025

Lieutenant Joseph Berry presented the Lemon Grove substation's 2025 annual report to the council on March 3, saying deputies responded to 10,798 calls for service last year while deputy‑initiated actions increased by 17.4 percent.

Berry described station staffing (one lieutenant, two sergeants, 12 patrol deputies and a four‑deputy traffic unit) and stressed the role of the local COPS deputies, funded through a local tax measure. "When you see calls for service decreasing, that means things are doing pretty good in the community," Berry said, adding that the COPS deputies helped seize a large quantity of narcotics and supported undercover retail‑theft operations.

The presentation included operational metrics: an average of about 29.5 calls for service per day and 16.7 deputy‑initiated actions per day, and a breakdown of NIBRS crime categories. Berry noted that calls for service declined 7 percent between 2024 and 2025 while deputy‑initiated actions rose, which he attributed in part to the additional COPS deputies assigned to Lemon Grove.

Council members asked clarifying questions about arrest counts, the department's reporting sources, and whether higher arrest counts always indicate more crime. Berry and staff explained that some increases reflect detentions for mental‑health crises and enhanced proactive operations rather than an underlying rise in violent crime.

Why it matters: The data give the council a snapshot of local law enforcement activity and staffing needs; council members used the presentation to explore whether additional equipment or personnel (and grant funding) should be sought in the coming budget cycle.

The council offered thanks and did not take further action at this item.