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Calimesa hears badge‑pinning, fire and sheriff reports; introduces new problem‑oriented policing deputy
Summary
The council took part in a badge‑pinning for promoted engineer Rod Abasi, received a fire department report noting an ~80% increase in calls since the last report and heard sheriff statistics for February (no homicides or robberies; two burglaries; one vehicle theft; 12 larceny/thefts). The council was introduced to Deputy Rick Torres as the new problem‑oriented policing (POP) deputy.
The Calimesa City Council paused its agenda for a badge‑pinning ceremony recognizing Rod Abasi on his promotion to fire apparatus engineer. Fire Chief Shaw then presented a brief operations summary: overall call volume rose about 80% since the previous report, medical‑aid calls more than doubled, mutual‑aid responses increased (largely to neighboring Yucaipa), and average response times rose slightly but remain within industry standards.
Sheriff Captain Esabel provided February 2026 statistics for Calimesa: no homicides, no robberies, no assaults, two burglaries, one vehicle theft and 12 larceny/theft incidents. Priority 1 average response time for the month was reported at approximately seven minutes (year average ~5.81 minutes). Captain Esabel also described the expansion of the real‑time crime/intelligence center and asked for council support for congressional directed spending to grow the program.
The council then heard from Deputy Rick Torres, who introduced himself as the new problem‑oriented policing (POP) deputy assigned to Calimesa. Torres said he has 18 years in law enforcement, has worked at the Cabazon station and previously in crime suppression, and that he lives in the nearby community; he pledged to be accessible to the council and residents.
