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Police present ‘BACKER’ business safety program to help La Verne retailers prevent burglaries
Summary
La Verne police described a new three‑phase Business Assistance through Crime Reduction program (BACKER) offering assessments, subsidized security upgrades and vendor coordination for downtown and Foothill Corridor businesses; a pilot merchant said the installation process was seamless. Council opened public comment in support.
Sergeant Carlos Flores outlined BACKER — the Police Department’s Business Assistance through Crime Reduction program — as a three‑phase effort to assess risk, recommend environmental‑design and technology improvements, and subsidize implementation for local businesses.
The program, funded through city allotments and administered via the planning department and police, uses a prioritization matrix that scores applications for risk and existing mitigation. Sergeant Flores said BACKER offers assessments conducted by a law‑enforcement professional trained in CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design), standardized vendor work orders, and city payment directly to vendors to speed upgrades including security cameras, impact‑resistant window film and glass‑break sensors.
A pilot participant, identified in the meeting as Mickey (owner of a downtown jewelry store), described the experience as “seamless,” saying the vendor was professional and the installation went smoothly. Sergeant Flores said the program’s monitoring and compliance functions would remain with BACKER personnel and that the city maintains financial control over the vendor payments.
Why it matters: Council members and public commenters framed BACKER as a targeted approach to stemming recent retail burglaries that have contributed to business closures. Speakers said the program could protect economic stability and public safety by preserving data for investigations and making storefronts less attractive to offenders.
Council reaction and next steps: After the staff presentation and a public comment period in which residents urged the city to secure ongoing funds for BACKER, council members asked questions about funding sources, vendor selection and program duration. A member of the public specifically urged the council to “find it in their budget” so the assistance can continue beyond pilot funding; staff clarified program costs are derived from city‑allotted funds for this purpose. No formal fiscal appropriation vote on BACKER was recorded at this meeting; the presentation closed with staff saying they'd continue program implementation and monitoring.
What was said: “This is going to target hardening of our businesses — downtown, Foothill Corridor — with video surveillance, live monitoring, glass‑break sensors and impact film,” Sergeant Flores said. A downtown business owner said, “the process was seamless…the company was very professional.”
The council moved on to the consent calendar following BACKER’s presentation; any budget or long‑term funding decision for BACKER will require further action by the council.
