Sheriff's chief reports 5,857 calls in May, highlights outreach-led success connecting a chronically homeless person to treatment

Chief Mark Regali of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department presented May 2026 operational statistics and an outreach success story at the Temecula City Council meeting on June 9.

Regali reported total calls for service in May of 5,857, with priority-level breakdowns of 73 Priority 1 calls, just over 2,000 Priority 2 calls, 2,480 Priority 3 calls and 1,240 Priority 4 calls. He described average response times of a little over six minutes for priority-one calls, about 11 minutes for Priority 2, 16 minutes for Priority 3 and 21 minutes for Priority 4.

He highlighted the "core team" model operating from the Oldtown Sheriff's substation that combines outreach, enforcement and problem-solving with community partners, SWAG and behavioral-health professionals. Regali told the council about a person who had been well known for chronic homelessness and repeated law-enforcement contacts; after an arrest and a period of incarceration the individual "experienced a moment of clarity" and requested treatment. With the assistance of the core team and community partners the person was connected to a sobering center and later entered a treatment program.

"Perhaps most importantly, he shared that the consistent encouragement and support he received from core deputies, from SWAG and city staff over the years left a lasting impression on him," Regali said, describing the collaborative approach as an example of how outreach and service referrals can lead to meaningful outcomes.

Council members thanked the department for the report and had no follow-up questions.