Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff's sergeant reports 67% drop in arrests year-over-year, urges resident cooperation
Summary
An East Los Angeles Sheriff's sergeant told the Commerce council that arrests in April 2026 fell to 32 from 96 the prior April (a 67% decrease). He attributed improved filing outcomes to better-prepared cases and urged residents to participate in interviews, record detective names and use a new public-safety card to help follow-up.
Sergeant Cortez of the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Office presented arrest-disposition data to the City of Commerce council on May 26, reporting a large year-over-year decrease in arrests and outlining steps residents can take to improve case filing and follow-up.
For April 2026 the department recorded 32 arrests compared with 96 in April 2025, a decline Cortez described as roughly 67%. Of the 32 April 2026 cases, the district attorney’s office accepted 11; the sergeant said case submissions and declinations were tracked to show improved case quality and follow-up. He said cases not submitted to the DA and DA declinations have fallen as detectives submit more complete packages.
Cortez urged residents and business owners to participate in field interviews, provide working contact information, photograph tag/report numbers and ask to be given the assigned detective’s name. He said the Public Safety Division will distribute a simple "public safety card" listing steps, the name of the field deputy, tag/report numbers and follow-up instructions; staff expect investigators to respond with the assigned detective within about three days for nonemergent matters. He reiterated that emergencies should still be reported to 911 and shared the nonemergency dispatch number (323-264-4151).
Council members asked whether the change reflected policy shifts in the district attorney’s office or better-prepared cases; Cortez attributed the improvement primarily to more complete case packages and community cooperation. He said the office will continue outreach and procedural updates aimed at increasing the proportion of cases filed successfully.
