Deputy Cortez says Part I crimes down year over year; department outlines response-time policy

Deputy Cortez, of the sheriff’s special‑assignment team, told the City Council on July 21 that South El Monte had 286 year‑to‑date Part I crimes through June 2026, down from 308 at the same point last year and from 511 in 2022. "Part Ones are the serious violent and frequently reported crimes," Cortez said while listing homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, theft, grand‑theft‑auto and arson as the categories tracked.

Cortez explained the department’s call‑triage policy: emergent calls (including active violent crimes and medical emergencies) receive response within 10 minutes; priority calls (recent but non‑life‑threatening incidents) within 20 minutes; and routine reports within 60 minutes. He credited visible patrols and crime‑suppression operations for recent arrests, describing a string of cases that included a vehicle burglary and several arrests tied to license‑plate leads and camera footage.

Mayor (speaker 1) and several councilmembers praised the station’s work. Councilmember (speaker 8) noted the summer risk of increased nuisance and encouraged vigilance: "The numbers are looking really good… but during the summer months people get a little squirrelly. Stay safe." Cortez closed by thanking the city for resources that help investigators follow leads.

The presentation supplied the council with monthly totals and arrest figures to inform ongoing public‑safety planning and resident outreach. No policy change was proposed during the presentation; the council instead directed appreciation and continued support for Temple Station personnel.