Police Chief Addresses Successes, Asks for Community Input

While crime decreased in Redlands in 2014, the police department has seen an increase in the first few months of 2015, Police Chief Mark Garcia told residents during a town hall meeting March 5. Garcia opened the meeting at the Ayres Hotel on Colton Avenue by sharing some good news: city crime decreased in 2014, with statistics showing a 30 percent reduction in violent crime, a 6 percent reduction in property crime and a 17 percent increase in arrests, Garcia said. In 2015, statistics show an increase in these types of crime: violent crime is up by 9 percent and property crime has risen by 6 percent, but police are working to lessen those numbers, shared Garcia. "So far we haven't started out nearly as well," Garcia said. "We're continually working on trying to find ways to solve that part of the issue." Calls for service have increased, with 600 more 9-1-1 calls this year than this time last year, but response times are down to about 4 and a half minutes, said Garcia. Garcia said the increase in crimes may be contributed to the statewide passage of Prop 47 in November, which reduces charges for several offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. Since November, 195 of these offenders have been arrested, according to Garcia. Crimes eligible for charge reductions include: possession of stolen firearms, possession of stolen property, possession of date rape drugs, possession of drugs, commercial burglary less than $950, forgery less than $950; and petty theft with prior convictions. Garcia also said early release laws and realignment under the passage of Prop 36 have contributed to the increase of crime as it allows what he called "high level offenders" to be released from jail and commit crimes again. Garcia also shared that the reduced charges take away the chance for criminals to enter rehabilitation programs, an unforeseen drawback. "What happens is, in order to support their habit, they end up committing burglary, robberies and thefts and get into those types of things and they do go to prison or jail for...committing those types of crimes," said Garcia. About 10,000 felons are eligible for early release under Prop 36–8,000 of which were convicted of significant crimes, said Garcia. In San Bernardino County, 400 state prisoners, 2,000 county jail inmates and 8,300 felony probationers can also request reduction of prior crimes. When asked about whether the department would invest in body cameras, Garcia said the department has looked into body cameras but did not have the funds available for them. He talked about what he called the "myth of militarization," and said he felt that most police officers and departments are there to help their communities. "The vast majority of those (law enforcement) organizations do a great job in their communities. They're very supportive... While I don't support everything that every police agency has done, I think when they do something negative, that reflects on all of us, unfortunately. We need to fix those problems, but I want to assure you that's not the tact we take here in the city of Redlands." Chief Garcia also discussed complaints of panhandling and announced a campaign to provide resource information for transients in the city. Businesses can hang posters reading "Positive Change, Not Spare Change," with information on how residents can give to nonprofit organizations who provide resources to homeless individuals. Additionally, resource guides are available to be given to transient individuals. When asked what the ideal number of police officers would be, Garcia said at least 12 additional officers would help to cover swing shifts seven days a week. Staff reductions have reduced the department from 98 officers to 80, with one vacancy currently, he said. He also said a Safety Hall that could be shared by both the police and fire departments would benefit the force, but at the moment funding is not available. "We make the best of it. I think we do a pretty good job of getting our deployments out to make sure we have good response times... We want to be able to be there on the spot when one of our citizens needs us in their most trying time," said Garcia.