LSPD 2020 - YEAR IN REVIEW

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LSPD 2020 - YEAR IN REVIEW

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WWW.LSPD.SAGOV.US
Los Santos Police Department
Press Release
Thursday, December 31st, 2020

"TO PROTECT AND SERVE"

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Year in Review 2020
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As 2020 comes to a close, we reflect on the many great changes and improvements that have been made to the Los Santos Police Department. We have built on our expansions from last year and taken them to a new level with the opening of several new buildings, new units have been added, and significant changes have been made to the structure of the Department to continue our continuous evolution. This year has brought a greater focus on transparency and the publication of statistics, which we will be looking into in this release.

We are proud of what we have accomplished in 2020, and we appreciate you joining us in looking back on and celebrating with us. Having gone through a transition in leadership, we start off the new year with a new team of Chiefs and a Department better equipped than ever to handle the tough but ever more important duties to the citizens of Los Santos. This year has been an important step for us, and as every officer in this Department will continue put on their badge to protect and serve as they always have, and we look forward to what we can achieve together in 2021.
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Message from the Chief

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This year, while it has had its ups and downs, has been a great year for the Los Santos Police Department and its employees. Being appointed as the 7th Chief of Police of the Los Santos Police Department, I made it my primary goal to look over how the Department operated, and specifically seek out matters that previously did not receive the attention that they should have.

After settling into the position of Chief of Police, my Command Staff and I took to looking into areas of the Los Santos Police Department where improvement was needed and quickly realized that departmental progression was an issue that had been overlooked for far too long. While I prefer not to share much internal information, employees of the Los Santos Police Department with a great passion for one or more specific divisions were being bottlenecked in terms of progression through the Department ranks based on their performance as Field Training Officers as opposed to progression based on their divisional performance and efforts.

Fortunately, to tackle the lack of departmental progression based on divisional performance, this year we have introduced several paths of progression in various divisions by revamping the Department rank formerly known as Senior Lead Officer to Police Officer III+1, allowing those who perform exceptionally within divisions eligible to promote employees to this position to progress further within the Department. With that, my Command Staff and I have also set out to achieve Department progression within different Bureaus of the Los Santos Police Department with the implementation of various primary assignments.

A second overlooked issue that we have tackled this year was the Gang and Narcotics Division in terms of personnel. The Los Santos Police Department Gang and Narcotics Division is our solution to combat the gang and drug problem in the City of Los Santos. The mission of the Gang and Narcotics Division is to disrupt violent street gangs and the means by which they support their lifestyle. Unfortunately, the division has not had a satisfactory number of Police Detectives and general personnel to achieve this goal. Our Gang and Narcotics Detectives have been doing an impeccable job in an otherwise dangerous task, and we felt it was time to increase their support. The creation of the Gang Field Unit, covered more in-depth by Assistant Chief of Police Elena Blake and Officer-in-Charge Detective Jason Steel in the section regarding the restructuring of the Los Santos Police Department, has allowed for the training of Gang Officers, which both offered progression for employees and support for our Gang and Narcotics Detectives.

By no means are the above-covered changes to the Los Santos Police Department the only changes that were made throughout the year, but they have been the most impactful changes made that affect our employees in more than one way. We have achieved a lot this year, and are excited to see what 2021 has to offer us. One thing is certain, and that is that we will continue striving to improve the Los Santos Police Department, for our employees and the citizens of the City of Los Santos.
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Transition of Leadership

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In the course of 2020, the Los Santos Police Department has seen multiple transitions in its top leadership. Following the appointment of then Chief of Police Samuel Osborn to the Los Santos Board of Commissioners, then Assistant Chief of Police Alex Donnelly was appointed Chief of Police in February of this year. On the fifth of April, Deputy Chief of Police Elena Blake was announced as the new Assistant Chief of Police.

Message from Assistant Chief of Police Elena Blake:
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Initially, the original message from my appointment was going to be published with this release, however, many things have changed since April this year. Having settled into the position of Chief of Staff under Chief of Police Alex Donnelly, I feel that now, I can provide a much more meaningful personal message.

As a veteran of the Los Santos Police Department, I have been fortunate enough to not serve one term as a Deputy Chief of Police for the Department, but two. Serving two terms has not only allowed me to improve myself as a law enforcement officer and Staff Officer of the Los Santos Police Department and as a person, but it has also allowed me to look back at the Los Santos Police Department to see how far we have come since I first became a Police Officer. While the history of law enforcement in my family played a role in the decision to pursue a career in law enforcement, my love for the City of Los Santos and the communities within and surrounding it played the largest role. To this day, I still have a smile on my face when I change into my uniform and place on my badge, knowing that I get to work with my brothers and sisters in blue to serve the city and community I admire.

Becoming the Chief of Staff of the Los Santos Police Department has not only allowed me to expand my area of involvement from the Detective Bureau and our Police Detectives to the entirety of the Department and its employees, but more importantly, it has also allowed me to learn what it means and takes to be involved in all areas and with all employees so actively, and the responsibilities and tasks that come with it. Not only have I been given the opportunity to work closely with Chief of Police Alex Donnelly, but from the day of my appointment, he has mentored and guided me to where I am today. Where I previously had a lack of confidence and had doubts in my ability to serve the Department in such a large capacity because of the quality of the work of my predecessors, by virtue of the guidance by Chief Donnelly, I now feel confident in my position and proud to have been appointed to serve as the Chief of Staff of the Department.

Together with our Command Staff, we have been able to achieve great things for the Los Santos Police Department with the best interest of our employees kept in mind. From alternative paths of progression and opening up more opportunities for progression to those who are passionate about a divisional career they have chosen within the Department to appointing qualified and well-deserving Command Staff to mentor, guide, and lead future passionate personnel to the right direction, the Los Santos Police Department has undergone many changes this year, but none of these changes would have been possible without not just all employees of the Los Santos Police Department, but the citizens and communities of the City of Los Santos. I am extremely thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of these changes.

I am excited to see what the new year has to offer us.

Deputy Chief of Police Phillipe Sanchez was appointed as the Director of the Police Training Bureau on the 26th of March 2020, following the restructuring of the Los Santos Police Department in the first quarter of the year, and has served the Department as a Police Commander since the 8th of May, 2020. Deputy Chief Sanchez initially enrolled and passed the Police Academy on the 6th of August 2018, before taking a step back from his training and resigning from the Department for a brief period, until his return and passing of his second Police Academy on the 11th of November, 2018. Deputy Chief Sanchez was a quick learner, which became apparent when he passed the Field Training Program a mere six days after enrolling, the very training program he later set out to become the Commanding Officer of. He has a clear passion for the training processes surrounding the Department and its employees and had a significant impact on these processes, which is one of the many reasons why he has been promoted to this prestigious position.

Deputy Chief of Police Scott Dunbar was promoted to the rank of Police Captain on the 19th of April 2020, following his appointment as the Director of the Special Operations Bureau. He was later promoted to Police Commander and appointed as a Staff Officer of the Los Santos Police Department on the 21st of June, 2020. Deputy Chief Dunbar initially enrolled in the Police Academy on the 17th of April 2019, starting his field training which he completed on the 5th of May, 2019. Ever since joining the Los Santos Police Department, Deputy Chief Dunbar has shown a great passion for any matters relating to Special Operations, which became evident when he rapidly worked his way up to become the Assistant Commanding Officer of our Special Weapons and Tactics Division before he was appointed the Director of the Special Operations Bureau. Under his supervision, the Special Weapons and Tactics Division has restricted to the Metropolitan Division which has created more paths of progression for our employees. We believe that, under Deputy Chief Dunbar's supervision, the state of Special Operations is the best it has been in a long time.

Deputy Chief of Police Xoza Shadow was appointed as the Director of the Detective Bureau on the 5th of April 2020, following the appointment of Chief Blake, the former Director of the Detective Bureau, as the new Assistant Chief of Police. A month later, he was promoted to the rank of Police Commander and appointed as a Staff Officer of the Los Santos Police Department on the 5th of May, 2020. Deputy Chief Shadow enrolled in the Police Academy on the 3rd of September 2018, beginning his field training which he completed on the 16th later that month. It had always been clear that Deputy Chief Shadow had a passion for anything investigations-related, which was later reaffirmed when he joined the Detective Bureau on the 1st of February 2019, beginning his training to become a Police Detective. Under the supervision of Deputy Chief Shadow, we have seen the creation of the Gang Field Unit, providing both assistance to the Gang and Narcotics Detectives of the Los Santos Police Department, and an alternative path of progression through the Department for our employees.
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2020 Restructuring

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The Los Santos Police Department is one of the largest and most innovative law enforcement agencies currently operating. One of the many benefits of choosing employment with the Los Santos Police Department is the career and promotional opportunities it has to offer to all sworn personnel of the Department. A world-class law enforcement agency requires world-class personnel, most of which were drawn to the Los Santos Police Department by the large number of career paths and both personal- and professional opportunities offered by the Department. In order to remain second to none, we must continually seek and innovate opportunities to better ourselves and our Department with quality through continuous improvement in mind. Keeping that mission in mind and committing to it, the Los Santos Police Department is an ever-evolving Department, and this year was no different.

Throughout the year, numerous changes have been made resulting in a near-complete restructure of the Los Santos Police Department and how its structure operates. Today, to look back at the progress we have made as a Department, we will be going over all major changes made to the Department and its structure.

REMOVAL OF OFFICES FROM THE LOS SANTOS POLICE DEPARTMENT
In the early spring of 2020, the first change to the structure of the Department was introduced following the appointment of Chief of Police Alex Donnelly, which saw the removal of Offices that were previously tasked with overseeing Bureaus within the Department. One of our primary goals is to ensure that advancement opportunities are not only available but obtainable for each and every employee of the Los Santos Police Department. We do not believe that the Department should have misleading vacancies that lead to misconceptions about progression paths that are unachievable. Offices had lost their initial intended purpose, which was to have one Director oversee two or more Bureaus within their respective Office. At the time of their removal from the structure of the Department, every Office oversaw one single Bureau, which leads to placing two highly qualified individuals overseeing one singular Bureau, essentially rendering one of two positions unnecessary. Bureau Coordinator positions were held vacant throughout this time, creating the misconception that filling these vacancies was an achievable opportunity. With that, the Police Training Bureau made its return to the structure of the Los Santos Police Department, allowing various training divisions within the Department to be housed under one Bureau Director with a great understanding and passion for training, Deputy Chief of Police Phillipe Sanchez. The last Bureau affected by this restructure was the Professional Standards Bureau, which closed its doors on the 26th of March, 2020. Previously housing the Internal Affairs Division and Media Relations Division, this Bureau was placed directly under the supervision of the (Assistant) Chief of Police, effectively rendering any progessional opportunities for the sworn employee placed in charge of the Bureau null and void. With the closing of this Bureau, the Internal Affairs Division was moved directly under the Office of the Chief of Police, and the Media Relations Division was moved under the Administrative Services Bureau.

INTRODUCTION OF POLICE OFFICER III+1
In the late spring of 2020, we revisited a departmental position previously known as Senior Lead Officer, which was a position only achievable by Police Officer III's successfully enrolling in the Supervisor Training Program. However, with the offering of career and progression opportunities to those deserving of them and the ensuring that glass ceilings are near non-existent within the Department for deserving and qualified personnel being a primary goal, the position was revisited and revamped as Police Officer III+1 and a pay grade advancement. A position that was previously unobtainable for any sworn employee that did not wish to pursue a career as a Police Sergeant was made available to both Supervisors-in-Training as it previously was, but also for Police Officer III's of the Los Santos Police Department that dedicate themselves to one of our numerous divisions and achieve a senior position within one of the said divisions.

INTRODUCTION OF THE GANG FIELD UNIT
In the late autumn of 2020, the structure of the Los Santos Police Department was revamped once more, with this revamp serving the purpose of covering areas that had been either overlooked or had not received proper attention prior to the revamp introducing a new unit and a revamp of an already existing division. These areas were the rampant gang violence within the City of Los Santos, and the inter-departmental progression of sworn employees being hindered by a promotion requirement based on field training performance which was found to be unsuitable.

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The Detective Bureau in conjunction with the Gang and Narcotics Division and the Office of the Chief of Police created the Gang Field Unit, a unit that will be available to sworn employees holding the minimum rank of Police Officer II. The Gang Field Unit, as a specialized unit, houses former Patrol Officers who have been reassigned to have their primary assignment be Gang Officers and will be trained and focus on gang activities, operations, movements, and information in an attempt to assist the Gang and Narcotics Division and its Police Detectives to subvert gang operations as a whole. Spearheading the Gang Field Unit and overseeing the Gang Officers and their training and progress is Police Detective III Jason Steel of the Gang and Narcotics Division.

Message from Police Detective III Jason Steel, Officer-in-Charge of the Gang Field Unit:
The Gang Field Unit (GFU) is the Department's response to the rise in organized crime and associated gang violence in the city. Gang Officers in the unit are tasked with identifying, monitoring, and actively disrupting gang operations, while working closely with the Detective Unit of the Gang and Narcotics Division to consolidate any information into its extensive database.

Gang Officers have participated in a number of gang enforcement operations together with the Metropolitan Division and Detectives, which have resulted in arrests and seizure of contraband, and such operations are likely to increase in the new year as the unit grows, and gang violence continues to grow as well.
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INTRODUCTION OF THE METROPOLITAN DIVISION
In conjunction with the Office of the Chief of Police, the Special Operations Bureau under Deputy Chief of Police Scott Dunbar has also undergone a number of changes to its structure, both internally and within the Department. The Special Weapons and Tactics Division under Police Lieutenant V. Einhart has seen a restructure to allow for further progression and separation of units. Now known as the Metropolitan Division, it houses the D Platoon (SWAT) and the A Platoon (Tactical Support Team). Patrol Officers that have changed their primary assignment to be within the METRO D Platoon, otherwise known as SWAT Officers, are able to progress through departmental ranks through their assignment. The METRO A Platoon is assigned to specific crime missions. During the initial founding period, the Team will be assigned to assist the Gang Field Unit within the Gang and Narcotics Division, ensuring that Officers who are interacting with these gang members are kept safe and that speedy tactical assistance can be deployed at any time to assist them as and when is required. Individuals within A Platoon will be in line for progression to D Platoon based on performance.

Message from Deputy Chief of Police Scott Dunbar, Director of the Special Operations Bureau:
The Metropolitan Division (METRO) currently consists of two units, Platoon A (Tactical Support Teams) and Platoon D (Special Weapons and Tactics). METRO builds on the responsibilities of the Special Weapons and Tactics Division, offering a range of specialist services to assist the Los Santos Police Department with its mission.

The changes to METRO have only just begun, in the early months of the coming year, we will be improving the training of our officers, working more closely with the Detective Bureau's Gang Field Unit, and working towards a closer relationship with the Air Support Division.
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GENERAL OPERATIONS BUREAU REVAMP
In December 2020, the General Operations Bureau has also been restructured and revamped as a result of the aim to create more paths of progression and primary assignments for sworn employees of the Los Santos Police Department. Internally, we have moved away from the term "precinct" to fit the General Operations Bureau into the divisional structure of the Department. What was previously known as a precinct is now known as a Patrol Division, with Watch Command being rebranded to Commanding Officers. With that, La Mesa, which was the fifth "precinct" of the Los Santos Police Department that opened its doors earlier this year, was closed down as a precinct for Police Officers due to the separation of primary assignments moving employees out of their past Patrol Divisions and into their respective specialized divisions and units, rendering the need for a fifth Patrol Division as void.

The Vinewood Patrol Division, previously under the command of Police Lieutenant Dezzy Bala who has taken the reign over the Vespucci Patrol Division, was rebranded to the Vinewood Traffic Division to serve the purpose of accommodating a merge of the Traffic Enforcement Division, previously housed in the Special Operations Bureau, and the General Operations Bureau. Patrol Officers specializing in traffic enforcement can now progress through Department ranks based on their passion and efforts within the traffic division.

In summary, 2020 has been a year in which the Los Santos Police Department has seen significant changes being made and implemented with the focus on tackling areas that were previously left as a low priority and increasing the number of progessional opportunities for our sworn employees.

While the opportunity is present, we would like to take this chance to thank not just all the employees that were involved in the process of innovating, have worked with us, and for us to make these changes a reality, but all employees of the Los Santos Police Department for accomodating these changes and helping us making the transitions as smooth as possible.

We are excited to see what 2021 will bring for the Los Santos Police Department.

Sincerely yours,

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Assistant Chief of Police Elena Blake
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2020 Renovations

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Developments within the Los Santos Police Department allowed the employee count to substantially increase over the last year, and with this being said several precinct buildings received an overhaul to house more officers, as well as increase productivity and efficiency. Following the opening of several division patrol buildings the Department received a restructure that further cemented the requirement for additional precincts and ensured a better work environment for officers, futureproofing the law enforcement system of the State of San Andreas as a whole. Several precincts were rebranded as well as refurbished during this year compared to 2019 where Mission Row received refurbishing, whereas in 2020 a big leap was taken and several other precincts have opened their doors, not only to officers, but to civilians as well.

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Opening new precincts/division patrol buildings allows the Los Santos Police Department numerous benefits, not only for the Los Santos Police Department but the citizens themselves. A volatile rise of gang violence is evident since the start of the year, but it has been slowly fading away since the Los Santos Police Department increased their area of operations, positioned themselves for quicker response times, allowed easier access to patrol buildings and equipment, restructured the backbone of the Los Santos Police Department as well as introduced an innovative way to tackle gang violence, and commission patrol vehicles.

The majority of adjustments and several other improvements were also made based on our past expansions and revisions, most notably the Mission Row renovations from 2019. The ideology remained the same, but the outcome has improved for the better. Nearly all bullet points for the 2019 revision were followed and applied to all precinct buildings, to recreate the efficiency, productivity and work environment that Mission Row has had for the past years.

All new buildings will be fitted with all the same facilities as are available in the Mission Row building, except for holding cells. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following facilities, each serving an important role:
  • Waiting area and front desk give the community easier access to their local police by spreading out contact points across the city
  • Locker room fully stocked with all police gear to allow Officers to change equipment and get on duty quicker and easier, allowing greater agility and response time in a rapidly changing environment
  • Garage stocked with all Department vehicles to allow quicker retrieval of special response units and change of cruisers when the need arises, once again giving officers greater agility
  • Employee lounge gives officers a place to relax and socialize to help build a better team and a closer family
  • Evidence lockers increase the storage capacity for evidence as well as give officers easier access to them, to allow the Detective Bureau greater flexibility and efficiency in their work
  • Offices give Patrol Division Command a personal space to carry out their duties, discuss privately, and manage their officers
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Messages from Staff Officers

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  • Deputy Chief of Police Jay Bacon, General Operations Bureau Director
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This year has been trying for the citizens of Los Santos we have seen the rise and fall of many gangs over the past 12 months, some of which fought for the rights of citizens and others that fought for themselves at the cost of citizens lives. Through all these hardships and trying times the Los Santos Police Department has stood strong, always putting life and limb on the line for the people of our Fine City. I am proud to be the leader of the General Operations Bureau, the forefront of the Department; our day to day operations function mainly as General Operations tasks.

I came to the position of General Operations Bureau Director over a year ago, being appointed to the position by then Chief Micky Reefer and Assistant Chief Alex Donnelly. Working through my career here from Cadet to Deputy Chief took a lot of work, versatility and patience. Having the mentors of the time teaching me from their experience is what has lead me to be the leader I am today. I plan to continue to pass along their knowledge along with mine to the Supervisors and Command Staff of the Department today. Going from Cadet, to Police Officer, to Sergeant and then through the Command Team is no small accomplishment, having ventured that path I am proud of each member that pushes to ever grow, and involve themselves as we all have proven to in the past.

Over the past year the General Operations Bureau has seen officers come and go, some showcase great potential and live for the Department and strive to better our city. I am proud to call each and every member of my bureau more than just co-workers, we at the Department have created bonds that make us strong, constantly relying on our partners to protect our lives and those we choose to love.

General Operations has seen some massive changes this past year, including the opening and closing of a precinct, and the rebranding of every precinct in the Bureau. Vinewood Precinct has become Vinewood Traffic Division, spearheaded by Sergeant Steve Smyth. Great things are expected by this change, as we continue to endeavor to keep our streets safe, this team of traffic experts aim to reduce traffic violations by both awareness and by utilizing advanced pursuit training, and spot checks. We in the Bureau are excited to see this team continue to grow and develop as they are freshly welcomed to the Bureau. Mission Row saw a good bit of change this year as well, as Lieutenant Zoey Deul, long time serving Watch Commander was re-assigned to another Division to allow her to focus on her specializations with in the Department. Sergeant Grace Hunter, and Detective Jo Campbell, have taken over as the new Command team for the precinct. With their proven leadership, innovation and team building history, we forsee a bright future for the Patrol Division with them holding the reins. Vespucci has also seen a restructuring with the Appointment of Lieutenant Dezzy Bala and Lieutenant Lukas Montana leading the charge, with their close attention to detail and training this team is a strong pair of leaders, working as a Ying and Yang team they offer a very competent team both in the field and in the office. With Lieutenant Bala's enthusiam for training and Lieutenant Montana's passion for field work they make an exceptional team. This team is Leading the Rebranded Vespucci Patrol Division. Rockford has also see a rebranding this year becoming the Rockford Hills Patrol Division, with the proven leadership of Lieutenant Mary Dinkley, and the new Division Command of Sergeant Elizabeth Sanchez. Their passion for their officers growth development pushes this team to a new level.

The Bureau is excited to see what the future holds for this team as they get kicked into high gear this coming year. The Officers and Director of the General Operations Bureau wish each and every one Happy Holidays and a Safe and Prosperous New Year, lets push to make this year better than the last!
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  • Deputy Chief of Police Scott Dunbar, Special Operations Bureau Director
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2020 has been a year of upheaval within the Los Santos Police Department. We have seen massive shifts in how the administration of the Department works, resulting in changes to bureaus and divisions.

I was appointed the Director of the Special Operations Bureau during the summer of this year after producing a list of changes I planned to implement should I be appointed to the position, since then we have got a fair number of these changes completed and laid the groundwork for further changes.

Two large changes occurred to the Special Operations Bureau this year. Firstly, the restructuring of the Special Weapons and Tactics Division into the Metropolitan Division, expanding the responsibilities of the division and allowing for further future expansion. The second large change was the decision to transfer responsibility for Specialized Traffic Enforcement to the General Operations Bureau. I'd like to thank all of the Traffic Officers who have served the division while it was in the Special Operations Bureau and wish its Command Team the best of luck in the future.

Finally, I would like to thank all the members of the Special Operations Bureau for their efforts within the Bureau over the past year, pilots are invaluable to the Department and operatives/tactical officers ensure all our colleagues get home safely. Keep up the good work!
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  • Deputy Chief of Police Xoza Shadow, Detective Bureau Director
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Every month the Bureau investigates and is involved with the resolution of cases, recovering of stolen goods, and removal of contraband from our streets. Much of the work done, is accomplished and documented in our Bureau's database, from case files, and reference documents to Detective logs, and of captured or recovered items. This year we've seen over 8,500 entries to our Detective database, 2179 case entries across 113 cases, 2092 informational logs, and 761 detective logs. We've also brought in a great number of new Detectives this year in addition to officers.

Misuse of firearms is a known and common issue in the state and we find and capture quite a bit from various situations and cases. In firearms and equipment, we have captured over 4,011, illegal or misused firearms with more than 152,765 rounds of ammunition. Often used with these firearms has been in combination of 1,998 illegal weapon mods and gear. We've estimated the total street value of these items to be over $65,943,590 during the time of capture.

Drugs plague our streets, poison our homes and neighborhoods and can present a destructive danger to anyone nearby. Over the last year, we've discovered an increase in makeshift and even mobile drug labs. After discovering this increase of drug paraphernalia and manufacturing, we sought to remove them from our state. We dismantled 329 labs and incinerated over 3,267 drugs.

This year has seen other crimes that have driven a lot of attention. Fraud, is one of the largest, most impactful crimes our citizens suffer today. Despite every effort to educate our citizens on how to properly do business, we continue recieve cases that pertain to it. We've worked on finding solutions and commissioned the state to help us fight back and help our citizens restore lost assets. From banks and stores, we've documented $3,184,541 in recovered money, however this doesn't compare to the $13,370,000 in estimated assets and currency, we have recovered from fraud cases.

I want to recognize and thank all of our great Detectives who have really made this happen and the year, what it has been. Still with us, or not, I look forward to what we can accomplish next year and thank you for all your great work.
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  • Deputy Chief of Police Ashley York, Administrative Services Bureau Director
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Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a wonderful new year everyone. I will keep this short and sweet, this year has been a very good year for the Administrative Services Bureau and our divisions. We've accomplished a lot this last year, and we hope to accomplish even more in the upcoming future.

Our divisions would not be where they would be without the hard work and dedication our Commanding Officers give. Thank you for your hard work, your dedication, and passion to your divisions and this Department, Captain Kilo Crosby, Sergeant Grace Hunter, Detective Samuele Colonna, Sergeant Jonathan Norton, Chief Scott Dunbar, retired Detective Belle Cavallera, and retired Captain Cynthia Shelby.

Of course the divisions need officers along with other members of the supervisor and command team to make them function, we wouldn't be where we're at without you all, thank you so much for everything you do!
I hope you all and everyone else have an awesome new year!
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  • Deputy Chief of Police Phillipe Sanchez, Police Training Bureau Director
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Today we look back on what has been arguably the most productive year I have encountered since joining the Los Santos Police Department. Growth has been seen in all areas of the Department be that changes to General Police Operations, Detectives, Special Operations, Administration or Training – 2020 has been a year of continued distributed growth throughout. As the Director of the Police Training Bureau, my focus has obviously primarily been developing training within the Department throughout the year.

I was appointed as the Director of the Police Training Bureau in early 2020 with a promise to the Office of the Chiefs that I would lead from the front and focus primarily on developing the attainment levels through the Field Training Program for Cadets and the Advanced Training Division for Officers. Previous to this appointment, I was the Commanding Officer of the Field Training Program (renamed to Field Training Division later) so training was always in my heart and the passion of my career. When I moved up to head the training bureau, I passed on the direct leadership of the Field Training Program to (then) Sergeant Dezzy Bala and Sergeant Elizabeth Sanchez. With them being the direct leaders of the division, I grew so attached to, I was confident it was in safe hands. Being the Director of the Police Training Bureau, I oversee the day-to-day activities of the: Field Training Division, The Advanced Training Division as well as the Supervisor Training Program.

The Field Training Division is the core training division of the Department and all employees at some point completed their training through this program (discounting transfers). The Field Training Division takes the lead on training Cadets fresh out of the academy to get them to the standards of a Police Officer through a vigorous structured training program. The curriculum of the program develops over time as many procedures in the Department change and evolve so the Field Training Division needs to frequently adapt training methods, strategies and information to fit the development of the Department. This year saw one of the biggest changes to the Field Training Division since it was founded in 2017 which was a complete overhaul of the training curriculum, adding an extra training session and focusing solely on specific areas of focus (such as driving, arrest procedures) in each individual session so not to overload the Cadet with information. Discussions for this change began in mid-2020 and we finally pushed out the finished product in mid-December. I speak on behalf of the Field Training Division Command team that we are very proud of the outcome. Not only has 2020 been a year of development for the Division, but it has also been the most productive year ever as training officers have conducted 1160 training reports and 1042 structured sessions meaning throughout the year of 2020, 2202 training sessions were recorded which is record-breaking! Well done to all who participated this year.

The Advanced Training Division is the division which continues to enforce high-standards of policing through structured training sessions for Police Officers of any rank throughout their career. The division is led by Lieutenant Zoey Deul and Police Officer III+1 Tom Brown. Together with their instructor team, they host frequent training sessions which range from anything such as Scene Management to Advanced Pursuit Driving/Tactics. The Advanced Training Division is also responsible for certifying Officers for heavy firearms to combat the ever-growing violent crime rates withing Los Santos thus keeping them busy practically and administratively.

Finally, the Supervisor Training Program is a structured training program which exemplary officers have the opportunity to participate in with the end goal of becoming a supervisor for the Department. Throughout the year of 2020, the Supervisor Training Program has seen 22 supervisors in training successfully pass the course and move up to being qualified supervisors.

As a brief closing note, I would like to thank all Officers who have participated under the Police Training Bureau in some shape or form throughout 2020 as you have directly been a part of the growth of the Department as a whole. No matter how big or small your contributions were, they did not go unnoticed and they are very much appreciated. With that being said, I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season and I wish you all the best for the new year!
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Department Statistics

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An important part of reflecting on the year that has passed is looking back at how our statistics have changed from month to month. For the sake of transparency, statistics about recruitment, training, reported arrests and impounds, as well as total employment numbers, are published at the end of every month in the Monthly Bulletin. Going through the numbers published each month reveals interesting information that will be analyzed below. But first, here are the total statistics for the entire year of 2020, as well as our current employment numbers.
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Now we will take a look at our numbers month by month, and discover what's behind the trends. Note that the data analysis does not include data from the month of December, given that the month is yet a few days short at the time of writing. This year being a leap year, February had 29 days, but will still show slightly lower numbers in comparison with other months.

Recruitment has become increasingly selective this year with an increase in application numbers. A decision to employ more staff with the LSPD allowed for some strong academies throughout the spring, but by mid summer the force had already grown 50% and recruitment was turned down significantly in July. The fall season has seen lower acceptance rates as the employee numbers stabilize around 150 total staff. These numbers are a great sign, showing a growing public interest in the Department and allowing recruiters to truly choose only Los Santos' finest to join the force.

This graph of total employees over new employees shows the growth of the Department by 50% during spring of this year. Compare the graph of recruitment statistics above to the gradual rise in the total number of employees, and it becomes evident why recruitment has slowed. Coming off of the sharp rise in employees and a strong recruitment drive in June, it was necessary to stem recruitment in July while the large batch of Cadets was trained. During the fall, the recruitment drives were adequate in maintaining the force at capacity. Reinstatements and transfers to the LSPD make up for the gap between discharges and new Cadets.


The statistics for field training sessions reflect the amount of Cadets in key ways. With an increase in new Cadets, more Feld Training Sessions (FTS) - those sessions required for a Cadet to pass the program - are conducted. However, a comparatively lower amount of Field Training Reports (FTR) are filed, as signified by the graph of FTRs going below that of FTSs. When there are less Cadets in the program this goes the other way, which is especially evident towards the end of the year with recruitment dropping off. This is the result of having a consistent amount of Field Training Officers available regardless of how many Cadets there are, and the fact that Field Training Sessions are limited in number while Field Training Reports are not. The effect of this is that with the lower amount of Cadets accepted today, Field Training Officers are conducting more Field Training Reports to meet their quotas, giving each Cadet more attention and time in the field.

The amount of optional paperwork filed in November was more than four times that of January. The increase is most significant in late spring to early summer, reflecting a highly successful push by the Supervisor team for officers to use optional paperwork as a way to stand out from others. This coincided with Supervisor positions filling up and recruitment for the Detective Bureau becoming stricter, requiring officers to file more reports to set themselves apart for one of the few positions available. Including Duty Reports, the result is over 30,000 pieces of optional paperwork being filed by our Officers this year, an achievement we are incredibly proud of. The Detective Bureau uses this optional paperwork extensively in their work, and thanks to the increased efforts of a larger team of officers, Detectives now have more information than ever to use in their fight against crime.


The Ride-Along Program is a great way to experience the world from the eyes of a Police Officer in Los Santos, whether you are an aspiring cop, a reporter, or a curious civilian. The number of Ride-Alongs at the end of the year is similar to that of the beginning of the year. As would be expected, there are peaks in the summer months, and around the holidays where people have more time.


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Internal Affairs

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In the Los Santos Police Department, we value and take pride in our integrity, transparency, and commitment to the general public of Los Santos, and the Internal Affairs Division is how we aim to achieve and better this.

The Internal Affairs Division of the Los Santos Police Department operates as the investigative arm of the Chief of Police to identify and report corruption or employee misconduct or behaviors that tend to discredit the Los Santos Police Department or violate Department policies, procedures, or protocols. The division consists of a Commanding Officer, Assistant Commanding Officer, and a team of Internal Affairs Investigators. The Internal Affairs Division is currently overseen by Assistant Chief of Police Elena Blake directly as their Commanding Officer following the departure of long-time law enforcement veteran Police Captain Cynthia Shelby, the former Commanding Officer of the division. Finding itself under the Office of the Chief of Police in the structure of the Los Santos Police Department, the Internal Affairs Division reports directly to the (Assistant) Chief of Police.

With the motto of the Los Santos Police Department being "to protect and serve" we dedicate ourselves to providing the finest police service possible, however, in order to be able to provide continual quality service to the city and community, we more often than not require your assistance, as this is not only our police department but yours too. We welcome your comments and feedback and encourage you to let us know about the quality of service you receive from our employees. All complaints submitted concerning potential employee misconduct or misbehavior are reviewed by Internal Affairs Command prior to being assigned for investigation. Following the preliminary review of the complaint, it is assigned to a trained supervisor to be investigated, an investigation which may include interviews of witnesses and officers, both verbally and written, a review of Department records, policies, and procedures, photographs, other evidence, and legal analysis.

The investigation of a personnel complaint and subsequent actions, such as the administration of discipline when warranted, is an involved and time-consuming process. While we aim to conclude investigations in an adequate amount of time, the amount of time an investigation requires to come to a conclusion depends on a number of factors and generally varies from a week to about a month. Once the process has been completed, you will be notified of the outcome in writing by e-mail.

To maintain our integrity and achieve the transparency that we push for, the Internal Affairs Division will be releasing its statistics for the year 2020, a year that had many cases of alleged employee misconduct or misbehavior investigated and concluded throughout it.
The Internal Affairs Division of the Los Santos Police Department has received a total of 305 employee complaints, of which 63 complaints were marked as Sustained upon completion meaning that the reported employee committed all or part of the allegations of misconduct or poor service. 30 complaints were marked as Not Resolved and dismissed following a lack of information or evidence to continue the investigation. 104 complaints have been marked as Exonerated, indicating that the investigation had shown that the alleged acts did occur, but that they were fully justified, lawful, and proper. 19 complaints were marked as No Misconduct, for a total number of 123 complaints being ruled in the favor of the reported employee; important to note, however, is that not being ruled under these or any conclusion statuses means that the reported employee conducted any misconduct - human errors in terms of charges and citations often happen and are corrected by the Internal Affairs Division, these incidents, for example, make up the percentage of complaint results not outlined in these statistics.
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Closing Message

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  • We would like to thank you all for reading this press release and celebrating the past year of the Los Santos Police Department with us. We have moved further in our goals this year and are very excited for what is to come as we continue our tradition of improvement to always protect and serve the people of Los Santos in the coming year.

    I extend my gratitude to the Staff Officers of the Department for sending in their messages to be included in the review. I would also like to recognize Assistant Chief of Police Elena Blake for contributing a great deal to this publication herself. Finally, thank you to our Media Liaisons for their efforts. On behalf of the Los Santos Police Department, the team at Media Relations wishes everyone a happy New Years and a great 2021, and we look forward to seeing you again next year.

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    Police Sergeant II Jonathan Norton
    Commanding Officer, Media Relations Division
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mrdstamp
MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION
Administrative Services Bureau
Los Santos Police Department — "To Protect and to Serve"

Account is not monitored. For information, consult the Public Affairs area.
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