LSPD 2023 - Year in Review (NR062-23ef)

The Newsroom contains all press releases of the Los Santos Police Department.
Post Reply
User avatar
LSPD Media Relations
Posts: 385
Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2020 7:53 pm
ECRP Forum Name:

LSPD 2023 - Year in Review (NR062-23ef)

Post by LSPD Media Relations »

-
mrdstamp
Los Santos Police Department
Los Santos, San Andreas

News Release

Image
NR062-23ef
December 31, 2023
LSPD 2023 - Year in Review

Image
-
Image

Los Santos: 2023 has brought a new wave of changes and improvements to the Los Santos Police Department. To enhance community trust and strengthen the department's effectiveness, several key leadership appointments have been made. Leading the way is Chief of Police Elena Flores, a seasoned law enforcement professional with a commitment to accountability and community policing. Chief Flores brings a fresh perspective and a drive for positive change to the department. Joining Chief Flores are Assistant Chiefs Phillipe Sanchez and Scott Dunbar. Both Assistant Chiefs are respected leaders within the Department and bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their roles. Together, they form a strong and dynamic leadership team that will guide the Department toward a better future. Two new Deputy Chiefs have also been appointed; Elizabeth Sanchez, who is now Commanding Officer of the General Operations Bureau, and Victor Einhart, Commanding Officer of the Special Operations Bureau.

One significant development in 2023 is the transparency of the Internal Affairs Division. Recognizing the importance of civilian oversight, the Department has established a civilian review board to ensure accountability and fairness in the handling of internal investigations. This new level of transparency aims to foster trust between the police and the community they serve. Another area of focus is the restructuring of the Firearms Licensing Division. In response to changing needs and demands, the Department has expanded its licensing criteria to include shotguns and modifications. This adjustment ensures that responsible gun owners have access to the necessary licenses while prioritizing public safety.

The Los Santos Police Department is also committed to improving its relationship with the media and the community. The Media Relations Division has transformed, shifting its focus from a purely public relations approach to working hand in hand with multiple small businesses and fostering stronger bonds with the community. This new direction aims to promote transparency and open lines of communication between the police and the public. Additionally, the Department has taken decisive action in addressing misconduct within its ranks. Terminated and charged officers are held accountable for their actions, demonstrating the Department's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.

2023 marks a year of change and progress for the Los Santos Police Department. With new leadership, increased transparency, and a focus on community collaboration, the Department aims to build a safer and more inclusive Los Santos for all its residents. Together, the Department and the community can work hand in hand to achieve these goals and enhance trust in law enforcement.


###

69 Sinner Street • Los Santos • San Andreas • 90013
Emergency Hotline: 911 • Public Inquiries • Email: [email protected]
"to protect and to serve"

-

-
mrdstamp
Los Santos Police Department
Los Santos, San Andreas

News Release

Image
Page 2
2023 Restructuring

The Los Santos Police Department is an ever-growing organization. As one of the leaders in law enforcement, the Department is required to continuously develop and evolve to cater to the needs of the citizens and communities it serves, along with the employees that wear the badge.

Following the inauguration of Chief of Police Elena Flores, a push to finalize a restructure of the Department hierarchy and organization was made. While originally an initiative to provide further career and advancement opportunities within the ranks of the Department, the effects have a deeper impact on the operations of the Department and its oversight that goes beyond introducing vacancies for deserving individuals.


Image
Chief of Police Elena Flores wrote:Beyond honest and ethical behavior, loyalty, initiative, and commitment to excellent service are some of the things I value most in employees within the Department where high-level advancement is concerned. It is then only appropriate to make an effort to ensure that employees who prove deserving have the opportunity to advance within the Department.

Irrespective of their position within the Department, I recognize the importance of ensuring that employees who make a difference, whether that is through modernization of the Department and one of its divisions or bureaus, efforts in community relations and policing, administrative efforts, or otherwise. For a long time, the Department did not provide ample advancement opportunities for employees of varying ranks, which resulted in an effective glass ceiling for individuals who were deserving of recognition and career advancement through their efforts and dedication.

One of my first acts as Police Chief, assisted by my Chief of Staff, Phillipe Sanchez, was to push my administration to finalize discussions surrounding an upper-level restructure of the Department. We anticipated this restructure to have a snowball effect which would affect employees in different rank categories and paygrades, ranging from advancement within Command Staff to progression into Command Staff, and even opportunities for officers to be given the chance to become a Sergeant or assume the role of Commanding Officer over a division.

However, not only has this restructure created more career and advancement opportunities for our employees, it has seen changes that will positively benefit and affect the Department and its policies and processes. An example of such a positive change was the reintroduction of the Police Training Bureau, which would allow us to appoint a capable, experienced individual to oversee all training within the Department to ensure a qualitatively streamlined process, in turn resulting in better training which would then benefit both the Department and provide a better service to the communities we serve.

Reflecting on this restructuring and the initial plans and initiatives, I am happy to see that parts of what we had initially envisioned have begun to come to fruition. I am excited and hopeful for what the next year may bring.
REINTRODUCTION OF ORGANIZATIONAL OFFICES
The Department has seen the reintroduction of organizational offices into its structure. These offices have been re-established and organized based on the bureaus and divisions therein, to ensure that bureaus and divisions with similar duties and end goals are placed under the same umbrella. This has allowed for the appointment of Office Directors, who have assumed the responsibility of ensuring that the bureaus within their assigned office have streamlined processes and a consolidated vision and synergy.

REINTRODUCTION OF THE POLICE TRAINING BUREAU

The Police Training Bureau was reintroduced following deliberations on the state of training within the Department, along with the placement of various divisions with a focus on training being spread across different bureaus.

Housing the Field Training Division, which focuses on the training of graduates from the Los Santos Police Academy to prepare them for their duties as a Los Santos Police Officer, the Training Division, which focuses on the development of new training programs and providing training for in-service officers, and the Supervisor Training Program, which prepares selected individuals for a role as a supervisor within the Department, the re-establishment of the Police Training Bureau has created a vacancy for a Bureau Commanding Officer.

This vacancy allows for the appointment of an experienced individual with a sole focus on training within the Department to be made, which in turn will benefit both the Department and those it serves by providing the officers with better, more streamlined training.

LEGAL AFFAIRS UNIT BECOMING THE LEGAL AFFAIRS DIVISION

A review of the Legal Affairs Unit, then housed under the Internal Affairs Division, led the Department to determine and review the place of the division within its structure and the duties carried out by the unit and its personnel.

Discussions surrounding the future of the Legal Affairs Unit were initiated, which resulted in the decision to expand the unit into a division, conforming with common structure within the Department. The Legal Affairs Division was established as a separate division and was decoupled from the Internal Affairs Division to prepare for an eventuality where the San Andreas Judicial Branch and the courts expand in any way that would warrant adaptation on the end of the Los Santos Police Department.

The expansion from a unit into a division has also allowed for the appointment of a Commanding Officer and established a vacancy for an Assistant Commanding Officer. The option to appoint more employees to oversee, work in, and develop the Legal Affairs Division has resulted in further preparation for future expansion or other circumstances based on necessity.

REINTRODUCTION OF THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT DIVISION

The Traffic Enforcement Division has seen numerous changes, restructures, and revamps since it was initially founded and established many years ago. Most recently, the Traffic Enforcement Division was reformed into the Vinewood Traffic Division and was made a primary assignment for officers within the Operations Bureau.

While it allowed officers to evolve their divisional passion into the primary driving force behind their careers and provided opportunities to the leaders of the division, it also created a divide between those with a passion for traffic enforcement but further passion or interest in other primary assignments within the Department, such as the D Platoon (SWAT) or the Detective Bureau. Over time, this divide became noticeable through the lower numbers of personnel in the traffic division.

The leadership of the Vinewood Traffic Division and the Commanding Officer, General Operations Bureau engaged in discussions about the future of the division, its growth, and more importantly, its retainment of traffic officers. After a lengthy discussion, the conclusion to separate the division from the divisional structure of standard operations and reclassify it as a secondary assignment was made.

The division was renamed to the Traffic Enforcement Division and was re-assigned to the Special Operations Bureau as a secondary assignment, which was a return to form for the division. The division returning to its state as a secondary assignment allowed a plethora of officers with various primary assignments to return to the division, which resulted in the growth of the division and an increase in operations.

INTRODUCTION OF THE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD

A significant development in the commitment of the Department to transparency and accountability was made in 2023 through the establishment of the Civilian Review Board. The board is a pivotal measure in the enhancement of public trust in the Department through the introduction of an additional layer of oversight with respect to internal investigations and officer misconduct.

The Civilian Review Board exists outside of the standard structure and chain of command of the Los Santos Police Department and reports directly to the Office of the Chief of Police. Provided with autonomy to conduct independent reviews of the investigative processes of the Los Santos Police Department and to raise concerns and discrepancies directly to the Chief of Police, members of the board have proven crucial to ensuring that the Department upholds its promise of excellence through service and its pledges of building stronger relationships with the public and communities.


###

69 Sinner Street • Los Santos • San Andreas • 90013
Emergency Hotline: 911 • Public Inquiries • Email: [email protected]
"to protect and to serve"

-

-
mrdstamp
Los Santos Police Department
Los Santos, San Andreas

News Release

Image
Page 3
Division Updates

The many divisions of the Department are under constant evolution to ensure they work as efficiently as possible with the resources available. It is up to the command team of each division to think innovatively and implement changes and additions to the workflow of their respective division. In this section, a member of the command team of a select number of LSPD divisions will introduce the changes the division has seen this year, or plans to implement in 2024.

TRAINING DIVISION

The Training Division of the Los Santos Police Department, spearheaded by Police Captain III Steve Smyth, is responsible for providing meaningful, realistic, and relevant training to in-service officers beyond the Los Santos Police Academy and Field Training Program to keep them prepared for field duty. Supervisors and instructors of the Training Division facilitate various training programs and educational courses for officers, which serves the purpose of the division of training and preparing personnel of the Department to professionally solve both common and uncommon incidents.

Captain Steve Smyth wrote: The Training Division this year has undergone some major changes, overhauling our internal administrative tasks and reintroducing the Trainee Instructor Program. Our aim this year has been on training sessions focusing on our officers, which has been largely successful with 18 conducted in the last 6 months, 1 more than was held in the entirety of the previous year. In the coming year, we want to continue with the upward rise in training sessions while bringing more instructors on board to ensure we keep the Department engaged.

METROPOLITAN DIVISION
The Metropolitan Division, led by Police Captain II Gareth Longford and Police Lieutenant II Bill Breacher, is the elite, specialized response division of the Los Santos Police Department, responsible for numerous duties including search warrant service, resolving high-risk standoffs such as barricaded suspects, crowd and riot control, counterterrorism, fugitive apprehension, and dignitary protection.

The Metropolitan Division is comprised of three platoons. The M Platoon is responsible for all administrative and training processes within the division. The D Platoon, commonly known as "SWAT", is the LSPD's tactical police unit that provides 24-hour coverage necessary for barricaded suspects, crisis and hostage negotiations, and other high-risk incidents. The K9 Platoon, or the Canine Platoon, is intended to support field and detective operations through the use of police dogs.

Lieutenant Bill Breacher wrote: The K9 Platoon has improved greatly throughout the last year. Our primary focus has been on recruitment and training. We have also reworked the K9 Academy and subsequent trainings, putting more focus on one-on-one time between the dog and their handler. This has allowed for a better connection between the handlers. We have also finished putting together a certification for a Currency K9, which allows them to pick up the scent of stolen marked cash. We now also have three times more handlers.

Our aim for the coming year will be to further develop the Search & Rescue Certification, allowing our K9s to find lost, injured, or hidden individuals in difficult-to-navigate terrain. Alongside this certification, we remain steadfast in recruiting more handlers to the K9 Platoon.

FIREARMS LICENSING DIVISION
Responsible for the distribution of firearms licenses to civilians within the State of San Andreas and overseeing the processes used to accomplish this, the Firearms Licensing Division is led by Police Lieutenant I Mike Luigi and Police Sergeant I John Keys. The division is further responsible for other matters related to firearms licensing, such as handling requests to hand firearms in, reports of missing or stolen firearms, and requests to change licensed firearms.

Lieutenant Mike Luigi wrote: The Firearms Licensing Division has undergone significant developments and achievements in the last year, marking a period of growth and enhancement. In May, we went through a major leadership change, with myself becoming the Commanding Officer and Sergeant John Keys the Assistant Commanding Officer.

This year, we have also undergone a major revamp of our system, allowing us to better track lost and stolen firearms, alongside the collaborative work between the Firearm Licensing Division, The San Andreas Board of Governors, and the Los Santos Sheriff's Department with the influx of legal firearm imports.

AIR SUPPORT DIVISION
The Air Support Division, led by Police Captain I Josh Durry, provides the ground personnel of the Department with air support to enhance officer and public safety, which they achieve by providing rapid responses, tactical insight, and airborne assessments of incidents such as pursuits and search and rescue operations safely and professionally.

To be able to achieve this mission, the Air Support Division is responsible for the recruitment and training of pilots specialized in the operation of rotary-wing aircraft. The division consists of two sections. Air Support to Regular Operations, abbreviated as "ASTRO", provides standard support to officers on the ground. The Special Flight Section, abbreviated to "SFS", provides support to undercover and tactical police operations.

Captain Josh Durry wrote: The Air Support Division has had some minor changes over the last year. We have refocused our pilot training program to include further optional training sessions for our recruits. We have also looked at how we can retain our more experienced pilots within the division and introduced some new regulations to tailor their time in Department airships to their needs.

In cooperation with the Metropolitan Division, we have expanded our current training program for the pilots of the Special Flight Section, which we plan to roll out in the new year. As we look forward to 2024, I would like to collaborate more with other divisions within the LSPD to create training for both our pilots and officers on the ground.

FIELD TRAINING DIVISION
The Field Training Division, led by Police Captain I Eleanor Quinn and Police Lieutenant I Rija Luigi, is primarily responsible for overseeing and developing the Field Training Program and the recruitment of Field Training Officers. The Field Training Program is the first step for all officers inducted into the Los Santos Police Department once they have graduated from the Los Santos Police Academy.

Captain Eleanor Quinn wrote: Over the last year, the Field Training Division has gone through a major revamp. At the end of April, the Field Training Program received a full restructuring. The program was changed from a rigid linear system to a more flexible modular system, allowing for sessions to flow more naturally and easily.

In the coming year, we will continue to review and refine the field training program based on Field Training Officer and Police Cadet feedback. We are also reintroducing the Field Training Officer of the Month starting in January 2024, alongside reviewing the internal Field Training Officer structure and authority.

RECRUITMENT AND EMPLOYMENT DIVISION
The Recruitment and Employment Division of the Los Santos Police Department, led by Police Captain III Jessica Nash and Police Sergeant I Don Mozzarella, is responsible for the recruitment of potential prospective officers and the development of the processes surrounding the recruitment of new officers.

The division consists of two sections, which focus on the recruitment process and the Los Santos Police Academy respectively. Recruitment officers are responsible for ensuring that a smooth process exists in which prospective officers may partake, during which they are then screened. Academy instructors are responsible for the development of material taught in the Los Santos Police Academy, and for hosting academies and teaching students therein.

Captain Jessica Nash wrote: In the early summer, the previous Commanding Officer of the Recruitment and Employment Division was Jason Steel, who worked diligently on improving the recruitment process and ensuring it was efficient while still being effective. Alongside this, he restructured the internal ranking to ensure that all recruitment officers were allowed to take the lead where they felt comfortable. When I took over the Commanding Officer position once more, it ensured the tight ship ran sturdy and well.

In the coming year, we look to concentrate more on quality rather than quantity. While 2023 provided some rather large academies and a plethora of unique individuals, we've found that in areas where we afforded a larger academy base and put forward opportunities to those perhaps not as qualified, it saw officers finding they didn't quite fit the bill or correct career path. With this in mind, we look to brainstorm ways we can find individuals who are keen and dedicated to this career path that can be brought into the fold for years to come, rather than short-term officers.

TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT DIVISION
Responsible for the enforcement of traffic laws throughout the City of Los Santos with a specialized method of policing, the Traffic Enforcement Division is led by Police Detective II Philo Marks. The methods used by the Traffic Enforcement Division to achieve this include but are not limited to the establishment of checkpoints. The Traffic Enforcement Division is further responsible for community education, outreach work, and the investigation of traffic collisions and traffic-related crimes.

Detective Philo Marks wrote: The Traffic Enforcement Division has not seen any large changes throughout the year. However, one of the biggest noteworthy changes is how we handle internal promotions. With the new system, promotion through the Traffic Officer ranks is focused more on your Traffic Officer performance rather than tied to your General Police Department Rank.

Our biggest set of work we are in the process of setting up for 2024 is building out a new training program for Probationary Traffic Officers. The current process we have in place has been for the most part untouched for many years, and we are aiming to revamp it to be up to date with the latest penal code, vehicular citations, and misdemeanors.

MEDIA RELATIONS DIVISION
The Media Relations Division, led by Police Detective I Isabella Cavallera and Police Lieutenant I Rija Luigi, is primarily responsible for maintaining a trusting relationship between the Los Santos Police Department and members of the public. It fosters cooperation and mutual respect between the Department and news media, which the division aims to accomplish by using the media as a valuable resource to keep the public informed as to the activities of the Department and providing transparency for the Department through communication and interactions with the public.


Detective Isabella Cavallera wrote:In 2023, the Media Relations Division made several changes to improve efficiency and effectiveness. The Monthly Newsletter was replaced with a Quarterly Newsletter, and the focus of the newsletter was changed to free up resources to work on more interesting and unique content. The Division was restructured, combining the Media Relations and Community Relations units into one unified division. This restructuring, along with new formats for public releases, allows the Division to function better with the limited staffing it has available.

Thanks to Assistant Commanding Officer Rija Luigi, the duties of what was the Community Relations Unit have successfully been integrated into the Division, and community outreach has improved since before the restructuring. In 2024, we aim to continue on our path of gradual improvement, increasing the amount of information published, enhancing community outreach, and fulfilling our mission of providing information to the public.
###

69 Sinner Street • Los Santos • San Andreas • 90013
Emergency Hotline: 911 • Public Inquiries • Email: [email protected]
"to protect and to serve"

-

-
mrdstamp
Los Santos Police Department
Los Santos, San Andreas

News Release

Image
Page 4
Progress in the Fight Against Organized Crime

In 2023, the Detective Bureau and Metropolitan Division seized a significant quantity of weapons and narcotics, that would otherwise have been used to terrorize the city. These weapons, along with the hostile acts committed by their possessors,are cause for concern in the daily lives of the citizens of Los Santos.

Image

To fight this crime, a strategic teamwork is maintained between the Detective Bureau, which gathers and analyzes intelligence against the biggest gangs in the city into files, and the Metropolitan Division, which executes search, seizure, and arrest warrant operations in collaboration with detectives. Areas with high gang activity are monitored by the Detective Bureau, and every suspicious move, illegal possession, and crime is documented. These measures have resulted in the successful apprehension of numerous individuals this year, as well as the seizure of a significant amount of weapons and narcotics in operations. These illicit items were actively used in hostility against the citizens of Los Santos and the officers, resulting in many ambushes, casualties, and constant fear for everyone's safety in Los Santos.

Image

The peak of this action was a multiple-day operation dubbed Operation Sunset, wherein the Department was able to successfully seize weaponry and narcotics from various properties belonging to high profile individuals, many of whom were brought into custody. These operations were led by officers of the Metropolitan Division, with the assistance of many general patrol officers, and involved a series of search warrants based on evidence gathered and documented by detectives. During this operation, the following was captured and confiscated:

- 1 Class 3 firearm
- 111 Class 2 firearms
- 140 Class 1 firearms
- 20,612 rounds of various types of ammunition
- 80 weapon modifications
- 1,806 units of drugs
- 2,817 units of drug paraphernalia and chemicals
- 30 units of drug manufacturing equipment
- 26 pieces of body armor,

These weapons would have been used as murder and coercion weapons in gang wars, against the police, and against members of the general public. Gangs would have used the seized narcotics to fund their operations, by selling them to victims, members of the general public addicted to the substances. The overall value of the seizure is estimated to be in excess of $9,000,000.

This operation was the biggest conducted in 2023 by the Los Santos Police Department. Unfortunately, some officers lost their lives through their relentless efforts to bring down gangs. Unfortunately, gang violence is still a big issue today, and the Department will continue its fight into 2024 in the name of justice and the souls lost along the way.


###

69 Sinner Street • Los Santos • San Andreas • 90013
Emergency Hotline: 911 • Public Inquiries • Email: [email protected]
"to protect and to serve"

-

-
mrdstamp
Los Santos Police Department
Los Santos, San Andreas

News Release

Image
Page 5
Lights, Camera, Action!

Throughout the year, a lot of media is gathered surrounding the work of the Police Department, some of which is published in the quarterly newsletter. For the Year in Review, officers voted for the one picture taken in each month that they liked best. Here is the top voted picture for each month.

JANUARY

Image

FEBRUARY

Image

MARCH

Image

APRIL

Image

MAY

Image

JUNE

Image

JULY

Image

AUGUST

Image

SEPTEMBER

Image

OCTOBER

Image

NOVEMBER

Image

DECEMBER

Image

###

69 Sinner Street • Los Santos • San Andreas • 90013
Emergency Hotline: 911 • Public Inquiries • Email: [email protected]
"to protect and to serve"

-

-
mrdstamp
Los Santos Police Department
Los Santos, San Andreas

News Release

Image
Page 6
Farewell, Officers

The Los Santos Police Department is a family. It is always a great heartbreak to all when someone leaves the Department, whatever the reason may be. Thus, we want to send a message to all those that have served with us this year that are no longer with the Department.

To all the Officers, Supervisors, Command Officers, and Chiefs who have departed from the Los Santos Police Department in 2023,

Image

We would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your dedicated service. Every one of you has made a lasting impact on our Department, and we are truly grateful for your contributions. While it may be difficult to say goodbye, we hope that this is not a permanent farewell. It is our sincere wish to see each of you again in the future, as your skills, experiences, and leadership have been invaluable to our team. Please know that the Los Santos Police Department holds each one of you in the highest regard. We recognize and appreciate the time, effort, and sacrifices you have made during your tenure with us. Whether your stay was brief or long-lasting, we genuinely value every single one of you.

Image

Our Department has been enriched by your presence, and your departure leaves a void that will not go unnoticed. We sincerely hope that our paths will cross again and that you may once again grace our ranks with your expertise and unwavering dedication. Thank you for your service, commitment, and loyalty. It has been an honor and a privilege to have you as part of our team. We wish you all the very best in your future endeavors and hope that success, happiness, and fulfillment accompany you wherever life may lead you.

Remember that you have a place in our hearts, and the doors of the Los Santos Police Department will always be open to welcome you back.

Image

With utmost respect and appreciation,

The Los Santos Police Department


###

69 Sinner Street • Los Santos • San Andreas • 90013
Emergency Hotline: 911 • Public Inquiries • Email: [email protected]
"to protect and to serve"

-

-
mrdstamp
Los Santos Police Department
Los Santos, San Andreas

News Release

Image
Page 7
Statistics Review

2023 has been a year of stability and increased productivity for the Los Santos Police Department. The employee count has remained stable since the end of last year, and recruitment has been steady. Yet, there were more reported arrests month on month, more paperwork was filed, more public inquiries were answered, and all in less time compared to last year. When it comes to crime, however, the city has been faced with a similar pattern of crime waves, with significant peaks occurring interchangeably in certain crimes.

When reading these statistics, it is important to keep in mind that they are all hand-processed, and a small tolerance must be allowed for human error. Additionally, a lot of analysis is based on arrest reports, which have been required on every arrest only since May last year. This means that crime statistics were underreported during the first 4 months of 2022. Statistics for December are incomplete as well, as they were pulled on the 28th and 29th December. Note that an arrest report denotes one arrested person, not the amount of charges that person received.

CRIME

More arrest reports were filed during every month of 2023 than in the same month of last year. During the first 4 months, this can partially be explained by arrest reports not yet having been mandatory in 2022, and some of it can be explained by lower staffing in 2022. However, in the last trimester, when staffing levels of 2022 were equivalent to current levels, there were still significantly more arrest reports filed in 2023. In total, 10,122 arrest reports were filed in 2022, and 14,780 in 2023, an increase of 4658, or approximately 46%.

With staffing being equivalent, this means that each officer arrested more people in 2023 than in 2022. Without significant penal code changes to take into account, this means that either the Department has become better at catching criminals than it was last year, or, that the crime rate has increased. The exact cause most likely varies with the exact crime in question.

A cause for concern is that the rate of murder-related arrests has been significantly higher this year than last year. This is part of the general increase in arrests made this year, but during the last quarter, the rate has been more than twice as high as last year, which is significantly more than the difference in arrest reports, which for the same time frame has been only about 50% higher.

A significant portion of these were attempted murders of government employees - almost always police officers - and some of the rise can be attributed to an increase in gang activity. There has been noticeable turbulence since the rise of the terrorist group that murdered a governor, and the increase in gang activity has led to more confrontations between crooks and the law.


On the contrary, the rate of bank robberies has not been significantly higher than it was last year, taking into account the under-reporting of arrests during the first trimester of 2022. The rate has been down since the peak in March, as officers have adapted their tactics to better tackle the ever evolving methods of bank robbers, but is unfortunately not dropping at a significant rate.


Burglaries have taken off at an alarming rate this year compared to previous years, rising from next to none in January to a peak of over 100 cases in February. This was covered briefly in the February newsletter, and later in a news advisory, and was caused by an organized crime network targeting home robberies being brought to Los Santos from out of state. The organization of what was previously a rare crime, executed almost exclusively by established gangs on known targets, made it significantly easier for less connected individuals and solitary criminals to target private residences.

This wave initially took Los Santos by surprise, and neither homeowners nor law enforcement were prepared for the huge amount of burglaries suddenly taking place. It was briefly brought under control as law enforcement worked hard to adapt to the new environment, but a second wave hit over the summer as the city became busier. The police response has since improved and the rate has seemingly been falling since then.


It is clear that the sudden increase in burglaries has been linked to targeted organized crime, because the same is not true when looking at robberies. Since may, the rate of reported arrests for robbery and armed robbery has been only slightly higher than the corresponding rate last year, roughly corresponding to the general increase in reported arrests. There is no indication that the rate of robberies has increased significantly, and any increase has simply led to a greater amount of arrests.

The rate of arrests involving grand theft auto has been notably higher this year, but still roughly corresponds to the general increase in arrests by month. Thus, while the rate may have increased somewhat, the conviction rate has also increased. There is no indication that grand theft auto is a greater problem this year than it was last year. The majority of cars stolen are street parked vehicles left in quiet, dark spaces, so exercising common sense when leaving a vehicle unattended will greatly reduce the chance of it being stolen.

STAFFING

In 2023, the Department aimed to maintain a steady number of employees. This is opposed to last year, where it grew steadily throughout the year by a total of 27%. Some recruitment is necessary to maintain numbers, and the amount of new cadets each month has not been significantly lower on average than last year. In total, 110 new cadets were recruited last year, not counting December, compared to 95 this year.



The lack of growth this year is the result of a decision that the Department did not need more staff, and recruitment remains selective. In total, around 38% of applications received this year were accepted, compared to around 26% last year. The total employee availability today can be seen below.
  • -------------------
    7 | 6.25%
    1 | 0.89%
    2 | 1.79%
    4 | 3.57%

    Staff Officers
    Image Chief of Police
    Image Assistant Chief
    Image Deputy Chief

    -------------------
    7 | 6.25%
    0 | 0.00%
    3 | 2.68%
    2 | 1.79%
    2 | 1.79%

    Command Officers
    Image Commander
    Image Captain III
    Image Captain II
    Image Captain I

    -------------------
    5 | 4.46%
    3 | 2.68%
    2 | 1.79%

    Police Lieutenants
    Image Lieutenant II
    Image Lieutenant I

    -------------------
    4 l 3.57%
    2 | 1.79%
    2 | 1.79%

    Police Sergeants
    Image Sergeant II
    Image Sergeant I
  • -------------------
    15 | 13.39%
    01 | 0.89%
    03 | 2.68%
    11 | 9.82%

    Police Detectives
    Image Detective III
    Image Detective II
    Image Detective I

    -------------------
    62 | 55.36%
    04 | 3.57%
    18 | 16.07%
    32 | 28.57%
    08 | 7.14%

    Patrol Officers
    Image Police Officer III+1
    Image Police Officer III
    Image Police Officer II
    Image Police Officer I

    -------------------
    12 | 10.71%
    12 | 10.71%

    Police Cadets
    Cadet

    -------------------
    112

    Total Employees

INTERNAL AFFAIRS

Internal Affairs received more complaints this year than in 2022; a total of 261 in comparison to 205 last year. However, it found no misconduct in more cases than last year, and there were fewer sustained cases overall as well, meaning that less investigations found wrongdoing by the officer. With the establishment of the civilian review board overseeing the Internal Affairs Division, this indicates that officers are performing to a higher standard this year as a result of effective changes to training procedures and better supervision.

See the figures below for a breakdown of the conclusion results for Internal Affairs investigations in 2022 and 2023 respectively. The images can be opened if the percentages are hard to read.



PUBLIC INQUIRIES

The Department handled over 42% more public inquiries this year than in 2022, and responded to these inquiries significantly faster. This is a welcome development, as the aim of opening a public inquiries page was to increase the flow of information between the Department and the public, as well as to give citizens a place to make direct requests on what information they wanted, in line with the Media Relations Division's mission of providing transparency. Certain high profile events during the year directly led to more public inquiries being submitted, which in turn allowed the Department to better explain and clarify its communication with the public, which is exactly the goal of improving communication with the public.
The team handling these requests has worked hard to improve response times to make the service more useful, and to great effect. Despite more requests being submitted this year, each one was handled over 3 times faster on average. In 2022, the average inquiry waited nearly 3 calendar days before the first response from an Officer was sent. This year, the average was less than 1 calendar day on average. We extend a great thanks to everyone who has worked to make this possible as we strive to achieve a greater level of service to the public.

###

69 Sinner Street • Los Santos • San Andreas • 90013
Emergency Hotline: 911 • Public Inquiries • Email: [email protected]
"to protect and to serve"

-

-
mrdstamp
Los Santos Police Department
Los Santos, San Andreas

News Release

Image
Page 8
Closing Words

We would like to thank you for reading our review for 2023, as well as our past press releases, and public service announcements, and participating in the events we have hosted throughout the year. We have moved further once again this year as we await new hurdles in 2024 as we continue our tradition of improvement and service. The city of Los Santos will only be safer as time moves on.

I would like to thank the Staff Officers of our Department for assisting with the review, our divisional leaders for providing statements about their divisions and assisting in completing the release, and finally, our Media Relations Officers for their continued efforts throughout the year. The Media Relations Division team and the Los Santos Police Department wish everyone a happy New Year and a great 2024 with a lot of luck and we look forward to seeing you again next year!

Image
Police Lieutenant I Rija Luigi
Assistant Commanding Officer, Media Relations Division
Los Santos Police Departmen


Police Detective I Isabella Cavallera
Commanding Officer, Media Relations Division
Los Santos Police Department

###

69 Sinner Street • Los Santos • San Andreas • 90013
Emergency Hotline: 911 • Public Inquiries • Email: [email protected]
"to protect and to serve"

-
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.
Post Reply

Return to “Newsroom”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 37 guests