In 1996 SCPD employed 89 sworn police officers. The population in 1996 was about 50,000. Annual calls for service around that time were approximately 67,000 a year. Fast forward 20 years to present. Our population is now about 65,000. Annual calls for service in 2016 were about 100,000. And the city currently has 87 sworn […]
Crime Stats Update: Santa Cruz is still a very dangerous place to live
Author: E. Bovee 2016 FBI Crime Statistics Published FBI has released its 2016 crime stats, including reported crimes by state, by city. This will be the same exercise as last year: I compile these stats, normalize them per 100K and publish them each year. For comparison, you can check against 2015 stats found here: http://www.santamierda.com/…/10/28/the-weekly-dump-10-28-16/ I started […]
Home Is Where the Data Is: The County and the “evidence” used to stifle community discussion on the Syringe Service Program
Written by a Public Health Researcher at the request of the Needles Solutions Team Supervisor “check your cynicism” Leopold feels that the public should not question the syringe service program (SSP) that is administered by the County Health Services Administration because it is “evidence-based”. The term “evidence-based” apparently says it all and no more discussion […]
Convicted Felons assault SCPD officer, Judge Volkmann lets them Walk
Yesterday the Justice System failed Officer Bayani, the SCPD and the community as a whole. Yesterday Judge Volkmann sent the message that it is OK to assault a police officer and that the well being of criminals is more important than keeping our community safe from them. Here is a summary of what happened, as […]
No Supervisor John Leopold, The Community Doesn’t Need To “Check The Cynicism”
No Supervisor John Leopold, The Community Doesn’t Need To “Check The Cynicism” –YOU Need To Listen To The Community! At the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors meeting on June 6, 2017, Supervisor John Leopold actually had the audacity to tell the community to “check the cynicism people have” regarding the County’s needle giveaway program […]
(Updated) Safe Injection Sites Are Not the Answer
Update 4/13/17: County Board of Supervisor’s Coonerty and McPherson have requested Santa Cruz removed from AB 186. Please continue to let our Assemblymember Mark Stone know your thoughts! Contact info at bottom of article RE: Assembly Bill 186 Dear Assemblymember Eggman, It has come to our attention that Assembly Bill (AB) 186 specifies Santa Cruz […]
Dear Governor Brown…We Say NO More
Take Back Redding recently wrote a letter to Governor Jerry Brown. That letter is now being shared as a very heartfelt, thoughtful and compelling video. Our community has been destroyed by the Governor’s propositions and big city votes. A once safe community is now a place where residents live in fear. It is time for […]
“This is what it looks like when we come together as a community to build bridges”
By Officer Wes Hansen, Santa Cruz Police Department (re-posted with permission) These are some photos of me and my friend Sebastian. He is a local business owner and, more importantly, an awesome human being. He reached out to me after the tragedy in Dallas and, like me, understands the role that the media has played in […]
Grand Jury Report – “Public Program Successes”
Thank you Grand Jury for recognizing these programs for their effective work! All deserve to be commended for going well beyond community expectations and simple compliance with applicable policies and procedures. In regards to Public Safety and Quality of Life issues that are at the heart of TBSC – we would like to specifically […]
The Dangers of Butane Hash Oil Laboratories to Our Community
The presence of hash-oil laboratories in neighborhoods throughout Santa Cruz County is a growing and very dangerous problem. What seems like a simple manufacturing process can quickly become deadly due to the extreme flammability of butane. Butane Hash Oil (BHO) labs pose a significant and serious danger to neighbors, their homes and pets and pose […]
