Long Beach
Police Department

As we continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Police Department’s mission to provide public safety to our community remains a top priority. We implemented many changes over the year that allowed us to maximize our resources to deliver timely service and continue our investigative efforts to solve and prevent crime. 

Our community and our nation as a whole faced many challenges in 2020. Year-end citywide crime statistics show that the pandemic may have played a significant role as crime began to shift in late spring. Similar to many major cities across the nation, we are experiencing an increase in crime here in Long Beach. While overall violent crime is down 1.4%, we experienced a 5.9% increase in murder and 18.6% in aggravated assault. Approximately 31% of murders are attributed to disputes that escalated into violence, and the increase in aggravated assaults is attributed to a rise in gun violence. 

Property crime increased by 12.1% compared to 2019. The majority is attributed to a 28.9% increase in auto burglaries, a 26.2% increase in commercial burglaries, a 22.6% in garage burglaries, and a 21.4% increase in grand theft auto. 

“We remain committed to serving our community, reducing crime, and continuing to build partnerships through public safety,” said Chief of Police Robert G. Luna. “As we move forward, we will continue our focus on building on our community partnerships, improving data-driven crime impact, and will also continue to look at new technology like our incoming records management system, which will allow us to better identify and impact crime trends.” 

Before we outline the Department's areas of focus, we want to recognize the outstanding care and commitment our employees demonstrate to our community every day. The people we serve will remain the focus of our practices and policies, but without the sacrifices of both our sworn and professional staff, creating a safe City for all would not be possible.

Areas of continued focus for the Police Department in 2020: 

• COVID-19 Response: We dedicated proactive resources during the pandemic, such as increased security for panic buying, and worked to educate residents to gain voluntary compliance with Health Orders. To better serve the public during COVID-19 stay at home orders, the Department also expanded the types of non-violent crimes that could be reported electronically through the Department’s online “Coplogic” reporting system. 
• Protecting 1st Amendment Activity: The Department diverted resources away from challenges in our neighborhoods to prepare, train, and stand by for over 130 events in the City since May 31, including planning for pre-election and post-election activity. 
• Prohibited Possessors: The Department seized over 850 firearms. These on-going efforts to reduce, prevent and deter gun violence throughout the City have led to the arrest of 295 prohibited possessors last year—a 40% increase compared to 2019 and a 43% increase above the five-year average. Firearm-related arrests have also increased by 36% since 2019. 
• Looting Task Force: The task force was formed with the sole purpose of conducting criminal investigations for significant crimes committed during the civil unrest experienced the night of May 31. Since its inception, the task force yielded the following: 
•  60 arrests 
• 33 outstanding arrest warrants 
• Over 125 cases have been submitted to the District Attorney or City Prosecutor for filing consideration. 
• 35 vehicles impounded 
• 38 search warrants served 
• Progressive Training and Policies: In July, the Department launched the Office of Constitutional Policing (OCP) with a focus on ensuring the Department is aligned with best practices in policing, legal mandates, and community expectations. The office will also guide the expansion of data analytics for accountability and transparency. Some top priority policies or practices that have been implemented by the OCP are: 
• The development of the Early Intervention Program, policy, training, and implementation 
• Established the Bias-Free Policing Policy 
• Change in practice by now providing Compelled Statements to the Citizen Police Complaint Commission. 
• Continued revision of the Use of Force Policy and Vehicle Pursuit Policy 
• Homeless Outreach and Mental Evaluation: The Department’s Homeless Outreach and Mental Evaluation (HOME) Detail which consists of the Quality of Life (QOL) and the Mental Evaluation (MET) teams, made over 8,110 contacts offering services to persons experiencing homelessness, resulting in temporary housing for 268 and permanent housing for 43. In addition, 1,167 interventions were conducted, and the team participated in over 978 clean-up operations throughout the City. 

As we move through 2021, we recognize economic challenges will become even more significant. Therefore, the Long Beach Police Department will remain committed to the safety and wellbeing of all residents and visitors. Public safety is a shared responsibility, and now, more than ever, we need to work with and engage our community to become our partners in reducing crime. The Department will continue to maximize technology to create efficiencies while working with our regional, state, and federal law enforcement partners as force multipliers to impact crime and enhance the quality of life in the City of Long Beach. 

To view all Long Beach Police Department crime statistics: http://www.longbeach.gov/police/crime-info/crime-statistics/