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AB 481 Virtual Community Meeting

Date: 04/11/2022 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM 04/11/2022 6:00 PM 04/11/2022 7:30 PM
Location: Zoom Meeting
Online Web Meeting
Santa Cruz, California 95060

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AB 481 Virtual Community Meeting

Monday, April 11, 2022

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

The Santa Cruz Police Department will be hosting a Virtual Community Meeting to discuss AB 481: Military Equipment Funding, Acquisition and Use on Monday, April 11, 2022, from 6:00 – 7:30 PM.

To participate, log into Zoom and join the discussion.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82795079279?pwd=SWd5KzRqakJxZm0rU0plK3M0WHVTdz09

Meeting ID: 827 9507 9279

Passcode: 421542

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Police Ride Along Program

* Our Ride Along Program is temporarily limited to those who are in the application process for Police Officer or Community Service Officer *

Take the opportunity to observe the Santa Cruz Police Department at work first-hand. The "Ride-Along" program will allow you to hear and see exactly how situations are handled and to give you better insight to evaluate the quality of your police department personnel.

Through active citizen participation, the SCPD's goal of better communications between the community and police officers can be achieved.

We hope that your experience will help you share any new information and ideas with your neighbors and friends.

The SCPD appreciates your interest in the "Ride-Along" Program and encourages your participation as a "Ride-Along" participant.

Participant's Conduct:

Participants must remain in the immediate vicinity of the patrol vehicle and must not accompany an officer outside of that area unless specifically directed by the officer. Participants must not touch or attempt to operate equipment or use any communication equipment without explicit authorization from the officer. No audio or video recording or photography is allowed during the ride-along.

Participants might observe occurrences or activities during the ride-along which may require them to submit a written statement

and/or testify in court at a later time.

Dress Code:
Participants must be appropriately attired and groomed. Business casual would be a good guideline but jeans are allowed. Approval to ride along may be denied if the participant is not properly dressed or has been drinking. Firearms or other weapons are not permitted.

Accident Waiver:
Each participant will be advised, in writing, that there is some degree of risk involved by reason of the nature of law enforcement activity. The participant assumes any and all risks to which he or she may be exposed during the ride-along.

Ride Along Schedule

Ride-along participants may be scheduled on one of the following shifts:
8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
4:30 p.m. - 2:30 a.m.
10 p.m. - 8 a.m. (minimum age for this shift is 18)

Minimum participant age is 14. Participants are limited to one ride per year. A typical ride-along with an officer is two hours.

To schedule a ride-along with an officer, send an email request including your completed Ride Along Application and a copy of your valid Driver's License, or print out the form and a copy of your valid Driver's License and mail it to the SCPD, click here.

Volunteer Program

Volunteer with the Santa Cruz Police Department!

Santa Cruz Police VOLUNTEER Program from Santa Cruz Police on Vimeo.

The SCPD Volunteers in Policing Services (VIPS) program allows community members to assist the Santa Cruz Police Department and supplement public safety and crime prevention efforts.

SCPD engages a team of trained citizen volunteers to assist the department in non-sworn duties. Our dedicated group of volunteers will support officers in providing additional services. These services include maintaining positive relationships with the public, freeing up officers' time for higher-level duties, and maximizing a positive impact on the community.

Volunteer duties include a variety of activities such as; walking and vehicle patrols, security checks in neighborhoods, welfare checks on the elderly, conducting vacation home security checks, working at special events, providing community outreach, supporting vehicle abatement, covering the front lobby desk, helping with various clerical tasks, court runs, supporting our Victim's Advocate, and washing department vehicles.

Volunteers patrol the downtown area, neighborhoods, and parks. Volunteers engage with DT ambassadors, local merchants, community members, and tourists in outreach and public safety support. They observe and report crime and quality-of-life issues. They also distribute valuable information to the community and businesses. Members do not carry weapons or make arrests.

Our goal is to form a partnership with the community where trained volunteers can enhance support from the police department. Placing volunteers in rewarding activities that utilize their experience and talents frees up officers and staff for higher priority duties.

Volunteer assignments will depend on specific skills, interests, the background of each volunteer, and the needs of the Santa Cruz Police Department.

We are especially interested in volunteers assisting with community outreach and patrol as extra "eyes and ears" for the department.

Qualifications required: Minimum 18 years of age; pass a background check.

Time commitment: Minimum 8 hours per month on average.

Are you interested in joining the Santa Cruz Police Volunteer Program?
Email scpdvolunteers@santacruzca.gov or call (831) 420-5916.

You are not Alone (YANA)

You Are Not Alone (YANA) Santa Cruz Police Program

Being alone and isolated is one of the greatest fears of older adults. The Santa Cruz Police Department ‘You Are Not Alone’ (YANA) program is a FREE service that allows older and disabled adults to have comfort and security in the knowledge that someone is checking in on them on a regular basis.

YANA is a free service coordinated by Santa Cruz Police Department Volunteers who make regular contact with YANA participants both by phone and with home visits. The mission of the program is to promote peace of mind and security for the City of Santa Cruz’s older adults living alone and their families. YANA is an excellent resource for seniors who enjoy living independently, but do not have friends or family available to regularly check in on them. Please note we do not provide medical assistance, but rather a measure of security with our visits.

How It Works

Telephone calls and home visits by police department volunteers are made at prearranged times.
If the participant does not answer the phone call or answer the door at the prearranged time, family, friends and neighbors are contacted.
If the participant does not answer after several attempts at contact, a series of steps follow to ensure the participant's safety and well being .

YANA Benefits
Provide peace of mind and sense of comfort and confidence for city's homebound seniors or disabled citizens who enjoy the independence of living alone.
Isolated people are at higher risk for exploitation from perpetrators who target older adults and those who lack social support. By staying connected to the community, participants can reduce the chance of being victimized.
Isolation can cause individuals to develop hoarding like behavior due to fear of running out of necessary items. Hoarding can lead to unsanitary and unhealthy living conditions. YANA volunteers can help reduce the feeling of isolation.

To qualify for the program you must be a resident of the City of Santa Cruz. Seniors sign up to become a YANA participant by completing a registration form. Registration forms must contain emergency contact information and have the original signature of the participant. Unsigned forms cannot be accepted. Participation is free with the only requirement being that participants be able to answer the phone and provide at least one emergency contact. Return completed applications to Santa Cruz Police Dept. ATTN: YANA 155 Center Street, Santa Cruz CA 95060

For assistance in completing the registration form or to request more information, contact the YANA program, call (831) 420-5916 or email You Are Not Alone. YANA referrals can also be made via phone or email by friends or family members in the City of Santa Cruz that know someone who would benefit from this program.

Call (831) 420-5916 or email us!

Download an Application

Citizen's Police Academy

About the Citizen's Police Academy

The Santa Cruz Police Department’s popular Citizen Police Academy offers city residents an inside look at aspects of law enforcement most have never seen, in a series of free lectures, demonstrations and discussions.

Participants meet one evening a week (Wednesday or Thursday) for 10 weeks in the Santa Cruz Police Department Community Room to learn and discuss how the police department operates, the requirements and duties of officers in various departments and how law enforcement works with various judicial departments. There are guest speakers as well. Each session is facilitated by an expert in their field and participants are encouraged to ask questions for an engaging evening.

The Citizen's Police Academy is designed to teach citizens about the philosophy, policies and guiding principles of law enforcement.

Students will receive classroom instruction by SCPD personnel and outside agencies. The following is a list of presentations and demonstrations that will be offered:

Investigations Bureau
Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office
Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team (SCCACT)
K-9
Firearms Team
Traffic Division
Emergency Service Unit
De-escalation and Use of Force
Mental Health Liaison
Victim Advocate

PLUS MANY MORE!

SPANISH SPEAKERS CITIZEN'S POLICE ACADEMY is back!

Dates: April 23rd to June 11, 2024

Hours: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM ONE day a week, either Tuesday.

If you are interested in participating in this opportunity, please download the application below.

Complete it in the software "Adobe".

Once completed, click the "Email Document" button to email it to Lt. Jones

Please contact Lieutenant Carter Jones at 831-420-5992 with specific questions.
cjones@santacruzca.gov

Citizen's Police Academy Application

PRIDE Program

The PRIDE Program is a prevention and intervention course for City of Santa Cruz middle school students between the ages of 12 and 15. It is designed to help at risk children differentiate between good and poor decisions and understand their effect upon healthy and productive lives.

The curriculum includes lectures, parental education, guest speakers, recreational outings and mentorship connections with students from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

The Pride program is approximately 25 weeks long and mirrors the school calendar year.

At this time, we are not able to offer our PRIDE Program. Email jblaschke@santacruzca.gov if you are interested in future PRIDE programs.

BASTA Program

L.E.A.D. Program

Community Events
We want you to be involved! View the topics below for information on how.

MLK March

More to come for 2023 MLK Event

Honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. means bringing people from diverse backgrounds together to build authentic bonds of human understanding and value. The MLK March in Santa Cruz is more than a march. It is an opportunity to put Dr. King’s words and ideals into practice by inviting others from different ethnicities, religions or backgrounds walk together and listen to one another.

The community is invited to join the march in honor of Dr. King. After the march, we will convene with speeches and family-friendly activities.

Neighborhood Town Hall Meetings