Santa Paula police: Part I property crimes down 31% but violent and robberies have risen

Santa Paula Police Chief Don Aguilar told the City Council on July 2 that Year‑to‑date Part I crimes were down about 31% compared with the same period in 2024, driven largely by reductions in property crimes. At the same time the department reported spikes in violent-crime categories, including a rise in reported forcible sexual‑assault incidents and an increase in robberies.

Chief Aguilar said the department had recorded nine forcible‑sex incidents so far in 2025 versus two at the same point in 2024; several reports were late filings from earlier years and some cases remain under active investigation. He reported 10 robberies year‑to‑date (up from seven) and said arrests have been made in several of those cases.

Enforcement and public safety work: Aguilar warned residents against fireworks use in the city during the July 4 period and announced extra patrols. "If anybody sees anybody possessing fireworks, setting them off ... please call us," he said, adding the city will issue administrative citations up to $1,000 and pursue criminal charges when explosives are involved. He also urged residents to report graffiti so police can document incidents and link tags to suspects.

Station renovation and technology upgrades: The chief said phase 1 of the police station renovation is nearly complete, with new furniture, lighting and workstations arriving and IT reconnection for most areas; phase 2 (property-room expansion, briefing room and break room) and phase 3 (locker rooms) remain to be funded. The department has gone live on Mark43 for CAD and records management and has ordered vehicle laptops compatible with the new system.

Recruitment, training and community work: The department described increased arrest totals year-to-date compared with 2024, a rise in DUI arrests (from 29 to 47 year-to-date), expansion of training programs (crisis-intervention, supervisory leadership), recognition of officers for crisis work, and ongoing community outreach (school visits, Police Activities League, K-9 fundraisers). The chief tentatively expected the public lobby to re-open later in July and promoted the department’s National Night Out event in early August.

Council members thanked the department and asked for public information about services and how residents can report firework use and graffiti; the chief said patrols and administrative-citation authority will be used this holiday weekend.