Law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel are participating in Santa Cruz County’s five-day active-shooter response training this week at Soquel High School. The annual exercise, hosted by the sheriff’s office, brings together about 150 officers and more than 80 firefighters to practice coordinated response to a simulated mass-casualty incident.
Santa Cruz Police Department
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Anti-Flock group finds that state agencies accessed SCPD camera data thousands of times on feds’ behalf since mid-2024
Numerous California law enforcement agencies searched the Santa Cruz Police Department’s Flock camera data thousands of times in the past 18 months on behalf of federal immigration agencies, according to data compiled by grassroots coalition Get The Flock Out.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Law enforcement data shows 29 total ICE action notifications in county between January and November
Federal immigration officials visited the city of Santa Cruz at least once since late July, according to communication records provided by the police department. This increases the total number of courtesy notifications from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to local law enforcement since January to 29.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz police to triple fines, run extra safety patrols on Halloween weekend
A safety enhancement zone begins Friday at 8 a.m. and runs through Monday, Nov. 3, at 8 a.m. for the entire city of Santa Cruz. The move authorizes the tripling of fees for violations of the city’s municipal code, such as littering, blocking pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and public drinking.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
New database reveals at least 21 police misconduct, shooting, use of force cases in Santa Cruz County
A newly released police database includes at least 21 cases from Santa Cruz County of law enforcement agencies using force or involved in shootings, along with investigations into officer misconduct on and off duty.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
ICE agents visited Santa Cruz at least 7 times since January, SCPD records show
On seven occasions this year, The Santa Cruz Police Department has received advanced warning from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers operating within city limits, according to records provided by the department.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz police make progress on reforms, but accountability gaps remain, watchdog says
The fifth annual independent audit of the Santa Cruz Police Department noted successes in improving its internal investigation systems, but added that there is still room for improvement on the accountability side. Police leaders will review the recommendations and may bring them to the city’s public safety committee for input on which to prioritize.
Posted inRecreation & Sports
Santa Cruz police receive grant for bicycle and pedestrian program
The Santa Cruz Police Department announced Tuesday that it has received a $72,714 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to support the department’s bicycle and pedestrian safety program through September 2025.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz reports Halloween crowd of 15,000, fewer arrests
The Santa Cruz Police Department on Friday estimated this year’s downtown Halloween crowd size to be 15,000 at its peak on Thursday night. There were no “significant incidents of violence” this year, the department said in a release, and arrests were down compared to last year.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz police to up downtown patrols for Halloween
From the evening of Thursday, Oct. 31, to the morning of Monday, Nov. 4, more than 100 uniformed officers from the Santa Cruz Police Department and other neighboring agencies will be patrolling the area around downtown, which typically draws large Halloween crowds.
