City Council Preview - Crime Solutions

The contract with the OC Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) is up for renewal tonight. OCSD proposes to increase the costs by $385,000 to a total of $14,595,844 making it our biggest single expense and by itself accounting for 34% of the $42.8 million dollar budget. Here are some highlights from the staff report.

HIGH CRIME RATE

Lake Forest continues to have the highest crime rate of almost any of our neighbors. Here is the data for 2015 for Part 1 (major) crimes per 1,000 residents –

· RSM – 7.0

· Aliso Viejo – 7.8

· Laguna Woods – 8.8

· Laguna Niguel – 11.78

· Mission Viejo – 12.13

· Lake Forest – 12.75

· Laguna Hills – 18.21

Note that it’s normal for larger cities to have higher crime rates, yet Mission Viejo, with nearly 95,000 people has a lower crime rate than Lake Forest, with only 80,000 people.

Among our 6 immediate neighbors our major crime rate was second highest in 2015 but the highest 2014, 2013, and 2012.

RECENT RISE IN CRIME RATE

According to the staff report, major crime in Lake Forest was up 29% when 2015 was compared to 2014. When 2015 was compared to the prior 5-year period, the crime rate was up only 1.3%. When 2015 was compared to the prior 10-year period, the rate was down 5.3%.

OTHER RESULTS INCLUDE

• · Response to life threatening emergencies remains at below 5 minutes which is the standard OCSD sets.
• · 16% year-over-year increase in hazardous/moving citations
• · 4% year-over-year increase in injury/fatal traffic accidents
• · 20% year-over-year increase in calls for service
• · 24% year-over-year increase in STARS volunteer hours
• · 21 homeless people placed in housing
• · GET SAFE program launched

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Jim Gardner is on the City Council for Lake Forest. You can check him out on LinkedIn and/or Facebook and you can share your thoughts about the City at Lake Forest Town Square on Facebook. His comments are not meant to reflect official City Policy.

Dr. Gardner has office hours every Tuesday from 4 pm to 6 pm at the City Hall. In addition, he holds a Town Hall meeting every quarter. The next meeting will be on August 13 at 2 pm at the Foothill Ranch Public Library.

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