Major Crimes In Santa Monica Declined Across The Board Last Year, City Says

The City of Santa Monica has released detailed public safety results showing substantial improvement across all major categories.

Last year, under Police Chief Darrick Jacob, the Santa Monica Police Department shifted toward a proactive, prevention-focused policing model that emphasizes visible patrol, early intervention, and consistent presence in areas generating repeated calls for service.

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And according to city data, the results have been significant.

Violent offenses and burglary declined 12.5% last year, with 599 fewer crimes reported in 2025 compared to 2024, the data show.

Additionally, total calls for service decreased 3.1%, while total arrests increased 22.9%. Traffic citations, however, were up a whopping 102%.

Officer-initiated activity also rose significantly, increasing from around 40% in 2024 to 51-53% during the first quarter of 2026.

"All of the data reflects a measurable shift from reactive response to proactive enforcement in the City," Santa Monica said in a statement.

Also according to the city, a major organizational milestone was also achieved as the Santa Monica Police Department reached full sworn staffing for the first time in over 20 years.

"The department has stabilized staffing across patrol and specialized units, with 23 background investigations currently open and 391 new applications received since January," according to the city.