Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced a significant drop in burglaries, with a 43% decrease in the San Fernando Valley since last August and a 27% reduction citywide. Homicides in the city are also at a 60-year low, attributed to her comprehensive safety approach.
Following a series of home burglaries along Ventura Boulevard, Mayor Bass directed the LAPD to deploy strategic resources. This included extra patrols, high-visibility LAPD vehicle deployments, mobile License Plate Readers, active community engagement by Senior Lead Officers, and air support for deterrence. Collaboration with specialized divisions also aided investigations.
Mayor Bass established the City’s first Office of Community Safety to focus on crime and violence prevention, civilian crisis response, and community-based programming. This office oversees GRYD, a gang violence reduction strategy, and has expanded resources in the San Fernando Valley, securing $2 million in federal funding for CIRCLE civilian crisis response teams.
"A safer city requires prevention, intervention, and investments in our communities," said Mayor Bass. "While police officers focus on violent crime, trained civilian teams like CIRCLE can respond to nonviolent situations involving someone experiencing a mental health crisis. We’re seeing the results, and we’re going to keep building on what works to keep Angelenos safe.” The Office of Community Safety has also added GRYD intervention workers and launched Safe Passage at Canoga Park High School.