After the Lake Elsinore City Council meeting Tuesday, Feb. 28, was called to order, police Capt. James Rayls presented the 2022 annual public safety report. Total calls for service were 48,447 in 2022 and 48,122 in 2021. Total arrests by the patrol division were 1,787 in 2022 and 1,810 in 2021. The investigations bureau handled 204 total cases in 2022, with 176 closed and the others carried over to 2023. The investigations led to 48 arrests. The Special Enforcement Team conducted 150 special operations, made 807 arrests and seized 7,000 pounds of drugs, 51 firearms and 325 pounds of fireworks.
As part of the department’s homeless outreach efforts, 48 operations were conducted, 320 contacts were made and 125 tons of trash was disposed of with the help of Code Enforcement and the City, Rayls said. The Lake Patrol had 478 calls for service in 2022, made 184 inspections, conducted 84 rescues and issued 89 citations. The traffic team issued 4,134 citations and made 146 DUI arrests. Total traffic collisions were 496 in 2021 and 485 in 2022. Property crimes were 1,752 in 2021 and 1,807 in 2022 with auto theft and arson numbers greatly reduced. Violent crimes were 184 in 2021 and 139 in 2022 with zero homicides either year.
“I want to recognize our sheriff’s captain tonight,” Councilmember Robert “Bob” Magee said. “Despite some of the rhetoric that you hear from time to time, according to his stats, almost every category went down last year from 2021. We have to attribute that to his leadership and to the great people that we have working out of the sheriff’s station. And to Measure Z and the increased investment we’ve been able to make in our public safety services.”
City Council Consent Calendar items No. 2-15 were approved unanimously, 4-0, with Councilmember Brian Tisdale absent. Successor Agency Consent Calendar items 16-19 were also approved 4-0.
A public hearing regarding the updated master drainage plan and fee schedule was continued to the Tuesday, April 11, meeting after a motion by Magee and a second by Mayor Pro Tem Steve Manos.
City council member comments included a reminder by Manos about the upcoming Bunny Trunk Hop Wednesday, April 1, from noon to 3 p.m. at Downtown Main Street. The free event will include food, amusements and pictures with the Easter Bunny. For more information, contact mveliz@Lake-Elsinore.org.
Mayor Natasha Johnson mentioned that all proceeds from the upcoming annual Cops For Kids Celebrity Golf Tournament, May 5, in Corona will go to the families of Darnell Calhoun and Brian Haney, officers who recently lost their lives in Lake Elsinore. For more information, visit http://www.copsforkidsinc.org/events.
The next regular meeting of the Lake Elsinore City Council and Successor Agency is scheduled for Tuesday, March 14, at 7 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.lake-elsinore.org.
