Crime Rates Drop Significantly in Riverside, Police Report Shows

The Riverside Police Department has reported a substantial decrease in crime rates for 2023, according to data presented at the Community Police Review Commission meeting on Jan. 22, 2025.

Chief Larry Gonzalez shared the latest crime statistics, highlighting significant drops in several key categories compared to the previous year.

"We saw a pretty good drop this last year between '23 and '24," Gonzalez said. "Robbery went down 15.6%, burglary went down 30.2%, and theft of vehicles went down 22%."

The number of murders remained unchanged at 11, which Gonzalez noted was an improvement from two years ago when the city experienced 26 homicides.

Property crimes, which had increased in recent years, are now showing signs of leveling off. Petty theft, which had been a particular concern, decreased by 7.3%.

Gonzalez attributed the positive trends to improved staffing levels within the department. "We have more people out there that are doing the job," he said.

The department has made significant strides in recruitment, hiring 88 new police officers in the past year alone. Currently,there are 385 sworn officers, with an additional 22 in the training program.

"We're looking pretty optimistic. By being fully staffed this year, which would be 432 sworn officers and over 200 civilian [staff]," Gonzalez said.

The chief also highlighted the department's efforts to diversify its workforce. Female officers now make up 12.2% of the force, the highest percentage in the department's history.

"It doesn't seem like a big number, but it's something we're constantly striving to get more and more police officers that are female," Gonzalez said.

The department is also focusing on community engagement and specialized units to address specific issues. Captain Eric Dettmer, who oversees internal affairs and other divisions, mentioned plans to expand these efforts.

"We're looking forward to, in the next month or two, adding more officers to that and a couple of sergeants," Dettmer said, referring to specialized units like PANS (Police and Neighborhood Specialist) and PSET (Public Safety Engagement Team).

The meeting also covered the department's compliance with the Racial and Identity Profiling Act (RIPA), which requires law enforcement agencies to collect and report data on all stops.

Ruby Leann Castillo, CPRC Manager from the City Manager's office, presented an overview of the 2024 RIPA annual report. The data showed that out of 16,465 stops analyzed, the majority were Hispanic or Latino individuals (48.89%), followed by White (27.48%) and Black or African American (14.46%).

Castillo noted that these percentages roughly align with the city's demographic composition according to the 2020 U.S. Census.

The commission discussed the importance of continued training and community interaction in maintaining positive trends in law enforcement.

Commissioner DeBryer commented on the relatively low number of actionable complaints against officers for profiling, saying, "These efforts seem to be paying off. And I would certainly like to just make the observation that we need to continue to advocate for that."

The police department is also investing in technology to enhance its crime-fighting capabilities. Gonzalez mentioned the implementation of a Real Time Crime Center, which integrates various camera systems throughout the city.

"We're at the stages now where we're able to link in all the city cameras, which is about 1,800 cameras," Gonzalez said. The department is working to include business and private residence cameras in the system as well.

As the department continues to grow and adapt, Gonzalez emphasized the importance of community support and engagement. He encouraged citizens to participate in programs like the Citizens Academy to learn more about the department's operations and build stronger relationships with law enforcement.