By Jorge Casuso
February 4, 2026 -- Santa Monica police last month continued taking proactive measures that resulted in an increase in both officer initiated calls and arrests, according to data released Tuesday.
As of January 24, officers had responded to 8,486 calls for service in the new year, up from 7,421 during the same period last year, and made 310 arrests, up from 192 last year, according to the latest weekly police blog, The Blue Notebook.
The increases come after Police Chief Darrick Jacob, who assumed the post on a permanent basis last December, has taken a more aggressive approach to fighting crime, which also includes "service-based engagement" with the homeless population ("Acting Chief to Hold Post on Permanent Basis," December 17, 2025).
During the week of January 18, officers once again initiated more calls -- 1,447 -- than did residents -- 1,202 -- and made 106 arrests, while maintaining a "strong operational posture," according to the blog.
The Department " focused on violent crime suppression, firearms enforcement, traffic safety, homelessness outreach, and proactive community engagement," officials wrote in the blog.
"During the reporting period, multiple suspects were taken into custody for firearm possession, outstanding felony warrants, parole and probation violations, and assault-related offenses," officials reported.
Several of the arrests were made using "coordinated perimeter, air support, and K9 deployments," according to the blog.
Proactive operations that resulted in "numerous arrests and citations" focused on the Downtown, the beach and park areas using the Downtown Services Unit, Crime Impact Team, K9 Unit and patrol officers.
"These efforts emphasized officer-initiated activity, high-risk offender apprehension, and visible enforcement aimed at reducing repeat offending and improving overall public safety," officials said.
One periodic check on the 1600 block of the beach led to an arrest for possession of a loaded firearm and narcotics, according to the blog.
In another incident, "a shoplifting suspect who assaulted an officer during detention" was arrested on the 3200 block of Pico Boulevard after a short foot pursuit.
During the one-week reporting period, traffic officers conducted targeted enforcement operations that focused on school zones and Downtown.
The two operations -- which were among six conducted last month -- focused on "posted-sign compliance," while "DUI saturation patrols and high-visibility enforcement addressed impaired driving and hazardous violations."
The enforcement operations resulted in 357 vehicle stops, 202 citations, 133 warnings and 21 hit-and-run investigations, according to the data.
One notable traffic incident involved a Waymo self-driving car that struck a child near Grant Elementary School, leading to an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) ("Feds Probe Waymo Collision with Child." January 30, 2026).
SMPD’s Homeless Liaison Program, patrol officers, and specialized units continued "coordinated outreach, enforcement, and service-based engagement" that resulted in the arrest of 82 homeless individuals, or 77 percent of the 106 arrests.
Of those detained, 12 were placed on psychiatric holds, which impose a 72-hour hospitalization for those deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. Officers also addressed 21 homeless encampments.
The "directed deployments" focused on "balancing municipal code enforcement with referrals to services and mental health support."
In one incident, a homeless man was transported to the City's SamoBridge program at the Civic Auditorium parking lot after requesting housing assistance.
Launched in May of last year, the program offers homeless individuals who have committed low-level crimes an alternative to jail and connects them to housing and supportive services.