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September 26, 2025 - October 2, 2025 Volume CXXIII Issue 214 September 26,25 2025 - October31, 2, 2025 December - December 2025 Volume Volume CXXIII CXXIII Issue Issue 214 214
YOVENICE.COM BEST OF 2025
Thousands Equipment Stolen Santa Monicain Darrick Jacob From Police Thousands inNames Equipment Stolen From Filmmaker’s Santa Monica Home Chief After Decades With Department Filmmaker’s Santa Monica Home Known for his work Longtime SMPD Known for his work across cinematography, Veteran Becomes across cinematography, directing, and First Internal Chief directing, and editing, editing, Ruiz-Healy returned Appointment in Ruiz-Healy returned home to find his house Moreto Than 40 Years home find his house occupied by squatters occupied Santa Monicaby hassquatters named longtime
department veteran Darrick Jacob as its Indie filmmaker and award-winning Indie and award-winning next chieffilmmaker of police, elevating the acting cinematographer Fidel Ruiz-Healy is cinematographer Fidel Ruiz-Healy is chief to thefrom permanent role following recovering a devastating home recovering from a devastating home more than two decades of service with the robbery that left his Santa Monica residence robbery that left hisstripped Santa Monica residence department. uninhabitable and of nearly all his uninhabitable andOliver stripped nearly all the his City Manager Chiofannounced professional equipment. professional equipment. appointment, effect Dec. 14. Ruiz-Healy, which knowntook for his work across Ruiz-Healy, foracting his and work across Jacob, who hasknown served as chief since cinematography, directing, editing, cinematography, directing, and editing, August 2025, becomes first internal returned home on Sept. 16the from a work trip returned home onransacked Sept. 16 from areportedly work trip candidate selected as Santa Monica police to find his house and to find his house ransacked and reportedly chief in more 40 years. occupied by than squatters. According to a occupied bycampaign squatters. According to a Jacob joined the Santa Monica Police GoFundMe launched by friends GoFundMe campaign launched by friends Department in 2004 and single has held a wide and collaborators, “every crevice” of and collaborators, of the home been“every turnedsingle over.crevice” Alongside range ofhadoperational and leadership the home over.left Alongside trash and had discarded weapons behind, positions. He been was turned promoted to deputy trash and2020 discarded weapons left behind, extensive damage was done to the chief in and later assumed leadership extensive damage was done to His the plumbing, includingascutinterim wires, chief. rendering of the department plumbing, including cut wires, rendering the home unlivable. background includes assignments in patrol the home unlivable. Most concerning for the filmmaker is the operations, investigations, organizational Most concerning filmmaker is the loss of virtually all offor histhe camera equipment loss of virtually all of his camera equipment — the tools that form the backbone of his — the and toolssole thatsource form of theincome. backbone his career Theoftheft career andhigh-end sole source of income. theft included gear such asThe a RED included high-endpackage, gear such as aR RED Dragon camera Leica and Dragon camera package, Leica R and Nikon AIS lenses, tripods, lighting meters, Nikon AIS lenses, lighting meters, hard drives, and a tripods, MacBook Pro. Several hard drives, and a MacBook Pro. Several
management, and citywide public safety coordination. Before joining SMPD, Jacob worked for the California State University, Northridge Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy. As acting chief, Jacob emphasized four department-wide priorities: crime reduction, homelessness, traffic safety, and community and youth engagement. City officials said those priorities have guided deployment strategies, enforcement decisions, and partnerships throughout Santa Monica. A key component of Jacob’s leadership approach has been increasing officer visibility through expanded foot beats, bicycle patrols and high-visibility deployments in residential neighborhoods, commercial corridors and pedestrianheavy areas. City officials stated that these strategies are designed to deter crime, enhance response times, and foster stronger relationships between officers and residents. items belonging to colleagues that RuizUnder Jacob’s leadership, the department items belonging colleagues that Healy was were also among the reached full storing sworntostaffing for the firstRuiztime Healy was storing were also among the stolen equipment. in nearly 20 years, following City Council stolen equipment. Compounding the over-hire loss, positions. insurance approval of additional Compounding the loss, insurance coverage on the equipment had lapsed just coverage on the equipment had lapsed just weeks earlier, on August 30. weeks earlier, on August 30. Ruiz-Healy, who has since found Ruiz-Healy, whois still has taking since onfound temporary housing, film temporary housing, on film work, but friends sayisthestill losstaking of equipment work, butafriends the loss of livelihood. equipment presents serioussay barrier to his presents a serious barrier to his livelihood. “Any filmmaker understands that your “Any filmmaker expected to debut inunderstands fall 2026. that your While final contracts have not yet been approved, city officials said the partnerships are intended to draw visitors, generate business activity, and increase Santa Monica’s visibility during a period when the region will be hosting some of the world’s most-watched events. When approachedisand Amongofficers the proposals a attempted Michelob When andthe attempted to detain officers the man,approached he became uncooperative ULTRA Pitchside Club on Santa to detain the he became uncooperative and repeatedly toward the center Monica Pierman, inreached June 2026, coinciding and toward center console, police said. A brief struggle with repeatedly the start ofreached the World Cup.the The beer console, police said. A brief struggle followed before tournament the suspect sponsor, fled on plans foot. brand, an official followed before the suspect fled on foot. Officers him afan short distance to createapprehended a 21-and-over experience Officers apprehended him a short distance away. combining match viewing with interactive away. A search ofprogramming, the vehicle merchandise revealed a soccer-themed A search the vehicle revealed loaded handgun positioned between thea sales, and ofguest appearances. City loaded handgun positioned between the driver’s seatindicate and center console, within the documents the company also plans driver’s seat and center console, within suspect’s reach.lease Authorities also recovered to temporarily the Viceroy Hotelthe to suspect’s reach. Authorities also psilocybin recovered asupport significant amount of cocaine, event operations. a significant amount of cocaine, psilocybin mushrooms, anddiscussion marijuana. The council’s is available here: mushrooms, marijuana. The h t t psuspect, s : / /and w wwhose w . y oidentity u t u b ewas . c o not m/ identity released, inc vcustody l i The v e / 5suspect, Rremains H 6 kwhose ML b M ? s was ipending = u not Ureleased, remains in police custody said. pending further investigation, No kEfDnzOld_2vs&t=9222 further investigation, police said. additional details immediately The council also were approved staff No to additional details were immediately available. continue negotiations with Goldenvoice, available. a division of AEG Presents, to produce
The staffing increase has enabled expanded patrol coverage, increased downtown presence, and enhanced coordination with specialized units, including the Homeless Liaison Program and the Downtown Services Unit. Jacob began his law enforcement career in 1996 with the CSUN Police Department and joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in 2001 before being hired by SMPD. During his career, he has served as a patrol officer, field training officer, motor officer, defensive tactics instructor, and property crimes detective. He was promoted to sergeant in 2008 and later to lieutenant in 2013, overseeing patrol operations, training, dispatch, the Santa Monica Animal Shelter, detectives, and specialized units, including S.W.A.T. Jacob was promoted to captain in 2018 and commanded both the Patrol Operations Division and the Strategic Services Division. Jacob holds a bachelor’s degree in health science and a master’s degree in public administration from California State equipment everything. this University, is Northridge. HeTherefore, has completed equipment is everything. Therefore, this situation requires immediate attention,” several executive leadership programs, situation requires immediate attention,” organizers wrote on the Block fundraiser page. including the Sherman Supervisory organizers wrote on the page. As of Friday, more than $20,000 has Leadership Institute, thefundraiser California POST As raised of Friday, more $20,000 has been through overthan 250 donations on been raised through donations on GoFundMe, putting over the 250 campaign within GoFundMe, putting the campaign within reach of its $22,000 goal. Supporters reach continued of its $22,000 have to sharegoal. the Supporters fundraiser, have continued to share reputation the fundraiser, highlighting Ruiz-Healy’s as a highlighting Ruiz-Healy’s as a generous collaborator and reputation “an all-around generous collaborator and “an all-around great guy.” great guy.” a large-scale music festival along the coastline near the Pier. Plans call for a one-day event with an estimated crowd of 30,000 to 35,000 people, featuring a dozen or more musical acts, food vendors, and art installations. Organizers have indicated the festival would return in 2027 and 2028 if the initial event moves forward. In early 2027, Santa Monica may also host an ESPN fan festival and broadcast presence on the Pier and adjacent beach. Preliminary plans include live productions set against the coastline, along with community programming and partnerships with local nonprofits and businesses. The final and most complex phase would arrive in summer 2028, when the Olympic and Paralympic Games are held across the Los Angeles region. One proposal would bring Club France, the official hospitality venue of the French Olympic team, to the Annenberg Community Beach House. Another concept under consideration includes a “Nations Village” and broadcast center at Crescent Bay Park and nearby parking areas. Mayor Caroline Torosis said, “The next
Executive Development Course, and the Senior Management Institute for Police. Jacob is a member of several professional organizations, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Police Executive Research Forum, the California Police Chiefs Association, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. He is Monica scheduled to be in ona Santa police havesworn assigned Santa Monica police Wednesday, Jan.case, 14,and athave 10 assigned a.m. have Thea detective to the neighbors detective to the case, and neighbors have been alertedwill to report any leads.live Organizers ceremony be streamed on the been to report leads. Organizers shared photos of theany aftermath to show city’salerted YouTube channel. shared the aftermath the scalephotos of theofdamage and say to theyshow are the scale of the damage and say theygoal are continuing to adjust the fundraising continuing to adjust the fundraising goal to account for the full cost of replacing to account and for essential the full items. cost of replacing equipment equipment and essential items.can visit the Those wishing to contribute Those wishing contribute visitFilm the GoFundMe page totitled “Helpcan Indie GoFundMe page titled “Help Indie Film Legend After Home Robbery.” Legend After Home Robbery.”
Santa Monica Sets Stage for World Cup, Olympics, and New Beach Music Festival
City Council Approves Early Agreements Tied to Global Sports Events and a Proposed Suspect Flees Briefly Suspect FleesConcert Briefly Beachfront Before Police Recover Before Recover Series Police Cocaine, Mushrooms,
SMPD SMPD Arrest Arrest Man Man with with Drugs, Drugs, Loaded Loaded Gun Gun After After Traffic Traffic Stop Stop Cocaine, Mushrooms, Santa Marijuana Monica could become a focal and point for international sports fans and and Marijuana
festivalgoers over in theSanta next three yearsled after A traffic stop Monica to traffic in Santa Monica led to theASanta Monica City Council onaTuesday the arrest ofstop a man found with loaded the arrest aand ofslate a aman found with a loaded approved ofsignificant preliminary agreements handgun quantity of handgun andsaid a Thursday. significant quantity of tied to police major global events coming to the drugs, drugs, police said Thursday. Southern Santa California Monica region. Police Department Santa Monica Police The actions clear the way forDepartment a series of officers, patrolling the 00 block of Bay officers, patrolling the 00 block of large Bay fan zones, broadcast activations, and Street around 9:40 p.m. Wednesday, Street around public gatherings timedp.m. around 2026 observed a parked9:40 vehicle withWednesday, thethe driver’s observed a parked vehicle with the driver’s door open. The wasSuper seen handling FIFA World Cup,driver the 2027 Bowl, and door open. Theparaphernalia, driver was seen handling suspected drug according to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. suspected drug paraphernalia, according to aCouncil police statement. members also endorsed early aplans police statement. for a new beachfront music festival
few years are a defining opportunity to showcase Santa Monica at its best, from our beach and Pier to the heart of our downtown along our iconic coastline. This is exactly what our Realignment Plan was designed to do. We are ushering in Santa Monica’s Renaissance by delivering results, revitalizing our core, and setting the city up for its next chapter. Our best days are ahead.” City officials emphasized that none of the events would receive city subsidies. Instead, organizers would pay fees covering venue use, security, traffic management, and city services under a new cost-recovery model approved by the council. The votes allow city staff to continue refining the proposals and negotiating final terms, which will return to the City Council for approval. You can read the full staff report here and