The Santa Maria Police Department strives to protect and serve all who visit, work, or reside in the City of Santa Maria, by providing professional police services through community partnerships. Under a philosophy of community and constitutionally based policing, the department strives to maintain trust anddeliverexceptionalservicetopromotepublicsafetyandreducecrime.The department offers a full range of professional police services, such as patrol operations, investigations, traffic enforcement, crime prevention and awareness,andmanyothers.Thedepartment’spolicingphilosophypromotes strength through interaction and mutual respect in partnership with the communitytoimprovethequalityoflifeforallpersonswithintheCityofSanta Maria.
TheCityofSantaMariaisafull-servicecitywith10departmentsandadedicated staff with over 700, a City Council/City Manager form of government, and a biennium operating budget of approximately $291 million. Additionally, Santa Maria is home to thriving industries including aerospace, communications, hightech research and development, energy production, military operations, and manufacturing.SantaMariaValleyresidentsenjoyamenitiessuchas,world-class wineries,avibrantculturalscene,top-tierrodeo,rollinghills,and12milesofPacific coastline with the state’s tallest beach dunes. These attractions and more make theSantaMariaValleyanidealplacetolive,work,anddobusiness.
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ADMINISTRATION
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TrainingBureau
TheTrainingBureau,madeupofaSergeant,BusinessProgramLeader,and Office Assistant, handles all training coordination and records for department staff. They ensure compliance with POST mandates and best practices, oversee recruitment for sworn and professional positions, manage the Field Training Program for new officers, maintain the department’spolicymanual,andleademergencypreparednessefforts.
Facilitated 9,165 training hours for department staff. This is a 23% increaseover2023’stotaltraininghours.
Continued the implementation and conversion to the web-based training program. This is still a work in progress, however, the efficiency of the program has been critical for department-wide trainingandthefieldtrainingprogram.
Managed 45 applicant background investigations for sworn and professionalstaffpositions.
RecordsBureau
The Records Bureau consists of a Police Records supervisor and ten Police Record Technicians. The Records Bureau’s primary responsibility is to maintain and distribute law enforcement records. Records Technicians are also responsible for registering criminal offenders (sex/arson/gang), proc lic (Live Scan istics to the F as they
CrimeAnalysisUnit
TheCrimeAnalysisUnit(CAU)takesadata-drivenapproachtoidentifycrime patterns,trends,andhotspots,aidingincrimepreventionandreduction.They conductdailyreviewsofmajorcasereports,assistofficersanddetectiveswith investigations, and analyze intelligence data to connect local crimes to broaderincidents.Additionally,theunitextractsanddeliverstimelycrimedata tosupporttheDepartment’soperationalandadministrativeneeds.
In2024,theCrimeAnalysisUnitprocessed309crimedatarequestsandproduced 426 tactical crime bulletins. Additionally, the unit successfully facilitated the implementationandcompletionoftheonlinereporting/DORSproject.
OPERATIONS
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PATROLBUREAU
The Patrol Bureau serves as the foundation of all police services. Officers are highly trained and recognize that their foremost responsibility is to provideexemplaryservicetothecommunity.Officersconsistentlystrivefor exce on, and prof
In 2 e Patrol Bure nts and one Watch Com direct sup The pond to calls uations, inclu gations, and oactive munity
TRAFFICUNIT
The Traffic Unit is comprised of a supervisor and five motor officers with a mission to reduce the loss of life, injury, and property damage caused by trafficcollisions.
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K-9UNIT
The K-9 Unit, consisting of an Officer and his canine partner, K-9 Odin, plays a vital role in supporting patrol officers and responding to inprogresscrimes.K-9Odin,afive-year-oldShepherd-Malinoismix,ishighly trainedinsuspectapprehensionandfirearmdetection.OfficerKulpandK9O mpact onc In uspect app ted to key
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The Santa Maria Police Department Explorer Post #115 is made up of local youth, ages 14-20, interested in law enforcement careers. The program provides hands-on training, competitions, and mentorship, fostering team In20 etingin one ds. They also h traffic cont This eted the hirin xplorers and
SUPPORT
The Support Division encompasses the Detective Bureau, Crime Lab, Property/Evidence Unit, Communications Center, and Community Services Unit.
The Support Division encompasses the Detective Bureau, Crime Lab, Property/EvidenceUnit,CommunityServicesUnit,and Communications Center.
The Detective Bureau serves as the Police Department’s primary investigative section and is tasked with investigating criminal cases, identifying/apprehending offenders, and preparing cases for prosecution. The team is comprised of three supervisors, 14 criminal investigators, three civili e team mem Violent Crim onUnit, and
Submitted 730 cases were submitted to the District Attorney’s Officeforfilingconsideration.
Conducted 102 operations ranging from warrant services to specialoperations.
The Crime Lab is tasked with the responsibility of identifying and gathering evidence at major crime scenes and processing that evidence in the department'scrimelab.Labpersonnelprovideforensicinvestigativesupport to uniformed officers and detectives while partnering with State and Federal agenc
The Property & Evidence Unit is tasked
havereachedtheirfinalresolution.
The Community Services Unit consists of a supervisor and a team of 16 who work in one of the following areas: Beat Coordinator, School Resource Officer, PoliceServicesTechnician,MentalHealthOfficer,PoliceCadets,andOutreach Coordinator The unit organizes and runs various community events throu
Tohig
CommunityAcademy
NationalNightOut
CopsNCarsCarShow(1stAnnual)
MissionHopeFundraisers
CoffeewithaCop
TeenandYouthAcademy
ShopwithaCop
ReadAcrossAmerica
BEATCOORDINATORS
The city is divided into three beats, each with a Beat Coordinator (BC) who addresses quality of life issues and community concerns. BCs collaborate withresidents,businesses,non-profits,andcitydepartments,andalsohelp coordinateeventsandassistwithstreetcleanupanddebrisremovalefforts inSa
POLICESERVICETECHNICIANS
ThePoliceServiceTechnicians(PSTs)areateamofsevenprofessionalstaff led by a PST Lead who manages daily operations. They support the Patrol Bureaubyhandlingcrimereports,trafficcollisions,evidenceprocessing,and parking issues citywide. PSTs also assist with community outreach events throughouttheyear.
SCHOOLRESOURCEOFFICERS
Our two School Resource Officers are each assigned to one of the two high schoolsinthecityandworkcloselywiththeschooladministratortocreatea safeenvironmentforbothstudentsandstaff.
CRISISINTERVENTIONTEAM
The team includes a sworn officer and a mental health clinician from BehavioralWellness.Theyhandlecasesinvolvingmentalhealthcrises,suicide prevention, and substance use, aiming to divert individuals from the justice systemintotreatment.Theirworkincludesde-escalation,initialassessments, referrals, service connections, and follow-ups to support ongoing care and prevention.
POLICECADETS
ThePoliceCadetpositionisdesignedforcollege-enrolledyouthbetween the ages of 18 and 21. Cadets gain hands-on experience by learning the fundamentals of law enforcement through the Police Service Technician role.Thispositionoffersapathwaytofuturesuccessbypreparingcadets for entry-level hiring into the police academy. We recently had our first cadet graduate from the academy, and they are now working through ourFieldTrainingProgram.
OUTREACHCOORDINATOR
The Outreach Coordinator’s primary role is to engage, cultivate, and foster partnerships between the community and the police department. This includescoordinatingthedepartment’sparticipationinvariouscommunity events throughout the year. Additionally, the Outreach Coordinator manages the department’s social media content on Instagram, Facebook, and X, using these platforms to inform, educate, and raise awareness on various topics. Beyond community outreach, the role also involves organizing internal department events such as the employee awards luncheon, badge pinning’s, and other special ceremonies that recognize andsupportdepartmentpersonnel.
The Communications Center provides 24/7 dispatch services for the Police and Fire Departments, as well as for the City of Guadalupe. Dispatchers are responsible for answering and prioritizing incoming 911 calls non-emergency calls and administrative inquiries In 2024, the Cen utgoing calls The r diem Disp rst-line supe es and train vant to their cations daily 24, the Disp pment. They NENA to stay einthe field e Crisis Neg The which disp in the field ange of othe AD, and ESCA
COLLATERALASSIGNMENTS
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These specialized roles strengthen the department’s ability to serve andprotectthecommunityeffectively.
MOUNTEDENFORCEMENTUNIT
In 2024, the Mounted Enforcement Unit (MEU) expanded from two to four officers, increasing opportunities for community engagement. Each officer volunteers for this assignment, personally owning and funding their horse’s care. The MEU deploys one day a month for community engagement and crime prevention, along with a 10-hour monthly training day.
CRISISNEGOTIATIONTEAM
The Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) is comprised of 11 officers, two sergeants and one lieutenant all trained in crisis management by the FBI. The team works to safely resolve critical incidents through active communication with suicidal individuals, barricaded suspects, and hostage-takers. All members meet FBI standards, with several attending nationally recognized courses to remain current on tactics and best practices.
SPECIALWEAPONSANDTACTICSTEAM
The SWAT Team’s mission is to save lives during high-risk incidents such as armed suspects, hostage situations, and warrant service. The 21member team—made up of officers, sergeants, and a lieutenant—has specialized roles like tactical commander, breacher, and sniper. SWAT works closely with the Canine Unit, UAS Team, and Crisis Negotiation Team to prioritize de-escalation. Members train 20 hours each month in additiontodepartment-widetraining.
HONORGUARD
The SMPD Honor Guard performs ceremonial duties at civic events within the Department, throughout Santa Maria, and at the request of outside agencies. The unit consists of 10 officers and four sergeants, training quarterly and following ceremonial protocols modeled after the U.S. Marine Corps. The team takes great pride in honoring the law enforcementcommunitythroughtheirservice.
MOBILEFIELDFORCE
The 17-member Mobile Field Force (MFF) Unit responds rapidly to civil disturbances, disasters, crowd control, and security needs. Its mission is to protect public safety, uphold First Amendment rights, and support allied agencies. The unit deploys to major events in Santa Barbara and SanLuisObispoCounties,aswellasstatewidemutualaid.
RANGE-FIREARMSTRAININGUNIT
The Firearms Training Unit (FTU), also known as the Range Program, includes 15 certified instructors—one lieutenant, two sergeants, and 12 officers who oversee all firearms and less-lethal training. They ensure proficiency with handguns, rifles, shotguns, and tactics, while maintaining weapon systems. Training covers active attacker response, patroltactics,tacticalmedicine,andde-escalation.
ARRESTANDCONTROLTEAM
The ARCON Unit, made up of one sergeant and three officers, delivers department-wide training in de-escalation, self-defense, weapon retention, handcuffing, and use-of-force. Grounded in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu techniques, the training prioritizes safety for both officers and the public. Axon body-worn camera footage enhances use-of-force reviews and scenario-basedtraining.
UNMANNEDAERIALSYSTEMSTEAM
The 13-member UAS Team enhances law enforcement operations by providing real-time intelligence and aerial overwatch. Drones are deployed for missing persons, suspect searches, perimeter security, surveillance, evidence collection, and traffic collision reconstruction. The team’s growing capabilities improve situational awareness and support safer, more efficient responses.
PEERSUPPORTTEAM
ThePeerSupportTeamconsistsof19membersfromacrossthedepartment and offers support to personnel facing personal or professional challenges. The team facilitates critical incident debriefs for major events, involving all directly affected sworn and professional staff. Members receive specialized training in peer support and stress management to ensure the program’s effectiveness.
WELLNESSCOMMITTEE
TheWellnessCommittee,madeupofmembersfromacrossthedepartment, supports employee well-being through programs on fitness, nutrition, stress, andfinancialwellness.In2024,itlaunchedanon-dutyworkoutprogramand continued Healthy Warrior’s on-site healthy food options. A quarterly newslettersharesupdates,resources,andamessagefromtheChief.
The Santa Maria Police Department is proud to thank the Santa Maria Police Council for their continued support and commitment in helping theDepartmentsupplementitsequipmentandtrainingneedsthrough fundraising.Sinceitsinceptionin2007,thePoliceCouncilhasdonated $2,033,982.05dollars. In2024,theSMPCpurchasedthefollowing
In 2024, the Santa Maria Police Department proudly celebrated the retirement of five dedicated members who collectively gave decades of service to our department and community. Their commitment and leadership has left a lasting legacy. We thank them for their service andwishthemallthebestintheirnextchapter.
