City of Santa Fe Springs to Launch Its Own Police Department

The City of Santa Fe Springs is pleased to announce today that it will establish and launch its own municipal police department, the Santa Fe Springs Police Department, with full operations beginning March 1, 2028. This decision follows careful evaluation and thoughtful consideration by the City Council, with a continued focus on providing the highest level of public safety services to residents, businesses, and the community.
 
For more than 30 years, the City of Santa Fe Springs has contracted with the Whittier Police Department for law enforcement services and prior with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The City Council and staff express their sincere appreciation to the Whittier Police Department and the City of Whittier for their longstanding partnership, professionalism, and commitment to serving the Santa Fe Springs community. The City looks forward to continuing a strong and collaborative relationship throughout the transition period to ensure uninterrupted, high-quality service.
 
The move to establish an in-house police department reflects the City Council's commitment to local control, operational flexibility, and the ability to tailor services to meet the evolving needs of the Santa Fe Springs community. By bringing police services in-house, the City will be better positioned to enhance responsiveness, strengthen community policing efforts, and align public safety priorities directly with community expectations with tech forward and smart city innovations to emphasize efficiency and modern applications.
 
"This was not a decision made lightly," said the Santa Fe Springs Mayor, Joe Angel Zamora. "After extensive review and discussion, the Council believes that establishing a Santa Fe Springs Police Department is the best long-term fiscally responsible approach to ensure exceptional, responsive, and community-focused public safety services that is built on a culture of inclusivity, positivity and hard work."
Over the next 22 months, City staff will work diligently to plan, develop, and implement all aspects of the new department. This comprehensive effort will include recruitment and training of personnel, branding, community outreach, acquisition of equipment and technology, development of policies and procedures, and establishment of facilities necessary to support full-service law enforcement operations.
 
The City is committed to ensuring that the future Santa Fe Springs Police Department will provide an enhanced - level of service currently delivered. The Santa Fe Springs Police Department will include patrol operations, investigations, traffic enforcement, community engagement, and continued complement of Public Safety and Code Compliance Officers currently under the direction of Department of Police and Community Services. Maintaining continuity of service throughout the transition will remain
a top priority.
 
This transition also represents an opportunity for Santa Fe Springs to further strengthen its identity and invest in a public safety model that reflects the community's values, priorities, and long-term vision. The City will continue to engage residents, businesses, and stakeholders throughout the process to ensure transparency and community input.
 
Additional updates, including key milestones and opportunities for public engagement, will be shared as the transition progresses.