Santa Ana : Police Say Foot-Patrol Program Cutting Crime

In the 12 months since the Police Department began a foot-patrol program, officers have made almost 5,000 arrests, according to a department report.

Foot-patrol officers walk the downtown area and rotate between nine Neighborhood Foot Patrol areas. The program began in October, 1984, and expanded beyond the downtown area a month later to serve a population of about 44,000 residents.

The report indicated that residential burglaries in the neighborhood areas dropped about 38% in 1985, compared to 1984 figures. Downtown arrests for robberies, prostitution and public intoxication were reduced by 50% in just the first four months of operation.

Surveys conducted after the program had been fully implemented in February, 1985, asked residents to comment on eight questions, including, “I think Santa Ana is a safe place to live” and “I believe that police officers on foot help to reduce crime.”

About 78% of the respondents said they felt safer with officers walking beats in their neighborhoods, while opinion was divided on whether the city as a whole is a safe place to live.