Orange County Police: An Ethnic Profile

Though most Orange County police forces remain overwhelmingly white, some have stepped up minority recruitment and are training officers to be more culturally aware to better serve their rapidly diversifying populations. Information shown is as of Nov. 1. ANAHEIM Total Sworn Police Officers: 348 Number of Female Officers: 19 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 298 Black: 4 Latino: 37 Asian/Pacific Islander: 6 American Indian: 3 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: All officers attend eight-hour seminars on different cultures. A videotape on Vietnamese awareness is required viewing. Officers attend a four-hour basic training refresher course each year. BREA* Total Sworn Police Officers: 104 Number of Female Officers: 10 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 88 Latino: 13 Asian/Pacific Islander: 2 Other: 1 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: 12- to 16-week cultural awareness training period. BUENA PARK Total Sworn Police Officers: 89 Number of Female Officers: 2 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 78 Latino: 10 Asian/Pacific Islander: 1 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Officers receive 24 hours of cultural trainingover a 3-year period. Officers can take an additional 100 hours of cultural awareness away from the department. COSTA MESA Total Sworn Police Officers: 141 Number of Female Officers: 10 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 126 Black: 2 Latino: 6 Asian/Pacific Islander: 7 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Officers attend classes on minority cultures. CYPRESS Total Sworn Police Officers: 53 Number of Female Officers: 4 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 46 Black: 1 Latino: 5 Asian/Pacific Islander: 1 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Officers attend classes on minority cultures. FOUNTAIN VALLEY Total Sworn Police Officers: 53 Number of Female Officers: 6 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 45 Latino: 7 Asian/Pacific Islander: 1 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Police chief is in process of arranging a cross-cultural awareness program. FULLERTON Total Sworn Police Officers: 148 Number of Female Officers: 9 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 133 Latino: 11 Asian/Pacific Islander: 4 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: n/a GARDEN GROVE Total Sworn Police Officers: 171 Number of Female Officers: 9 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 143 Black: 6 Latino: 17 Asian/Pacific Islander: 5 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: n/a HUNTINGTON BEACH Total Sworn Police Officers: 220 Number of Female Officers: 6 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 202 Black: 5 Latino: 7 Asian/Pacific Islander: 5 American Indian: 1 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Rely on training provided in police academies. No in-house cross-cultural training, but officers attend professional training courses every two years. IRVINE Total Sworn Police Officers: 128 Number of Female Officers: 10 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 118 Black: 2 Latino: 4 Asian/Pacific Islander: 4 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: In-house mandatory training initiated over the past two years, including hate-crime training and cross-cultural awareness.* LAGUNA BEACH Total Sworn Police Officers: 48 Number of Female Officers: 5 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 40 Latino: 7 Asian/Pacific Islander: 1 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Officers attend cultural-integration training at various locations throughout the state. LA HABRA Total Sworn Police Officers: 62 Number of Female Officers: 3 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 56 Latino: 6 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Officers participate in the Orange County Human Relations Commission meetings. The department is expanding in-service cultural and ethnic training to include speakers from various parts of the community. LA PALMA Total Sworn Police Officers: 24 Number of Female Officers: 1 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 19 Latino: 2 Asian/Pacific Islander: 3 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Two representatives from the police force are on the Orange County Human Relations Commission. Officers view videotapes to augment cross-cultural training. LOS ALAMITOS Total Sworn Police Officers: 24 Number of Female Officers: 1 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 19 Latino: 4 Asian/Pacific Islander: 1 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Cross-cultural and sensitivity training offered during advanced officer’s training. Police department utilizes other police agency films and videos to sensitize officers to various ethnic backgrounds. NEWPORT BEACH Total Sworn Police Officers: 149 Number of Female Officers: 8 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 138 Black: 2 Latino: 5 Asian/Pacific Islander: 4 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: No specific programs have been implemented. ORANGE Total Sworn Police Officers: 149 Number of Female Officers: 8 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 131 Black: 2 Latino: 13 Asian/Pacific Islander: 3 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Cultural sensitivity is included in the department’s semi-annual block training program. Periodically, cultural awareness videos are viewed during briefing sessions. PLACENTIA Total Sworn Police Officers: 53 Number of Female Officers: 2 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 45 Latino: 7 Asian/Pacific Islander: 1 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Police chief is in process of arranging a cross-cultural awareness program. SAN CLEMENTE Total Sworn Police Officers: 49 Number of Female Officers: 6 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 42 Black: 1 Latino: 5 Asian/Pacific Islander: 1 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Departments sends officers to train in other areas within the county. In-house cultural awareness briefings are held throughout the year. SANTA ANA Total Sworn Police Officers: 400 Number of Female Officers: 15 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 280 Black: 10 Latino: 99 Asian/Pacific Islander: 9 American Indian: 2 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Four- to eight-hour classes on cultural awareness offered at least twice a year. SEAL BEACH Total Sworn Police Officers: 41 Number of Female Officers: 3 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 37 Latino: 3 American Indian: 1 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: None TUSTIN Total Sworn Police Officers: 81 Number of Female Officers: 4 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 72 Black: 2 Latino: 5 Asian/Pacific Islander: 2 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Classes are made available to officers. WESTMINSTER Total Sworn Police Officers: 99 Number of Female Officers: 3 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 88 Black: 2 Latino: 7 Asian/Pacific Islander: 2 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: All officers recently participate in three-hour in-service training, using a video and written material program sponsored by the Orange County Human Relations Commission. ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT** Total Sworn Police Officers: 1,285 Number of Female Officers: 191 Ethnic breakdown oF all sworn officers: White: 1,033 Black: 46 Latino: 160 Asian/Pacific Islander: 31 American Indian: 15 Cross-Cultural Training Programs: Officers are required every two or three years to attend four- to eight-hour cultural awareness sessions. Computerized or Radio Messages Monitored? Radio is not monitored on the officer-to-officer channels but, should complaints arise, all transmissions are recorded and saved. * Brea Police Department also serves the incorporated areas of Yorba Linda. ** Orange County Sheriff’s Department serves all unincorporated areas of the county, as well as contracting services with Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, Stanton and Villa Park. Source: Individual cities, Orange County Sheriff’s Department