Citywide Reorganization of Police Department Underway

The inside of the Anaheim Police Station has the look of low-level chaos these days. Office shelves stand empty. Books and belongings spill over from packed boxes. Nameplates, pens and paper litter office floors.

Friday is moving day at the police station on Broadway. Twenty-two top officers will change jobs and offices to support the department’s largest-ever structural reorganization.

“Police departments are typically slow to respond to change,” said Anaheim police Sgt. Joe Vargas. “We’re trying to be ahead of the game.”

Every organization needs change, said Vargas. Police hope the reorganization will make them more effective at keeping up with Anaheim’s changing character.

Seven million visitors are expected to visit Disney’s new California Adventure attraction once it opens in February. The city’s juvenile population is expected to increase. And Anaheim’s communities have diverse and evolving needs.

Police have divided the city into four districts--east, west, central and south--each with a distinct personality and needs. And each will have its own district commander and staff. The idea is to get officers in touch with communities so they can solve problems rather than simply respond to crises.

The reorganization expands community-policing efforts. For the first time, community police, patrol officers and detectives working in the same community will report to the same commander.

“Police are being seen as a resource to address a number of issues such as overcrowding, unkempt property and traffic engineering,” said Vargas. “The expectation is that we’ll meet and work with the community to address problems.”

Eventually, the department would like officers physically stationed in each district. That’s already true for the east district, where officers work out of a police station in Anaheim Hills. In west Anaheim, a temporary station with minimal facilities opened a week ago, but the city has budgeted a permanent station. Long-term plans also include construction of a station for the south district to better serve the resort area, including Disneyland, California Adventure and the Convention Center.

Though the department has not hired additional officers to support the greater influx of visitors expected, police will have two sergeants, two detectives, six community police officers, and several patrol officers working in the resort area. In addition, Disney has contracted with the department to have four police officers stationed full time on its properties.

“We feel confident that it will be OK,” said Chief Roger Baker. He said the city has hired about 40 additional officers over the last few years.. “With continuous staffing, we can continue this way for some time,” said Baker.

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Judy Silber can be reached at (714) 966-5988.