The Orange Police Department serves a diverse and growing community with a present population of approximately 139,000 residents. The city covers approximately 32 square miles and is bordered by Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Anaheim and Santiago Canyon. The city is easily accessed by the 91, 55, 57, 22 and 5 freeways. In addition, the Eastern Transportation Corridor runs along the city’s eastern boundary.
Over the last several years, the city has experienced consistent growth in both housing and industry. The western area of the city has seen the construction of several up-scale apartment projects while the northern and eastern areas have experienced growth in single-family residences.
“The Block” continues to draw visitors from throughout the region to its many shops, restaurants and entertainment opportunities. UCI Medical Center is continuing to expand in order to meet the needs of a growing population. The downtown area of the city has undergone several changes that provide visitors with shopping and dining opportunities with a small town feel. Chapman University continues to expand and provide quality educational opportunities to the area. The Orange Police Department and the future:
The Police Department has expanded its sworn officers to 167 and has a long-term plan in place for future growth. The Police Department maintains a $38 million operating budget and takes advantage of a number of grants to accomplish its goals.
Our 60,000 square foot police facility is situated in the center of the city. This facility was first occupied in November 1990 and has since seen its share of changes in technology and design. We have acquired state-of-the-art technology with the goal of providing our employees with the tools needed to effectively and efficiently perform their jobs. We are continually evaluating new technology and tools to help us provide the community with the best service possible.
We pride ourselves in service to our residents and visitors. The department provides a number of programs to the community and works closely with our schools and other organizations. Our employees are guided by the Five Pillars for Success that are meant to help us make Orange the safest city in Orange County.
They include:
• Exercise leadership within the department and the community. • Exemplify professionalism in every facet of our job. • Use technology to enhance our crime-fighting ability. • Arrest high-risk and repeat offenders who pose a risk to our citizens. • Work to reduce crime.
Another tool employed by the department is COMPSTAT. COMPSTAT (an acronym for computer statistics) is a crime analysis system and police management process pioneered by the New York City Police Department and has been linked with that city's dramatic reduction in crime. The system was created to collect, analyze and map crime data, and other essential measures of police performance including resource allocation. The Orange Police Department has adapted and tailored this program to suit our needs and has become an effective crime-fighting tool.
They include:
