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Most Irvine residents undoubtedly realize that we have the distinction of being the safest city in the United States. Many have read or heard the results of the annual Forbes report that has Irvine atop the safety rankings. Even those who may have missed this have perhaps made similar personal observations. Whenever the Irvine Police Department is called upon for help, residents can rest assured that they will be there, usually with a response time of two minutes or less. The fact is that we all enjoy a level of safety and security unparalleled in cities across this country.
A look at the statistics makes this point even more impressive. According to Business Insider, Irvine has had the lowest violent crime rate in the nation for an amazing nine years in a row. The City Data Crime Index, which is based on numbers of murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, and arsons, reveals Irvine with a rating of 89.4, much lower than the national average of 316.9. This is even more impressive considering that Irvine is much safer than neighboring cities such as Santa Ana and Costa Mesa who have indexes of 229.6 and 234.3 respectively. Additionally, Irvine’s Violent Crime Index is 34.6 compared to a national average of 252.4.
These statistics are certainly impressive and we all owe a great deal of gratitude to the Irvine Police Department for their efforts in making this community the safest in the nation. When living is such a safe area, it is natural to sometimes take this for granted; however, it is important to realize that these men and women put their lives on the line daily to protect and serve. This is a police department that routinely takes drunken drivers off the streets at sobriety checkpoints, keeps our families safe by partnering with events such as the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day and Distracted Driving Awareness month, and educates the community through events such as September’s National Emergency Preparedness Month.
Recently my campaign director Miguel Ileto Carlos Partner of Proximity LLC and Secure Channels, with his fiancé were having dinner at Ruby’s Diner. He stated that he had left his table only for a moment only to return from the restroom and found his cell phone had been taken.
He wanted to say” thank you to the manager of Ruby’s Diner and the security team of the Irvine Spectrum, in particular Officer S. Paulsen #418, for a job well done”.
“The officer assisted me with the return of my cell phone. Within 2 minutes!! They found the suspect right away. With a short description and little information they were able to apprehend the person who took my phone”.
“Within seconds the police department arrived and took action immediately, And I was very pleased with the results. I am very happy and felt very safe regardless of what happened here in Irvine. It is proven safe. I wanted to reiterate the words used by the Irvine Police Department which really stood for Integrity, Quality Service, Accountability and Respect. I love Irvine and I will fully support the Irvine Police Department”.
With such a low crime rate and such extraordinary efforts of the Irvine Police Department, it 
would seem that Irvine is fortunate to have a strongly staffed, well-funded police department. However, that isn’t necessarily true. In 2012, Irvine had 0.92 law enforcement officers per 1,000 residents, significantly lower than the state average of 2.36 per 1,000. This is important for several reasons.
First, it truly showcases just what an amazing job our police are doing. And secondly, it illustrates a pressing community need. The Irvine Police Department does not receive adequate support from the current city council. They need more officers, a larger department, and more up-to-date equipment among other things. They need a government that will hear their grievances and needs and respond to them in the same prompt manner with which they respond to the needs of our citizens.
Safety is one of the cornerstones of an effective community and is one of the reasons Irvine is a place where families, education, and local businesses thrive. It is simply not something that should be taken for granted.
I live in W. Irvine and previously in Woodbridge…the Irvine Police Department is #1 in my book. Served in combat in Vietnam so I am aware of the thin line between the police that support laws and their enforcement…God forbid we descend into anarchy and it is our police force that must prevent that.
God Bless, Richard F. Fish, 47 Granada, Irvine, CA 92602
Note: Pizza anyone? I will be honored to have pizza or wings delivered….just name the day and the time.
Thank you for your service Richard and your post, take care, Katherine
I’m truly glad everything is hunky dory in Irvine. This city epitomizes the practice of “white flight” that occurs continuously to this day as folks who abhor the dangers and troubles of racial and class related struggles seek refuge in tree-lined boulevards and well-placed gates. Easier than engaging in the trenches of gangs, drugs, noise, and police who also are over-burdened and must weigh life and death decisions every shift….
I know as long as the higher-classes can afford to move away they will. The dreadful “others” are closing in on their babies and all their hard work will be for naught if they are too close for comfort to “those people”.
The police reflect the values of their community like a banner that waves but is not spoken about aloud: ” Here we can breathe easy because the bad people are not living here.”
It’s nice in Irvine. Large tracts of beautiful, spacious homes and amenities for the nice people who work hard to maintain their lifestyle….
Alas, I doubt that “build lots of low-cost housing so that Irvine can have more low-income Latino and African-American minorities” has ever been the platform of any candidate for Mayor of Irvine, despite several of them being quite progressive. My sense is that the city’s Master Plan involves something like Aliso Viejo doing so. Still, having police exemplify such xenophobic values is just begging for lawsuits, so to the extent it happens I hope it stops.
There is a dark side to being a law enforcement officer in one of the lowest crime rate cities in america. Cops there are just itching for something, ANYTHING to do! Thus, Irvine has over the years, gained a reputation as a city in which the police practice overzealous enforcement, harassment, misconduct and abuse. The city has paid out MILLIONS in lawsuits and settlements because of civil rights violations, false arrest and sexual assaults by Irvine P.D. So yeah, the crime rate is low in Irvine, if you don’t count the many crimes committed by the police themselves!
I totally agree with above April 15, 2016 post. Overzealous enforcement, overreaction to minor matters, harassment, misconduct and abuse. All true