A safe city isn't just a statistic. It's the foundation that everything else is built on. When families don't feel safe letting their kids be kids, when people don't feel comfortable in their own neighborhood, you lose something that is very hard to get back. Keeping Thousand Oaks safe has never been just a policy priority for me. It's personal. It's what makes this city worth fighting for.
Thousand Oaks ranks in the top 10 safest cities in California and we are the largest city on that list. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens through consistent investment in law enforcement, smart policy, and a community that takes safety seriously.
The numbers from 2023 to 2024 reflect that commitment. Overall crime dropped 7%. Residential burglaries hit a record low. Commercial burglaries dropped 39%. Violent crime remains far below the state average.
How we got here.
I voted every year to maintain a fully staffed Sheriff's contract even as other cities cut back, and to fund a dedicated Misdemeanor Detective and two Directed Enforcement Deputies on top of that. More than $3 million in supplemental enforcement investment over four years, keeping specialized policing resources in this community regardless of budget pressure.
I voted to deploy twenty automated license plate readers citywide and install radar speed signs at 17 locations, giving our deputies the tools to respond faster and solve more crimes.
I voted to expand traffic enforcement and school zone safety, and to fund community policing programs that create real trust between residents and law enforcement. Trust that makes neighborhoods safer and makes it easier to solve crime when it does happen.
And I made the motion to commit $2 million to bring the East County Family Justice Center to Thousand Oaks, a facility for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Because public safety doesn't stop at the front door. It means making sure that when someone is in danger, they have somewhere to turn.
What's next.
As the region grows, we need to stay ahead of crime trends, not react to them. The next term means continued investment in staffing, technology, and the partnerships that keep Thousand Oaks one of the safest places in California to raise a family. We are not resting on this record. We are building on it.