The $7 Million Secret: 5 Crucial Facts About Loma Linda's Police Services And 2025 Safety Outlook

The "Loma Linda Police Department" as an independent, municipal force does not exist. This is the crucial starting point for understanding public safety in the city as of late 2024 and heading into 2025. Instead, the City of Loma Linda contracts with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department (SBCSD) to provide comprehensive law enforcement services, a model common among smaller cities in the region. This contractual arrangement, overseen by the SBCSD Central Station, ensures that the city benefits from the vast resources and specialized divisions of the County Sheriff’s office, maintaining a dedicated presence of deputies and a high standard of police protection.

This contracted structure means that all patrol, investigative, and administrative police functions are managed by the SBCSD, with a significant financial commitment from the city to ensure adequate coverage. The most recent updates for the 2024-2025 fiscal year highlight a continued investment in these services, alongside ongoing efforts to manage crime and enhance community safety, particularly around the major hub of Loma Linda University Health (LLUH). Understanding this relationship is key to knowing who protects the city and how public safety decisions are made.

The Contracted Model: San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department's Role

The foundation of law enforcement in Loma Linda is the long-standing agreement between the City Council and the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner’s Department. This relationship is not merely a backup service; it is the primary source of police protection for the entire city.

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The 2024-2025 Law Enforcement Services Contract

The City of Loma Linda’s commitment to public safety is reflected in its financial investment. For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the City Council approved an amendment to the law enforcement services contract with the SBCSD. The contract’s value for this period is substantial, exceeding $7 million. This significant expenditure covers the cost of personnel, equipment, and resources necessary to maintain 24/7 patrol and investigative services within the city limits.

Key services provided under the contract include:

• Dedicated Patrol: Uniformed deputies constantly patrol Loma Linda, ensuring rapid response times.
• Investigative Services: Access to SBCSD detectives for complex cases, including property crime, fraud, and violent crime investigations.
• Specialized Units: Availability of county-level resources like SWAT, aviation, and forensic services.
• Central Station Management: Loma Linda's services are administered by the SBCSD Central Station, which also covers the nearby city of Grand Terrace and the San Manuel Indian Reservation.

Public Safety Leadership and Key Personnel

While Loma Linda does not have its own Police Chief, the leadership of its law enforcement services falls to the Captain of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Central Station. This individual serves as the de facto Chief of Police Services for the contracted city.

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Central Station Command

The SBCSD Central Station, located at 655 East Third Street in San Bernardino, is the operational hub for Loma Linda's police services. As of the latest information, Captain Ryan Collins is the commander of the Central Station, making him the highest-ranking SBCSD official responsible for the safety and security of Loma Linda residents and businesses.

Captain Collins and his team manage the deployment of deputies, coordinate community policing efforts, and serve as the main liaison between the Sheriff's Department and the Loma Linda City Council. This ensures that the law enforcement strategy aligns with the specific needs and priorities of the city's residents.

The Role of Other Public Safety Entities

Loma Linda is unique due to the presence of two other critical public safety entities:

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1. Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) Security: LLUH maintains a strong relationship with the SBCSD, including having a dedicated Sheriff's Deputy assigned to the campus. This partnership is vital for campus safety, given the high volume of patients, students, and staff in the medical center and university area.
2. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Police: The VA Medical Center in Loma Linda operates its own federal police force, the Department of Veterans Affairs Police Department, which handles security and law enforcement matters on the VA campus. This department is currently focusing on advanced security measures, including the potential implementation of Evolv Weapons Detection Systems.

Loma Linda's Crime Landscape: Recent Statistics and Community Safety Initiatives

Understanding the current crime trends is essential for assessing the effectiveness of the contracted police services. Recent data covering 2024 provides a snapshot of the city's public safety environment.

2024-2025 Crime Statistics Overview

Loma Linda generally maintains a crime rate lower than many comparable cities, though property crime remains a persistent challenge. Over a recent five-year period (2019-2024), the city recorded 611 violent crimes and 1,941 property crimes. This data informs the SBCSD’s deployment strategies, with a focus on areas experiencing higher rates of theft, vehicle theft, and burglary.

Key takeaways from recent crime data:

• Violent Crime: The average violent crime rate in Loma Linda stands at approximately 55.4 per 100,000 residents. The chance of being a victim of violent crime is estimated at 1 in 349.
• Property Crime: The risk of being a victim of property crime is higher, estimated at 1 in 46. This category, which includes larceny and burglary, is often the focus of targeted community policing and prevention programs.
• FBI Data Points: Official FBI statistics show that for a population of nearly 24,000, Loma Linda recorded 27 violent crimes and 738 property crimes in a recent reporting year, with the majority of property crimes being larceny-theft.

Community-Focused Public Safety Efforts

The SBCSD's approach in Loma Linda is heavily reliant on community engagement and proactive measures. The department works closely with the City's Department of Public Safety to address local concerns.

Initiatives often involve:

• Traffic Enforcement: Given the high volume of traffic from the university and medical center, targeted operations to reduce collisions and promote pedestrian safety are common.
• Community Partnerships: Working with organizations like the Loma Linda University Institute for Community Partnerships to address root causes of crime and support vulnerable populations.
• Emergency Preparedness: The city is continually updating its Safety Element and Hazard Mitigation Plan, a requirement that ensures compliance with federal regulations and eligibility for mitigation grants, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to public safety beyond just law enforcement.

In conclusion, the police services in Loma Linda are robust, driven by a multi-million-dollar contract with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. While the city does not have its own police department, the presence of the SBCSD Central Station command, the dedicated LLUH deputy, and the VA Police ensures a layered approach to security. As the city moves through 2025, its public safety strategy will continue to focus on mitigating property crime while leveraging the extensive resources of the County Sheriff’s Department to protect its residents and critical institutions.