Social Media Outlets

“…We’re able to keep the public informed with breaking news, road closures, in case there was an evacuation, any significant arrests, anything like that we’re able to keep the public updated almost live-time,” said Deputy Joshua Dubin of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Department.

Social media platforms provide a significant tool for law enforcement, enabling our local department to stay connected with the community and share timely public safety related information. 

Using services like, Nixle, Twitter, Facebook and others, local deputies are able to provide essential information that the public and local media agencies need to know during an emergency. Deputies on scene of an incident or emergency can provide valuable information that may be directly shared with the public through verified law enforcement systems or accounts.

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Up-to-date information helps residents avoid major traffic accidents, evacuate safely and stay calm. Local media outlets also use the information to reach out to their audiences and share relevant crime and public safety information. Conveniently, the resident may choose when and how to receive updates by changing their social media settings.

You can get in touch with the local department through any of the following sites: 

• SCV Station website  
• Nixle account
  
• Twitter account (@SCVSheriff and @jdLASD) 
• Facebook page  
• LASD website 
• Crime Mapping statistics 

Gone are the days of posting Wanted posters in the most trafficked areas of town. Modern day law enforcement agencies are posting descriptions of criminals on the most trafficked platforms on the web. 

The Sheriff’s Station is also interested in the community’s feedback and welcomes comments on their social media platforms.

Zone Enforcement

Are you familiar with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s zone concept in crime prevention?

To better assess crime trends and more effectively and efficiently deploy resources in response to maintaining our low crime rate, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station launched the Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) in March 2011. 

The unit was formed using existing station resources in direct cooperation and collaboration with the city of Santa Clarita and the County of Los Angeles under the leadership and direction of Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Captain Paul Becker.

Captain Becker recognized that dividing the Santa Clarita Valley into individual zones was the best way to utilization resources, identify crime trends and offenders and better serve all the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley.

The Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station worked for months directly with Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialists from the city of Santa Clarita to identify and map 8 color-coded Crime Prevention Zones, encompassing the entire Santa Clarita Valley. These numbered zones were created to provide manageable geographical boundaries and identifiers, giving deputies and crime research analysts the ability to scrutinize every element of crime, identify trends and deal with criminal activity immediately.

Allocation of resources is determined by station leaders through comprehensive weekly operational meetings where details of all Part-1 crimes are discussed, logged on Zone Briefing Reports and shared with deputies working the streets in your neighborhoods. 

Each of the 8 Crime Prevention Zones is broken down by crime reporting districts and is overseen by a Zone Leader Deputy Sheriff who is responsible for a detailed review of all crime within their zone on a daily basis. These Zone Leaders are part of the Crime Prevention Team (CPT).

Know your zone and stay in touch for hyper-local updates on crime and disaster.

• Zone 1 – Gorman Area
• Zone 2 – Castaic/Val Verde Areas
• Zone 3 – Stevenson Ranch Area
• Zone 4 – Saugus Area
• Zone 5 – Valencia Area
• Zone 6 – Newhall Area
• Zone 7 – Canyon Country West
• Zone 8 – Canyon Country East

Click here for a list of zone leaders and contact information.

Every sheriff’s station throughout Los Angeles County encourages residents to immediately report any suspicious activity by calling their local station, or for crimes in progress dialing 9-1-1. 

Innovative crime reporting systems are also gaining significant traction because they enable the community to provide information anonymously. Our station and Department has had great success with the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers program. By dialing 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637) or clicking here you are able to report non-emergency criminal activity anonymously. A smart phone application is also available. 

Before an emergency or disaster strikes is the optimum time for you to become familiar with the ways to get information from your local public safety agencies. Take action today so that valuable information can be easily and quickly shared if a large scale disaster hits.

“Oftentimes people find that during a disaster situation many people try to use their cell phones for example and they’ll get a ‘service is full’ or ‘please try your call again later,’” Dubin said. “Through the use of social media, such as text messaging, Twitter and the Internet, people are able to share information with us and we’re able to share information with them, livetime, and that really promotes public safety, not only on the small level…, but even going into a major disaster.”