By Amelia Anderson The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) is the municipal law-enforcement agency serving Santa Monica, California. The department provides emergency response, patrol, criminal investigations, traffic enforcement, crime prevention, community policing, forensic services, jail operations and specialized responses throughout the city.
Seek emergency help through 911 when there is an immediate threat to people or property, such as violence taking place, an armed suspect, a serious injury, or a crime where the offender is still present. For incidents that do not require an immediate police response, call 310-458-8491. The non-emergency dispatch line is available 24 hours a day.
SMPD operates primarily from the Public Safety Facility at 333 Olympic Drive. The department uses four geographic police beats for community policing and has specialized downtown, beach and citywide units. Darrick Jacob is the current chief of police.
Santa Monica Police Department Quick Information
| Information | Details |
| Official name | Santa Monica Police Department |
| Common abbreviation | SMPD |
| Main police facility | 333 Olympic Drive, Santa Monica, CA 90401 |
| Emergency number | 911 |
| Non-emergency dispatch | 310-458-8491 |
| General Police Department number | 310-395-9931 |
| Watch Commander | 310-458-8427 |
| Police Records Unit | 310-458-8431 |
| Internal Affairs | 310-458-8480 |
| Community Affairs | 310-458-8474 |
| Police chief | Darrick Jacob |
| Geographic police beats | Four |
| Main operational divisions | Patrol Operations, Criminal Investigations, Special Operations, Professional Services and Emergency Management |
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Online reporting | Available for selected incidents without suspect information |
| Santa Monica Jail | Located within the Public Safety Facility |
| Los Angeles County inmate information | 213-473-6100 |
The department’s current organization includes the Office of the Chief plus Patrol Operations, Special Operations, Criminal Investigations, Professional Services and Emergency Management.
Santa Monica Police Department Address
The main police facility is:
- Public Safety Facility, 333 Olympic Drive, Santa Monica, California 90401
The Public Safety Facility contains police operations, administrative functions, Records, investigations and the Santa Monica Jail. Complaints and commendations can also be submitted at the first-floor front desk.
Residents may contact or visit SMPD for:
- Filing a delayed police report
- Requesting an available police report
- Asking about an existing investigation
- Submitting additional evidence
- Recovering property when authorized
- Making a complaint or commendation
- Asking about a person recently arrested
- Obtaining information about a traffic collision
The Watch Commander is available 24 hours a day at 310-458-8427 for appropriate police matters requiring supervisory assistance.
Santa Monica Police Beats and Patrol Operations
Santa Monica does not operate several traditional public precinct stations. Instead, the department uses geographic police beats and specialized deployment units.
SMPD’s community-policing program currently identifies four principal beats—Beat 1, Beat 2, Beat 3 and Beat 4. Neighborhood Resource Officers are assigned geographically and work with Crime Prevention Coordinators to address recurring concerns within their areas.
Neighborhood Resource Officers work with:
- Residents and neighbourhood associations
- Businesses
- Property managers
- Schools
- Community organizations
- Patrol officers
- Other city departments
The Community Affairs Unit can be contacted at 310-458-8474 and also offers crime-prevention assistance, including residential security assessments.
Patrol Operations Division
The Patrol Operations Division is responsible for frontline police services and currently includes:
- Uniformed Patrol
- Downtown Services Unit
- Harbor Services
- Public Services Downtown Unit
- Community Services Officers
- Field Training Officers
- Canine Program
Patrol officers respond to crimes, disturbances, traffic incidents and other calls for service. Their work may involve protecting victims, securing scenes, searching for suspects, interviewing witnesses and preparing initial reports.
Downtown Services Unit
Santa Monica gives additional policing attention to its busy downtown and visitor areas.
The Downtown Services Unit operates in locations such as:
- Third Street Promenade
- Santa Monica Place
- Downtown parking structures
- Palisades Park
- Tongva Park
- Reed Park
Under the city’s current Realignment Plan, SMPD expanded its downtown deployment with additional sworn officers and Public Safety Officers. A new police substation at Santa Monica Place is planned to open in fall 2026; as of August 2026, the city still describes it as an upcoming facility rather than an already-open permanent station.
Criminal Investigations Division
The Criminal Investigations Division (CID) handles cases requiring additional investigation beyond the initial patrol response.
The division oversees:
- Detective Bureau
- Forensics
- Police Records
- Property and Evidence
- Adult Diversion
- Juvenile Diversion
- Jail-related functions within its current command structure
Captain Thomas McLaughlin currently oversees CID, including Detectives, Records, Property/Evidence, Forensics and the Jail.
Detective investigations may involve:
- Homicide
- Robbery
- Serious assault
- Burglary
- Vehicle theft
- Sexual offences
- Domestic violence
- Crimes against children
- Fraud
- Organized retail theft
- Missing-person cases
- Other felony offences
Not every police report is automatically assigned to a detective. Factors such as the seriousness of the offence, suspect information, surveillance footage, physical evidence and available investigative leads can influence whether a case receives additional follow-up.
Special Operations Division
The Special Operations Division provides several specialized police services.
Its current responsibilities include:
- Traffic Services
- Traffic Enforcement
- Crime Impact Team
- Homeless Liaison Program
- Crisis Negotiations Team
- Special Weapons and Tactics
- Unmanned Aerial Systems
The Crime Impact Team conducts targeted enforcement in locations experiencing crime patterns or recurring public-safety problems.
The Homeless Liaison Program combines police response with outreach and coordination with service providers.
SMPD also uses unmanned aircraft during qualifying incidents and investigations.
SMART Center
One of the department’s newest resources is the Santa Monica Analytical Real-Time Center, or SMART Center, which became fully operational in April 2026.
The center integrates:
- City camera systems
- Live 911 information
- Drone as a First Responder operations
- Video analytics
- Real-time intelligence
- Regional information sharing
The system is designed to provide officers with faster information during incidents and to support investigations, crime prevention and coordinated responses.
Professional Services and Emergency Management
The Professional Services Division oversees:
- Custody and jail operations
- Event planning and intelligence
- Police technology
- Fleet management
- Animal Control
- Department budgeting
The Emergency Management Division includes Emergency Services and Preparedness and Public Safety Communications.
Public Safety Communications operates Santa Monica’s Police, Fire and EMS 911 dispatch center.
What County Is Santa Monica Police Department In?
The Santa Monica Police Department is located in Los Angeles County, California.
SMPD is a city police department and primarily has jurisdiction within Santa Monica’s municipal boundaries.
It is separate from:
- Los Angeles Police Department
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
- Culver City Police Department
- Beverly Hills Police Department
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department operates the county jail system and provides law-enforcement services in many unincorporated areas and contract cities.
An address near Santa Monica does not necessarily fall within SMPD jurisdiction. For example, neighbouring areas of Los Angeles may use similar mailing addresses but are served by LAPD. The exact incident location determines the responsible police agency.
Filing a Santa Monica Police Report
A police report may be initiated by:
- Calling 911 during an emergency
- Calling 310-458-8491 for a non-emergency
- Visiting the Public Safety Facility
- Using the online reporting system for an eligible incident
SMPD states that some crimes without suspect information can be filed online.
Online reporting should generally not be used when:
- The crime is still taking place
- Someone is injured or threatened
- A suspect remains nearby
- A firearm or another weapon is involved
- Physical evidence requires immediate collection
- Officers need to inspect the scene
- The incident occurred outside Santa Monica
When security-camera footage, a licence plate or other information may identify the suspect, contact police directly so the evidence can be properly incorporated into the investigation.
Keep the case number after a report is filed. It can be useful for insurance, records requests, evidence submission and communication with detectives.
Obtaining Police and Traffic Collision Reports
Police records can be requested through the SMPD Records Unit.
Santa Monica Police Department Records Unit
333 Olympic Drive
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Telephone: 310-458-8431
Police reports and traffic collision reports may be requested online, in person or by mail.
A requester should provide:
- Police case number
- Incident date
- Approximate time
- Incident location
- Names of involved people
- Type of record requested
- Contact information
- Proof of involvement when required
California law restricts the release of certain law-enforcement information. Reports may therefore contain redactions or may not be available while an investigation remains active.
For broader records—including extensive video, policies or other public documents—the city provides a Public Records Request Center. The city generally makes its initial determination about whether responsive records exist within 10 calendar days, although additional processing time may be necessary.
Property and Evidence
The Property/Evidence Unit operates under the Criminal Investigations Division and manages:
- Crime-scene evidence
- Recovered stolen property
- Found items
- Seized property
- Property held for safekeeping
- Items needed for court proceedings
Evidence connected with an active investigation usually cannot be returned until the responsible investigator or legal authority approves its release.
Anyone seeking property should have:
- Government-issued identification
- Police case number
- Proof of ownership
- Any release authorization provided by police
Calling the Records Unit or non-emergency line before visiting can help determine whether the property is ready for release.
Complaints About Santa Monica Police Employees
Complaints involving SMPD employees are handled through Internal Affairs.
Internal Affairs: 310-458-8480
Address: 333 Olympic Drive, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Complaints may be filed:
- Online
- In person
- By mail
A complainant does not need to have personally been involved in the incident; witnesses may also submit complaints. Knowing the officer’s name is not required. The date, time, location, badge number if available, police vehicle number and description of the incident can help identify the employee involved.
Internal Affairs investigates allegations of employee misconduct and manages the department’s disciplinary process. Completed investigations are reviewed through the department’s command structure and submitted to the police chief for evaluation.
Santa Monica Jail and Los Angeles County Custody
SMPD operates the Santa Monica Jail as part of its custody functions at the Public Safety Facility. People arrested by Santa Monica officers may be booked there while their case, bail, release or transfer is processed.
Depending on the circumstances, an arrested person may later be transferred into the Los Angeles County jail system.
After a transfer, inmate information is handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Los Angeles County Inmate Information:
213-473-6100
The Sheriff’s Department, rather than SMPD, should be contacted for custody information once a detainee has entered the county jail system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the Santa Monica Police non-emergency number?
Call 310-458-8491 for police matters that do not require an immediate emergency response. The line is available 24 hours a day.
Q2. How many Santa Monica police beats are there?
SMPD’s community-policing structure currently uses four geographic beats, with Neighborhood Resource Officers assigned to individual areas.
Q3. Who is the current Santa Monica police chief?
Darrick Jacob is the current chief of the Santa Monica Police Department. Current city materials and July 2026 police releases identify him as Police Chief.
Q4. Does Santa Monica Police operate its own jail?
Yes. SMPD operates the Santa Monica Jail for booking and custody. People requiring continued detention may later be transferred into the Los Angeles County jail system.