Full Notification

One of the goals of the Police Department is to make the City of Los Banos a safe community for those who live here. To accomplish this goal, citizens must be involved.

“A resident’s participation in our efforts to reduce crime could have an incredible effect. Immediately reporting criminal or suspicious activity will increase our chances of a successful investigation; and when we are able to take a dangerous person off the streets or return personal property to its rightful owner, it’s been a very successful and satisfying day.”

-Gary Brizzee, Chief of Police

Your participation comes in many forms, whether you dial 911 to report a crime in progress, or otherwise contact the Department to report a neighborhood quality of life issue.

“We know some in our community are reluctant to provide their personal information when contacting the police. When you call, our staff is trained to ask for your name and other personal information and providing it is extremely helpful; I hope you consider doing that. But, if the alternative is you don’t call because of that reluctance; our chances of success are reduced. I encourage you to call and to be detailed in what you are reporting; and when you are asked to provide your information, respectfully request to remain anonymous. Doing that still provides us potentially valuable information and respects your anonymity.”

-Gary Brizzee, Chief of Police

There are a number of ways to contact the Department:

-Dialing 911 to report a crime or other emergency will put you in direct contact with Los Banos Police Dispatchers.

-www.losbanos.org allows you to report crime and other activity anonymously. Click on the picture of youth painting graffiti on the City homepage and you’ll be sent to an anonymous email service.

-Call the Department, (209) 827 7070 ext. 288 and leave an anonymous message.

-At the Police Department’s webpage, look for “police contacts.” On that page the Department maintains a list of emails and telephone numbers for a wide range of Department personnel and services.

-The Department has a Facebook and Twitter account that you can leave a message at.

-The Department is a member agency of the Merced Area Crime Stoppers. Contact them via internet at: www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org by telephone at: 1-855-725-2420.

“What you report is really up to you; during an emergency always dial 911! But, abandoned vehicles on your block are an eye sore that we can help with. A home that seems to have an unusually high amount of people coming and going; homes with loud music…you name it, you can report it. The most important part of our message is that if you have something to say, we want to hear from you.”

-Jason Hedden, Administrative Commander

Your involvement doesn’t need to stop there. Get a group of neighbors together to form a Neighborhood Watch group.

Become a Police volunteer. The Department maintains two great volunteer groups dedicated to the betterment of our community. Volunteers Interacting to Advance Law Enforcement (VITAL) are an outstanding group of residents who assist in the day to day operations at the Department. They assist with parades, road closures, filing, parking lot and park patrols, abandoned vehicle patrol and garage sale sign removal.

Our Animal Control volunteer group, the Los Banos Volunteers for Animals, is an amazing group of individuals dedicated to the treatment and care of our community’s animal population.

Applications for both groups can be picked up in the lobby of the Police Department or you can learn more about volunteering or Neighborhood Watch by contacting the Departments Community Policing/PAL Officer, Noah Jones, at (209) 827 0603.

The goal is to create a safe and attractive environment for our residents. Crime and neighborhood quality of life issues are important so make one of your 2014 resolutions to become more involved in your community.