Full Notification

The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) will increase patrols at Costa Mesa school campuses until the end of the school year. Though there is no information of a threat in any Costa Mesa school, CMPD received input from the community requesting increased police presence and will be able to provide extra patrols with the assistance from the Mayor, the City Council, the City Manager, in coordination with Newport Mesa Unified School District. Below are statements from City leaders.
 
John Stephens, Costa Mesa City Mayor:
 
“The senseless loss of innocent lives in Uvalde, Texas, is heartbreaking and tragic.  While we wait for Congress to take action to address gun violence, the City of Costa Mesa, through our Police Department, is committed to working with the school district to prioritize student safety for the rest of the school year and going forward.”
 
Ron Lawrence, Chief of Police:
 
“As law enforcement officers, who are also parents and family members to young students, we take situations such as what happened in Texas seriously and work to take immediate action in our own community. Upon learning of this tragedy, we immediately assigned extra police officers to provide high-visibility patrols to Costa Mesa campuses including high schools and elementary schools for the remainder of the school year.
 
“We want our Costa Mesa families to know we are doing everything we can to make sure students are safe in their school seats and playgrounds. Our School Resource Officers (SROs) are stationed year-round at Costa Mesa High School and Estancia High School, and also visit neighboring elementary schools. SROs work tirelessly to maintain safe campuses in Costa Mesa. Their presence is a reassurance that they are there to help and keep students safe.”
 
Lori Ann Farrell Harrison, Costa Mesa City Manager:
 
“The frequency of these mass shootings is heartbreaking. Schools should be a safe haven for our children to learn and increasingly, they are not. I am committed to working with Mayor Stephens, our City Council, and Police Chief Lawrence on both short-term and long-term solutions to this crisis.”