LAPD - Van Nuys Station

If you, a loved one or a family member has been arrested by or is being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Van Nuys Division, it can cause a lot of stress. Facing such a situation, one will want to know the bail amount (if any) associated with the offense if police deny an own recognizance (OR) release. It is also common to ask what evidence is needed to convict one for the crime that allegedly took place, the defenses possible and the sentence a judge can impose if one is convicted of the crime.

We at Greg Hill & Associates believe it is important to know a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement. It can be wise to know the size of the police or sheriff’s department, the area’s demographics, the most common types of crime the department investigates and just a bit about the area’s history to make one’s communication with law enforcement more meaningful, more savvy and perhaps, more respectful. This can lead to a better outcome than if one lacks such insight.

This article is presented with this goal in mind.

The LAPD Van Nuys Division was originally just called the “Valley Division.” It is responsible for a population close to 325,000 in the cities of Van Nuys (165,000 people) and Sherman Oaks (52,000 people as of the year 2000) over an area of approximately 30 square miles. The area is bounded by the I-405 (San Diego Freeway) to the west, Raymer Street to the North, the Santa Monica Mountains to the south and Tujunga Wash to the east.

The station has 217 sworn personnel and an undisclosed number of civilian personnel, which seems quite low for such a large area to patrol. However, patrols in the area, at least along the I-405 (San Diego) Freeway and along U.S. 101 are handled mostly by the California Highway Patrol.

Van Nuys is known for the Van Nuys Airport, the Van Nuys Courthouse and Van Nuys Boulevard, which cuts through Van Nuy’s mostly “blue collar” neighborhood. Fifteen percent of Van Nuys residents aged 25 and older had earned a four-year degree by 2000, an average figure for both the city and the county, but the percentage of the same-age residents who had less than a high-school diploma (43.1%) was high for Los Angeles.

Van Nuys is considered "moderately diverse" ethnically within Los Angeles. The breakdown was 60.5% Hispanic, 23.1% White, 6.4% Asian, 6% African American and others, 4%. Mexico (41.5%) and El Salvador (17.3%) were the most common places of birth for the 49.8% of the residents who were born abroad—a high percentage for Los Angeles. There were 4,917 families headed by single parents or 21.3%, considered high for both the city and the county.

Violent crime in Van Nuys is generally higher than in Los Angeles, although the overall crime rate is lower. Our office has represented, over the last 25 years, many folks accused of crimes taking place in Van Nuys, particularly DUI along the 101 and 405 Freeways, prostitution along Sepulveda Boulevard, domestic violence, shoplifting and other crimes.

Sherman Oaks’ racial makeup as of 2010, was 82% non-Hispanic white, 5% Asian American and 3% African American; 11% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Iran (14.1%) and Mexico (8.8%) were the most common places of birth for the 26.2% of the residents who were born abroad—an average percentage for Los Angeles. The neighborhood had a median household income of $69,651 in 2008, which was high for the city of Los Angeles but about average for the county as a whole. Median household income reports the amount of money earned by the household that falls exactly in the middle of the pack. The percentage of households that earned $125,000 and up was high for Los Angeles County.

Many celebrities live in Sherman Oaks, or have lived there, including Paula Abdul, Clint Eastwood, Jennifer Anniston, James Dean, Yasiel Puig (baseball player, formerly on the Dodgers) and Charlie Sheen.

Below is the Google Map to the LAPD Van Nuys Station.