Santa Monica Police Department
If the Santa Monica Police Department has arrested or is investigating a loved one, a family member or even you, most people need to know the bail amount (if any) associated with the offense (if an own recognizance (OR) release is denied), the evidence 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 also helpful to know a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement. It can be valuable, for example, to know the size of the police or sheriff’s department, the city’s demographics, the most common types of crime the department investigates and just a bit about the city’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 perspective.
This article is presented with this goal in mind.
The Santa Monica police department is staffed by 233 sworn officers and 250 support personnel, making it one of the largest police departments in Los Angeles County (similar in size to the Long Beach Police Department). Santa Monica has a population of 93,076 as of 2022 and is spread out over sixteen square miles.
The jail at the Santa Monica Police Department is extremely large, as it can hold up to 112 people.
Santa Monica is perhaps most well known for its pier with its shops, as seen in dozens of movies, as well as the Third Street Promenade, a shopping heaven for some. To those who live in Los Angeles County, Santa Monica is also known for its large homeless population.
As of 2010, the racial makeup of Santa Monica was 77.6% White (70.1% Non-Hispanic White), 3.9% African American, 9.0% Asian, and 13.1% Hispanic or Latino.
Our office has handled dozens of criminal cases arising in Santa Monica, which now are filed at the Airport Courthouse (more serious cases are filed in downtown Los Angeles at the Clara Shortridge Foltz criminal courts building), ranging from felony DUI’’s to misdemeanor domestic violence, to grand theft, to possession of a controlled substance, to public intoxication to public urination.
The City of Santa Monica has its own City Attorney office that prosecutes most misdemeanors. Felonies arising in Santa Monica are handled by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The City of Santa Monica has a long history of challenging legal boundaries. The Roaring Twenties and the Depression brought about the challenges associated with homelessness and illegal alcohol production. During the 1930’s, a variety of gambling barges were anchored off the coast, including Redondo Beach and Santa Monica. Many of these barges were controlled by the mob. It was not until 1939 when state attorney general Earl Warren led the fight in the courts and won a ruling outlawing the gambling barges.
More recently, gangs from neighboring cities such as Venice to the southern border of Santa Monica have become more visible. For example, the Venice 13 gang, abbreviated as V13 or VX3, has been active in Santa Monica for years. It has been described as a Mexican American street gang based in the Oakwood (aka "Ghost Town") neighborhood of Venice. It has a substantial presence in East Venice as well as the Culver City / Los Angeles border, especially around Washington Blvd.
The gang dates back to the 1960s, and has long been known as one of the most dangerous street gangs on the Los Angeles Westside. It was amongst the first Mexican gangs to fight gang wars against African-American gangs, especially the local Venice Shoreline Crips which were founded in the mid-1970’s. Venice 13 is affiliated with the Sureños and the Mexican Mafia.
Santa Monica 13 or SMG is another Mexican-American street gang located in Santa Monica. They reside mainly in the Pico neighborhood. Even though Santa Monica 13 is a Sureño gang, they wear their traditional black bandanas. The acronym SM17 refers to Santa Monica 17th Street, which is the gang's primary subset or "clique." They write up "SMG" or "Santa Monica Gang" to show solidarity.
The only active clique remaining in the 17th Street gang are the "Pee Wee Locos", and the only active remaining clique of Santa Monica 13 are the "Little Locos." Other cliques have come and gone over time, including the 11th Street Chavos, 17th Street Tiny Locos, 17th Street Locas, 20th Streeters, 21st. Deadend Winos, Midget Locos and the Crickets.
Santa Monica Police Department
333 Olympic Drive
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Los Angeles County
Kenneth Semko, Interim Police Chief
(310) 458-8491
Dispatch
(310) 395-9931
General Information
police@smgov.net
General E-mail
For more information about being arrested and possibly facing a criminal case, please click on the following articles:
Below is the Google Map to the Santa Monica Police Department.
Client Reviews
★★★★★
"Thank you so much for putting so much effort in this case. We really appreciate it and we are happy that all turned out well." S.A., Torrance
★★★★★
"Greg Hill did an outstanding job on every level. He was efficient, thorough, knowledgeable, courteous, responsive & brilliant. He welcomed my input and my concerns. . . from the first conversation to the last - I always felt 'it mattered' to him." S.C., Rolling Hills Estates
★★★★★
"Thanks again for your hard work. We want you to know that we are very appreciative of all that you have done [on our son's] behalf. With warmest regards." L.H., Torrance
★★★★★
"Dear Greg, Thank you again for all your help. Your professionalism and thoroughness is greatly admired. I will definitely recommend you to my friends if they ever need legal help." V.L., Carson
★★★★★
"Thanks for investing in my case. I talked to other attorneys out there and they had an arms-length of attitude, but not you. Your intensity and interest helped a lot." C.R., Pomona