Montebello Police Department

If the Montebello Police Department has arrested or is investigating you, one of your family members or a loved one, you need to know the bail amount associated with the offense is an “own recognizance” (OR) release is not offered, the legal and factual requirements 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 for one to know a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement.  It can be useful to know the size of the police department, the city’s demographics, the most frequent 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 Montebello Police Department has seventy-four full-time, sworn police officers, ten reserve officers and 28 personnel staff working to keep law and order in Montebello, a city of 8.37 square miles and a population of 62,623 according to the 2020 U.S. Census.  This is a relatively crowded, or densely populated city, particularly since it is about eight miles away from downtown Los Angeles.

It is surrounded by East Los Angeles to the west, Pico Rivera to the east, Commerce to the south and Monterrey Park and Rosemead to the north.

As of the 2010 U.S. Census, when the population was roughly 60,000 inhabitants, the racial makeup of Montebello was 33,633 (53.8%) White, 567 (0.9%) African American and 6,850 (11.0%) Asian.  Hispanic or Latino of any race was attributed to 49,578 persons (79.3%).

Ethnic Latinos, mostly Mexican Americans, make up the predominant group of residents in the city.  Montebello borders East Los Angeles, which is well known for its Mexican American history and culture.

75.6% of the population speaks a language other than English in the home. 

According to the 2010 United States Census, Montebello had a median household income of $47,488, with 15.4% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

The Armenian Martyrs Monument at Bicknell Park in Montebello, commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Turks, is the largest monument found on public property in the World.  After World War 2, many Japanese citizens who lost their homes after being relocated to internment camps, settled in Montebello.  Today, there is still a large Japanese population (11%) in Montebello.

According to Neighborhood Scout, “With a crime rate of thirty-five per one thousand residents, Montebello has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities.  One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in twenty-nine.  Within California, more than 89% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Montebello.”

For violent crimes, Neighborhood Scout found that the violent crime rate is Montebello is one of the highest in the nation, across communities of all sizes (both large and small).  Violent offenses tracked included rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, including assault with a deadly weapon.  According to Neighborhood Scout's analysis of FBI reported crime data, one’s chance of becoming a victim of one of these crimes in Montebello is one in 183.

In addition, Neighborhood Scout found that a lot of the crime that takes place in Montebello is property crime.  Property crimes include burglary, larceny over fifty dollars, motor vehicle theft, and arson. 

Importantly, Neighborhood Scout found that Montebello has one of the highest rates of motor vehicle theft in the nation according to FBI crime data.  This is compared to communities of all sizes, from the smallest to the largest. In fact, your chance of getting your car stolen if you live in Montebello is one in ninety-nine.

Southside Montebello is one of more prominent criminal street gangs known in Montebello.  It is affiliated with the Mexican-Mafia.  Another visible gang, Varrio Nuevo Estrada, can also be seen in Montebello.  It formed in the housing project community of Estrada Court in Boyle Heights after the government relocated many poor families into the area in the early 1940’s.  Today VNE is still one of the most prominent Hispanic gangs in eastside of Los Angeles, including in Montebello.

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 Montebello Police Department.