Palos Verdes Estates Police Department

If the Palos Verdes Estates (PVE) Police Department has arrested or is investigating one of your family members, a loved one or even you, you need to know the bail amount (if any) associated with the offense (if an own recognizance (OR) release is denied), the legal and factual requirements to convict one for the crime or crimes 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 useful to know the size of the police or sheriff’s department, the city’s general 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 PVE Police Department has twenty-five sworn police officers plus about ten more professional non-sworn staff personnel responsible for enforcing laws and public safety in Palos Verdes Estates, a city of 13,347 (as of the 2020 census) in 4.77 square miles.

Patrolling the city and preventing crime is made somewhat easy by the geography and the road system.  To the west of the city lies the Pacific Ocean, preventing ingress and egress from the west of city by one in a car.  To the north of the city, there really is just one road entering the city and to the east, there are two or three (if one really knows the smaller streets).  To the south of the city, there is only one road, so police can “seal off” the city and monitor those who enter and leave it easily.

As of the 2010 census, the racial makeup of Palos Verdes Estates was 77.0% White (73.4% Non-Hispanic White), 1.2% African American, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.3 % Asian, and 3.6% from two or more races.  According to the 2010-2014 U.S. Census, the median income for a household in Palos Verdes Estates was $171,328.

Many residents are attracted to the area for its excellent schools and small-town “feel,” with youth sports being a big part of the town’s culture.

According to Neighborhood Scout, Palos Verdes Estates has an overall crime rate of 11 per 1,000 residents, making the crime rate here near the average (not below average as might be expected) for all cities and towns of all sizes in America. 

Our office has represented dozens of clients in criminal cases arising in Palos Verdes Estates.  Most have been DUI’s, although there have been a variety of other crimes such as residential burglary, commercial burglary, shoplifting, possession of a controlled substance, public intoxication, trespassing and domestic violence.  We have handled many juvenile cases arising out of Palos Verdes Estates.

Neighborhood Scout also found that the violent crime rate for Palos Verdes Estates is well below the national average for all communities of all population sizes.  Violent crimes such as assault, rape, murder and armed robbery happen less often in Palos Verdes Estates than in most of America.  One's chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime here is one in 3198, which is a violent crime rate of 0 per one thousand inhabitants.

Neighborhood Scout's analysis also reveals that Palos Verdes Estates' rate for property crime is 11 per one thousand population.  This surprisingly makes Palos Verdes Estates a place where there is an above average chance of becoming a victim of a property crime, when compared to all other communities in America of all population sizes. Property crimes are motor vehicle theft, arson, larceny, and burglary.  One’s chance of becoming a victim of any of these crimes in Palos Verdes Estates is one in 91.

“Localism,” or sometimes referred to as territorialism, is considered a problem in Palos Verdes Estates.  This is occasionally reported as an act of intimidation or dissuasion on the part of locals targeting out-of-town surfers to prevent them from surfing local waters.  Or, there may be acts of vandalism to vehicles, personal property, etc., for the purpose of driving out-of-area guests away from the coastal areas.  It has long been associated with Lunada Bay and a few other less popular breaks and even Bluff Cove.  It has decreased in recent years due to the availability of cell phones to record such conduct and report it immediately, but it still exists in certain areas and most likely, sadly, will continue for years to come.

For more information about being arrested and possibly facing a criminal case, please click on the following articles: