If the Sierra Madre Police Department has arrested or is investigating a family member, you or a loved one, it is common to 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 prudent to know a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement. It can be helpful 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 Sierra Madre police department is staffed by seventeen sworn officers and five non-sworn support personnel. Sierra Madre city has a population of 11,268 as of 2020 census and is spread out over 2.96 square miles. It is one of the smallest police departments within Los Angeles County.
In the late 1980’s and 1990’s, Sierra Madre was praised as the safest city in Los Angeles County while the City of Los Angeles was experiencing a drug fueled crime wave. As of 2014 it continued to be one of the safest cities in the county, which crime trend experts have attributed to inaccessibility and a primarily single-family population.
Wikipedia mentions, in describing the criminal history of Sierra Madre, that In June 2014, two men were caught by the Sierra Madre Police at a local Valero station while they were attempting to install a credit card skimming device. The crime was investigated by the department's one sworn detective who is responsible for investigating all crimes that cannot be investigated by the patrol division.
The racial makeup of Sierra Madre, as of 2020, was 82.1% White (72.3% Non-Hispanic White), 1.8% African American, 7.6% Asian and 14.9% Hispanic or Latino.
During 2009–2013, Sierra Madre had a median household income of $88,837, with 8.3% of the population living below the federal poverty line.
In 1908, the first Mt. Wilson Trail Race was run. This annual race was discontinued during WWII and reestablished in 1966. Greg Hill from our office has run this race. It is a lot of fun and it is quite different than a traditional 5K or 10K along city streets.
The 102nd anniversary of the first running of the Mount Wilson Trail Race and the 44th annual race was run in May 2010. Because of rain, mudslides, falling trees, soil erosion and rockslides, the regularly monitored trail course changes almost every year, and no official records of running times are kept. The 8.6-mile (13.8 km) course starts and ends on pavement, but most of the race is run on a dirt path about three feet (0.91 m) wide, and the Mt. Wilson Trail has occasional steep vertical drops of hundreds of feet. Due to the trail's narrowness and steepness, the race is limited to three hundred male and three hundred female runners. The path gains elevation to more than 2,100 feet (640 m); at 4.3 miles (6.9 km) from the start of the race is Orchard Camp, the turnaround point. Scout troops hike up to provide water at two locations, at the 2.3-mile (3.7 km) point and at the Orchard Camp turnaround. The Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team provides emergency support on race day. The Mt. Wilson Trail Race has traditional and historical value to the community.
Sierra Madre is considering contracting out law enforcement and paramedic services. The City Council authorized a formal request to Arcadia, Pasadena, and LA County on Tuesday July 14, 2009, at the City Council meeting, but this request was denied.
Sierra Madre Police Department
242 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.
Sierra Madre, CA 91024
Los Angeles County
Joe Ortiz, Chief of Police
(626) 355-1414
Non-Emergency Calls
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 Sierra Madre Police Department.