Santa Monica police had their hands full during the week of May 31 through June 6, logging 98 arrests and responding to 2,652 calls for service, according to city reporting. In just seven days, routine traffic stops turned into drug and weapons seizures, an inventory search uncovered a stash of forged IDs, and officers split their time between downtown enforcement and homeless outreach.
Proactive Policing Drove A Big Share Of Activity
The department's weekly report shows that officer-initiated contacts made up 1,394 of the week's responses, or about 53% of total activity. Year-to-date arrests stood at 2,281, a 71.8% increase from the same point in 2025. Traffic enforcement was steady too, with 316 stops that resulted in 188 citations and 123 advisals. Meanwhile, the Homeless Liaison Program handled 231 radio calls, made 20 arrests and referred four individuals to the SAMO Bridge shelter, according to Santa Monica Daily Press.
Traffic Stops Turned Up Drugs, Forged IDs And A Loaded Gun
One traffic stop on Ocean Avenue at Broadway escalated into a full inventory search that uncovered ketamine and what the weekly report described as "approximately 30 forged documents," including driver's licenses and Social Security cards. The driver was booked on forgery, identity theft and narcotics charges. On Bay Street, a separate stop led officers to a concealed, loaded firearm inside a vehicle, and two drivers were arrested on DUI allegations during the same week, the report notes, per Santa Monica Daily Press.
Homeless Outreach And Downtown Coordination
Beyond arrests and traffic work, SMPD highlighted its Homeless Liaison Program, which reported sustained engagement with a person who had repeatedly declined services but ultimately accepted housing assistance. Supervisors also met with the city attorney's office, Downtown Santa Monica Inc., Block by Block and consulate representatives to coordinate help for foreign nationals. The department publishes weekly recaps, known as the "Blue Notebook," on the city's site for residents who want a deeper dive, per SMPD Blue Notebook.
Downtown Arrests, Arson Case And Community Events
Downtown Services Unit officers arrested a suspect accused of putting a victim in a chokehold during a domestic-violence response. On the 2500 block of Main Street, officers arrested a man on suspicion of arson after an alleged shopping-cart fire near a business. The week was not all crime and crisis, though. SMPD also pointed to community outreach, including youth programming at Virginia Park and a sidewalk CPR demonstration on the Santa Monica Pier, in its weekly summary.
Legal Note
Arrests and bookings are initial steps in the criminal process and do not equal convictions. The Santa Monica Police Department's weekly recaps list what officers booked at intake. Criminal charges, filings and case outcomes are ultimately determined by prosecutors and the courts.
