West Covina Police Department

Resouces

WEST COVINA POLICY DEPARTMENT POLICY

The West Covina Police Department Policy Manual is available on this website for public review.  Please note, the West Covina Police Department Policy Manual is a living document, which is subject to regular revisions and updates based on legislative changes, case law, and identified best practices. The online version of this manual posted on the West Covina Police Department website will be reviewed annually to ensure any revisions/updates from the previous year are contained in the online version.

 

Please note, some items have been redacted because they are either privileged, confidential, and/or otherwise exempt from disclosure under provisions of the Public Records Act or pursuant to applicable federal or state law, per California Government Code Sections 6254(b), 6254(c), 6254(f), 6254(k), and 6255.

 

The vast majority of the training completed by this agency is approved through the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), which maintains training outlines for all law enforcement agencies in the State of California.  Additional information can be found by visiting the POST website.

MILITARY EQUIPMENT

As of January 1, 2022, Government Codes § 7070, § 7071, and § 7072 require each law enforcement agency’s governing body to adopt a written military equipment use policy by ordinance in a public forum, in order to continue the use of the acquired military equipment. The West Covina Police Department is providing the following information to our community:

  • Establish a concern or complaint process. The West Covina Police Department always has had a means for the public to submit complaints online or in person. Further information is also available by viewing the West Covina Police Department Policy Manual, specifically the Personnel Complaints Section.
  • Members of the public may also register complaints or concerns or submit questions about the use of each specific type of military equipment by contacting the Military Equipment Coordinator via email.  These complaints, concerns, or questions will be promptly responded to absent extraordinary circumstances.
  • Prepare an Annual Report to include the use of military equipment, any complaints received, any internal audits or other information about violations of the West Covina Police Department Military Policy §715, the cost of such use, and other similar information. This webpage will be utilized for the distribution of any updates to the above materials as well as the Military Equipment Annual Report.

 

The current policy was approved by City Council under Ordinance 2516 on September 5, 2023.


ANNUAL REPORT

The Annual Report was provided to City Council at the June 20, 2023 council meeting. The West Covina Police Department held a community meeting on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, to discuss the 2022 Annual Report.

AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE RECOGNITION (ALPR)

The West Covina Police Department utilizes 30 automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras in strategic areas around our community to solve and reduce crime. The cameras are built by Flock Safety, a public safety technology company that helps neighborhoods, communities, and law enforcement work together to fight crime.

Flock Safety ALPR cameras help law enforcement investigate crime by providing objective evidence. They capture license plates and vehicle characteristics, not people or faces.

 

To proactively prevent crime from occurring in West Covina, the cameras send a real-time alert to law enforcement when a stolen car or known wanted suspect from a state or national crime database enters our jurisdiction. They can also send alerts if a vehicle associated with a missing person is detected.

 

The West Covina Department will maintain an updated policy around the usage of the ALPR system. Each search requires a justification, and the data is never sold or shared with third parties. The cameras will be used to solve and reduce property and violent crime and are not intended for minor traffic or parking violations.

 

Additional details can be located on our Flock Safety Transparency Portal