April mayor’s corner: mayor lauren kleiman

Strong Leadership Equals a Safer Newport

Public safety continues to be a priority for the City of Newport Beach, which is why we proudly promoted David Miner to be the Chief of Police last year. Chief Miner began his career with the City in 2002 and, throughout his tenure, served as a patrol officer, field training officer, member of SWAT and detective. His broad experience provides strong institutional knowledge and steady direction for the Department. Under his leadership, the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) has reached an important milestone. For the first time in seven years, NBPD is fully staffed, with more than 230 dedicated team members serving the community. Achieving full staffing strengthens our ability to provide rapid response, proactive patrols, specialized enforcement and community-focused policing citywide. This City Council’s support for the men and women of the Department ensures that they have the resources they need to succeed, which also bolsters retention and recruitment.

Our commitment and support is reflected in measurable results. Over the past year, overall crime in Newport Beach decreased by 12.7%, with property crime down by 13% and burglaries reduced by 16%. These reductions demonstrate the effectiveness of proactive policing combined with technology tools, such as Flock license-plate-reading cameras, and strong regional partnerships. The cameras have proven to be a valuable investigative tool, assisting NBPD in identifying stolen vehicles, locating suspect vehicles involved in crimes and supporting timely arrests and vehicle recovery. In multiple cases, real-time alerts have allowed
officers to quickly locate stolen vehicles and apprehend suspects, significantly reducing response times and increasing recovery rates.

Last month, NBPD and the Los Angeles Police Department arrested four suspects connected to a transnational residential burglary investigation impacting Newport Beach. This collaboration highlights the importance of coordinated efforts to disrupt organized crime and protect our neighborhoods. The Department also conducts enforcement operations to address quality-of-life concerns raised by the community. For example, motor officers performed regular directed enforcement targeting loud or unreasonable vehicle exhaust, and related modifications. In January, alone, 160 citations were issued for excessive noise, modified exhaust systems and altered smog system violations. Over the past 18 months, officers have issued more than 1,000 citations related to these offenses.

Lastly, the City has made significant progress in reducing our homeless population through coordinated outreach and engagement, with the help of our NBPD Homeless Liaison Officers. In 2022, the city’s Point in Time count was 95, and I am pleased to share that last month’s updated count was just six.

We are now preparing for the crowds that come with the warmer weather and holiday breaks. The Council has approved updates to our Safety Enhancement Zones Expansion and Enforcement Ordinance. The revised ordinance builds on the existing approach to impose stricter penalties and strengthen short-term lodging regulations during Spring Break, Memorial Day, Labor Day and the Fourth of July in beach areas,
to reduce disruptive behavior and maintain public safety.

I am proud of the professionalism and dedication demonstrated by the Newport Beach Police Department each day. We will continue to support their efforts and invest in strategies that keep Newport Beach one of the safest communities in California.

Warmly,

Mayor Lauren Kleiman

 IG: lauren4newport
Email: lauren@lauren4newport.com

Mayor Lauren Kleiman is serving her first term as Mayor of Newport Beach