Palm Springs secures more than $4 million to combat organized retail crime
In a landmark development, Governor Newsom unveiled today the largest-ever single investment to combat organized retail crime, with over $267 million allocated to law enforcement agencies across the state. Palm Springs emerged as a significant beneficiary of this financial injection, receiving about $4.5 million to tackle the rising tide of retail theft within the city.
"It's an amazing amount of money for us to try to prevent and reduce retail theft in the city of Palm Springs," said Palm Springs Police Chief Andrew Mills.
Retail theft has become an increasingly pressing issue in California, with brazen incidents plaguing communities. An attempted smash-and-grab in downtown Palm Springs last month served as a stark reminder of the urgency of the situation.
Chief Mills emphasized that the goal is not merely responding to these crimes but preventing them altogether. The allocated funds will be put to work in various ways, such as equipping businesses with live-feed video cameras and reinforcing windows with 3M tape to deter theft attempts.
The decision to award Palm Springs $4.56 million was unanimously approved by the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BCSS) during its meeting Thursday at the Palm Springs Police Training Center. Nearly $270 million was disbursed in total to 55 law enforcement agencies across the state.
Linda Penner, Chair of the Board of State Community Corrections, emphasized the state's commitment to addressing the escalating issues of retail crime. "The state realizes there are issues out there, and the governor wanted them addressed. When this money came our way, we were as expedient as possible to get it out in a competitive process," she said.
Palm Springs proved competitive enough in its grant application to secure this crucial funding, offering hope for a significant reduction in retail theft.
Once the funds are received, the Palm Springs Police Department plans to swiftly collaborate with local businesses and the community to implement preventive measures. This process is anticipated to span approximately three years, during which time the city aims to effectively curtail organized retail crime.
