After a nearly two-decade-long absence, the Carlsbad Police Department is bringing back a dedicated team of proactive policing officers who will focus on identifying criminal trends and working with the community to solve them.
The officers will be assigned to different parts of the city and will work to address issues such as recurring calls for service, nuisance properties, neighborhood disputes and other ongoing community concerns. Officials said they have begun the process of immediately recruiting for six new full-time positions to staff the team.
“By assigning officers specifically to this work, the Police Department will be able to more consistently address recurring issues, develop long-term solutions and expand outreach with community members,” city officials said. “The change will also help patrol officers focus on responding to calls for service, supporting the department’s efforts to improve response times.”
Departments across the country widely embraced the philosophy of community-oriented policing and problem-solving, known as COPPS for short, decades ago. Dedicated teams were added to departments, but over time, many were slowly disbanded as resources were allocated elsewhere, often to fill patrol roles.
Carlsbad disbanded its COPPS team about 15 years ago to make up for other operational needs, while still practicing community-oriented policing principles, officials said.
According to the most recent data available, overall crime in 2024 dipped 11% compared to the previous year, with 37.22 crimes reported per 1,000 residents.
“Establishing a COPPS team now allows the department to formalize and strengthen those efforts,” said Denise Ramirez, a spokesperson for the department. “With increasing demands for service and high community expectations, having officers specifically assigned to community engagement, problem-solving and long-term issue resolution helps ensure these priorities remain consistent and sustained.”
The team will also play a key role in building relationships with residents, businesses, schools and community organizations, officials said.
In San Diego County, most law enforcement agencies already have dedicated COPPS teams or officers focused on community engagement and crime prevention.
“Establishing a COPPS team brings the department in line with regional best practices and reflects a broader trend toward proactive policing strategies that focus on collaboration, prevention and addressing the root causes of recurring issues rather than relying solely on enforcement,” Ramirez said.
On March 24, the City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the six additional full-time positions and $684,350 in additional appropriations to the police department from the General Fund’s fiscal 2026 operating budget. To support this, $2.9 million is being reallocated from the General Fund’s Asset Replacement Reserve.
The six team members will bring the city’s total number of sworn officers to 143.
The officers will begin by identifying patterns and underlying causes and will work toward long-term solutions to reduce repeat incidents and improve overall safety, Ramirez said.
In addition, the team will support community meetings, special events and protest planning, helping ensure these events are managed safely while allowing patrol officers to remain available for emergency calls.
Officials said the new team is part of a broader, multi-year staffing plan presented to the City Council in 2025, which identified the need for additional personnel to address increasing service demands and operational needs.