Buena Park crime rate drops 15% to 20% in first half of year

Police officer writing notes on a clipboard beside a patrol vehicle

Buena Park’s overall crime rate fell by up to 20% in the first half of the year, police told the City Council. While major property crimes dropped and response times improved, officials expressed concern over rising robberies and sexual assaults.

Buena Park’s overall crime rate dropped between 15% and 20% during the first half of this year, aligning with broader regional and statewide trends, according to data presented to the City Council by Interim Police Chief Bradley Geyer.

The city’s Part 1 crime rate—which tracks major property and violent offenses including homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, and vehicle theft—currently stands at roughly 10 incidents per 1,000 residents. Geyer projects that rate will reach approximately 20 per 1,000 residents by the end of the year, putting Buena Park close to national averages. The city currently sits slightly above the national average for property crimes and slightly below for violent crimes.

Data comparing the first six months of this year to the same period in 2025 shows:

* **Larceny-theft:** 637 incidents, up from 623

* **Stolen vehicles:** 88, down from 125

* **Burglaries:** 48, down from 83

* **Aggravated assaults:** 39, down from 57

* **Robberies:** 34, up from 20

* **Rapes:** 14, up from 8

Geographically, District 3 recorded the highest volume of Part 1 crimes, logging 240 incidents in the first six months of the year. Represented by Councilwoman Susan Sonne, the district encompasses Knott’s Berry Farm and a major corridor of Beach Boulevard.

The department also reported faster response times for urgent calls. Average emergency response times for priority-one calls requiring lights and sirens decreased by 20 seconds, dropping to 3 minutes and 20 seconds from 3 minutes and 42 seconds during the same timeframe last year.

The public briefing was requested by Councilwoman Joyce Ahn, who asked the police chief to provide regular updates to the council. Ahn stressed the importance of tracking local crime patterns and showing how revenue from Measure R is being spent. Passed by voters roughly two years ago, the 1% sales tax increase generates approximately $20 million annually for public safety and property crime prevention.

Law enforcement remains the single largest expense in the city's general fund. In the adopted budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year, roughly 42% of Buena Park’s more than $100 million general fund is designated for the police department. The general fund serves as the main operating pool for primary municipal services, including fire, libraries, parks, and recreation.

Councilman Carlos Franco suggested making crime statistics easier for residents to review directly online. While the department maintains an interactive neighborhood crime map and publishes Part 1 stats on its website, the posted statistics only covered through the first quarter of 2026 as of Wednesday morning. Police are slated to deliver a full crime presentation to the council in October.

Council members also pressed police leadership on specific offense categories during the meeting. Addressing vehicle thefts, Geyer noted that catching car thieves in the act is difficult, relying heavily on targeted surveillance, fingerprints, and DNA evidence. He added that residents frequently leave valuables inside unlocked cars, though the department's dedicated auto theft detective successfully recovers the majority of stolen vehicles.

Councilwoman Sonne expressed concern over the rise in reported sexual assaults, pointing out that the 14 rapes reported in the first half of this year approach the 16 recorded throughout all of last year. Sonne requested additional analysis on violent crime locations to see if targeted measures, such as enhanced street lighting or increased police patrols, are needed in specific areas.

Reported for The Park · Voice of OC · August 14, 2026 · Read the full story on The Park