Santa Monica's police force is fully staffed for the first time in more than two decades. The city marked the milestone by deploying extra officers to the Pier, Palisades Park, the beach and downtown starting the week of Aug. 25.

The Santa Monica Police Department confirmed the staffing achievement in a city press release issued Tuesday, Aug. 25. The announcement also noted that serious crime citywide fell 12.5% in 2025.

The enhanced patrols followed two violent incidents over the weekend of Aug. 22–23. On Saturday, Aug. 22, officers responding to a domestic violence call in the 1400 block of Palisades Park fatally shot a man who charged at them with a knife, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press. The man was not connected to the original call. The involved officer was not injured.

The next evening, a victim was shot in the leg near the Pier ramp during an attempted robbery at about 7:49 p.m., SM Observed reported. The victim's injuries were described as non-life-threatening. Officers arrested the suspected shooter within hours, and detectives are pursuing additional suspects.

The city said it will release body-worn camera footage from the Saturday officer-involved shooting within the next few weeks.

Police Chief Darrick Jacob said the department's goal is visibility and accessibility, with officers stationed at the Pier, in parks, along the beach and throughout downtown and residential neighborhoods day and night.

The staffing milestone did not arrive overnight. Mayor Caroline Torosis cited the same achievement in her State of the City address on July 27, framing it as part of a broader turnaround after pandemic-era service cuts.

City Manager Oliver C. Chi called the weekend violence unacceptable. "Our community deserves to see how seriously we take our public safety responsibilities," Chi said in the city's statement. "That means swift accountability for anyone who commits violence here, more officers in the places where people gather, and meeting in person with our residents and businesses to hear their concerns."

As we reported Aug. 25, the city also launched Coffee with a Cop events to connect residents with officers. A second session is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27, from noon to 2 p.m. at the SMPD Downtown Substation, 395 Santa Monica Place.

The city said it will conduct direct outreach to downtown and Pier businesses in the coming days to hear concerns and share safety resources.