The Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) and the Santa Cruz Fire Department participated in a Battle of the Badges blood drive to see which department could donate the most blood last Saturday, Jan. 14. A total of 46 units were donated, beating the Red Cross’ original 40-unit goal.

Heavy police coverage on the UC Santa Cruz campus this Tuesday was attributed by Santa Cruz Police Department spokesperson Zach Friend to a county-wide operation called “Badges” that combats aggressive driving.

Last Wednesday, the Santa Cruz Police Department met with local neighborhood watch groups to discuss the rising crime rate in the city and ways in which community members can take it upon themselves to help prevent crime in their neighborhoods.

A new iPhone app has been developed for the Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) which will allow users to access the SCPD’s scanner feed, crime maps, new departmental blog, crime alerts and mug shots. The app will also be developed and released for use on the Droid platform within the coming months.

In light of the Tucson shooting, many have interpreted the incident as a gaping hole in domestic gun control law. Calls for change and action have rippled across the nation. Yet precisely what change means and how it should be implemented are not entirely clear-cut.

The Santa Cruz Police Department brings members of the community and law enforcement together through a new volunteer program. The program, which is currently accepting applications, will allow civilians to aid in tasks vital to the police department in its goal of upholding public safety.

Approximately 25,000 ghouls, goblins and Gagas clogged downtown Santa Cruz to take part in Halloween festivities. They were joined by over 100 law enforcement officers surveying the scene by foot, car and helicopter who were there to keep the peace.

In an effort to be more alert to violence in downtown, the Santa Cruz Police Department has extended their contract initial one-month trial with the First Alarm private security firm.

Last Wednesday, the Neighbors of Lower Ocean gave a walk-through of their neighborhood to approximately 25 people in an effort to showcase the changes that the organization has made to make the area a safer place for residents and garner support for Measure H, a ballot initiative which aims to make public safety a bigger priority in Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz likes to party. SCPD is finding new ways to crack down.