Police Beat Meetings Are Back In Person — And They’re Worth Attending

One of the most important parts of community policing is regular communication between residents and police officers. The East Palo Alto Police Department has resumed holding its monthly police beat meetings in person, creating a valuable opportunity for residents to hear directly from officers, learn about public safety issues in their neighborhoods, and ask questions.

According to the City’s Community Policing program, East Palo Alto is divided into four patrol beats, and the Police Department holds monthly beat meetings where officers share crime statistics, discuss neighborhood concerns, and engage directly with residents. Community policing works best when residents participate, and these meetings are one of the easiest ways to get involved.

Residents can find the current beat meeting schedule and meeting locations on the City’s Community Policing page:

https://www.ci.east-palo-alto.ca.us/police/page/community-policing

I recently attended the Beat 2 meeting on June 1, 2026, at the Cooley Landing Education Center. Unfortunately, I was the only community member who attended in person. However, the three officers present were extremely patient and generous with their time, answering a wide range of questions about public safety issues in East Palo Alto.

Here are some of the key things I learned.

Significant Decline in Gunfire Incidents

One encouraging trend discussed at the meeting was a substantial reduction in ShotSpotter gunshot alerts.

One officer noted that during his years working in East Palo Alto, gunfire alerts have decreased from roughly one per shift to about one per week.

The officer attributed much of the decline to successful investigations and arrests of repeat offenders. In one case, investigators were able to connect a suspect to 26 separate shootings through ballistic evidence by matching bullet casings recovered from different crime scenes.

Bicycle-Vehicle Collisions Remain a Concern

The officers reported that East Palo Alto continues to experience a significant number of collisions involving bicycles and motor vehicles.

One area of concern is the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East Bayshore Road, particularly involving cyclists traveling along the Donohoe Street and East Bayshore corridor. Officers noted that there had been a bicycle collision in that area approximately three weeks before the meeting.

The west side of the city experiences many bicycle-vehicle collisions as well. Officers said a common scenario involves a driver pulling out from a private driveway or parking lot and colliding with a cyclist traveling on the roadway.

Interestingly, officers reported that many bicycle collisions are caused by cyclists incorrectly assuming they have the right of way in situations where they do not. The discussion highlighted the importance of both drivers and cyclists understanding traffic rules and remaining alert.

Increased Presence on the Clarke Avenue Pedestrian Bridge

Officers shared that the department began conducting nightly walks on the Clarke Avenue pedestrian bridge approximately two weeks before the meeting.

Residents who use the bridge regularly may notice a more visible police presence as part of ongoing efforts to address quality-of-life and public safety concerns in the area.

Drones Are Changing Police Operations

The meeting also included a discussion about drone technology.

East Palo Alto Police currently access drones through partner agencies and countywide SWAT resources shared among multiple police departments.

One officer noted that deploying a drone into a structure before officers enter can improve safety during high-risk operations. In his experience, situations involving armed suspects have been less likely to result in gunfire when a drone is used first to gather information before officers make entry.

Concerns About Youth Crime

Officers reported that a significant portion of current criminal activity involves teenagers, particularly on the west side of the city.

While the discussion did not focus on specific incidents, officers identified youth-related crime as one of the ongoing challenges facing the department.

Why Attendance Matters

The most surprising part of the evening was not any of the topics discussed—it was the lack of attendance. Despite the opportunity to speak directly with officers responsible for Beat 2, no other residents attended the meeting.

The officers were eager to answer questions and provide information. These meetings offer residents a chance to raise concerns, learn about trends that may not appear in headlines, and build relationships with the officers serving their neighborhoods.

Community policing only works when there is participation from both sides. If you have questions about traffic safety, neighborhood issues, crime trends, or policing strategies, consider attending your next beat meeting.

You’ll likely learn something useful—and your presence helps strengthen the partnership between the community and the police department.