Temecula Police Tackling City's 'Quality-Of-Life Issues'​

TEMECULA, CA — The city of Temecula announced last week that a six-member law enforcement team is now assigned to specifically address quality-of-life issues in the city.

According to the city, the "CORE" team — which stands for Community, Outreach, Resource and Engagement — is comprised of a sergeant, four deputies and a community service officer. The group has a variety of assignments in the city, including:

1. Addressing illegal vending, massage parlor compliance and panhandling.

2. Establishing working relationships with Temecula business owners.

3. Collaborating with code enforcement and the fire department to educate the public and businesses about municipal code violations.

4. Placing zero tolerance on vandalism and graffiti in city parks.

5. Conducting various types of operations and investigations to address community concerns.

6. Conducting vice-related operations and investigations to deter prostitution and human trafficking.

7. Working to establish "residential crime-free communities."

8. Addressing/deterring gang activity.

9. Serving search warrants.

10. Working with the city's homeless outreach team to manage issues related to homeless people and the transient community.

11. Providing safety plans for public events, such as parades, and city facilities.

12. Supporting charity work and outreach (such as the Shop with a Cop event).

"This team of individuals is stationed out of City Hall and collaborates daily with other departments including Fire, Code Enforcement, Community Services, and the City Manager's Office with the unique purpose of addressing quality of life issues," Temecula Mayor Zak Schwank said in a released statement.

"The CORE Team starts and ends their day at Temecula City Hall placing emphasis on proactive patrols that investigate and deter crime with a goal to preserving the City's safe and beautiful neighborhoods and business districts. This includes working with Code Enforcement to investigate graffiti or vandalism, meeting with the City Manager's Office to resolve neighborhood concerns, and establishing relationships with residents and businesses in Temecula," Temecula Police Captain Chris Durham said in a released statement.

Other specialized community policing teams, like CORE, are planned in the city, Durham said.

Temecula contracts with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for its police services.