Our Accomplishments

Public Safety through the Capitola Police Department:

• Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program, to include equipment, vehicles, uniforms, and training.  An additional part of the VIPS program is Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training which is vital during an actual emergency such as a strong earthquake such as 1989.
• Neighborhood Watch Programs and public safety initiatives to include DNA kits for children.
• Juvenile Outreach Programs, After School Programs, Capitola Explorer Programs, and At-Risk Youth Adventure program at Soquel High School.
• Training, equipment and supplies for the Capitola Lifeguard Program, plus acquiring and refurbishing two new lifeguard towers.
• The  Merchant Alert Program, Community Outreach center, along with hundreds of DNA/Fingerprint Kits/Photos for children at the Capitola Mall.
• Annual National Night Out event designed to bring our residents and police officers closer together, including publishing and distributing crime prevention materials,
  providing children's activities such as games and crafts, bouncing fun houses and a climbing wall, as well as providing a BBQ for over 500 residents.
• Scholarships for Capitola Police Officers to attend non-budgeted, but essential, training courses.
• We budget $12,500 annually for the Capitola Police Department to use for programs/initiatives determined by the department to be essential to providing the very best law enforcement for Capitola.  Some examples are: (1) state of the art emergency lights and sirens for the department's motorcycles, (2) new tasers for all officers, (3) purchase and training of replacement canine when needed, (4) 30 new Glock pistols with barrel-mounted flashlights and holsters, (5) non polluting electric vehicles for VIPS use and traffic control and parking, and (6) selected outreach programs dealing with bicycle safety and equipment in order to keep Capitola's youth safe.

Community Services support to various agencies:

• Major scholarships annually (presently $2,000) for low income family children so those children can participate in the Junior Guards Program.
• Automated Electronic Defibrillators (AED's) which were positioned at strategic locations throughout Capitola.
• Over 500 smoke alarms and "Files for Life" distributed to elderly citizens in conjunction with Central Fire District.
• Training, equipment and supplies for the Capitola Lifeguard Program, plus acquiring and refurbishing two new lifeguard towers.
• The  Merchant Alert Program, Community Outreach center, along with hundreds of DNA/Fingerprint Kits/Photos for children at the Capitola Mall.
• Annual National Night Out event designed to bring our residents and police officers closer together, including publishing and distributing crime prevention materials,
  providing children's activities such as games and crafts, bouncing fun houses and a climbing wall, as well as providing a BBQ for over 500 residents.
• Scholarships for Capitola Police Officers to attend non-budgeted, but essential, training courses.
• Over 500 smoke alarms and "Files for Life" distributed to elderly citizens in conjunction with Central Fire District.
• Funding and construction of the Esplanade Stage Project.
• Helped establish and support the Elder Care Task Force, which focuses on elder abuse, emergency preparedness and other issues affecting safety and quality of life for seniors.
• Support to the local SPCA.
• Support to Advocacy Inc. to reduce domestic violence and other family support services.

Annual events which are of significance to Capitola and Santa Cruz County:

• Fallen Officers Association to honor those first responders by aiding their families so that they can carry on.
  2016 Foundation donation: $2500.00
• Operation Surf, an epic, life-changing adventure for our wounded veteran and active duty military heroes. Our program is one of a kind, bringing participants directly to our events within supportive coastal communities, and exposing them to the healing power of the ocean through adaptive surfing taught by world-class instructors. This week long, all-inclusive event provides an environment where participants work to overcome perceived limitations connected to their physical and psychological disabilities.
  2016 Foundation donation: $3000.00
• Annual National Night Out  - National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes community & police/first responders partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live, enhancing the relationship between neighbors and first  responders while bringing back a true sense of community.  This event provides a great opportunity to bring police/first responders and neighbors together under positive circumstances. The event is designed to bring us all closer together.  We provide fundin g for publishing and distributing crime prevention materials,  providing children's activities such as games and crafts, bouncing fun houses and a climbing wall, as well as providing a BBQ.  Over 500 residents gather at Jade Street Community Center annually.
  2016 Foundation donation: $900.00
• Jacob's Heart, support services to improve the quality of life for children with cancer.
  2016 Foundation donation: $500