There were no reports of ‘criminal incursions’ in Santa Monica following the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict over the weekend, Police Chief Ramon Batista said.
In an update to the community, Batista said his department raised its defensive posture throughout the city — just in case. “We also identified a trend amongst opportunistic individuals involved in criminal activity throughout the country and in California.”
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Rittenhouse, 18, was acquitted of murdering two people and injuring three others in a highly publicized trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The verdict was handed down Friday morning.
Here’s Batista’s full update:
Many of you are aware this past weekend we raised our defensive posture throughout the city in response to the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict in Kenosha, WI. As we learned from nationwide events, the community response involved lawful and unlawful civil protests related to the outcome of the verdict. We also identified a trend amongst opportunistic individuals involved in criminal activity throughout the country and in California. I am glad to report that the City of Santa Monica did not experience any criminal incursions of the kind that were seen in even nearby cities over the weekend.
The verdict was delivered on Friday morning 11/19 – the Santa Monica police department launched a comprehensive plan deploying a contingent of mobile field force, tactical team officers, and support personnel focusing on business districts throughout the city. We received full support and encouragement by our City Council, executive leadership and partners which included opening up our Office of Emergency Management in order to stage city resources at the ready. Our collaboration and communication with you, led some businesses to take a stronger stance at securing their property.
While there were no incidents of note this weekend, we understand that we cannot be present and deter every opportunity for criminal behavior. Our relationships and partnerships with you, are a vital component to the fabric of safety that is our community.
We have more high-profile cases on the horizon and we will continue to communicate with our law enforcement partners. We will monitor for any actionable intelligence, and remain vigilant.
We look forward to seeing you around town and of course would like to remind you, if you see something, say something by calling 310-458-8491 or 9-1-1 in a life-threatening emergency.
Batista was sworn in as police chief on Monday, October 18. He previously served as police chief in Mesa, Arizona. Batista oversaw the department during the high-profile murder trial of Philip “Mitch” Brailsford, a former Mesa police officer acquitted of killing an unarmed man in 2016.
A jury in Maricopa County found Brailsford not guilty of second-degree murder.
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