The El Cajon Police Department has a history of working with the community to create a safe environment for those who live, work and visit our city. By teaming with community organizations and proactively addressing current crime trends, the Metropolitan Division (Metro) works on a daily basis to enhance the quality of life for all members of our community.

The division is the home of three vital police units.

Special Operations Unit (SOU):

This diverse unit is responsible for several highly specialized department efforts. First and foremost, the members of SOU are tasked with identifying and solving emerging crime trends throughout the city. They work in collaboration with the community to identify potential crime trends and then develop strategies to resolve those issues. The members of SOU realize that the community is often their most valuable resource in resolving quality of life issues.

In order to successfully tackle crime trends, SOU employs various methods of policing. SOU utilizes uniformed bicycle officers to patrol the downtown area and city parks. This unique method of policing allows SOU officers to respond to calls for service at just about any location. These officers are also very proactive and have become very effective at combating street level crimes.

The El Cajon Police Department is committed to maintaining a safe environment at our school campuses. SOU provides a specially trained police officer to each of the four major high school campuses within the city. These School Resource Officers (SRO) handle all law enforcement issues on campus while building rapport with students through daily interaction.

SOU even has the ability to solve problems before they occur. The unit accomplishes this through the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program (CFMH) which was implemented by the El Cajon Police Department in 1997. This was the first such program established in the County of San Diego. Currently the CFMH Program has over one hundred properties participating in this worthwhile crime prevention project.

Our Crime Prevention Specialist is responsible for organizing Neighborhood Watch programs and monitoring crime issues city-wide.

Traffic Unit:

Through education and enforcement, the El Cajon Police Department Traffic Unit strives to reduce vehicle and pedestrian accidents. The unit is made up of highly trained men and women who specialize in all aspects of vehicle traffic.

Motorcycle Officers team with Accident Investigators and Parking Enforcement Specialists to address traffic issues throughout the city. From parking control to reconstructing a major collision, members of the Traffic Unit can be counted on to make a major impact on the daily commute in and around the city.

The Traffic Unit is responsible for special events such as DUI check points and community events like traffic control at the annual Mother Goose Parade. Members of this unit work in conjunction with city traffic engineers to ensure the roadways are safe and traffic flow remains as efficient as possible.

Special Enforcement Unit (SEU):

SEU is a unique, specialized, proactive unit comprised of 1 sergeant, 6 officers, and a crime analyst.  SEU personnel are trained to identify current crime trends and community problems.  Through technology, community cooperation, and creative problem solving, SEU focuses on the most relevant issues facing our local neighborhoods.

Mall Enforcement Team (MET):

The El Cajon Police Department through contract with Parkway Plaza has formed the Mall Enforcement Team (MET). MET officers are uniformed officers that are stationed full time at the mall to provide police services. MET responds to any complaints on mall property as well as conducting pro-active enforcement.

In order to ensure a safe, family oriented environment at Parkway Plaza, SOU maintains two officers that are assigned to the mall on a full time basis. This partnership is maintained under a contractual agreement between Parkway Plaza and the City of El Cajon. Since the introduction of MET in 2012, crime at the Parkway Plaza shopping mall has been significantly impacted.

Crime Free Multi-Housing (CFMH):

CFMH is a, state-of-the-art, crime prevention program designed to reduce crime, drugs, and gangs in apartment properties. This program was successfully developed at the Mesa Arizona Police Department in 1992. The International Crime Free Multi-Housing Program has spread to approximately 2,000 cities in 44 U.S. states and 5 Canadian Provinces.  The City of El Cajon has offered the CFMH program since 1997 and currently has 160 certified apartment communities. 

The program consists of three phases that must be completed under the supervision of the local police department. Property managers can become individually certified after completing training in each phase and the property becomes certified upon successful completion of all three phases.

The anticipated benefits are reduced police calls for service, a more stable resident base, and reduced exposure to civil liability.  Fully certified properties have reported reductions in police calls for service up to 70% over previous years.

Trespasser Form:

For assistance with removal of trespassers, please download our Illegal Lodging Enforcement Letter. Print the document and submit the signed copy to the Community Policing Division.

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.