Orange County

Costa Mesa Police Department 

The Costa Mesa Police Department is a 32-bed, type-1 jail facility. The jail houses arrestees prior to going to court or being released, typically from 24 to 48 hours. The Costa Mesa jail also houses sentenced inmate-workers, who handle food service and maintenance.

The custody staff utilizes state-of-the-art technology to monitor inmate activity, process booking fingerprints and photographs, and to ensure the utmost safety and welfare of those housed in the jail.

Additionally, the jail custody staff facilitates the transportation of inmates to court and also manages the department’s critical role of the court liaison officer. This officer maintains an office at the Orange County Superior Court’s Harbor Justice Center and is responsible for processing all criminal complaint filings and subpoenas, as well as calling police personnel to court. The court liaison officer works closely with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and other court officials.

The Costa Mesa Police Department is tasked with protecting life and property, while preserving the peace and practicing the philosophy of community-oriented policing. The department is comprised currently of 212 full-time positions, of which 136 are sworn and 76 are civilians, with various part-time positions to aid throughout the organizations.

Today, Costa Mesa is a major commercial and industrial center of Orange County. The 2005 Census noted population at 113,143. The city, which formally adopted the slogan “The City of the Arts” in 1999, is home to Pacific Symphony and the South Coast Repertory Theater. The 3,000-seat Segerstrom Center for the Arts (previously known as Orange County Performing Arts Center) was completed in 1985. In 2006, both the 2,000-seat Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and the 500-seat Samueli Theater held their grand openings.

Since its incorporation, Costa Mesa has turned from quiet suburban community with deep farming roots to a world-class city featuring some of the best restaurants, retail centers, and cultural arts in the nation, in addition to being the capitol of the action sports industry.