La Habra Police Department

If a loved one, a family member or you have been arrested by or are being investigated by the La Habra Police Department, it can cause a lot of apprehension based on a fear of the unknown. 

Facing such a situation, one’s anxiety may be eased by knowing the bail amount (if any) associated with the offense or offenses at issue if police deny an own recognizance (OR) release.  It is also beneficial to know what evidence is needed to convict one for the crime or crimes that allegedly took place, the defenses possible and the sentence a judge can impose if one is convicted of the crime or crimes. 

 
We at Greg Hill & Associates believe it is wise to know a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement.  It can be prudent to know the size of the police or sheriff’s department, the area’s demographics, the most common types of crimes the department investigates and just a bit about the area’s history to make one’s communication with law enforcement more meaningful, more savvy and perhaps, more respectful.  This can lead to a better outcome than if one lacks such perspective.

This article is presented with these goals in mind.

The La Habra Police Department is a relatively small police force, with only thirty-seven sworn police officers and an undetermined number of civilian support personnel assigned to it. 

The La Habra Police Department is responsible for patrolling the City of La Habra, which is 7.56 square miles and has a population of 60,239 as of the 2010 census.  It is in the northwestern corner of Orange County. 

For more than 70 years, La Habra was known as the city just south of La Habra Heights, where the Haas avocado, of the 'Hass' avocado mother tree, was planted by Rudolph Hass in the 1920’s. The fruit from this tree has since become one of the most popular avocado cultivars worldwide. The 'Hass' mother tree succumbed to root rot in 2002.

From 2004 to 2008, the La Habra Police Department ranked third in the number of officer-involved shootings among twenty Orange County municipal police departments.  One case among these, the 2007 death of Michael Cho, resulted in a wrongful death lawsuit against the city which was settled in September 2010 for $250,000.

The police there do face a not insignificant criminal street gang presence.  The La Habra Monos 13 is one of the more well-recognized Sureño gangs in La Habra, as are the La Habra Campo 13, All West Coast 13 and West Side La Habra 13, which may be the largest of the gangs now. 

The crime rate in La Habra is higher than the national average, but it is lower than in the Los Angeles and Orange County.  According to Neighborhood Scout, the chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in La Habra is 1 in 41.  Based on FBI crime data, La Habra is not one of the safest communities in America.  Relative to California, La Habra has a crime rate that is higher than 70% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

The most famous resident of La Habra is certainly Richard Nixon, who opened a law office in La Habra in 1938. 

As of 2010, the city’s population was 30.2% non-Hispanic white, 9.4% Asian, 1.7% African American and 57.2% Hispanic.

According to the 2010 United States Census, La Habra had a median household income of $60,954, with 14.0% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

Most cases arising out of the La Habra Police Department’s areas of responsibility are brought at the Fullerton Courthouse, but some are also brought at the Central Justice Center at 700 Civic Center Driver West in downtown Santa Ana.  Cases that may be filed at the Central Justice Center instead of at the Fullerton Courthouse would be very serious cases needing specialized prosecutors trained in handling such cases.

Over the last 25 years, our office has handled perhaps thirty cases (not many!) arising out the La Habra Police Station and brought in the Fullerton Courthouse.  Such cases vary from DUI to domestic violence, possession of a controlled substance to public intoxication, and felon in possession of a firearm to shoplifting.

Below is the Google Map to the La Habra Police Department.