Community Members:

I encourage you to join our City public safety professionals tomorrow (Saturday, May 13) from noon to 3 p.m. for Public Safety Day at the Police Department Headquarters and Fire Station 3, 868 Santa Barbara Dr. The event offers residents an opportunity to meet public safety staff, get a behind-the-scenes look at our facilities, and learn more about our various community safety programs.

Residents can meet members of our SWAT team, lifeguards, paramedics, CSI experts, CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), K9 Unit officers, dispatch personnel, mounted unit officers, representatives from crime and fire prevention departments and more. They will be there to answer your questions, share insights, and provide information about their respective areas of expertise. 

The event will include live police and fire demonstrations, activities for kids, food, and tours of the station facilities that serve as operational hubs for our first responders. Our CERT volunteers will be available to provide information on how you can contribute to community resilience during emergencies.

Bring your family and friends for what is certain to be a fun and educational afternoon! 

City Manager, Grace K. Leung

NBPD Detective Recognized at 'Heroes with Heart' Ceremony

Newport Beach Detective Cynthia Carter was one of 20 first responders in Orange County honored by the Trauma Intervention Program of O.C. at its "Heroes with Heart" awards ceremony at the Irvine Marriott on April 27. Carter was recognized by the nonprofit organization for “her works of compassion amid crisis” as the Newport Beach Police Department's former homeless liaison officer. 

The ceremony recognized Carter for her three years of work as the City's homeless liaison officer, during which time she helped about 50 people transition from life on the street to permanent housing, and helped guide many others toward successful drug and mental health counseling, shelter and other support services.

Carter credits the support of her department and collaboration with TIP of O.C, the Orange County Health Care Agency, City Net and Be Well OC, and many other service organizations. She has kept in touch with many people she helped over the years and said she plans to continue to do so following her promotion from homeless liaison officer to detective in April.

Meet California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick May 17 at Central Library 

The Newport Beach Public Library is pleased to announce a "Meet the Author" event with Lee Herrick, California Poet Laureate and author of three books of poems. The event will be Wednesday, May 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Friends Room of the Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.

This program is free; registration is recommended.

Born in Daejeon, South Korea, Lee Herrick was adopted at the age of 10 months and raised in California. He is the 10th California Poet Laureate and the first Asian American to serve in the role. Herrick has published three books of poetry and his work has appeared in numerous journals and reviews. He is currently working on his fourth book of poems and a forthcoming memoir.

City Drought Campaign Wins Statewide Awards

The City of Newport Beach's 2022 water conservation education campaign, "Ride the Wave to Water Savings," was recognized with two awards at the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) annual awards program on May 3. 

The City's work was recognized with first place "EPIC" awards in two categories, overall campaign and graphic design. Judges noted the eye-catching visual appeal of the campaign's "retro beach" theme, as well as its messaging effectiveness in helping reduce water consumption by 12% citywide during some of the driest months of the state's extended drought. 

CAPIO’s EPIC awards program recognizes creative and effective efforts in the areas of communication and marketing campaigns, newsletter production, photography, special events, writing, web development, video production and more.

The Be Well mobile crisis response team operates in Newport Beach 12 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to mental and behavioral health crises. The mobile unit is staffed with mental health specialists and EMTs, and works closely with the City’s police and fire departments.

This week the Be Well team:

• Provided resources and support to a person fleeing domestic violence.
• Transported a person to the sobering station at the Be Well campus.
• Transported two people home after de-escalating their crises and provided resources for counseling.
• Transported a person to a housing meeting and another person back to the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
• Followed up with a person who successfully processed her trauma at the Be Well crisis stabilization unit.
• Arranged transportation for a person to refill psychiatric medications at a local hospital.
• Provided mental health and wellness resources to businesses and residents during community outreach.

TO REACH BE WELL: The mobile crisis team is dispatched through the Newport Beach Police Department. To request service, dial 911 or call the Police Department's non-emergency line at 949-644-3717.