LOS ANGELES, CA – The City of West Hollywood is increasing its visible public safety presence in the Rainbow District, the nightlife corridor along Santa Monica Boulevard, as the holiday season approaches, according to a city news release.
The Rainbow District is the stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard between La Cienega Boulevard and Doheny Drive. The city and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, known as LASD, have been coordinating additional public safety resources there.
Those resources include an expanded Neighborhood and Business Safety/Code Enforcement presence and additional unarmed private security personnel, the city said.
The city also said it has added unarmed Entertainment Safety Officers. They monitor activity, identify potential safety concerns and support de-escalation when appropriate.
The officers coordinate with the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station and the city’s Community Safety Department.
A one-mile nightlife strip
The Rainbow District runs roughly one mile along Santa Monica Boulevard and has more than 50 businesses. It is the area where the city holds its Halloween Carnaval each October.
According to the city’s event notice, this year’s Carnaval ran from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, on Santa Monica Boulevard between North Doheny Drive and North La Cienega Boulevard.
The Rainbow District plan was set to be completed by that same date, according to the city’s community safety director.
Entertainment Safety Officers join the district
The new officers are separate from the city’s existing Security Ambassadors and from sheriff’s deputies. The city describes them as unarmed, and their role is to watch for problems and help calm situations before they escalate.
Danny Rivas, the city’s Director of Community Safety, described the plan to the City Council on Sept. 22. He said the city had contracted with Allied Universal to create unarmed entertainment safety officers who are expected to de-escalate violent incidents.
Rivas said the Rainbow District plan was to be completed by Oct. 31. He told the council, “We are having bloody situations on Santa Monica Boulevard.”
The city wants officers with more experience, including prior law enforcement or military backgrounds. They wear a different uniform from the Security Ambassadors.
Sheriff’s Entertainment Policing Team stays in place
The city said the new resources supplement the Entertainment Policing Team at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station. The team is a specialized unit focused on nightlife, entertainment establishments and alcohol-related activity.
The team has one sergeant and five deputies. The city also provides supplemental LASD deputies during periods of increased activity.
According to initial reports, the team patrols the Rainbow District on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from about 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., mostly between Robertson and Palm.
The city has not released what the supplemental deputies and the additional private security personnel cost.
Security Ambassadors continue patrols and escorts
The city’s Security Ambassador program provides unarmed services 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Ambassadors do uniformed foot and bicycle patrols and respond in person to non-violent calls for service.
They also conduct safety escorts. The program lists a kiosk on Santa Monica Boulevard at North Robertson Boulevard in the Rainbow District.
The city separately announced approval of an updated Security Ambassadors program.
Plan followed fights and shootings earlier this year
The expanded presence comes after a series of incidents in the district. In April, two shootings and two fights took place in the Rainbow District.
In an official statement that month, the city said the concerns were heard and taken seriously. The City Council, City Manager and Community Safety team said they were working to support LASD in investigating each incident.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath also commented that month. She said, “Gun violence anywhere is devastating and frightening, but especially in a close-knit community like West Hollywood.”
Horvath said she spoke with Captain Larkin and Sheriff Robert Luna about making the solving of the crimes a priority.
Sheriff’s station reported weekend fights in May
In May, Lt. Ashley Turner of the LASD West Hollywood Station updated the City Council on weekend activity. She reported that deputies responded to two fights over a weekend and made arrests in both cases.
On Sept. 7, more fights were reported at bars in the district. According to initial reports, they included a man struck in the face with a glass bottle at one bar and a fight between a security guard and a customer at another.
The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station confirmed an altercation at one of the bars in which one person was taken to a hospital.
The city announced the expanded plan after those fights. Rivas presented its details at the council meeting on Sept. 22.
Council debated the security contract
At that meeting, Councilmember John Erickson said he could not support the Allied Universal contract. He said, “I myself, in good conscience, cannot support a contract that further penalizes immigrants, whether they’re in West Hollywood or not.”
Erickson cited Allied Universal’s contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.
Councilmember Chelsea Byers suggested reviewing the city’s procurement process to exclude contractors that work with ICE and DHS. The council directed staff to schedule the contract for a future discussion.
On the same night, the council unanimously approved a $550,000 contract with American Global Security, Inc. for two unarmed Community Safety Officers.
Where to get help in the district
The city said Security Ambassadors can be reached for non-emergency help, including safety escorts, at (323) 848-6500. The hotline operates 24 hours a day and takes calls and texts.
For non-emergency situations that need a sheriff’s response, the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station lists its 24-hour line as (310) 855-8850. Emergencies should go to 911.
The city also encourages residents, businesses, employees and visitors to follow the principle “If You See Something, Say Something.”
Allied Universal contract awaits council discussion
For now, the city has said it has added Entertainment Safety Officers, expanded code enforcement and coordinated extra deputies with LASD in the Rainbow District for the holiday season. The Entertainment Policing Team and the Security Ambassadors continue their existing work.
The Allied Universal contract remains subject to a future City Council discussion, as directed by the council on Sept. 22.
