To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: JOE HOFFMAN, POLICE CHIEF
TITLE
title
APPROVE A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA) AND MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATIONS (HSI) TO ASSIGN A POLICE DETECTIVE TO THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HIGH INTENSITY FINANCIAL CRIMES AREA (HIFCA) - EL CAMINO REAL (ECR) FINANCIAL CRIMES TASK FORCE - FOR THE TERM JUNE 10, 2025 UNTIL TERMINATED BY EITHER PARTY
end
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Approval of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will allow a City of Redondo Beach Police Department Detective to be assigned to the El Camino Real (ECR) financial crimes task force as an officer with access to extensive resources that will enhance the capability of the Police Department to address local financial crimes. Participation also provides for the reimbursement of certain costs associated with the position.
BACKGROUND
The evolution of crime requires a continual evaluation of both the application of City resources as well as an assessment of the Department's internal capabilities. Over the past 25-years, criminal activity has shifted, with financial crimes becoming more prevalent and damaging due to technological advancements. For example, between 1999 and 2023, FBI statistics show a steep decline in bank robberies - from 8,193 incidents to just 1,362. In contrast, in 2023, the Federal Trade Commission's Consumer Sentinel Network received 5.4 million consumer reports of fraud, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported in 2024 that fraud represented the bulk of reported losses.
Redondo Beach is not immune from these trends. From May 2023 to May 2025, there have been more than 720 people and businesses in Redondo Beach defrauded for over $4.9 million. The methods used to commit these crimes often involve sophisticated cyber scams, suspects located in different countries, and the use of cryptocurrency, which make identifying suspects and so...
Click here for full text