Public Safety
Palm Springs Police Chief Speaks On Recent Crime Spike
A shooting, stabbing, and a body found.
This is what happened all within one week across the city of Palm Springs, leaving many locals with two major questions: What is happening, and why?
“Well, we are actually seeing a significant spike in violent crime nationwide,” Chief Mills said.
He and many experts attribute the rise in crime to the ongoing effects of the pandemic.
“It did drive crime down for a while since everyone was hunkered down in their homes and it caused certain types of crime to go a little bit lower,” Chief Mills continued. “For instance, domestic violence, substance abuse and suicides may have risen while street crimes may have fallen. We want to make sure we are seeing it correctly. So this last year has shown a significant increase, but we want to look at that 5 to 7 year perspective to make sure that we can look at the deviation from what’s normal.”
Chief Mills is taking over from former Chief Bryan Reyes.
Reyes was with PSPD for 27 years and saw the city through some of the worst crimes in recent memory.
Amid the turnover in leadership, Chief Mills wants to introduce himself to the community, build relationships, and find out what Palm Springs locals want from their police department.
He’s doing that by hosting five community meetings this week, one in each council district, across the city.
“What do they want from their police department? And how can we accomplish that mission for them? The meeting will be divided into two sections. One will be to help us establish the mission and the second is to set the crime fighting priorities for the city,” Chief Mills said.
Chief Mills says anyone can come from any district with the goal of clarifying the wants and needs from the community.
“There will be a lot of people giving us feedback, so we will take all that data, we will crunch it and give it back to the community so that they can see the end product. Then, that will be our mission. We will drive forward and make sure we are driving those problems first,” he said.
The first public meeting this week will be hosted at Victoria Park from 4 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
Below is the schedule for the rest of the week:
Wednesday, February 16: Convention Center East Lawn, 4 to 5 p.m.
Thursday, February 17: Cahuilla Elementary School, 4 to 5 p.m.
Friday, February 18: Palm Springs High School Amphitheater, 4 to 5 p.m.
Saturday, February 19: Demuth Park (near the pickle ball courts), 4 to 5 p.m.
By: Carmela Karcher
February 14, 2022
Latest Instagram Posts
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
What’s next for Palm Desert? Join community leaders, local businesses and regional stakeholders for the 2026 State of the City Address. Topics: • Economic Development • Infrastructure • Public Safety • Community Programs • Palm Desert’s Future CTA: Friday, September 18 | 11:30 AM JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
Former Silvercrest CEO, William Rodriguez is expected back in court today in connection with the deadly 2024 Cathedral City hit and run that killed a woman. The murder charge was dismissed, but Rodriguez still faces felony hit and run and suspended license charges.
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
Murder suspect Vicky Kim has once again not been cleared to appear in court. Kim is accused of killing her husband at their Palm Desert condominium complex. Her arraignment has now been delayed three times. Stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs as we track the latest developments in this case. #VickyKim #PalmDesert #CoachellaValley #BreakingNews #CourtUpdate NBCPalmSprings
Palm Springs is mourning the loss of beloved entertainer James “Gypsy” Haake, who has died at 94. Haake began his entertainment career at just 19 years old as a Broadway chorus dancer. After retiring from the stage, he returned to performing at 82, becoming the host of Carnival Cabaret at Oscars in downtown Palm Springs. A longtime friend of our station, Haake was a familiar and beloved figure in the Palm Springs entertainment community — and his contributions were recognized with a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. His career spanned more than seven decades, proving that the spotlight never truly left him. ❤️ Rest in peace, James “Gypsy” Haake. Your legacy will live on in Palm Springs. #JamesGypsyHaake #PalmSprings #PalmSpringsWalkOfStars #CarnivalCabaret #PalmSpringsEntertainment #OscarsPalmSprings #PalmSpringsHistory
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) Sterling Conley with the rushing TD, 2) Marcus Kennedy with the touchdown catch, 3) Cade Pinon with the big time sack, 4) Kingston Pellum with the pick-6, or 5) Caleb Hartwell with the saving throw #fypage #fridaynightlights #football #hondaofthedesert #highschoolfootball
James Nellis from @dsrt_club_lq and @rd_rnnr_lq makes us one of his signature dishes, his Maine scallops with hibiscus puree. His creativity and skill lead to unique bold flavors and scrumptious dishes. We chat about his love of trying new things in the kitchen, what being a chef means to him, and how food can different, flavorful, and fun. This is James Nellis on a plate. See it now on nbcpalmsprings.com
At the annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, first responders, families and community members came together to honor the lives lost—and the heroes who answered the call 25 years ago on September 11, 2001. Two first responders who responded to opposite sides of the World Trade Center met for the first time at the event, sharing a powerful moment of remembrance and connection. 26 flights. Three times. One enduring message: Never Forget. #NeverForget #September11 #911Memorial #MemorialStairClimb #FirstResponders HonorAndRemember 911