By Nick Sestanovich
Santa Cruz Sentinel, Calif.
WATSONVILLE, Calif. — The Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury issued a report last week urging the Watsonville Police Department to mitigate its use of handcuffing arrestees and transporting them to the police station for minor infractions.
The grand jury, a state-mandated group of 19 volunteer citizens who investigate and issue reports to ensure government accountability, found that the Watsonville Police Department tends to handcuff and arrest individuals for misdemeanors at a higher rate than other local jurisdictions, which the agency argues leads to an increase in trauma. As an alternative, the grand jury is recommending the police department emphasize de-escalation techniques and citing and releasing individuals at the scene.
For the report, the grand jury interviewed Watsonville Police Department management and representatives of local nonprofit groups who provide advocacy and support to detainees and their families. It also reviewed Watsonville Police Department arrest logs and police reports, procedure manuals and training materials for the Watsonville Police Department as well as the Santa Cruz Police Department and Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, research articles on the trauma of handcuffing and the pay schedules for police officers in different jurisdictions.
The primary argument of the report was that handcuffing individuals for minor crimes and transporting them to police stations is a traumatic experience for those detained, citing research by the National Institutes of Health and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation .
“For those who are arrested, this trauma can manifest in many forms, including anxiety, depression and fear,” the grand jury wrote. “In some cases, it can lead to serious post-traumatic stress disorder.”
The grand jury also wrote that handcuffing can result in physical injury to hands and wrists. Instead, the group suggested citing and releasing detainees in the field for minor crimes.
“While being detained is inherently distressing, being released in the field typically results in less trauma than handcuffing and transporting the arrestee either to jail or to the local law enforcement office,” the grand jury wrote.
They noted that there are situations where handcuffing is warranted, including when an officer observes fighting, domestic violence or weapons. However, the group focused on misdemeanor offenses such as shoplifting or theft, vehicle code violations, driving under the influence, outstanding warrants and trespassing or homeless issues.
A review of more than 50 misdemeanor reports provided by the department in May 2024 found that in all of these instances, Watsonville police transported individuals to the police station rather than releasing them on site, while other law enforcement agencies would more frequently release arrestees on citation at the scene.
The report highlighted DUI arrests, where those suspected of driving under the influence in Watsonville were taken to the police station for breath and blood alcohol tests rather than having them conducted at the scene. It also noted that if a responsible person such as a family member is available, the inebriated person is released to their care, but if a responsible person is not available, the inebriated individual is handcuffed and transported to a sobering center, hospital or jail, as appropriate.
The grand jury recommended the department purchase breathalyzers to be stored in every patrol car and to have responsible parties pick up inebriated individuals at the scene rather than the police station.
“If a responsible person can come to the scene, fewer cars would need to be towed,” the grand jury wrote. “For officers, this could reduce the needed paperwork, put officers back on patrol sooner, as well as reduce expenses and trauma for the arrestees.”
The report pointed out that “aggressive” actions like handcuffing and transporting could be a result of officers being on high alert due to situations like robberies, shootings and gang activity. However, such practices “erodes the community’s trust in officer’s judgment.”
“This heightened level of community and individual fear may lead to tension and escalation during routine stops,” the grand jury wrote.
The findings propose that the department focus on de-escalation techniques and training. While the department reportedly told the grand jury that de-escalation-type scenarios are included in training, the specific California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training course “De-escalation Strategies and Techniques for California Law Enforcement” did not appear to be utilized by the department. The group recommended the department take the POST training by June 30, 2026 .
The report emphasized that more experienced officers are more likely to use de-escalation techniques, including releasing on site. However, as a result of the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act which went into effect in 2013, the Watsonville Police Department has few officers with three to 13 years of experience — which officers interviewed said has led to a gap in experience.
“Officers hired before 2013 have better benefits and are less likely to move to another agency than those hired after 2013,” the grand jury wrote. “As a result, newer officers often seek other employment and eventually take jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area , where the pay and benefits are better.”
The grand jury compared the annual salaries of Watsonville police officers with those of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and the San Jose Police Department . It found that starting salaries in the county Sheriff’s Office were 7% higher than those at the Watsonville Police Department , and the San Jose Police Department paid officers with five years of experience 30% more than Watsonville officers with the same level of experience.
The jury suggested the Watsonville City Council add incentives and raise officers’ total compensation for those with experience of zero to 15 years by 10% to 30% to reduce attrition.
While the department is discretionary about handcuffing during arrests, the group advised updating training materials and providing additional training regarding cite and release methods to reduce the number of detainees transported to the police department.
Other recommendations included updated training regarding handcuffing discretion and instituting quarterly community meetings to strengthen relationships with the community.
The grand jury commended the department for its concerns about the safety of all Watsonville residents.
“This is demonstrated by their desire to protect the vulnerable from harm and treat everyone with respect,” the group wrote.
Copies of the report were submitted to the Watsonville City Council and Police Chief Jorge Zamora , who were given 90 and 60 days, respectively, to respond.
In a statement, the police department wrote that administrators will review the report in the coming weeks and were appreciative of the grand jury’s time and effort in reviewing the matter.
“Our mission, here at the Watsonville Police Department , has always been and continues to be the safety and well-being of our community,” the department stated. “We remain committed to building trust, reducing trauma where possible, and maintaining strong relationships with those we serve, while also prioritizing the health and safety of our Officers and Staff.”
The report can be viewed at Bit.ly/4n5mheq.
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