Sampling of programs for adults

• Disaster preparedness training
• Burglar Proof Your Home
• Credit/Check Fraud
• Identity Theft: Protecting Your Privacy
• Personal Safety: Can I Defend Myself?
• CSI - On the Beat
• CSI - The Power of Observation
• CSI - Protecting a Crime Scene
• Vehicle Security

 Sampling of programs for kids and parents

• Kids & Personal Safety
• Junior Detectives
• The Truth About Bullying
• Story Book Time with the Sheriff

The Lakewood Sheriff's Community Safety Center is inside the Lakewood Center mall and is a popular "one stop" resource for information, special topic classes, service assistance, and access to crime prevention resources. Daily drop-ins include seniors on their early morning walks around the mall, and new residents with questions about city programs and services.

Lakewood's recreation catalog regularly features two full pages of "Safety & Crime" prevention programs which are based out of the safety center. Many are free. Click for a full program listing.

One can also enroll by calling the Recreation Department at 562-866-9771, extension 2408, or the Lakewood Sheriff’s Community Safety Center at 562-623-3583. Don’t take a chance on missing out; register early! For additional information, call Lakewood’s Crime Prevention Office at 562-866-9771, extension 2114.

Community Safety Center

The center is a 3,000-square-foot storefront in the "Target wing" of the mall adjacent to Borders Express (north of the Macy's store) at 15 Lakewood Mall. The center was dedicated on October 5, 2002 by the city council and Sheriff Lee Baca.

The safety center is open during extended mall hours, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. weekdays, and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. For more information please call 562-623-3583.

"The facility also offers training and information through partnerships with community groups, such as the American Red Cross, Su Casa Family Crisis and Support Center, and Lakewood Regional Medical Center," says Lakewood Crime Prevention Manager Carol Jacoby. "Along with safety classes, residents can register at the center for Neighborhood Watch, Lakewood Auto Watch, emergency preparedness training, and even Lakewood recreation classes."

Visitors will find information on city programs and activities, easy access to many city services, and helpful crime prevention and personal security assistance. Parents may enroll in Kid Print, the Lakewood Auto Watch (LAW) program, license a bicycle, learn about Lakewood’s active Neighborhood Watch Program, and find out about Lakewood’s other community-based law enforcement programs.

The Lakewood Sheriff’s Community Safety Center also offers LiveScan fingerprint services.  LiveScan is an electronic system for running background fingerprint checks through the Department of Justice and/or FBI databases often needed for employment purposes. 

Fingerprints will be taken by appointment on Mondays-Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m, Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted as time permits.

The safety center also is link to the Lakewood Sheriff's Station for law enforcement services. The safety center's law enforcement staff can assist residents with filing of crime reports, and using the sheriff's online resources.

"The City Council combined an expanded sheriff's presence inside the mall with a convenient destination for residents seeking information about crime prevention programs, personal and family safety training, and access to the services and programs Lakewood offers its residents," notes City Manager Howard Chambers.

The center includes public access to city and county online information systems, a staffed public counter for assistance with crime prevention questions and city services, and programs provided by Lakewood community organizations. The community safety center also allows Lakewood community groups to schedule meetings and hold community events.

City staff can process Lakewood service requests, assist with registering for city recreation classes, and sign up residents for participation in the city's home security and personal safety training programs.