Downtown Huntington Beach is comprised of a residential area six blocks inland from Pacific Coast Highway bordered by Beach Blvd. to Goldenwest, and the commercial area five blocks inland from the pier at Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway. In the late 1980's redevelopment transformed the downtown area from surf shops and specialty stores to restaurants, clothing stores, dining, and nightclub establishments. These changes resulted in an increase need for police services. Rather than continuously responding to this need in a reactive mode, utilizing patrol personnel, the department decided the area needed a more community-oriented approach. This resulted in the formation of the Downtown Footbeat. In 2003 the Hyatt Regency Resort was openned and the Downtown Footbeat expanded their services to encompass their area as well. Future developments such as Pacific City and the Strand are expected to completed by 2008 and will fall with their responsibility. The Downtown Footbeat was renamed the "Special Enforcement Team".
The Special Enforcement Team (SET) is comprised officers assigned full time to patrol duties in the downtown area, supervised by a sergeant. SET officers are headquartered out of the South Substation, a renovated two-story residence located one block off Main Street, in the heart of downtown. The SET officers patrol in marked police vehicles, on foot and by bicycle. They conduct bar checks, enforce juvenile curfew laws, traffic enforcement, crime prevention; as well as assisting visitors to the area, and monitoring the many functions in the tourist/visitor areas. They also work closely with the Vice Unit to insure that conditional use permits issued to the downtown businesses, as well as the provisions of alcoholic beverage license's are adhered to.
The Special Enforcement Team is overseen by Sgt. T. Kayano [tkayano@hbpd.org]. The Downtown Substation is staffed by Dave Roberton during the following hours: Monday through Thursday 8:30 to 4:00 P.M. The phone numbers for the Downtown substation are: 714-536-5218 The Downtown Footbeat Officers are: J. Roberts [jroberts@hbpd.org], R. Zumwalt [rzumwalt@hbpd.org], M. Eskes [meskes@hbpd.org], M. Austin[maustin@hbpd.org]. The Bella Terra Officers are: M. Thomas [mthomas@hbpd.org ] C. Remington [cremington@hbpd.org] |
In November of 2005, the Bella Terra shopping center in the area of Beach and Edinger openned. The Bella Terra has newly built retail stores, 20 screen movie theater in an outdoor mall setting catering to numerous visitors and tourists. The Bella Terra complex was added to the patrol responsiblity of the Special Enforcement Team. 
The SET officers take responsibility for developing a rapport with the business owners and residents. This communication link allows the transfer of information and helps the officers focus their activity on merchant and resident concerns. This personal contact has helped build trust and confidence between the police and the visitor community.