Newsletter
February News in Newport: Public Safety Wins
Last month was filled with positive news, especially out of our public safety departments!
February 1, 2026
Public Safety Highlights
Some bragging rights to share from Police Chief Dave Miner, to start:
Overall crime decreased 12.7% in 2025, compared to 2024! Violent crime decreased 8.5% and property crime decreased 13.0%. Specifically, assaults fell 7.1%, robberies 15.4%, burglaries 16.0%, and thefts 17.9%. Just last week, in a culmination of weeks of unrelenting diligence, Detectives arrested three South American Theft Group members suspected of committing a multitude of residential burglaries in Newport Beach and beyond.
All of these results reflect the dedication and professionalism of our the NBPD team, with the support, tools, and resources needed to serve our community effectively.
Annual Budget Planning Meeting
The City Council held our annual budget planning meeting on Saturday, January 31st. The purpose of this special meeting is to begin discussions about budgeting and resource allocation for the upcoming fiscal year and beyond. Here are some of the highlights:
✓ Revenue has continued to increase year-over-year, now hovering around $350M, and projections remain strong.
✓ 40% of total expenditures is dedicated to public safety, 28% for maintenance and operations.
✓ Continuing to pay down pension liability, targeting elimination by 2033, provided CalPERS meets its own return projections.
✓ City management will be working on emergency planning, cybersecurity, communication, and customer service initiatives.
✓ Council gave direction to consider dedicating public safety resources to Fashion Island and CDM Main Beach, as well as earmark Capital Improvement Program funding to the relocation and build-out of new police and fire stations adjacent to Civic Center.
✓ Support was also provided for a number of recommended proactive changes to address the unwanted behaviors in our beach areas during spring break and the summer holiday weeks.
Lifeguard Tryouts
In an impressive start to our 2026 recruitment season, 96 candidates came out to complete the rigorous 1,000-meter ocean swim and the 1,000-meter run-swim-run lifeguard tryout. Those who make it through the process will undergo the Basic Lifeguard Academy. This 120-hour program is a significant undertaking, involving intensive rescue drills, medical skills training, and customer service preparation, culminating in a final test day before they will have earned the title of Newport Beach Life Guard!
Mayor's Dinner
Click the link to join us and be part of a meaningful evening that reflects the heart, momentum, and future of Newport Beach.
Safety Spotlight: Brian O’Rourke, Assistant Chief Lifeguard Operations, NBFD
In 1987, 18-year-old Glendale transplant turned a love for water polo and swimming into an ocean lifeguarding career. Since then, O’Rourke came up through the ranks, wearing many different hats, as Training Captain, Junior Guard Coordinator, Lifeguard Battalion Chief, and now Chief Lifeguard. He’s proud to be part of the lifesaving team at the Newport Beach Fire Department, especially after the department, city and community returned the favor when they helped him overcome a cancer diagnosis and get back to supervising the world’s best junior lifeguard program in 2015/16. Brian, his wife of 23 years, and their dog live in Newport and spend their free time at the beach! Brian also enjoys adventuring in the Sierra Nevada, surfing, skiing, motocross, and mountain biking.
Safety Spotlight: Matthew Wong, NBPD Officer
NBPD Officer Matthew Wong, is helping make the roads in Newport Beach safer. He started in patrol in 2022, before becoming a DUI Enforcement Officer. In 2024, he was recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for his outstanding efforts and commitment to removing impaired drivers from the road, and made over 100 DUI arrests in just 2025, alone! In his off time, he enjoys traveling, camping, and spending time with friends – and, fun fact, he’s a super speedy typist!
