As you make your way around the City of Long Beach, during special events or in general, you might come across a police officer in their car or out walking a foot patrol. While it takes an army to keep the city safe, it might not be possible without Special Officer Jaime Price.
“Jaime is the heartbeat of the traffic division,” Police Commissioner Richard DePalma said. “She is the glue that holds the division together.”
Price, 48, started her career working in the Garment District, where she worked for 15 years. While she was there, she said she found a passion for working with numbers and their impact on planning. Price took on a new role in 2017, joining the department as a crime analyst. The switch, she says, only heightened her enthusiasm.
“I love data,” she said. “I like to run action reports and point out areas that need more attention.”
Today, Price works in the traffic division, spending most of her time looking for gaps in coverage. She assigns her 20 officers to patrols and coordinates with city departments and outside agencies, using her knowledge of her home city to understand how the police department can improve.
When events like Irish Day in October or the Electric Light Parade in December shut down most of the West End, Price is responsible for orchestrating road closures and identifying intersections that require more police presence. She also sends digital notifications to citizens and city buses to maintain quality of life for residents.
“Community event or not, my job boils down to keeping the community safe,” Price said.
Price participated in the annual AAA Northeast “School’s Open – Drive Carefully” Campaign in 2018 and 2019. The program, which began in 1945, starts shortly before the school year, and reminds drivers to drive slowly and vigilantly in school zones, or in the presence of school buses.
Price graduated from Long Beach High School in 1995. She grew up in the East End, where her family has lived for over 50 years. As a youngster, she marched in the Memorial Day parade, playing in the recorder band at East Elementary school and the trumpet in high school. During the summer, you could find Price working as a ticket taker on Roosevelt Boulevard Beach.
On Feb. 7, Price was honored at the Second Annual Law and Order Night for her service. The night of recognition, led by the American Legion Post 972 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1384, highlighted first responders in the community for their excellence and bravery.
“It was an honor for the department to recognize me,” Price recalled. “It’s more meaningful to wear a uniform that represents the community I grew up in.”
