Frequently Asked Questions

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The National Terrorism Threat Level is assigned by the Attorney General in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, based on an ongoing analysis of the threat. There are several factors considered when assigning a specific threat condition. Among them:

• Is the threat credible?
• Is the threat corroborated?
• Is the threat specific and/or imminent?
• How grave is the threat?

In March of 2002, a Presidential Directive created the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS), in an effort to improve coordination and cooperation among all levels of government and the general public in the fight against terrorism. The system was intended to create a common vocabulary - a common understanding of the meaning behind the changes in threat conditions.

The Office of Homeland Security publishes recommended actions for each community sector based on each level of risk.

The EOC would normally be activated when: A) An incident occurring in West Covina may be expected to require outside resources for mitigation, or B) An incident has occurred outside of our jurisdiction that bears monitoring in anticipation of affecting our City. The EOC may be opened upon the recommendation of field personnel who determine an incident is sufficient to warrant it or by management personnel who want to stay ahead of a developing scenario.

The EOC provides support for field operations by locating and allocating additional resources and by anticipating future needs as an incident unfolds while maintaining a continual "situation status". EOC personnel also provide a formal communications link with our community and emergency operations in other communities. EOC personnel also begin the documentation and coordination necessary to ensure the recovery of eligible funding reimbursement from the State or FEMA.

Council's role during a disaster is much as it is during normal operations, that is, the Council establishes the policy that guides the rest of the organization. The Council is also the primary avenue of releasing information to the public, as well as monitoring and addressing community concerns.

Much of the information comes from the Los Angeles Terrorism Early Warning Center (TEW). The TEW is made up of the FBI, the Sheriff, the LAPD, and the Area Fire Service. The TEW is staffed 24 hours a day and monitors events worldwide with an ear to how they may affect Southern California.

Information is also obtained from many other sources, including the Office of Homeland Security and other emergency and non-emergency organizations, local and nationwide.

Once the EOC is activated, we are in direct communication with the County EOC, which has a nationwide communication capability. Additionally, the State's mutual aid system operates independently from but in conjunction with the County EOC system. Virtually unlimited resources are available to our community in the event of a disaster by simply asking for them.

Permits are required for any business that handles or stores hazardous materials, and any business that generates, stores, or treats hazardous waste.

Los Angeles County Fire Department - Health Hazardous Materials Division
5825 Rickenbacker Road, Commerce 90040

Phone: 323-890-4045 

Fax: 323-890-4051

Los Angeles County Fire Department CUPA Forms

The West Covina Police Department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year (366 for leap year!).

The WCPD public lobby is open from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday (Closed on city-observed holidays).

The location is:
1444 W Garvey Avenue
West Covina, CA 91790.

The non-emergency phone number is 626-939-8500.

Release forms for stored, impounded, or recovered stolen vehicles may be obtained from the Records Bureau at the Police Department from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. Monday through Friday (Closed city-observed holidays). Proof of current ownership, current registration, and a valid driver's license are required.

Vehicles impounded pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 14602.6 (suspended, revoked, or unlicensed drivers) may be held for 30 calendar days. Vehicle owners may contest the validity of a vehicle impound or request consideration for early release of a vehicle being held for 30 days by contacting the Traffic Division at 626-939-8555 during regular business hours (Monday through Thursday, 7 am to 4 pm).

The vehicle release fee is $206.40 payable in person at the West Covina Police Department. The fee is payable by credit card (Discover, MasterCard, or Visa) or by cash (exact amount required). No vehicle release fee is charged when the storage was due to the vehicle being a recovered stolen vehicle.

After paying the vehicle release fee at the West Covina Police Department, towing and storage fees are charged by the tow company. The City of West Covina currently utilizes the following towing company: 
Royal Coaches Towing
14827 Ramona Blvd
Baldwin Park, CA 91706
Phone: 626-960-1824

The Superior Court located at the West Covina Citrus Courthouse is a separate government entity. Please visit the Superior Court of California website for more information.

Emergency issues and crimes in progress should be reported by calling 911. Issues that are actively occurring but are not an emergency or crime in progress (e.g., loud music) can be reported using the non-emergency dispatch number 626-939-8500. Long-term or recurring issues can be forwarded to the appropriate service area lieutenant. You may call or email the service area lieutenant who handles your area of the City.

Yes, the Police Department has a 24-hour Crime Hotline at 626-939-8688. The purpose of this Hotline is to allow community members to leave a message reporting crimes, suspicious activities, or neighborhood safety concerns, at any time, discreetly and confidentially. This information is reviewed and investigated by a detective, and callers can choose to remain anonymous or request to be contacted for follow-up.

Yes, to send an anonymous tip via text message to the West Covina Police Department, text TIPWCPD and your tip to 847411 (TIP411). You can also submit the tip online.

If you witness someone actively marking graffiti, call 911 immediately, and you could be eligible for a $100 reward. If you spot graffiti anywhere in the City, please go to this website or call the graffiti hotline number at 626-939-8800 for removal.

If you see someone in the process of marking graffiti, immediately call 911, report the information, and let the police handle it from there (you can choose to remain anonymous, but you will have to call back 1 hour later to follow up). If the graffiti vandals are arrested based on your call, you will be given a $100 cash reward, which you receive in person at the Police Department. Since this graffiti rewards program began in 2007, dozens of rewards have been paid for arrests resulting from resident calls.

Yes, you can follow West Covina PD using several social media options:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Nixle

The West Covina Police Department does not accept traffic (moving) citation payments. All payments and hearing dates for traffic (moving) citations are handled by the Los Angeles Superior Court located at the West Covina Citrus Courthouse, which is a separate government entity. Please visit this website for more information.

• Payments for parking citations are accepted online or by telephone. Citations must be paid by their due date to avoid late penalties.
• Parking citation payments are accepted online.
• Parking citation payments are also accepted via telephone at 800-553-4412

You can also mail your parking citation payments to: 
City of West Covina
P.O. Box 2081, Tustin, CA 92781-2081

Please write the citation number on your check or money order. No extensions are given, and there are no partial payments for citations. Postmarks are accepted. Please do not mail cash.

If you need to retrieve information about a citation, such as the citation number, address to send payment, information about how to request a review, or to check the status of a citation that has been paid or dismissed, you can reach the citation Parking Citation Service Center at 800-553-4412. The Parking Citation Service Center phone number is an automated system and should provide you with selections on their menu to assist your particular needs. If no option is available for your unique information, 0 may be dialed after the options are presented to connect you to an operator who can further assist you. Personnel at the desk of the West Covina Police Department do not have access to detailed information about parking citations.

There are several things that can cause this situation. The first is that the original citation payment was made after the maximum 21-day period and, therefore, increased due to additional penalties. The partial payment of the increased amount would have been received, but the citation would still be referred to DMV for collection because of the balance due. In this case, the total amount is still due to the DMV. It is advisable to pay the total fine amount to DMV so that the vehicle registration won't be delayed, causing additional fees. The original payment can then be refunded if proof of that payment can be provided. To receive a refund of this nature, contact the City of West Covina Finance Department at 626-939-8462. The second possibility for this to occur is that an error was made when posting the original payment, and it was not credited to the correct citation. If you have proof of payment for a citation that the DMV is showing due on the vehicle's registration, contact the City of West Covina Finance Department at 626-939-8462.

If you feel you have been issued a parking citation in error, or the violation should not have been issued because of a variance or some other extenuating circumstance, you can request a review of the citation.

Or, you can send your request via mail to: City of West Covina, Adjudication Services, P.O. Box 2081, Tustin, CA 92781-2081. The review request should include the name, address, and phone number of the person requesting the review, and a complete explanation, including any evidence available of why you feel the citation was issued in error. It is important to include all information helpful to your position because there will not be an opportunity to add information for the reviewers' consideration after the fact.

Reviews must be requested in writing within 21 days of the violation, and the request must be sent to the processing company that maintains the citation records. Requests received that are postmarked outside the 21-day period will not be reviewed.

A review of the citation is made by a City of West Covina Police Department employee. Items considered during the review process included the information provided in the letter requesting the review, any notes or photographs that may have been taken by the issuing officer, computer records checks of DMV information, computer records of any parking variances granted by the City at the time of the violation, and any other evidence available. The results of the review will be provided as either dismissed or upheld. If the violation is upheld, a brief explanation will be provided.

It should be noted that the findings of first-level reviews are generally based on facts presented and do not show consideration to issues such as being late for appointments, being within sight of the illegally parked vehicle, or lack of other convenient parking.

There will be information in the letter explaining that a second-level hearing may be requested if you do not agree with the results of the review. You may request the second-level hearing by indicating either an in-person or a written hearing on the form and returning it to the Parking Enforcement Center (City of West Covina, Adjudication Services, P.O. Box 2081, Tustin, CA 92781-2081) within 15 days of the mailing of the notification letter. Requests received outside the 15-day period will not be honored.

The hearing examiner may need to conduct further research into the Vehicle Code, collect additional statements, or survey locations before ruling on some citations. For this reason, all results will be sent in writing.

In this extreme case, you may file a civil case with the local court. You must file your case within 30 days of the examiner's verdict and pay all fees required by the court. If the court decides in your favor, any and all penalties, including court fees, will be refunded to you when the City receives a written judgment. If judgment is in favor of the City of West Covina, the action is ended, and all penalties are forfeited.

If you have any questions regarding filing a civil case, please contact the West Covina Superior Court at 626-813-3236.

All vehicles on public roadways or roadways subject to California Vehicle Code enforcement must be currently registered. If you have moved the vehicle to private property, filed for a non-operational permit, or are donating the vehicle to charity, the full fine amount can be paid, and there is no need to have the citation signed off.

If your accident occurred after September 1, 2009, you can obtain your report online at this website. You will need to know either the report date and last name, or the report number and last name. With a computer, printer, internet access, and a credit card, you can purchase the report for $5 immediately. The fee goes to an external company offering this service. Reports before September 1, 2009 are available in person at the police department. We recommend calling ahead at 626-939-8500 to make sure a copy is available for you.

Call the Code Enforcement at 626-939-8426, and they will arrange for vehicle abatement service.

View the City of West Covina’s designated truck routes.

Yes, the Federal Bureau of Investigation collects and publishes crime statistics nationwide in its Uniform Crime Report. You can also view a table showing crime statistics for all California cities or West Covina crime statistics.

There is no charge for reports.

The West Covina Police Department does not provide this service at this time. You may get further information on locations that provide the service on the California DOJ Office of the Attorney General's website.

Please visit SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. for more information.

Please contact the Property and Evidence Unit for an appointment at 626-939-8573. Normal office hours are Monday through Friday, 7 am to 4 pm; however, a voicemail can be left after hours.

All persons required to register with the West Covina Police Department pursuant to criminal conviction must contact the West Covina Police Department for an appointment at 626-939-8661.

The State of California Department of Justice has your criminal record information. You must provide them with your fingerprints and pay a fee. An information sheet is available at the police department.

The State of California Department of Justice has your criminal record information. You must provide them with your fingerprints and pay a fee. An information sheet is available at the police department.

Subpoenas for records should be served to the City Clerk's Office at the West Covina City Hall. The exact amount due will be determined prior to the reproduction of documents. However, please attach a check (minimum amount $15) to the subpoena upon delivery. Subpoenas for police department personnel appearances should also be served at the City Clerk's Office with a check for the $275 fee for each day of appearance, per officer. Civil subpoenas require 15 days between the date of service and actual appearance, as required, to allow for adequate notification. Fees can be paid by cash (exact change only) or by credit card (Discover, MasterCard, or Visa).

If you are currently a resident of the City of West Covina or have lived in the City, the West Covina Police Department will do a local criminal history search on you within our city jurisdiction only. If there is no criminal history on you within our jurisdiction, a letter will be made indicating to the INS that there is no adverse information found on you. There is an administrative fee of $10 for the letter, which must be paid by cash, check, or money order only. The letter can take up to ten days to receive.

• Must be a resident of the City of West Covina (Penal Code § 26150 and Penal Code § 26155)
• Be at least 21 years of age (Penal Code § 29610)
• Must be a US Citizen
• Fully complete an application that will include substantial personal information, some of which is subject to public access under the Public Records Act
• Be free from criminal convictions that would disqualify the applicant from carrying a firearm (See DOJ Firearms Prohibiting Categories (PDF))
• Be of good moral character (Penal Code § 26150 and Penal Code § 26155)
• Pay all associated application fees required by any third-party provider, as well as fees required by the Department of Justice, and the cost of the Live Scan (Fees will not be refunded if the application is denied)
• Provide proof of ownership and registration of any firearm associated with the license
• Be free from any psychological conditions that might make the applicant unsuitable for carrying a firearm (Penal Code § 26190)
• Complete required training (Penal Code § 26165)

West Covina PD uses as a vendor to process our CCW license applications. The process will require you to:

1. Apply online with MyCCW
2. Complete the California Department of Justice (DOJ) Application (Also available at MyCCW)
3. Initial review of the application by a background investigator
4. Interview with a background investigator and a review of required documents
5. Criminal history check through Live Scan fingerprinting
6. Thorough background check
7. Psychological review
8. Completion of an approved CCW Firearm Safety Course and Weapon(s) Qualification
9. Final review and issuance of CCW license

The Chief of Police may place special restrictions limiting the time, place, manner, and circumstances under which any license shall be valid. In general, these restrictions will prohibit the licensee from:

• Committing any crime
• Being under the influence of any medication or drug while armed
• Consuming any alcoholic beverages while armed
• Falsely representing yourself as a peace officer
• Interfering with any law enforcement officer's duties
• Loading the permitted firearm with illegal ammunition
• Refusing to display your CCW license or firearm for inspection upon the demand of any peace officer
• Unjustified or unreasonable display of a firearm

Any CCW license may be immediately revoked by the Chief of Police for specific reasons, including, but not limited to:

• The licensee has violated any of the restrictions or conditions placed upon the license.
• The licensee becomes psychologically unsuitable to carry a firearm.
• The licensee is determined to be within a prohibited class described in Penal Code § 29800, Penal Code § 29900, Welfare and Institutions Code § 8100, Welfare and Institutions Code § 8103, or any state or federal law.
• The licensee engages in any conduct that involves a lack of good moral character or that might otherwise remove the good cause for the original issuance of the license.

The West Covina Police Department has closely evaluated the need for the psychological assessment requirement during the CCW application process. Through discussions with our city attorney and our police department psychologist, as well as a review of empirical-based studies and a review of other peer department CCW programs, the Chief of Police has decided to require a psychological assessment for CCW licenses.

The test we use in our psychological evaluations is the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5), which is a self-report questionnaire designed to assess personality traits based on the dimensional model proposed in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). It is a tool used in clinical assessment and research to evaluate an individual's personality structure across five broad domains:

• Negative Affectivity: This domain includes traits related to emotional dysregulation, anxiety, and irritability.
• Detachment: Assessing traits related to social withdrawal, avoidance of intimacy, and restricted emotional expression.
• Antagonism: Focusing on traits such as manipulativeness, deceitfulness, and grandiosity.
• Disinhibition: Examining traits associated with impulsivity, irresponsibility, and distractibility.
• Psychoticism: Assessing eccentricity, perceptual dysregulation, and unusual beliefs.

The PID-5 provides a comprehensive overview of an individual's personality structure, contributing valuable information for diagnostic and treatment planning purposes. It's widely used in the field of psychology and psychiatry for assessing personality pathology and understanding various psychopathological conditions.

For the psychological assessment portion of the CCW, we utilize Seal Beach Counseling. They are a trusted counseling practice used by many of the police departments in Riverside County and Los Angeles County. Their detailed assessment is very important for the police chief as it assists with making an informed decision when issuing a CCW permit.

Our assessment looks at both the pathology of mental illness, depression, and anxiety, for example, as well as how someone interacts with the world around them. Labeling the assessment as a personality test simplifies a very detailed and proven scientific tool. There is no perfect test, and there is no way to predict all behavior. However, the process West Covina PD uses gives a better overall picture of the applicant and assists the police chief with making an informed decision regarding our CCW applicants.

California Penal Code 26190(e)(1) essentially states: If a psychological assessment on the initial application is required by the licensing authority (Police Chief), the license applicant shall be referred to a licensed psychologist acceptable to the licensing authority. The applicant may be charged for the actual cost of the assessment. In no case shall the amount charged to the applicant for the psychological assessment exceed the reasonable costs to the licensing authority.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department will refer all new applicants who are West Covina residents to West Covina PD for CCW consideration. West Covina PD respects the opinion of some individuals who believe that psychological assessments should not be required for a CCW. If this is the case with a West Covina resident, the applicant is directed to consider applying with the County. This does not mean the County will process the applicant.

Yes, it is posted on our about page.

Any renewals for CCWs that were not initially approved by West Covina PD (e.g., Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department) need to be renewed through the original agency. Residents seeking CCW renewals should contact the issuing agency. At this time, all applicants will be processed as new or initial applicants.

The authority to issue a limited CCW business license to a non-resident applicant is granted only to the Sheriff of the county in which the applicant works. The chief of a municipal police department may not issue limited CCW business licenses (Penal Code § 26150).

Those interested in a limited CCW business license should contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

A CCW license can be amended for the following reasons:

• Change of address or legal name change (Documentation required)
• Lost or stolen license (Police report required)
• Adding a new firearm to the license only in the event of a damaged, lost, or stolen firearm (Police report required)

All other amendments, including gun modifications not previously mentioned, will be processed at the time of application renewal.

The firearm you list on your CCW application must be a handgun that is registered to you in the state of California. The handgun must be capable of being concealed on a person or within a reasonably sized bag/purse. The handgun, magazines, and ammunition must comply with applicable State and Federal laws. "AR pistol" platforms and similar handgun style are not permitted. Any handgun or pistol that has the capacity to accept a magazine outside of the pistol grip is not permitted. Customization of firearms is permitted as long as it does not violate any State or Federal regulations. Most caliber handguns are permitted. Magazine capacity is not restricted, however, the use of any magazine with a capacity above 10 rounds is only permitted if the applicant is in legal possession of such magazine.

We currently allow up to two handguns on a CCW license.

Modifications of handguns listed on the license will only occur during the CCW renewal period.

If you have questions or need assistance about the application process or you have questions or need assistance during the application process, please visit MyCCW and select the Contact Us button.

If you are a vendor with a licensed firearms training course, please visit MyCCW and select the Become a Vendor button to apply.

Report non-functioning or signal lights out to the Maintenance Division at 626-919-6966 or report it on the GoGov reporting application.

Southern California Edison at 800-611-1911.

• The Maintenance Division 626-919-6966 or report it at the GoGov reporting application.

Fees are calculated by one of the following:

• Valuation of work as determined by a standardized per sq. ft. cost table.
• Valuation based on fair market value of labor and materials.
• Per item as is the case with the Plumbing, Electrical and Mechanical permits.
• Fee schedules are available at the Public Works counter.

No, we do not make referrals, however, you may review permits that have been issued in our city, or look through the yellow pages of the phone book. It may be beneficial to get referrals and at least 3 quotes. Also check the contractors' license, with the California Contractors State License Board at 800-321-2752.

Yes you can.

The easiest and most common plastics to recycle are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) and are assigned the number 1. Examples include soda and water bottles, medicine containers, and many other common consumer product containers. Once it has been processed by a recycling facility, PETE can become fiberfill for winter coats, sleeping bags and life jackets. It can also be used to make bean bags, rope, car bumpers, tennis ball felt, combs, cassette tapes, sails for boats, furniture and, of course, other plastic bottles.

Number 2 is reserved for high-density polyethylene plastics. These include heavier containers that hold laundry detergents and bleaches as well as milk, shampoo and motor oil. Plastic labeled with the number 2 is often recycled into toys, piping, plastic lumber and rope. Like plastic designated number 1, it is widely accepted at recycling centers.

Please visit our Bottle and Can Recycling page for more details and for locations in the City where you can recycle your plastics.

Class I is the hazardous waste landfill. The Class III is the municipal solid waste landfill.

View the Class 3 and 1 Landfills (JPG).

No. A Superfund site is any land in the United States that has been contaminated by hazardous waste and identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a candidate for cleanup because it poses a risk to human health and/or the environment. EPA has no identified the BKK Landfill as a Superfund site.

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) is the federal program that allows the EPA to fund the cleanup of sites contaminated with hazardous substances and pollutants. CERCLA gives EPA the funds and authority to clean up contaminated sites that are abandoned or have no viable responsible party. Sites managed under this program are referred to as "Superfund" sites.

The City has not approved a project. The City has selected the proposal submitted by Singpol Group LLC and authorized the City Manager to execute a Letter of Intent (LOI). The LOI allows the City and Singpol to further pursue the feasibility of Singpol's proposal. The proposal is still a concept and will go through the necessary entitlement process for City approvals, as well as obtain the necessary approvals from the Regulatory Agencies.

There have been no Prop. 65 (also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986) notices since 2007. In 2010, DTSC evaluated subsurface soils in the residential area and found no evidence that landfill gas was migrating into the area. Currently the EE/CA and RI/FS are evaluating the integrity of the landfill systems and groundwater for potential impacts from the landfill.

Please visit DTSC's website and search "BKK Landfill" for information and documents pertaining to the landfill. For information on the Enforcement/Inspections for the site please visit the following DTSC webpage.