City of Canyon Lake, Photography by Anthony Arendt Photography

Police Department

The City of Canyon Lake contracts with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for police services. The contract provides for one deputy 24 hours per day and one community oriented policing and problem solving officer (C.O.P.P.S) 

Police Department Statistics

Perris Sheriff Station Has New Commander

Capt. John Hill, a Moreno Valley native and 23-year veteran of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, has taken the helm at the sheriff’s Perris Station.

Hill, 46, replaces Capt. James McElvain, who had been station captain since 2008 and is now commander of the Ben Clark Training Center near Riverside.

Hill said he hopes to build on the station’s success under McElvain’s leadership.

“He did a great job,” Hill said.

Hill started his new job just a couple weeks ago, but said he has already attended council meetings in the three contract cities and is getting out in the community to meet people.

The station covers 190 square miles of Riverside County, serving more than 213,000 residents, sheriff’s officials said. As station commander, Hill will serve as police chief for Perris, Menifee and Canyon Lake, which have contracts with the sheriff’s department for policing services. Hill also will oversee deputies serving unincorporated areas including Mead Valley, Woodcrest, Romoland, Homeland and Lake Mathews, as well as the Perris-based Forensic Services Bureau and the Underwater Search and Recovery Team.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that I will be busy here,” he said with a smile sitting in his new office Friday at the Perris station.

The space is decorated with the many awards Hill has received during his career, as well as pictures of Bouviers des Flandres, the pedigree dogs he and his wife have kept for years.

Most recently, Hill served for more than two years as captain overseeing the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

Hill, who lives in Banning with his wife and four dogs, said he enjoyed working in corrections but welcomes the opportunity to be a station commander.

“I’m really looking forward to giving this a shot,” he said.

Hill began his career with the Sheriff’s Department in 1988 as a deputy in the Riverside jail. Early in his career, he worked as a patrol deputy in Homeland and what is now the northern part of Menifee. He spent about 11 years at the Moreno Valley station, where his assignments including patrol sergeant, detective sergeant and administrative lieutenant. He also served a brief stint as lieutenant of the Forensic Service Bureau in 2008. Hill was promoted to captain in 2009.

Hill, whose father was in the Air Force, grew up in Moreno Valley. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s of public administration from California Baptist University.

POA or 9-1-1 ?

  • Call 9-1-1 for anything that is an emergency or if you are in need of "immediate response" be it law enforcement or fire.
  • The POA's independent sub contractor, Allied Barton Security, responds to rules and regulation violations not crimes.
  • Allied Barton Security will not call the police or do a third party report. If you call Security first in the event of an emergency it will increase the time of the Canyon Lake Police Department.
  • Neighbors who see suspicious behavior or parties that may be getting out of hand should call the Sheriff's Department on a hard line at 9-1-1 or by cell phone dial (951) 776-1078.