City of Brea Police Officers, Public Safety Dispatchers, Community Services Officers, Police Records personnel and many other professional staff provide law enforcement services for the cities of Brea and Yorba Linda, two adjacent municipalities located in northeast Orange County. The two cities border three counties, and are bisected by two major freeways. Mountain resorts, beaches, theme parks, and major sporting venues are all within driving distances. Brea and Yorba Linda are considered premier locations to live, work and play.

If you are exploring a career in law enforcement, choose an organization that is highly respected and well appreciated by the community it serves. Consider the City of Brea Police Department, where satisfying work can make a difference in your communities, your personal life and your career success.

The City of Brea,
Orange County, California

Nestled in the foothills of North Orange County, Brea is a thriving city of 39,584 residents. Destination shopping and restaurants abound. An award winning school district and a diverse business mix makes Brea the place to live, work and play.

More than 100,000 people visit the city daily. Brea Mall, conveniently located just off the 57 freeway, has five-major anchor stores: Nordstrom, Macy’s, Robinson-May, Sears and JC Penney, with over 175 specialty stores and restaurants and Glen Ivy Day Spa. Located adjacent to Brea Mall, Embassy Suites Hotel attracts visitors, conferences and small conventions from domestic and foreign locales.

Brea is also very proud of its bustling downtown popularly known as “Birch Street,” with over 50 acres of shopping and entertainment. This village-style pedestrian-oriented promenade features Taps Fish House & Brewery, Old Navy, Market City Café, Pan e Vino Trattoria, The Yard House the Improv Comedy Club and Edwards Stadium Cinema Complex, to name a few.

City Hall Park, located on Brea Boulevard, includes a historic community plunge and hosts a popular summer Concerts in the Park series, as well as the annual July 4 Country Fair. The Brea Scout Center, housed in the renovated old City Hall park provides a meeting place for local Boy Scout and Girls Scout troops. The Brea Museum and Heritage Center, located in the former Police station,  features exhibits of Brea's history. 

The Brea Marketplace, Brea Gateway Shopping Center, Union Plaza and East Imperial Center offer residents extensive choices for specialty retail and services, creating more reasons to “Shop Brea” and keep tax dollars working in their own community. Brea Boulevard and Imperial Highway, both retail corridors, host a number of smaller neighborhood shopping centers.

Brea’s History

Brea has an interesting historical past, making its mark as a place “wildcatters” struck it rich discovering oil. Brea was known as a place where tar (oil) seeped from the rolling hills. In fact, the word “Brea” means tar in Spanish. In early history, Indians and pioneers used chunks of the oil-soaked earth for fuel and domestic purposes like heating their homes and waterproofing their roofs. Then came the big oil boom! In 1894, the Union Oil company purchased 1,200 acres of land to be used for oil development. Four years later the first oil well, Olinda Oil Well #1, came in – thus creating an oil boom in the hills of Brea and Olinda and paving the way for the thriving City Brea is today.

Brea’s Future

Because Brea is well known for a high-quality lifestyle and upbeat business tempo, new development proposals can be expected into the future. An updated City of Brea General Plan was adopted in 2003 reflecting key values that guide the community. This document reflects extensive public outreach, which is a hallmark of policy-making in Brea. As population increases in Southern California and the entire region becomes increasingly urban, Brea is certain to lead the way in striking good balance on emerging issues.

On the northeastern side of town, construction has started on a new multi-sports park, and plans are underway for a new school that will ultimately be adjacent to the site.  The Olinda Oil Museum and Trail on Sante Fe Road provides a unique, hands-on experience, as visitors learn about Olinda's rich oil history.  Additional hillside housing is expected in land north of Lambert Road where the County of Orange and property owners are coordinating with the City for utility and safety services and eventual annexation.

Revitalization of existing properties will remain an important dynamic for Brea. Development concepts now in place honor the past through timely preservation of historically relevant resources while still encouraging more efficient infrastructure and improved buildings to handle expanding human needs. Exciting in-fill projects will continue to be a cornerstone of economic development for the City.

Brea is committed to responsible growth, which includes protection of nearby open space. The City is bordered by a significant natural wildlife corridor that also serves as a rare scenic break within the area’s urban sprawl. Working in conjunction with neighboring communities, Brea has attracted national interest from parks and environmental organizations that recognize the significance of its setting. Nearby hillsides may well represent the best legacy for the future.

City Government

Brea was incorporated in 1917 under the California Municipal Code as a General Law City. The City is governed by a five-member City Council, elected from the City at large for terms of four years each. Elections are held every two years (in the even numbered years) to fill alternately two and three seats. Each Council elects one of the group to serve as Mayor for a one-year term.

The Council appoints a City Manager who is responsible for implementing policies adopted by the Council. He or she directs the activities of the major City departments and advises the Council on matters affecting the City. The Council also appoints the City Attorney to provide counsel on City matters.

Members of the Cultural Arts Commission; Parks, Recreation and Human Services Commission; Planning Commission; and Traffic Committee are appointed by members of the Council. There are also numerous committees and citizen advisory groups that allow input from the community.

Brea’s Economy

A strong commercial and industrial sector offers employment opportunities and a strong tax base which allows Brea citizens to enjoy a high level of public services rarely found in a community of 39,584 people. Brea is a regional retail center offering every conceivable type of goods and services. The diversified business sector includes manufacturing, service industries, retail and distribution outlets, and professional corporations.

Brea’s average household income as estimated by the 2002 Census, is $84,457, well above the nation’s average. Average household incomes are expected to increase 14.8% over the next five years to $96,936. Education levels are also high in Brea, with 21% of the adult population earning Bachelor’s Degrees and 10% earning Graduate or Professional Degrees.

Living in Brea

Brea enjoys a diverse mixture of housing types, from quaint neighborhoods dating back to the 1920s to modern single-family developments, planned apartment communities, condominiums, townhouses and five mobile home parks. Sales prices of existing homes start at $450,000. Rental prices begin at $950 per month.

There are also a number of housing opportunities for senior citizens, including Brea Woods, Breal,  Williams Senior Apartments, Heritage Plaza, Vintage Canyon, Orange Villa and The Gardens at Brea.

Location

Nestled in the foothills on a plateau at the northern tip of Orange County, Brea offers easy access to Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, and to a number of beaches, resorts, and tourist attractions. Orange County Airport is 17 miles away, Ontario Airport 25 miles away, and LAX is 48 miles from Brea. An Amtrak station and a municipal airport are located in the neighboring City of Fullerton, approximately 5 miles away. Brea is 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The Orange (57) freeway bisects the City from north to south and offers easy access to the Riverside (91) freeway to the south and the Pomona (60) and San Bernardino (10) freeways to the north.

Unsurpassed Medical Care

Brea offers numerous diverse medical options to its residents. With a variety of physicians, surgeons and various other highly skilled medical professionals in and around the City, the quality of healthcare in Brea is outstanding.

Brea is close neighbors with Placentia-Linda Hospital and St. Jude Medical Center. These excellent facilities provide quality health care and 24-hour emergency care to the Brea area.

Education

Brea public schools consistently score above the 90th percentile in state and national achievement tests. Several Brea schools have been recognized as “Blue Ribbon” and “Distinguished” schools. Approximately 80% of graduating seniors attend college annually.

The Brea Olinda School District operates six elementary schools, one junior high school, a high school, and a continuation high school. Brea Olinda High School boasts state of the art computer technology, a professional performing arts center and complete athletic facilities, including a synthetic track. Brea also has several private pre-schools, two Christian schools, and a Roman Catholic school serving grades K-8.

Colleges, universities and a number of technical and vocational schools are located in and around Brea. California State University, Fullerton College, Pacific Christian College, Hope University, an optometry school and a law school are located in nearby Fullerton.

Employment is Booming in Brea

Over 100,000 people a day work, shop and dine in Brea. In addition to being a major retail center with one of the county’s most popular shopping centers (The Brea Mall), Brea is home to many large corporations such as Beckman Coulter, Inc., Mercury Insurance Group, American Funds Service Company, Bank of America and Albertson’s Distribution Warehouse.

Cultural Arts

Brea’s Art in Public Places began in 1975 and was designed to integrate public art with private development. This nationally recognized program now includes over 140 sculptures, all in public view throughout the City. The Art in Public Places program features a wide range of mediums, styles and approaches by local, national and internationally renowned artists.

The Brea Art Gallery, located on the Plaza level of the Brea Civic & Cultural Center offers first-rate exhibits throughout the year in a variety of media. Gallery hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Closed Monday, Tuesday and holidays. Call for Saturday hours. Call 990-7730 for current exhibit information.

The Curtis Theatre, also located in the Civic Center, is a 199-seat professional theatre offering a wide range of entertainment, including music, dance, drama and children’s theatre, by a variety of local and visiting groups. Box Office phone is 990-7722.

Recreation and Family Fun

There are three regional parks located in or adjacent to Brea, plus many neighborhood parks and playing fields, and a community swimming pool. The City’s Community Services Department offers organized sports activities, excursions, classes and other recreational opportunities for all age groups. There are three public golf courses in the City. Soccer, Girls Softball, Little League Baseball and Pop Warner Football leagues are well established in Brea. The City boasts one of the strongest Scouting programs in the county. The City also has a Boys and Girls Club that offers after school child care and summer recreation programs.

Brea’s very popular 52,000 square foot Community Center offers a fitness complex, youth activities, Family Resource Center, and meeting and banquet rooms. The Brea Senior Center provides activities, meals, and a gathering place for the City’s older residents.

Community Events

Brea sponsors many community events throughout the year, including:

Concerts in the Park, City Hall Park, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
(Every Wednesday evening during July and August)

Family Films in the Park at Arovista Park, 8 p.m.
(Every Friday evening during July & August)

Brea Fest, Brea Civic & Cultural Center, 7 - 10:30 p.m.
(Held in August; date to be determined)

Tree Lighting, Brea Civic & Cultural Center, 6:30 p.m.
(Held in December; date to be determined)

Country Fair, City Hall Park, 7:30 am - 4:30 p.m. (July 4)

Spring Craft Boutique at the Brea Community Center
(Usually held the third weekend in March)

Nutcracker Craft Boutique at the Brea Community Center
(Usually held in November, the weekend before Thanksgiving

Check out the City’s website www.cityofbrea.net for current information on any special events. For information, call (714) 990-7124.

Downtown Brea Events

The Brea Downtown Owners Association hosts a number of events on the Birch Street Promenade throughout the year. You can find out detailed information about each of these events by visiting their website at www.breadowntown.com

Farmer’s Market
Tuesdays, 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Cruisin’ Brea Classics Car Show & Music Festival 
Typcially held on Father's Day 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Brea Jazz Festival Concert Series Fridays and Saturdays in September, 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm

Various holiday festivities are brought to the public through collaborative efforts with downtown merchants (retail, dining and entertainment), City of Brea Fire Department, and the local churches and schools.  Please visit cityofbrea.net for more information.