Hate Crimes

The Fountain Valley Police Department believes in protecting the City's diverse population from fear, intimidation, and physical harm caused by a violent group or individual based upon race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. 

 For historical information on hate crimes in Orange County, please refer to the OC Human Relations website. 


Hate Crime vs. Hate Incident

ActionCriminal Act (Penal Code 422.55)Act of prejudice (not a crime, does not involve violence, threats or property damage)
MotivationBias: based on perceived race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or gender

Hatred or bigotry directed at any individual, residence, house of worship, institution, or business because of perceived race, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or disability.


ExamplesActs that result in injury, verbal threat of violence than can be carried out, property damage.

Hate speech (name calling, racial slurs, insults), display of offensive materials on one's property, distribution of hate materials in public places, and posting of hate materials not resulting in property damage.



Reported Hate Incidents and Crimes

This page will be updated monthly

Hate incidents reported to the Fountain Valley Police Department as of July 24, 2025: 2
  • 12/29/2023 Directed slurs  (Anti-Homosexual & Anti-Religious)
  • 01/21/2024 Directed slurs (Anti-Black)
Hate crimes reported to the Fountain Valley Police Department as of July 24, 2025: 10
  • 04/29/2023 Vandalism (graffiti) on a residential sidewalk targeting victim based on race (Anti-Asian) 
  • 06/19/2023 Brandishing weapon based on race (Anti-Hispanic)
  • 07/17/2023 Vandalism to a window based on race (Anti-Black)
  • 10/29/2023 Vandalism (graffiti) in a public school campus targeting victim based on race (Anti-Black) and sexual orientation (Anti-Homosexual)
  • 10/29/2023 Vandalism (graffiti) in a public school campus targeting victim based on race (Anti-Black) and sexual orientation (Anti-Homosexual)
  • 10/29/2023 Vandalism (graffiti) on a residential fence targeting victim based on sexual orientation (Anti-Homosexual)
  • 11/08/2023 Vandalism (graffiti) on a public electrical box based on race (Anti-Black & Anti-Semitic)
  • 11/23/2023 Vandalism (graffiti) on a wall located in a public walkway based on race (Anti-Black)
  • 12/17/2023 Vandalism (graffiti) on a wall located in a public walkway based on race (Anti-Black)
  • 11/10/2024 Threats based on sexual orientation (Anti-Homosexual)

If You Are A Victim

If you are a victim of a hate crime, please report it to the Fountain Valley Police Department by calling our non-emergency dispatch line at (714) 593-4485 or 9-1-1 for emergencies. If the event does not meet the definition of a hate crime, it may fall under the category of a hate incident.

Click HERE If you are looking for information on reporting a hate crime/ incident or additional resources.