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City of El Cajon

200 Civic Center Way
619-441-1716

History :

Two historical names keynote the early development of the modern commercial municipality of El Cajon - The Big Box Valley and The Corners. Its growth is directly linked to its initial role as the agrarian heartland and communications center of San Diego County.

In the early part of the nineteenth century the explorations of the mission padres for pasture land led them to El Cajon Valley. The surrounding foothills were a barrier to straying cattle as well as a watershed to gather the sparse rainfall for verdant grasslands along the valley floor. For years the pasture lands supported the cattle herds of the mission and its native Indian converts.

With independence from Spain, the Spanish Dons began to cast envious eyes on the vast holdings of the Roman Catholic Missions. With secularization, California Governor Pio Pico in 1845 confiscated the lands of Mission San Diego de Alcala and granted the eleven square leagues of El Cajon

Valley to Dona Maria Antonio Estudillo, wife of Don Miguel de Pedrorena, to repay a $500 government obligation. The grant included generally the present communities of Lakeside, Santee, Bostonia, Glenview, Johnstown, El Cajon, and part of Grossmont.

Recorded history affords scant evidence to establish a beginning date for either a permanent Spanish or American community in the valley. The Pedrorenas continued their residence in San Diego and their absentee proprietorship did not foster any economic development. Scattered homes of adobe construction were erected in the area during the mid 19th century, but the permanency of their occupancy is open to question. The establishment of a school for six children in 1870 in a homestead at Park and Magnolia offered conclusive proof that a permanent American settlement had been established.

The City of El Cajon incorporated on November 12, 1912 as a General Law City. This means that the legal authority for the city's acts originates with laws of the State of California rather than from a city charter.

Recent News

Multiple Arrests and Stolen Property Recovered Assisted by Flock Safety ALPR

TYPE OF INCIDENT: Multiple Arrests and Stolen Property Recovered Assisted by Flock Safety ALPR DATE AND TIME OCCURRED: Varied LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: El Cajon RESUME OF INCIDENT: The El Cajon Police Department recently started an automated…

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City of El Cajon Police Department News Holding DUI Checkpoint January 27, 2023

El Cajon, Calif. – The El Cajon Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint January 27 from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. in the 900 block of El Cajon Blvd in El Cajon. Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests.…

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City of El Cajon News - El Cajon Partners with American Medical Response to Launch Innovative New 9-1-1 Nurse Navigator Program

El Cajon Partners with American Medical Response to Launch Innovative New 9-1-1 Nurse Navigator Program Beginning on January 31, El Cajon residents who call 9-1-1 may receive expanded medical services through the new El Cajon Community Care program,…

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City of El Cajon : Two Arrested for Attempted Homicide of Juvenile

El Cajon Police Detectives have arrested two juvenile males for the December 12 attempted murder of a 16-year-old female victim at an El Cajon motel. The suspects, ages 15 and 17, will not be identified because they are juveniles. A group of El…

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City Of El Cajon : Steve Goble Appointed As Deputy Mayor

On Tuesday, December 13th, the El Cajon City Council voted unanimously to appoint Steve Goble as Deputy Mayor for the 2023 Calendar year. In accordance with the City’s Municipal Code, the City Council chooses the Deputy Mayor annually during…

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City of El Cajon : Launches New Neighborhood Cleanup Program in 2023

El Cajon, CA – Beginning January 1, 2023, the City of El Cajon will debut a new program designed to encourage clean neighborhoods and community pride. The Neighborhood Cleanup Program will be a free City service created to empower local…

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The City of El Cajon is Seeking Applicants to Serve on its Veterans Coalition

The City of El Cajon is Seeking Applicants to Serve on its Veterans Coalition The City of El Cajon Veterans Coalition is seeking new members. The Veterans Coalition will open its application period from January 9, through February 10, 2023. Active…

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City of El Cajon News : Launches Automated Plan Review App for Solar Projects

El Cajon, CA – Last week, the City of El Cajon became just the second City in San Diego County, and only one of a handful of cities in California, to launch SolarAPP+, an automated permit review applications for permitting new residential…

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City Of El Cajon Police DUI Checkpoint : December 16, 2022

El Cajon, Calif. – The El Cajon Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint December 16th from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. in the 1400 block of E. Washington in El Cajon. Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and…

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City of El Cajon News Fatal Pedestrian Collision

FATAL PEDESTRIAN COLLISION IN EL CAJON TYPE OF INCIDENT: FATAL PEDESTRIAN COLLISION DATE AND TIME OF INCIDENT: 12-6-22 at 6:50 pm LOCATION OF INCIDENT: 724 Fletcher Parkway, El Cajon, CA. RESUME OF INCIDENT: On 12/6/22, at approximately…

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City of El Cajon Named As 2022 Top Workplace

El Cajon, CA – The City of El Cajon has been recognized as a Top Workplace in San Diego for 2022. The award comes solely from employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey. The survey measures organizational culture, empowerment of…

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City of El Cajon : LT. W. Miller

EL CAJON POLICE DEPT. – PRESS RELEASE INFORMATION SHEET OCCURRED: November 12, 2022 at 9:00 PM LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 1355 E. Main El Cajon, CA 92019 SAN DIEGO COUNTY VOUCHER RECIPIENT ARRESTED AT EL CAJON HOTEL FOR TWO FELONY…

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City of El Cajon News : Arrest Made In East County Robbery Series

On November 1, 2022 around 6:38 PM, El Cajon Police Officers responded to a robbery at the Vans Store in the 800 block of N. Second Street in El Cajon, which was similar to a series of robberies in the past week. Officers began checking the area…

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The City Received the Results of an Independent Financial Audit Performed by the Taxpayers Advocate - And It Is Positive!

The Taxpayers Advocate audit report findings indicates that the City has prudent fiscal policies, excellent management, and efficient service delivery. El Cajon - In September month, the El Cajon City Council hired a third-party financial…

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City of El Cajon News : Man Arrested For Assault With A Deadly Weapon On A Police Officer

Date and Time Occurred: 9/28/22 at about 10:20 AM Location of Occurrence: 400 W. Main Business Name: N/A Suspect: Ruben Quintana Suspect Description: 33 years old Resume of Incident: On September 28, 2022, around 10:20 AM, in response to…

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City of El Cajon News -San Diego County’s motel voucher program for homeless harboring criminals and fugitives in El Cajon

TYPE OF INCIDENT: San Diego County’s motel voucher program for homeless harboring criminals and fugitives in El Cajon LOCATION OF INCIDENT: El Cajon, CA RESUME OF INCIDENT: After reviewing arrest records related to the…

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City of El Cajon News - Fatal Vehicle Collision

TYPE OF INCIDENT: FATAL VEHICLE COLLISION DATE AND TIME OF INCIDENT: 09/12/22 at 1:57 AM LOCATION OF INCIDENT: 1576 Greenfield Drive, El Cajon RESUME OF INCIDENT: On 09/12/22 at approximately 1:57 AM, El Cajon police officers and paramedics…

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City Of El Cajon Police Department Honors Retired Police K-9 'Jester'

The El Cajon Police Department will honor "Jester", a police K-9 that was seriously injured during the arrest of a violent suspect in June of 2022. Before his retirement, Jester rehabilitated and was returned to full duty before his retirement this…

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Nominations Being Accepted for El Cajon Veteran of the Year

El Cajon has a long history of veterans performing community service in support of other veterans, the City, and its residents. The City of El Cajon is committed to recognizing its veterans for their significant contribution of talents to strengthen…

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El Cajon Police Department News - DUI Patrols August 26 and DUI Checkpoint August 27

El Cajon Police Department Conducting DUI Patrols Aug 26th and a DUI Checkpoint Aug 27th El Cajon, CA - The El Cajon Police Department will hold a DUI Checkpoint August 27th from 8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. in the 300 block of N. Second in El Cajon. …

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City of El Cajon : Arrest for Homicide in El Cajon

On 8/22/22 at approximately 5:33am, officers from the El Cajon Police Department as well as medics from Heartland Fire and Rescue responded to a private residence located at 1599 Soma Place in El Cajon on a call of a woman who had been shot. Upon…

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City of El Cajon News - Transient Arrested for Residential Burglary and Indecent Exposure

LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 200 E. Lexington Ave., El Cajon California RESUME OF INCIDENT: TRANSIENT ARRESTED FOR BURGLARY AND INDECENT EXPOSURE On August 16, 2022 at approximately 5:15 AM, a man entered an elderly woman’s apartment in the…

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City of El Cajon - Stabbing Arrest in El Cajon

RESUME OF INCIDENT: On 07/30/22 at 9:16pm, the adult male victim and his adult girlfriend were on the trolley in the area of the Marshall Avenue trolley stop in El Cajon when the victim was confronted by an adult male suspect. During an argument…

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City of El Cajon - Fatal Pedestrian Collision

On 07-27-22 at approximately 8:49 pm, El Cajon Police Officers and paramedics responded to the 600 block of North Second Street to a call of a pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers located a 20 year old female lying in…

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City Of El Cajon - Fatal Vehicle Collision

FATAL VEHICLE COLLISION IN EL CAJON Post Date: 07/22/22 10:30 PM TYPE OF INCIDENT: FATAL VEHICLE COLLISION DATE AND TIME OF INCIDENT: 07/22/22 at 7:23 PM LOCATION OF INCIDENT: 900 Broadway, El Cajon RESUME OF INCIDENT: On 07/22/22 at…

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City of El Cajon - Suspect Arrrested for Assault on an Officer, Assault on Police K9 and Felony Vandalism

RESUME OF INCIDENT (UPDATED): Police K9 Jester was released from the emergency animal hospital last night and is at home recovering from his injuries. Suspect Rani Alrais was booked on charges of assault on a Peace Officer, assault on a police…

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City Of El Cajon Police Department Sends Helmets And Armor To Ukraine

Last month, the California Office of Emergency Services reached out to local law enforcement agencies throughout the State with a list of equipment needed in Ukraine. This week, the City of El Cajon Police Department donated 45 ballistic vests and 8…

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Arson Investigaiton In El Cajon

On 05/06/22, Court Services Deputies with the San Diego County Sherriff’s Office attempted to serve a family-initiated eviction on the resident who lived at the Redwood address with an adult female girlfriend. Upon arrival, the deputies…

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