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Doing more with less
Posted 06/04/2014 1:32 pm
By Chief Edward Medrano, Gardena Police Department
"Doing more with less" is a common mantra heard among both public and private organizations since the recent economic downturn. I have increasingly noticed chiefs of police being asked to assume more responsibility across a wide variety of disciplines. Chiefs are generally the first to be called upon to assume additional city departments, and often are appointed as interim city managers. Why does this occur? Police chiefs are generally well-rounded enough to assume any responsibility with minimal direction and oversight.
In October 2009 after two years of being chief of police, I was asked to take on the role of assistant director of th...Read More
Police Chiefs Flex their Legislative Muscles at the State Capitol
Posted 05/16/2014 11:16 am
Cal Chiefs held its first very successful Annual Legislative Day May 14th in Sacramento and more than 70 police chiefs attended.
The event kicked off Tuesday evening May 13th with a reception at the State Capitol and more than 20 legislators attended, including Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. The reception was a great way for chiefs to have a casual conversation with their legislators.
The morning of May 14th featured a welcome by Cal Chiefs' president Christopher Boyd and Law & Legislative Committee Chair David Swing as well as updates on CPCA key bills by our legislative team and legislative committee members. Chiefs, who attended the event in uniform, were provided with a packet o...Read More
Service with a NEW Smile
Posted 04/15/2014 2:41 pm
As the Community Impact Officer, Officer Trahan often deals with issues of the homeless population throughout the City. In the fall of this year, she began working with one particular woman, Ms. Harvey, who became homeless due to losing her job at a warehouse where she had worked for ten years. The company, intent on lowering their fiscal overhead, moved to Mexico. For the past two years, Ms. Harvey has been homeless and unable to secure another job. Officer Trahan felt part of the reason for her unemployment was because of her dental problems.
Ms. Harvey explained to Officer Trahan that she began losing her teeth five years ago due to not having dental insurance and not being able to affo...Read More
One of the Toughest Beats in America
Posted 03/14/2014 8:49 am
By Chief Michael
Stallion Springs Police Department
Throughout my law enforcement career, I have had countless people from all walks of life thank my partners and I for the job we do, for being cops, and for protecting their families. I have always tried to keep things in perspective and to remember that I am a public servant and that my badge represents the public's trust in me to do the right thing. Fire fighters are thanked on a regular basis for their heroism, and the risks they take to protect lives and property throughout their careers as well. There are many facets to public service and for the most part, public servants serve with honor and integrity.
But imagine going to...Read More
California Police Chiefs Kick Off 37th Annual Training Symposium in Monterey
Posted 02/19/2014 11:31 am
Over 300 police chiefs and law enforcement officials from throughout the state are scheduled to attend CPCA's 37th Annual Training Symposium February 23-27 at the Portola Plaza Hotel in Monterey which will feature more than 12 training and professional development workshops.
The Symposium kicks off with the Opening Ceremony and Fallen Officer Tribute on Monday February 24th at 8:30 am in the Steinbeck Auditorium in the Monterey Conference Center. The Fallen Officer Tribute remembers and honors the lives of California law enforcement officers who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty in the previous year.
Monday the 24th also features the President's luncheon beginning a...Read More
Dynamic speakers you WON'T want to miss!
Posted 02/12/2014 2:29 pm
The 37th Annual Cal Chiefs Training Symposium is just around the corner. If you haven't already, be sure you register! You're not going to want to miss this speaker line up!
Monday, February 24, 2014
Opening Ceremony/Welcome Address
Speaker: Kamala Harris, Attorney General
Kamala Harris was sworn in as the 32nd Attorney General in January of 2011. She is the first woman, the first African American, and the first South Asian to hold the office in the history of California. As chief law enforcement officer for the state, Attorney General Harris has focused on combating transnational gangs that are trafficking guns, drugs, and human beings throughout California. She has worked to increase the a...Read More
Ukiah Police Department Builds Muscles and Camaraderie
Posted 01/17/2014 7:45 am
After almost 30 years in law enforcement, Police Chief Chris Dewey knows that continuing to do things the way they've always been done is a great way to fall behind. New threats require new approaches, and any activity that improves morale, builds camaraderie, enhances physical fitness and sharpens mental focus is good for his whole team.
With this in mind, Chief Dewey approached Louis Maldonado, 37-year martial arts veteran and the owner of a local gym. Chief Dewey asked if Maldonado would be willing to tailor a class for Ukiah Police Department employees. That was five years ago, and the benefits have been outstanding.
Everyone at UPD is invited to participate, from officers to dispat...Read More
Tis' the Season...to be generous
Posted 12/20/2013 2:28 pm
What makes the Holiday's great? Well, other than getting to eat all the yummy food around the office? The real answer you ask, the men and women in law enforcement and the generosity they have toward their community. What follows are just a few of the photos and stories from some of our members. We couldn't be prouder! This folks, is what the spirit of giving is all about!
This is from Coronado Police Department involvement in our local Shop with a Cop event. Law enforcement in San Diego County raise funds throughout the year and get community support to provide a joyful holiday to 300 youth. The day starts with breakfast at Sea World, a special show at Sea World, then a ...Read More
Tip-A-Cop for Special Olympics
Posted 12/03/2013 1:56 pm
On May 20th, 21st and 22nd, San Luis Obispo County hosted three Tip-A-Cop Dinners in support of the Special Olympics San Luis Obispo County Region. The annual event, coordinated by Lt. Bill Proll of the San Luis Obispo Police Department, raised over $90,000 for the Special Olympics. This is the most money ever raised at San Luis Obispo Tip-A-Cop events. Employees from all local law enforcement agencies volunteered their time to serve 2400 dinners.
Tip-A-Cop events in SLO County aren't the typical events where agencies partner with restaurants. Instead, the dinners are a huge undertaking as all food and beverages are donated by local grocers and distributors. The meals are then prepared ... Read More
The Pink Patch Project
Posted 10/22/2013 7:30 am
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every October you can't help but notice the conspicuous infusion of pink on NFL team uniforms, Major League Baseball teams, and on the clothes of breast cancer survivors and supporters. But this year you won't have to turn on a professional sports event to see pink enhanced uniforms. All you'll need to do is have contact with a Seal Beach Police employee or volunteer.
That's right, for the entire month of October; Seal Beach Police personnel will be wearing their traditional uniform with a uniquely embroidered pink patch. The "Pink Patch Project" as it is known around the station is the brainchild of one of the cancer sur...Read More
iCops: The integration of law enforcement and the Internet
Posted 10/16/2013 1:12 pm
Nestled in the heart of the Silicon Valley, the number one region in the U.S. for innovation and technology, lies Mountain View, a city that quietly boasts an impressive resident population of 75,000. This population almost doubles with the daytime workforce from numerous high tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, and LinkedIn, as well as the various industry startups and venture capitalists that punctuate the city's landscape. The combination of these varied elements makes Mountain View a unique location for the intersection of traditional law enforcement methodology and groundbreaking Internet technology.
A typical day for a Mountain View Police Department (MVPD) officer; 0530 h...Read More
Tajikistan Female Officers Scheduled to Attend This Years Women Leaders in Law Enforcement
Posted 10/02/2013 12:18 pm
The officers are coming to the Bay Area to participate in and attend the Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Training Symposium (WLLE) taking place October 6-8, 2013 in San Jose.
Female police officers in Tajikistan have been traditionally assigned to administrative duties only, very similar to the beginnings of law enforcement in the United States. This visit to the U.S. is designed to allow the Tajik officers to watch American female police officers handle crime alongside their male counterparts. Tajikistan is moving toward having their female police officers handle crimes against women and children, a progression that mirrors the evolution of female police officers in America.
The Tajik ...Read More
Junior Giants – Hayward PD
Posted 08/30/2013 10:39 am
The Hayward Police Department has taken community outreach to a new level. Over a decade ago they partnered with the San Francisco Giants Community Fund to host the Junior Giants Baseball program. The Giants Community Fund serves 20,000 children in 85 leagues across California and into Nevada and Oregon.
Dr. Emily Ruffo the Hayward Police Department's Junior Giants program director said "Confidence, Integrity, Leadership and Teamwork are the four main focuses of the Junior Giants program." Each day is tailored around a specific focus and help kids prepare for things such as bullying, respect for others and respect for themselves. The program is staffed with 3-4 community resource o...Read More
A Recap of the National Night Out's 30th Anniversary
Posted 08/08/2013 9:53 am
Hundreds of communities all over California gathered Tuesday to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of National Night Out. National Night Out-
(Photo: Captain Toribio, Oakland PD)"America's Night Out Against Crime" began in 1984 in an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.National Night Out is held annually nationwide on the first Tuesday in August. The first National Night Out took place on Tuesday August 7, 1984 with over 2.5 million Americans participating in over 400 communities and 23 states. National N... Read More
United 4 Safety
Posted 07/31/2013 8:10 am
This year, the San Leandro Police Department launched its new public safety marketing campaign, United 4 Safety. This crime prevention initiative is aimed at reducing crime and improving the quality of life through increased community involvement in public safety. The program's main focus is community engagement, education, and technology enhancement. United 4 Safety aims to foster
public safety involvement from the 86,000 members of the San Leandro community. Through the program, the San Leandro Police Department aims to successfully transform the community into an extension of the police department. The department maintains a "no tolerance" approach to crime, despite being situat... Read More
Community Outreach, the Seventh Peelian Principle and Job Shadowing at the Indio Police Department
Posted 07/11/2013 12:15 pm
In January 2012, then newly appointed Chief of Police (and Indio Noon Rotarian), Richard Twiss attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the rebranding of the John F. Kennedy Math and Science Magnet Elementary School. Little did he know that his personal escort for the morning's events would be six grade student and Peacemakers program member James Neurberger. Three months later, a March 2012 field trip to the Indio Police Station was facilitated for the Peacemakers program by members of the Citizens Helping Indio Police (CHIP) and Cadet Volunteers. This is Chief Twiss' story of how sixth grader James Neurberger later became Indio's first Chief for a Day on June 19, 2013.
During a ...Read More
Former COPS director offers external review
Posted 06/27/2013 10:07 am
We live in cynical times, law enforcement veteran Bernard K. Melekian says.
"We're in an era where skepticism about the government and, particularly about the police, is at an all-time high," says Melekian, known by friends and colleagues as Barney. "Ten to 15 years ago, a law enforcement agency would conduct its own internal review when an issue or problem arose.
"Now, there's a real push for objectivity and outside review."
Enter The Paratus Group, founded by Melekian in 2005 but sitting on ice for four years while the former Pasadena police chief – and president of CalChiefs – served a four-year stint at the Department of Justice.
Melekian and his wife, Nancy,...Read More
Redwood PD launches effort to better understand city's youth
Posted 06/10/2013 9:08 am
The five high school students took a seat on the couches as three cops and a school official intently studied their faces.
But instead of grilling the teens about a stolen iPhone, graffiti on the gym wall or some other criminal incident, the adults were on hand to bend their ears – and to hear their opinions about what constructive summer programs the kids would be interested in participating in should they become available in Redwood City.
Introducing SCAN, for Student Community Advisory Network – a program recently launched by the Redwood City Police Department that is believed to be the only one of its kind in California law enforcement – and perhaps other states.
"Coffee with ...Read More
Across county lines, police collaborate in child abductions
Posted 06/03/2013 9:29 am
The call came
in on a recent Friday afternoon.
Missing 4-year-old boy.
Paul Nanfito considered his options.
For the last 18-plus months, the police chief of Red Bluff, a town of about 14,000 overlooking the Sacramento River in Tehama County, has had at his disposal a program believed to be unique in California – and perhaps the nation.
Called CART, for Child Abduction Response Team, the program involves several law enforcement agencies spanning three counties. Although similar child-abduction response teams exist to allow agencies to pool their efforts to work more efficiently and exhaustively, the Northern California CART is believed to be the only multi-county program ...Read More
Chief Has a Few Tricks Up His Sleeve
Posted 05/13/2013 9:38 am
Finch uses talent in magic to connect with his community
Campbell Police Chief Greg Finch can't magically make crime disappear.
But he's sawed a woman in half, put back together a shredded newspaper, and performed thousands of other illusions and tricks that continue to amaze colleagues and residents of this Silicon Valley city of about 40,000.
People who can make a living performing magic aren't exactly common – for example, it's said that there are more nuns than magicians in the world, and how many people have close friends who are nuns?
Finch, however, is a semi-professional magician, having performed since age 12 – with plans to go professional after he retires from la...Read More
Cops on paddle boards turn heads in Truckee
Posted 04/15/2013 9:02 am
again this summer, for the second consecutive year, the Truckee Police
Department is preparing to make a splash – with a patrol team believed to be
the only one of its kind in the world.
In a program that is less about law enforcement than it is about strengthening ties with residents of this outdoorsy community northwest of Lake Tahoe, four officers from the Truckee P.D. will be taking turns patrolling Donner Lake from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend on stand-up paddle boards.
The unique two-person patrols, launched last summer, have earned praise from locals and tourists who, after their surprise wears off, are pleased to meet and chat with officers while explorin...Read More
Stockton PD Community-Police Partnerships Build Strong Ties
Posted 04/08/2013 9:53 am
The City of Stockton has been dealt many challenges in recent years, but most recently has been hit by a triple-storm of unprecedented fiscal challenges, high amounts of violent crime, and lowered police staffing. But even in the face of this storm, optimism has emerged. Local stakeholders and community members have stepped up in remarkable numbers offering to work with the Stockton Police Department in the interest of public safety, and to foster better communication, trust, and collaboration. Neighboring law enforcement agencies have stepped in to help by enhancing collaborative efforts. Difficult times bring people together, and that is beginning to make a difference in Stockton.
The...Read More
For years, the Sayonara Drive neighborhood in Citrus Heights lived up to its Japanese namesake:
Posted 04/01/2013 10:57 am
Residents seemed to have given up on the three-block, multi-family housing area in the city of 88,000 in Sacramento County as open-air drug markets, shootings, felony assaults, and gang activity sadly became routine.
Many tenants took advantage of absentee landlords by discarding garbage or old furniture and appliances on the street, and neglecting landscaping.
Cops would swoop in regularly to make arrests with targeted law enforcement sweeps, but the crackdowns often would leave many residents feeling mistrustful and afraid to communicate with officers and report crime.
In a dramatic turnaround since Chief of Police Christopher Boyd came aboard with the creation of Citrus ...Read More
Mountain View Police Department's Social Media Strategy 2.0 in the Heart of Silicon Valley
Posted 03/25/2013 9:18 am
The Mountain View Police Department serves a community of 75,000+ residents with a population that doubles in the daytime as commuters travel from all over the Bay Area to work at various high tech companies like Google, LinkedIn, Symantec, VeriSign, Microsoft, and a host of startups. As such, the people who live, work, and pass through Mountain View are arguably some of the most tech-savvy and connected people in the world.
Previously, MVPD relied on a traditional model where social media was an extension of the Press Information Officer's office and the main content sent through our Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ pages were press releases and occasional community announcements. I... Read More
Post-scandal Bell: Crime is down, trust is up
Posted 03/18/2013 9:21 am
Since the
City of Bell scandal erupted in the summer of 2010, Anthony Miranda has
had to put up with a lot of kidding and comments from colleagues. Bell is a
city in East Los Angeles of about 38,500 residents packed into a
2.2-square-mile area, a blue-collar city located in the shadows of Los Angeles.
News had just broken about corruption involving misappropriation of public funds. The City Manager was making more than $800,000 a year and the police chief was making more than the LAPD chief or the sheriff of Los Angeles County.
"I'd be at lunch, and someone would say, 'Miranda will pick up the check. He's making a half-million bucks,'" said Miranda, who since October 2012...Read More
Eureka chief to retire after 55-year career
Posted 03/05/2013 8:56 am
Murl Harpham is considering retiring later this year to spend more time roaming around his 25-acre mountain property on his beloved tractor, or lolling around on his houseboat on Trinity Lake, in Trinity County north of Redding
If and when he does step down, Harpham – police chief of Eureka, the redwood-rich city situated along the Northern California coastline 280 miles north of San Francisco in Humboldt County – will cap a remarkable and singular career in California law enforcement.
Since June 1957, ever since he was hired as a fresh-faced kid barely of legal drinking age by the Eureka Police Department, Harpham has worked nowhere else. For those doing the math, that's more tha...Read More
Pacifica PD leads regional effort to halt old problem of young drinkers
Posted 02/12/2013 8:28 am
Fatal DUI-related accidents aren't unheard of in the Bay Area city of Pacifica, a scenic town of about 40,000 situated on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. But a single-car crash fueled by alcohol and speed that claimed the lives of two teenagers in February 2005 put the issue of minors and booze in the spotlight – and sent Pacifica police scrambling to take action to reduce the chances of a similar tragedy ever happening again.
A member of the Pacifica P.D. went to work and wrote a proposal for a grant from the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. In the fiscal year 2006-07, the Pacifica P.D. was awarded that grant and put the money to good use by establishing an operation t...Read More
British bar owner's innovation takes problem-oriented policing to the Internet
Posted 01/31/2013 8:00 am
The London bar owner was fed up with petty thieves stealing from patrons.
So Simon Gordon, who had already invested in an extensive closed-caption television system, innovated an answer to his problem – and the problems of other London business owners victimized by small-time crooks.
He linked his closed-caption system to his computer, then immediately emailed video evidence of thievery, witness statements and other helpful information to police. The result: the handful of small-time crooks who terrorized his business were arrested.
"To catch the thieves you need to be quick and have evidence to make a conviction, the Internet made it quick and CCTV cameras properly positioned and a...Read More
Monterey Peninsula Chiefs Pool Resources to Fight Gangs and Narcotics
Posted 01/30/2013 9:45 am
The City of Seaside in
the Monterey Peninsula recently experienced a spike in violent crime. Homicides
and gang-related shootings were up.
To combat the problem, the Monterey Peninsula law enforcement agencies unleashed a new weapon that goes far beyond its municipal border: a program called PRVNT, for Peninsula Regional Violence and Narcotics Team, a regional effort in which several Monterey Peninsula law enforcement agencies have pooled staff and resources to protect their communities in these cash-strapped times.
PRVNT was initially going to be managed by a commander from the Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, but the state eliminated the position due to budgetary...Read More
Officer-involved shooting Oxnard chief's 'biggest challenge ever'
Posted 01/14/2013 9:53 am
The call came in at 10:22 on a Saturday night.
As she normally is at that time, Oxnard Police Chief Jeri Williams was asleep. After all, being responsible for roughly 400 sworn and civilian employees and an annual operating budget of more than $50 million can be a tiring job.
It was the call every police chief hates to get: There's been an officer-involved shooting.
When the details emerged, Williams, 47, had a particularly ugly OIS on her hands: One of two men killed in a shootout with officers after they fled following a traffic stop turned out to be a man uninvolved in the incident.
The Ventura County District Attorney's Office continues to investigate the double-shooting, as well ...Read More
Chief pursues, arrests armed man with stolen property
Posted 01/08/2013 10:40 am
Robert "Rob" Handy was settling into his seat at Coco's waiting for his breakfast appointment to show up. What started as a typical Wednesday morning for San Bernardino's chief of police — meeting with a Neighborhood Watch president to go over some issues — took an abrupt turn to the highly unusual.
"Hey," Neighborhood Watch President Lloyd Roberts told Handy as he took a seat across from him. "That guy who opened the door for me is trying to sell me tools, and he's acting strange."
Handy, being the observant chief of police he is, had noticed a man with a backpack opening the door for Roberts.
Since being appointed police chief of the San Bernardino Police Departmen...Read More
Meet the chief to the rich and famous
Posted 12/10/2012 9:23 am
Paris Hilton. Paula Abdul. Playboy Bunnies.
David L. Snowden isn't exactly complaining about some of the photo ops he's had to suffer through since being named chief of police of Beverly Hills in 2004.
The glossy celeb stuff, he realizes, kind of goes with the turf.
But the culture of this star-studded city goes far beyond the stereotypes ingrained in the public consciousness by popular films such as "Beverly Hills Cop." Behind the glamorous images of palm-tree lined streets and luxurious boutiques is a well-oiled police department regarded as one of the most modern and professional not only in the state, but the country.
In a recent telephone interview with CalChiefs, Snowde...Read More
Folsom Chief's published work on first response to major incidents drawing international attention
Posted 11/19/2012 1:59 pm
Shrimp on the barbie. A trip to the Outback. A visit, perhaps, to the Sydney Opera House?
Folsom Police Chief Cynthia Renaud isn't really pondering these options as she, her husband and two of their children prepare to visit Australia in mid-November.
That's because Renaud is working on a presentation she's been asked to make before fire, ambulance, police and a host of other authorities at a conference on disaster leadership --- a huge honor, and a big deal for the recent recipient of a master's degree in National Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.
"I feel a very weighty responsibility to deliver something meaningful to them," Renaud says.
Sh...Read More
The Young Guns of Placer County
Posted 11/13/2012 10:50 am
You wouldn't mistake John Ruffcorn for being an old-school police chief.
One of the first things he did after being sworn in as top cop of Auburn in June 2011 was throw away his business cards are reprint them to read "John Ruffcorn, chief of police." He doesn't like the title before his name.
"My first name isn't 'chief,''' he says.
Also, whenever possible, Ruffcorn wears a suit and tie to public functions instead of his uniform -- another way of him putting the person before the title.
Such moves, although minor, reflect the fresh, progressive approach Ruffcorn brings to his job as police chief of this city of nearly 14,000 located in expansive Placer County, whi...Read More
Anaheim chief: 'We need to be seen as more than cops who just arrest people'
Posted 11/08/2012 8:22 am
In his more than four decades in law enforcement, Anaheim Police Chief John Welter has seen his share of crises that have frayed community trust in police officers.
From race and street riots in the early 1970s in San Diego, where Welter has spent most of his career, to recent officer-involved shootings in a city best known for Disneyland and the Angels, Welter is among the most successful battle-tested chiefs in the state.
The latest controversy in Anaheim, he says, is among the thorniest.
"This is going to rank right up there in my 41 years in law enforcement as one of the most challenging problems to overcome," Welter says. "Not because of the magnitude of the problem so...Read More
Women Leaders Event Provides Inspiration and Relevance
Posted 10/27/2012 1:18 am
By Leslie McGill
Inspired, connected, energized and most of all, relevant: that's how the more than 500 attendees at CPCA's Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Training Symposium (WLLE as it is affectionately referred to) felt at the end of the two-day training and networking event held Oct. 21-23 in Irvine.
Attendees were encouraged to reach out and meet new people, make new connections and come away refocused and refreshed.
Menlo Park Commander Lacey Burt, the emcee and one of the founding co-chairs of the event, really brought the message of relevance home to attendees as there were many there who are the only, or one of the only, females in their police departments. Lacy emphasi...Read More
At 83, martial arts teacher still preaches and teaches arrest-control techniques
Posted 10/23/2012 2:13 am
Robert Koga is a tough guy to track down. His work and personal schedule is enough to wear out a hearty 30-year-old --- let alone a man who, in February, turns 83.
"My brain never seems to stop," says Koga, a long-retired Los Angeles Police Department officer who also can't stop pounding home a message that is near and dear to his heart: The proper training of street cops in arrest techniques and the use of force.
With recent officer-involved shootings up and down California and the pepper-spraying of protesters at UC Davis just the latest examples, stories about California police officers involved in altercations with suspects have become a semi-regular staple on the even...Read More
Fremont chief takes helm of international policing association
Posted 10/05/2012 8:22 am
By Leslie McGill
Fremont Police Chief and former California Police Chiefs Association President Craig Steckler can add another title to his resume: President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the world's largest group of police leaders.
"We are now policing in the 21st Century and this is the 'new normal'" was the theme of his kick-off remarks Wednesday at the association's 119th annual conference in San Diego.
More than 150 members of the California Police Chiefs Association, as well as members of the Fremont Police Department, the city of Fremont and members of Steckler's family attended his installation as the 120th President of the association.
Ste...Read More
5.11's new breaching tools pry doors open in five seconds
Posted 10/03/2012 7:38 am
There are a number of ways for police officers and firefighters get through a locked door, but each option usually takes at least a few minutes.
Not anymore.
5.11, a company best known for its rugged, law-enforcement friendly apparel, is bringing to market lightweight breaching tools that can open fortified steel doors in five seconds, company officials say.
The tools were innovated in Sweden, and 5.11 began offering them to law enforcement in the U.S. in May. Several agencies have already made the investment.
"You don't need explosives, and it's a lot less risk for all involved," said Tom Davin, 5.11's CEO. Davin noted that the most popular breaching tool, the Halli...Read More
IACP bloggers encourage police to engage
Posted 10/03/2012 12:35 am
Respond to negative comments or ignore them?
Questions about best social media applications, policies and strategies were on stage Tuesday morning at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in San Diego.
"If you don't defend yourself, who will?" asked Toronto Police Sgt. Tim Burrows, who actively engages those who post negative comments about his department.
He was joined by five IACP bloggers during a discussion attended by more than 150 police officials from around the world.
Burrows hailed Houston PD as "a beacon" of outstanding social media. The department has more than 31,000 "likes" on its Facebook page. ...Read More
Dunk your iPad in water? No problem
Posted 10/02/2012 5:03 am
At a booth at the International Association Chiefs of Police conference on Monday, a movie played on an iPad dunked in water.
The iPad was protected by a Lifeproof cases, which are dirt, dust, water and snow proof - and a big hit among cops and other consumers, company officials say.
According Valerie Chereskin, a company spokeswoman, more than 2 million people have purchased the company's iPhone covers since they went to market two years ago.
The cases are also rugged. Drop it or smash it and it won't break, she said.Read More
Hand-held devices allow officers give tickets in 45 seconds
Posted 10/02/2012 4:24 am
Nearly one in three patrol officers write tickets the old-fashioned way – with a pen and pad.
Another third write citations from the laptop in a patrol car.
Not in San Jose.
The police department is among the first in the U.S. to embrace a rugged mobile handheld all-in-one device, developed by Intermec. The devices are as versatile as the iPhone.
Call it ticket writing, 2.0.
They were on display Monday at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in San Diego.
Officers can scan a driver's license and cite a speeder in 45 seconds – because the technology reads the bar code on California driver's licenses and fills in the boxes.
Using wireless...Read More
Wear-resistant brake rotors unveiled at IACP
Posted 10/02/2012 2:37 am
Go ahead, slam on your brakes.
In fact, slam on them as often as you like because brakes on police cars with "atomic-forged" rotors will not wear out, according to executives with PureForge.
On Monday, company officials showcased their rotors at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in San Diego.
"Nobody appreciates what's asked of brake rotors," said Nathan K. Meckel, President and Chief Technology Officer. "They bring a 4,500-pound police car to a stop."
Meckel developed the technology over the past 10 years but only started outfitting police cars with the rotors last year after extensive and successful safety testing, he said.
The ro...Read More
Cal Chiefs Issues Statement on Anniversary of Realignment
Posted 10/02/2012 1:06 am
California Police Chiefs Association President Scott Seaman commented today on the anniversary of the realignment of the state's prison system.
"Police chiefs up and down the state continue to have concerns about Realignment's short- and long-term impacts.
"We have worked hard with our partners in the justice system over the past year to collaborate to implement public safety realignment. We continue to remain focused on key areas to ensure our departments receive appropriate funding and have access to critical information to keep their communities safe."
CPCA represents 78 percent of municipal police chiefs in California.Read More
Redlands PD uses 'electronic stakeouts' to drive down vehicle burglaries
Posted 10/01/2012 12:46 pm
Not too long ago, exploding dye packs were popular tools used to identify bank robbers' loot.
Today, security companies and police agencies have expanded the concept and improved the technology, conducting "electronic stakeouts" to track and catch jewel thieves, vehicle burglars and a myriad of other criminals.
Executives with 3SI Security Systems shared how they helped the Redlands Police Department recently drive down vehicle thefts by nearly 40 percent. They installed the chips on laptop computers and then left the laptops in cars outside a gym with burglary issues.
3SI was among dozens of security companies showcasing their technology and services this weekend at the In...Read More
Mobile shooting simulator offers more than 450 customizable scenarios
Posted 10/01/2012 12:42 pm
The menacing bike theft suspect refuses to drop the bolt cutter, despite repeated demands.
Then he reaches into his waistband.
As he brings his hand around, a handgun is visible. Gun drawn, the officer shoots. The suspect is dead.
The scene played out on a giant screen dozens of times Sunday at Ti Training's booth at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in San Diego. But sometimes, the suspect runs. Others, he produces a knife. And the officer can use a shotgun, a taser, a .22-caliber Glock.
Ned Partridge, a Ti executive, said the company's latest technology enables police agencies to customize their training to cover more than 450 scenarios. And, b...Read More
California chiefs argue for more investment in police use of force training
Posted 10/01/2012 5:47 am
Now, perhaps more than ever, police departments must make greater investments in training their officers how and when to use force appropriately.
More suspects are resisting arrest, and sensational examples of excessive force are spreading on social media sites such as You Tube. The public's trust is at stake, and the answer isn't always adding more firearms and less-lethal chemicals.
That was the argument three California police chiefs and a martial arts expert made to more than 200 police executives from around the world Sunday at a San Diego Convention Center conference room during the 119th International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference. Martial artist Robert ...Read More
Electric scooters patrol campuses, urban areas at $.16 per 85 miles
Posted 10/01/2012 5:36 am
Among the companies making their case for law enforcement business at the International Association of Chiefs of Police in San Diego conference this weekend is Vectrix, a scooter manufacturer.
The law enforcement version of the scooters are designed for patrolling college campuses and urban areas, and the company counts NYPD and Metro D.C. police department among its clients.
The most powerful electric bike goes as fast as 68 mph and is nimble enough to outperform police motorcycles in competitions.
One of its strongest selling points, says Jeff Simpson, a company marketing executive, is cost savings.
The scooters travel 85 miles on about $.16, he says, and its brakes need re...Read More
Sacramento PD and POST honored for law enforcement research
Posted 09/30/2012 11:19 pm
California law enforcement took home two top awards for research Saturday at the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in San Diego.
The Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training received the top "gold" award for its Safe Driving Program, and Sacramento PD earned silver for the "Hot Spot Randomized Control Trial Program."
Sacramento Chief Rick Braziel joined Sgt. Renee Mitchell and Capt. Ken Bernard. Accepting the award for POST was Paul Cappitelli, executive director.Read More
Fremont chief to be installed as president of international association
Posted 09/29/2012 6:25 am
Fremont Police Chief Craig Steckler will be installed next week as the president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police at its 119th annual conference in San Diego. He is one of several California law enforcement leaders who will take center stage at the conference, which begins Saturday.
California Police Chiefs Association President Scott Seaman will join past president David Maggard and two other chiefs to present Sunday on the topic of image, morale, productivity and officer safety.
CalChiefsNews.com will be there as well, blogging from seminars and the trade show floor, where hundreds of vendors will showcase new technology aimed at improving policing.
Foll...Read More
San Jose Chief says time with family, not pension reform, spurred his decision to retire now
Posted 09/24/2012 11:54 pm
The chief of police of San Jose has a law degree, was selected as a White House Fellow in 1999 and served one year as counsel to U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. In 2004, he was awarded a Fulbright Police Research Fellowship to study police accountability at the London School of Economics and New Scotland Yard.
Now, after 30 years in law enforcement, Moore is set to retire as top cop of the bustling city of nearly 1 million.
This week, Moore announced his intention to step down in late January 2013.
Asked about the hot-bed issue of pension reform and the challenges it poses to policing, Moore said he never considered a different career path and t...Read More
Cal Chiefs President: Pension reform tweaks needed
Posted 09/17/2012 11:29 pm
With Gov. Jerry Brown's pension reform act set to go into effect Jan. 1, law enforcement officials are mobilizing to remedy some of the changes they believe will have a negative impact on recruitment, the ability to retain the best and brightest, and efforts to keep crime rates down.
Among these changes are a cap on the salary which will be used to calculate pension benefits for new employees at $132,120 (increased each year by a set inflator), and raising the retirement age for new employees seeking full benefits to 57, from 50 --- a change that comes with a reduction in the maximum-benefit formula. Also, Gov. Brown's reforms in AB340 call for new public-safety employees to contri...Read More
Police chiefs: Governor's pension reform proposal will harm recruitment, retention and public safety
Posted 08/31/2012 10:19 pm
The California Police Chiefs Association has sent a letter to state legislators and the Governor outlining several serious unintended public safety consequences likely to result from public pension reform legislation, AB340, officials announced today. The legislation comes at time of public safety uncertainty due to the shifting of prisoners from state prisons to counties as well as reduced resources due to the economic downturn. Recent indicators show rising property and violent crime in most areas of the state, said Scott R. Seaman, CPCA's president. In particular, the letter says, "the unilateral imposition of state pension restrictions on local governments is inappropriat...Read More
Early shooting shaped Fresno chief's community engagement philosophy
Posted 08/28/2012 2:22 am
Jerry Dyer was a street cop for the Fresno Police Department for five years when he was involved in a shooting --- a heady experience for any officer, especially one who was only 25 at the time.
An 18-year-old junior college student was carrying a gun and threatening suicide in his mother's home. After officers spent several minutes trying to get the young man to surrender, he pointed his weapon at several of them, police said, and was shot several times and killed.
The police chief at the time of the shooting in 1985 maintained a firm "no comment" posture in the media and was criticized by some in the community for not telling his officers' side of the story, or at least ...Read More
Pension Reform, Yes – But Not at the Expense of the Public's Safety
Posted 08/23/2012 5:00 pm
* The following editorial, authored by Cal Chiefs President Scott R. Seaman, runs in today's edition of the U-T San Diego
If you asked Californians, "Is pension reform needed?" most would say yes. The steady drumbeat of news about public employee pensions and their impacts on government budgets has assured that.
But follow up with a question about what such reform should look like and opinions would be across the board.
If you're confused over pension reform, you're in good company: In our state's capital, lawmakers have been unable to agree on what pension reform should look like.
That said, you'd be hard-pressed to find an elected official or taxpayer who would d...Read More
Social media playing a growing role in fighting crime, studies find
Posted 08/10/2012 7:00 pm
With two recent surveys showing that nearly 90 percent of law enforcement agencies are using social media to fight crime, cops across the state and country are employing these digital tools in a variety of ways, from posting booking photos online to uploading videos on YouTube to help nab suspects.
In a second-annual survey released late last year, the International Association of Chiefs of Police found that 88.1 percent of agencies surveyed use social media, with the most common purpose being for investigations, at 71.1 percent, the survey found.
The IACP also found that 48.6 percent of agencies surveyed have a social media policy and an additional 22.1 percent are in the process o...Read More
Chief who pursues and catches thief says officers 'who do good work every day deserve the credit'
Posted 07/14/2012 7:38 am
Redondo Beach Police Chief Joe Leonardi just wants the story to die.
The police chief isn't trying to hide anything. Rather, the 30-year law enforcement veteran is uncomfortable being in the spotlight for recently assisting in the arrest of an assault suspect by hopping on the suspect's abandoned bicycle and chasing after him.
The July 5 incident, which occurred after lunch when Leonardi was wearing a pinstriped suit and tie, has attracted national media attention.
In a reluctant chat with CalChiefs, Leonardi says he's not eager for the spotlight. "There are police officers in this department and throughout the state who do good work ...Read More
Redwood City launches first live video chat; conducts 30-35 daily
Posted 07/09/2012 11:26 pm
The Redwood City resident had a beef with a neighbor. The conflict was starting to escalate. So he called the cops.
Not wanting a Redwood City Police Department officer to roll up to his house in a squad car and thus tip off the neighbor that he had contacted the police, the resident instead turned to a computer tool believed to be the first of its kind used by any U.S. law enforcement agency:
Live video chat.
Introduced June 26, the "Live Guide" service offered by Denmark-based Netop allows Redwood City residents --- with just a click of the mouse --- to have a live, interactive conversation with an officer about anything except a life-threatening emergency.
The idea beh...Read More
Torch run special for Pleasant Hill chief
Posted 07/02/2012 11:11 pm
"Hey, you're a runner. Why don't you do this?"?
Pete Dunbar recalls being asked that question 26 years ago, when he was an officer at the Oakland Police Department. A cross-country runner in college, Dunbar was, at the time, logging 10 miles per day, and certainly was up to the task.
He also was sympathetic to the cause.
In college, at Santa Clara University, he was a referee for a Special Olympics basketball squad.
So when a colleague at the Oakland PD invited him to participate in a torch run for the Special Olympics --- a journey that started at the state capital and ended up in Los Angeles --- Dunbar didn't hesitate.
And since that event in 1986, Dunbar has ne...Read More
New virtual training offers real world scenarios at lower costs
Posted 06/26/2012 12:15 am
The sound of gunshots rang out.
"Please don't shoot me!" someone screamed.
The pulses of the officers raced. Some started to sweat.
Luckily, no one was ever in any real danger during a recent active-shooter exercise at the Northern California Regional Public Safety Training Authority's "Tactical Village," located at the former McClellan Air Force Base near Sacramento.
In fact, no one was actually at the 17,000-square-foot facility.
Instead, the students were plopped in front of laptops throughout the state as they spent three hours in a virtual environment interacting with victims, chatting with witnesses and, of course, hunting down the bad guy.
In what coul...Read More
Transportation commissioner takes to social media after driving-while-texting traffic stop
Posted 06/18/2012 1:00 pm
Lucy Dunn was driving to a business meeting in Huntington Beach on Tuesday, June 12, when the light turned red.
She glanced down at her iPhone to make sure it was charging.
When the light turned green, Dunn was surprised to see a motorcycle officer behind her – red lights flashing.
As president and chief executive of the Orange County Business Council, Dunn knows a lot of people.
As a commissioner on the California Transportation Commission, she's also well aware of the growing problem of texting and driving --- a potentially life-ending habit that has patrol cops throughout the state cracking down.
The U.S. Department of Transportation calls distracted driving an "ep...Read More
Acting Fullerton Police Chief: We are Committed to Earning Public's Trust
Posted 06/11/2012 1:00 pm
The death of a homeless schizophrenic man following a violent confrontation with Fullerton police last summer has put the police department and the city under intense scrutiny, resulting in the ousting of three councilmen in a recall election last week and lingering questions about the department's future.
The death of Kelly Thomas last July has resulted in criminal charges being filed against two Fullerton Police officers and the departure of former Fullerton Police Chief Michael Sellers, who retired in February after taking a medical leave of absence.
Acting Fullerton Police Chief Dan Hughes recently sat down with CaliforniaPoliceChiefs.org to answer questions about the controve...Read More
How do you like them apps? Santa Cruz goes mobile in crime fight
Posted 06/05/2012 7:22 pm
Santa Cruz Police Chief Kevin Vogel was vacationing with his wife in Italy last fall when he picked up his iPad and, for fun, decided to check in on his troops back in California.
Using an app developed for the iPhone, Vogel was able to listen to – in real time --- radio calls being fielded by officers on the day shift. From his hotel room in Rome, Vogel listened to the squawking sound of Santa Cruz cops being dispatched to a variety of incidents. Then he turned off the app and got back to his vacation. Vogel and his department last year won a prestigious award for that iPhone app, one of the first such consumer-focused apps of its kind in the nation.
Last year, The He...Read More
Memorial Day also a time to reflect upon fallen police officers
Posted 05/29/2012 8:49 am
By Ryan Dedmon
Fifty-one peace officers from 20 law enforcement agencies have died in the line of duty in Orange County, CA. Each of those fallen officers left behind a family in dire need of assistance.
In November 1980, the Orange County Sheriff's Advisory Council and Sheriff Brad Gates founded Project 999 to help provide financial assistance to the families of fallen officers. In 2001, retired Orange County Sheriff Lt. Darrell Poncy created the Project 999 Memorial Ride, an annual 630-mile cycling journey from Sacramento to Santa Ana, to remember and honor the fallen officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty in Orange County.
On May 17th , nearly 30 peace o...Read More
Cops on Bikes Protect Runners During Rugged NorCal Marathon
Posted 05/21/2012 1:00 pm
With bad knees from years of skiing and a tricky back caused by an on-the-job injury, perhaps it's no surprise that Sand City Police Chief Michael Klein enjoys the relatively low-impact sport of road cycling.
His department in this mostly industrial town located on the shores of Monterey Bay also enjoys a unique distinction among state and national law enforcement agencies.
Every year, several teams of Sand City officers – along with civilian volunteers and nurses – hop on their bikes to provide critical medical support to runners in the Big Sur International Marathon, which plays out along 26.2 gorgeous miles of scenic Highway 1 --- where there are no side streets for vehicle...Read More
CA Police Among Nation's Most Followed on Twitter
Posted 05/14/2012 11:49 pm
California police departments made a solid showing in a recent ranking of U.S. law enforcement agencies that have the most Twitter followers.
Not surprisingly, a police department whose city limits include the headquarters of such high-tech icons as Google and LinkedIn is among the most followed agencies on Twitter, according to the survey by the International Association of Chiefs of Police Center for Social Media.
"We've embraced certain pieces of social media that we've felt we can manage effectively," says Scott Vermeer, police chief of Mountain View as well as its assistant city manager for public safety. "We haven't tried to do everything."
Mountain View, the ...Read More
San Jose and Long Beach PDs Produce 16 CA Police Chiefs
Posted 05/07/2012 1:53 am
The Silicon Valley is known for its high-tech companies, the Champagne region of France is known for its premier bubbly, and the cities of Long Beach and San Jose are known for producing…police chiefs?
Yes --- and many are of recent vintage.
There currently are 10 active chiefs who can thank the San Jose PD for helping them earn their stars, while six active police chiefs hail from the Long Beach PD (three from that agency recently retired: Tim Jackman, Santa Monica, December 2011; Anthony Batts, Oakland, October 2011; and Keith Kilmer, San Bernardino, March 2011).
Is there something special in the coffee at these law enforcement agencies?
Cynthia Renaud, a Long Beach PD ve...Read More
Temperatures during 120-mile race reach 110 degrees
Posted 04/30/2012 11:06 pm
The "Largest Police Foot Pursuit in the World" can add another superlative following this year's running of the famous law enforcement relay race through the Mohave Desert: "Hottest."
With temperatures approaching 110 degrees, the Baker to Vegas 120-Mile Challenge Cup Relay on April 21-22 was a scorcher, zapping the strength of many runners who had to seek out medical treatment.
Happily, though, no serious injuries were reported during the much-anticipated event that attracts several hundred runners from law enforcement agencies throughout the state and nation, with a sprinkling of teams from overseas.
Torrance Police Sgt. Robert Watt knows his way around the event as we...Read More
San Mateo Chief Blazes Trail for Generation of Women Police Leaders
Posted 04/23/2012 11:01 pm
Susan Manheimer recalls looking at the portraits on the wall of the numerous police chiefs who preceded her as top cop of the San Mateo Police Department when she was named to the post in May 2000.
Her smiling picture, in bright color, stood out from the black-and-white portraits of sober-faced male ex-police chiefs.
Someone suggested that a nameplate below her picture be put up to read, "The First Female Police Chief in the History of San Mateo."
Manheimer thought about it for a second.
"Um," she said. "I don't think that's really necessary. It's pretty obvious!"
Throughout her entire law enforcement career, Manheimer has been very obvious ---- as in a st...Read More
Tracy PD Chief Enjoys Homecoming
Posted 04/16/2012 11:10 pm
Last summer, Gary Hampton was thinking about retiring after a 28-year career in law enforcement.
Suddenly, his phone rang.
At the time, Hampton was chief of police of Turlock, a small-town community of about 70,000. Hampton had been top cop there since 2006.
Now, he was being asked if he would be interested in returning to the agency where he spent a decade honing his law enforcement skills.
The Tracy Police Department wanted Hampton back – this time, to be its police chief.
In August 2011, Hampton accepted the job.
Now 50, Hampton is in the process of relocating to Tracy --- a city of about 81,000 in San Joaquin County --- after a decision he says wasn't too difficu...Read More
Orange PD Honored for its Treatment of Mentally Ill
Posted 04/11/2012 5:39 am
A woman sitting on a curb rambles about men in white suits.
An agitated person in a park yells at a passerby and tells him to leave.
"Why are you in my park?" she demands.
These scenes are from an award-winning instructional video for police agencies about how to manage field encounters with persons with mental illness.
The 15-minute training video was jointly produced by the Orange and Santa Ana Police departments and the Mental Health Association of Orange County.
In February, the police agencies were honored with a "Media Champion Award" for their roles in the video.
For Robert H. Gustafson, who is closing in on his eighth year as police chief of Orange, the a...Read More
Police chief nabs alleged plane thief after 'wobbly' flight
Posted 04/02/2012 1:31 pm
Chowchilla Police Chief Jay Varney picked up his office phone.
"There's always something to do when I'm at my desk," the 29-year law enforcement veteran said.
Recently, Varney got to do something out of the ordinary for most police chiefs: respond to a crime in progress.
He happened to be in the right place at the right time when, at around 2:30 p.m. on March 21, he spotted a Cessna 172 flying erratically on its final approach to Chowchilla Municipal Airport, which is located only about 1/3 of a mile from the Chowchilla Police Station.
Varney had just finished a late lunch that day and was pulling into the PD parking lot when he and a public works employee on the scen...Read More
Sons Rise to Chiefs of Police in Dads' Departments
Posted 03/25/2012 8:03 am
When Joseph Kreins arrived at the Sausalito Police Department every day during his tenure as police chief from July 2001 to December 2004, he'd glance at the wall and say two words:
"Hello, Dad."
The smiling face of his father, Edward, is among the former police chiefs whose portraits hang in the station's lobby.
The Kreins made history as the state's first father-and-son team of police chiefs of the same city.
Recently, a second father-son duo achieved that same rare distinction when Andrew Bidou became police chief of Benicia, another waterfront city in the Bay Area, in January 2011. Bidou's father, Pierre, served as police chief of Benicia for 16 years before le...Read More
Symposium Day 3: Inspiration, economic reality check and Cal Chiefs new leadership
Posted 03/15/2012 10:07 pm
By Leslie McGill Brooks Douglas, former Senator from Oklahoma and a military veteran, had an inspirational message of forgiveness during Wednesday's breakfast session at the California Police Chiefs Association's Training Symposium. Brooks and his sister were only teenagers when two men attacked Brooks' family, raping his sister and shooting all of his family members, leaving them for dead. Brooks and his sister survived, and his journey of trying to seek judicial justice, champion the rights of victims and finally of forgiveness were very moving. US DOJ COPS Director Barney Melekian told attendees at lunch that everyone talks about having to "do more with less" when in...Read More
Symposium Day 2: Focus turns to new chiefs and new tools
Posted 03/14/2012 12:26 pm
By Leslie McGill
New chiefs attending the Cal Chiefs' Training Symposium were able to attend a training session Tuesday geared specifically to their needs on "What New Chiefs Need to Know."
This panel presentation was designed to guide newer chiefs though situations and issues they may encounter their first year and how best to handle them. This course was just one of four offered Tuesday.
In addition to great training opportunities offered in the morning, the afternoon was devoted to a trade show where chiefs got to see the latest in police product technology, products and training.
Police Chiefs were treated to a demonstration of the FLIR Mobile Surveillance Tower duri...Read More
Day 1 of chiefs symposium: honoring fallen, keeping public safe with fewer resources
Posted 03/13/2012 10:08 pm
By Leslie McGill
Attorney General Kamala Harris spoke Monday about the impact of reduced resources on the state's police departments at the Cal Chiefs' 35th Annual Training Symposium. She also highlighted the zone meetings she held this past year.
The Fallen Officer's Ceremony followed, recognizing the sacrifices and celebrating the lives of officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
Gov. Jerry Brown addressed the CPCA's President's luncheon. The governor said he is committed to balancing the budget in the coming months. He discussed his tax increase proposal and the difficulty it will have in passing if the other tax measures remain on the ballot. The support of the chiefs woul...Read More
Chiefs Symposium Tackles Challenges and Opportunities
Posted 03/13/2012 12:30 am
Police chiefs from throughout the state are gathering in Sacramento through Thursday for the 35th annual California Police Chiefs Association's Training Symposium and Trade Show, whose theme this year is "Challenges and Opportunities."
Topics ranging from social media to crisis communication will be covered at the symposium, which is being held at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel and the Sacramento Convention Center.
Sacramento Police Chief Rick Braziel and the Sacramento Police Department are hosts.
"There is no doubt we have all experienced both (challenges and opportunities) in recent years," Braziel said. "The challenges faced by police departments across the n...Read More
Once plagued by gang violence, Santa Ana is now among safest in U.S.
Posted 03/05/2012 12:23 pm
Two decades ago, Orange County's largest city was mired in gang violence. Nearly 90 people were killed during its bloodiest year. The crime rate climbed to 76 per 1,000 residents.
In the early 1990s, the words Santa Ana and safe were rarely uttered in the same sentence. Flash forward to today.
In 2011, only 12 people were killed. The overall violent crime rate plummeted below 25 per 1,000 residents. In December, Forbes magazine crowned Santa Ana as America's fourth safest big city.
"It's pretty amazing when you consider the circumstances of the current economy," said Police Chief Paul M. Walters, who is also serving as interim city manager.
Crime hasn't been thi...Read More
Monrovia PD Earns Accolades for Problem Solving
Posted 02/28/2012 5:14 am
The city of Monrovia, located east of Los Angeles, is no stranger to community policing. For more than 20 years, the police department has employed community-policing strategies to attack a nagging gang problem while the redevelopment agency has worked to revitalize blighted areas in the city of about 36,200.
After much progress, Monrovia was hit with a cycle of violence in 2008 following the release of several gang members from prison. Law enforcement, however, was able to quickly get a handle on the problem thanks to innovative programs that aim to curb gang activity through intervention, prevention and suppression.
For its various programs that fall under the umbrella of "Oper...Read More
Results dramatic when experts join officers on domestic violence calls
Posted 02/20/2012 4:00 pm
When Christopher Boyd began his job as chief of the newly formed Citrus Heights Police Department in 2006, the law enforcement veteran quickly realized the prevalence of domestic violence calls pouring in.
"It was a major problem," Boyd says.
A longtime champion of community-based policing, Boyd started looking at ways to deal with the issue. He joined the board of a non-profit domestic violence agency in the city of 88,000 in Sacramento County, helped build up the agency, and by 2009 he had come up with an innovative partnership with the city's Domestic Violence Intervention Center.
Now, Boyd and the Citrus Heights PD are being honored for their work in handling domestic v...Read More
Former Chief's New Goal: Stop Human Trafficking
Posted 02/14/2012 1:54 am
Ask a police chief to name his or her main concerns when it comes to crime, and human trafficking isn't likely to be at the top of the list.
Yet regardless of size or location, no community is immune to the problem, according to a recently retired police chief who's now tackling the issue on the national stage. Nicolas A. Sensley, police chief of the Sierra Nevada town of Truckee from November 2008 through November 2011, launched an educational campaign for police officers throughout California in January to coincide with Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
The goal of the outreach effort, which included distributing training videos, guidebooks and lapel pins to police chiefs...Read More
Married Police Chiefs Leave Badges at the Office
Posted 01/31/2012 3:19 am
When Colleen Mestas became police chief of Visalia in December 2009 after serving as interim chief for three months, the law enforcement veteran achieved a rare milestone – with a little help from her husband.
With Carlos A. Mestas serving as police chief of nearby Hanford since 2003, the two instantly became only the second husband-and-wife team of police chiefs in California history.
Carlo Cudio was police chief of Monterey in 2005 when his wife, Paulette, was appointed police chief in Gonzales in 2005.
Both Colleen and Carlos Mestas say the demanding job of running police departments has made for some fascinating pillow talk, but that they try not to bring their work home...Read More
First Facebook, Now There's 'CopBook'
Posted 01/23/2012 9:00 am
The Redlands Police Department isn't just embracing social media – it's forging a new path that could become a model for law enforcement agencies across the country.
Under the guidance of Chief Mark Garcia, the Redlands PD is using a new Facebook-like tool for its officers that's a more modern and streamlined spin on information-sharing tools created over the last decade for federal and state law enforcement agencies.
The Redlands PD is believed to be the first municipal police department in the country to launch what it calls CopBook, an idea that started gaining traction during the tenure of Garcia's predecessor, former Redlands Police Chief Jim Bueermann.
Similar to ...Read More
Most Police Chiefs Have Advanced Degrees, Survey Finds
Posted 01/16/2012 2:11 pm
Bob Nichelini was a novelty when he began his law enforcement career at the Oakland PD in 1971. Like most other newbie cops at the time, Nichelini was ex-military, having served in the Air Force for five years. But unlike most of the other young police officers, Nichelini had a four-year college degree: a bachelor's in history and geography.
Today, it's routine for rookie police officers to be packing a college degree in addition to a service weapon. And, at the top ranks of law enforcement, advanced degrees – a master's, doctorate, law degree or the like – have become common.
In fact, about 62 percent of the state's active police chiefs have advanced degrees, accordi...Read More
California Police Get Social
Posted 01/11/2012 7:15 pm
The Arcadia Police Department has earned a reputation as one of the most forward-thinking law enforcement agencies when it comes to utilizing social media to connect to the public and help fight crime.
Indeed, more and more law enforcement agencies are climbing on the social media bandwagon – although it's not yet standard practice, according to a recent survey by the California Police Chiefs Association.
The survey found that more than half of the police agencies that responded use Facebook (73%) and Twitter (52%), and another group (41.9%) use Nixle to communicate safety tips and other news with their communities.
We asked Arcadia Police Lt. Tom Le Veque, who has been instr...Read More
Serving Community One Way Police Agencies Wrap 2011
Posted 01/04/2012 9:25 am
Police agencies throughout the state rang out 2011 by continuing a string of good deeds as part of their annual display of helping the needy during the holidays.
The Citrus Heights Police Department turned to service clubs, businesses, schools and residents to assist families in need through the city's third-annual Holiday Referral Program. Individuals and groups were able to adopt families for the holiday season and provide them with clothes, toys, food and household items.
People also were sought out to donate gift items and to volunteer their time to coordinate the event.
In Barstow, the Desert Dispatch covered the story of the Barstow PD's annual Christmas Cops and Kids p...Read More
Police Officers Spreading Holiday Cheer in Ways Planned and Unplanned
Posted 12/28/2011 1:28 am
Police agencies throughout the state continue to display their giving ways this holiday season, proving that in addition to protecting and serving the public, cops are committed to caring – and giving back – to their communities, especially at this time of year.
They are spreading holiday cheer in ways both planned and unplanned.
Recently, members of the Escondido Police Department stepped up to help a woman who was robbed of her Christmas presents, raising money so she could purchase more gifts.
According to a report by 10News.com in San Diego, 30-year-old Rebecca Lojeske of Valley Center was finishing her Christmas shopping just before midnight Dec. 16 when she stopped by a...Read More
New Tactics, Relationships Key to LAPD's 'Occupy' Success
Posted 12/20/2011 1:32 am
Hours before Los Angeles police officers dismantled the Occupy LA encampment, Deputy Chief Jose Perez reminded more than a dozen lieutenants and sergeants what was at stake.
"I emphasized the whole world would be watching,'' said Perez, who was flanked by other incident management team members. "It was about discipline, discipline, discipline. We had to be patient. We did not want to be the initiators of force. We were dealing with mainly non-violent protesters."
The 28-year LAPD veteran and former Marine was the commanding officer in an operation that has earned international praise for restraint, open communications and innovative tactics.
Protesters had set up mor...Read More
Law enforcement's holiday message: Crime doesn't pay, but giving back does
Posted 12/06/2011 4:02 am
Beefed-up horsepower for the Riverside Police Department.
Toys for needy children courtesy of the Tustin PD.
In San Francisco, Thanksgiving meals for seniors and the underprivileged. With the holiday season in full swing, police departments throughout California are spreading cheer to the needy, the underprivileged and the sick in an annual display of benevolence to better serve the cities, towns and communities they spend all year protecting.
Cops served up heapings of good deeds on Thanksgiving, and Christmas promises to generate baskets filled with gifts for kids and others in need of special attention this time of year.
For the 24th year, the Tustin Police Department wi...Read More
Database Helps Gang Cops Track Suspects
Posted 11/28/2011 5:00 pm
A gang-unit officer logs onto her laptop from the field.
She enters a description of a tattoo to see if a suspect's profile comes up.
She punches in the suspect's nickname.
Last-known address?
For 15 years, police officers throughout the state have been using the CalGang database to get a better handle on organized gangs – as well as on street crime stemming from gang activity.
With the axe getting heavier because of the ongoing state and federal budget crisis, preserving CalGang has become a priority for gang-savvy law enforcement leaders who realize the database's value.
Marina Police Department Chief Edmundo "Eddie...Read More
Fewer traffic deaths among retiring chief's legacy
Posted 11/21/2011 1:00 pm
After 22-plus years with the Fountain Valley Police Department, starting as a cadet in 1981 and steadily progressing up the ranks, Paul Sorrell finally got his dream job when he was sworn in as police chief on Oct. 31, 2003.
"Somebody had a sense of humor," Sorrell said.
Despite the Halloween connection, Sorrell's tenure as top cop in this city in Orange County has been anything but spooky, despite a pretty scary trend that unfolded during his first five weeks on the job.
Normally, commuter-heavy Fountain Valley – the busy San Diego (405) freeway bisects the city – averages three traffic fatalities a year. During Sorrell's first five weeks as police chief, however, se...Read More
Para-triathlete, warrior values among final-day conference highlights
Posted 11/16/2011 10:35 am
By Leslie McGill
The final day of Cal Chiefs' Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Training Symposium started off with a rousing standing ovation for the morning session's keynote speaker, Iraqi war veteran Melissa Stockwell.
Melissa's story of courage and triumph in the face of adversity was inspiring. She used her positive outlook and love of athletics and of serving her country to overcome losing her leg in a roadside bomb in Iraq and going on to accomplish more with one leg than she says she would have done with two.
After receiving her first prosthetic leg, Melissa went on to compete in swimming at the Beijing Paralympics and won the 2010 Paratriathalon World Championships. �...Read More
Managing risk and collaboration on agenda at law enforcement conference
Posted 11/15/2011 12:25 pm
By Leslie McGill
More than 600 law enforcement professionals turned out Monday for the kick-off session of Cal Chiefs Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Training Symposium in San Jose.
The ceremony began with an impressive honor guard with bag pipes and welcome remarks by San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and the presidents of the co-sponsoring organizations: Cal Chiefs President Dave Maggard of Irvine; California State Sheriff's Association President Mark Pazin of Merced County; California Police Officers Association President Chief Sandra Spagnoli of San Leandro and CHP Assistant Commissioner Ramona Prieto. Commissioner Joe Farrow arrived late after spending much of the night in the hospi...Read More
Women's Law Enforcement Leadership Conference Begins
Posted 11/15/2011 2:21 am
By Leslie McGill
Cal Chiefs' President Dave Maggard is representing Cal Chiefs at the 6th Annual Women Leaders in Law Enforcement Training Symposium in San Jose. The event began Sunday with registration and a welcome reception. Chief Maggard was joined by State Sheriff's President Sheriff Mark Pazin of Merced and host San Jose Police Chief Chris Moore.
Nearly 600 attendees registered for this year's event, which is co-sponsored by the California Highway Patrol. The State Sheriffs' has been a great partner as well in working with Cal Chiefs' staff on the event, which promotes leadership at all levels and provides training and networking opportunities not available elsewhere.
Chi...Read More
Modesto PD's Innovative Virtual Ride-Along a Big Success
Posted 11/07/2011 2:00 pm
The night was still young.
"Downtown is starting to pick up, the bars and nightclubs are getting filled," the post on Twitter read.
By the end of the 12-hour shift, Modesto police would post more than 100 "tweets" that chronicled a typical Friday night in the city of more than 210,000 in Stanislaus County.
There were several reports of shots being fired.
Two robberies.
A smattering of drug busts.
No homicides or other violent crimes unfolded, but Modesto police were kept busy responding to more than 200 calls for service between 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21 to 2 a.m. Saturday.
And residents were able to follow all the action on Twitter in what police called a "vir...Read More
California's Policing 'Godfather' Takes His Message Global
Posted 10/31/2011 1:00 pm
Craig T. Steckler always wanted to be a cop.
At age 25, however, the former truck driver for The Orange County Register had a minor hurdle to overcome: A spotty driving record. Nothing serious, mind you – just a few traffic tickets.
"I'm glad they took a chance on me," Steckler said of the San Clemente Police Department, which by hiring the hometown boy in 1968 launched an illustrious career that has made Steckler one of the most respected police chiefs in the state.
"We call him the Godfather of California police chiefs," said Leslie McGill, executive director of the California Police Chiefs Association. Steckler is past president of the organization.
"I've kn...Read More
New international police leadership includes Californian
Posted 10/27/2011 11:06 pm
By Leslie McGill
The International Association of Chiefs of Police installed new leadership Wednesday, and appointed Fremont Police Chief Craig Steckler to lead a national crime commission.
IACP President Chief Mark Marshall presented newly elected President Chief Walter McNeil with his president's ring during a private ceremony prior to the start Wednesday's installation banquet at its annual conference in Chicago. The formal event began with the presentation of awards, and Cal Chiefs was very proud of Greenfield Police Department being honored with the Civil Rights Award. Greenfield received the Single Agency program award, which was received by Chief Joe Grebmeier.
The evenin...Read More
Two Californians earn international policing honors
Posted 10/27/2011 6:46 am
An Anaheim Police Department sergeant and a California Highway Patrol officer planner were honored for their contributions to public safety at this week's International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Chicago.
"We are very proud of APD Sgt. Craig Friesen, who was presented with an honorable mention award in the international police officer of the year category for developing a victim advocate program by providing counseling and services and going after the pimps to stop the cycle of what is often human trafficking," said Leslie McGill, the executive director of the California Police Chief's Association.
Also honored was John Keller, senior transportation planne...Read More
Police Chiefs Applaud RAND's Retraction of Marijuana Report
Posted 10/25/2011 3:56 am
The California Police Chiefs Association applauded the Rand Corporation today for retracting its flawed report, "Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and Crime," which inaccurately said crime increased in Los Angeles when dispensaries closed.
"Dispensaries do impact crime rates and quality of life issues in our neighborhoods, as our '2009 White Paper on Marijuana Dispensaries' showed. Quality of life and crime problems are often common to areas where dispensaries are located. As leaders responsible for providing law enforcement services to 78% of California, we have a keen perspective on this issue," says Chief David L. Maggard Jr., president of the California Police Chiefs Association. ...Read More
Economic Downturn Threatens Public Safety, DOJ Says
Posted 10/24/2011 11:40 pm
A new U.S. Department of Justice report concludes that "law enforcement faces a bleak outlook" due to the economic downturn.
The report says about 30,000 law enforcement jobs are unfilled, a quarter of American cities have made cuts to public safety and some police agencies have stopped responding to all motor vehicle thefts and other calls for service.
The result: fewer officers are getting needed training, investments in technology are being slashed and police agencies are "fundamentally changing how they keep the public safe," the report says.
Titled "The Impact of he Economic Downturn on American Police Agencies," the report was shared today at the International C...Read More
IACP: Officer honored for surviving deadly encounter; workshop highlights those who don't
Posted 10/24/2011 5:50 am
Violence against officers was on the minds of police chiefs during day two of the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Chicago.
Oklahoma Police Officer Katie Lawson received the Survivors Club Award. A suspect had opened fire on her, striking her more than five times.
"I was particularly moved by her story," said David Maggard, President of the California Police Chiefs Association. "She showed extraordinary courage under fire. Her testimony serves as a great reminder of the dangers our men and women face every day protecting our neighborhoods."
The report below is from Leslie McGill, executive director of the CPCA.
"Today at IACP, one of the highlights...Read More
California well represented at international chiefs conference
Posted 10/23/2011 11:40 am
Among the dignitaries introduced Saturday at the kick-off of the 118th International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Chicago was Fremont Police Chief Craig Steckler, who is the organization's 1st Vice President.
A former California Police Chiefs Association board president, Steckler wasn't the only California chief in attendance.
David Maggard, the current CPCA president, was there, along with executive director Leslie McGill and program coordinator Meredith Hesby.
"The conference promises to be full of content-rich information that will later be applied in neighborhoods throughout California and the entire nation," Maggard said.
The first international...Read More
Police Chief Looks To Higher Authority
Posted 10/17/2011 1:31 pm
As a police chief, John Schaefer loves to catch the bad guys. But the top cop in the affluent city of San Marino, near Pasadena, has another passion: changing lives.
Schaefer, 57, is in the rare position to do just that. He's one of the only police chiefs in California – perhaps the only one -- who also serves as a chaplain for incarcerated youth, in Schaefer's case for Orange County Probation.
Cyndee Thomas, 62, senior chaplain at the Redding Police Department and past-president of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, isn't aware of another police chief in the state who also has the job of providing emotional and spiritual support to sworn officers and non-sw...Read More
Police Chiefs Applaud Governor for Signing Decisions on Key Legislation that will Enhance Public Safety
Posted 10/11/2011 1:00 am
The California Police Chiefs Association issued the following press release today:
Contact: Leslie McGill 916-481-8000
The California Police Chiefs Association praised Gov. Jerry Brown today for signing key pieces of legislation to help protect public safety in our communities.
AB 144, a bill that was sponsored by Cal Chiefs, bans the open carry of handguns in public places.
"We view the open carrying of unloaded handguns as a threat to the safety of the communities we police and the safety of our officers," said David L. Maggard, Jr., president of the California Police Chiefs Association. "The Governor's leadership in signing this legislation will help assure that...Read More
New police departments make dent in crime despite challenging economy
Posted 10/11/2011 12:43 am
Gerald Galvin, 69, has been police chief of cities ranging in population from 5,000 to 500,000 during his 40-plus years in law enforcement, including stints as top cop in Toledo, Ohio and Albuquerque, N.M.
So what's the seasoned law enforcement veteran doing making a relatively paltry $58,000 a year as police chief of the small, agriculture-dominated town of Mendota in Fresno County?
Doing a lot with very little, it turns out. In these challenging economic times, some cities are considering disbanding their police departments to save money by contracting services with sheriff's departments. Galvin, however, is representative of the opposite trend: cities cancel...Read More
Most say police act properly, new study finds
Posted 10/06/2011 5:59 am
A national survey published today found that 90 percent of U.S. residents who had contact with police in 2008 said officers were respectful and acted properly.
"The survey reenforces what most of us in policing already know: the great majority of our police officers are professional and committed to serving the public in a way that enhances their communities," said David Maggard, President of the Board of the California Police Chiefs Association.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics survey, titled Contacts Between Police and the Public, 2008, included interviews with 60,000 people who had face-to-face contact with police that year.
The survey also found:
- The number of U.S. cit...Read More
From a big city, Tehachapi's founding police chief living 'City Slickers' dream
Posted 10/03/2011 11:18 pm
A big-city cop becomes police chief of a small rural town tucked away in the mountains.
Jeff Kermode, 54, is living the "City Slickers" dream, riding horses and rubbing elbows daily with locals he knows by first name.
Ironic, then, that the former commander at the Irvine Police Department found himself, a few years after being sworn in as police chief of Tehachapi (population: 9,000, not counting a state prison), a key player in a story that went international.
Producers from "60 Minutes" and reporters from Time magazine even descended on Tehachapi to interview Kermode – something that never happened to him during his 26 years as a police officer in Irvine, the master-p...Read More
Mt. Shasta chief knows every hat size in town
Posted 09/26/2011 1:00 pm
By Richard Dunn
It is a different world in small town police departments, and it could boggle the mind of big city police chiefs with the myriad hats and duties, but Mount Shasta Police Chief Parish Cross wouldn't have it any other way.
A double-edged sword is the best and worst part about being a police chief in a small city: You know everyone in town, but you also convey the trauma or tragedy to them.
"I take my job personally, because I'm from here," Cross said. "If a local guy at a store gets burglarized, I take it pretty hard. If I show up to work Monday morning and somebody got burglarized, I feel like I didn't do my job that weekend. That's the other side of ...Read More
New chiefs in neighboring LA county cities embrace technology to meet challenges
Posted 09/19/2011 1:00 pm
They're probably tweeting each other.
Bob Guthrie and Jim Hunt not only share the distinction of taking over as police chiefs in the adjacent cities of Arcadia and Monrovia within a month of each other this summer, but they also have similar visions about embracing technology and social media during an era of tight budgets and limited resources. Guthrie, 40, was sworn in as Arcadia's police chief on Aug. 11, capping a 21-year career with the upper-middle class city of 54,000 located about 20 miles east of Los Angeles.
Hunt, 54, was named Monrovia's top cop on Sept. 6. He has been a police officer for 20 years with the city that 39,000 people call home.
Both newly anoint...Read More
A decade later, promise of 'we're on our way' still echoes
Posted 09/11/2011 1:00 pm
By David Maggard and Sheldon Gilbert
Minutes before one of the World Trade Center towers collapsed around them, two firefighters from the initial wave to arrive on the scene exchanged the following over their walkie-talkies: "Chief, what stair you in?"
"South stairway Adam, South Tower."
"Floor 78?"
"Ten-four, numerous civilians, we're gonna need two engines up here."
"All right, ten-four, we're on our way."
"We're on our way."
Simple, direct, powerful.
Those four little words speak volumes about the extraordinary heroism, bravery and determination demonstrated by the hundreds of police officers and firefighters who rushed into the chaos on September 11...Read More
Raney Brothers Believed to be Only Twin Chiefs in U.S.
Posted 09/05/2011 1:00 pm
You might think that twin brothers Kevin and Kim Raney, both police chiefs in their respective departments, grew up playing cops and robbers, and dreamed about becoming the town sheriff.
Not exactly.
They have escalated to the top in their field, but neither Kim nor Kevin considered a career in law enforcement until high school, when they were mentored in a class taught by members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at Lakewood High in Long Beach.
"Being a police chief was not something we set out to be when we were brothers growing up," said Kevin Raney, Garden Grove's Police Chief. "We both made the decision at about the same time that we did want to pursue...Read More
SacPD Chief Leads 1st All-Cop Team in Cross Country Bike Ride to Honor Fallen Officers
Posted 08/29/2011 1:48 pm
As a veteran cop of almost 32 years, Rick Braziel is intimately familiar with a truism of police work: Nothing ever goes as planned.
So when Sacramento PD's police chief and 20 colleagues ventured off this summer on a historic cross-country bike journey to honor fallen officers, Braziel wasn't fazed when the unexpected happened – just two hours into the race.
Shortly after the start of the race that began in Oceanside on June 18, one of the vans carrying two riders who were part of Team SacPD broke down and had to be towed.
Other mishaps would follow.
Braziel, a former triathlete and marathoner, wondered: Would his two teams of four riders and 13 support crew make it to...Read More
Eleven Years After Husband's Diagnosis, Cypress Chief Continues Push to Save Lives
Posted 08/24/2011 10:29 pm
They work patrol in Orange County, and have infants in dire need of bone marrow transplants.
Cypress Police Officer Matt Charland and California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Dooley have another thing in common - the full support of Cypress Police Chief Jackie Gomez-Whiteley, who 11 years ago herself was looking for a bone marrow donor to save a loved one.
Her husband, John Whiteley (a retired Orange PD lieutenant), had been diagnosed with three types of leukemia, one of which is considered incurable.
"He is our walking miracle," says Gomez-Whiteley of her husband's sustained remission. "It really makes you put life into perspective and understand what really matters." ...Read More
In California, Women Police Chiefs No Longer a Novelty
Posted 08/22/2011 1:30 pm
By Bill Rams
Diane Urban was the first female collegiate athlete to throw a discus 174 feet, 11 inches.
The daughter of a Los Angeles police officer, she was also the first woman in her family to work in law enforcement.
At the San Jose Police Department, she was the first female field training officer, SWAT team member, intelligence officer and assistant police chief.
Two weeks ago, Urban added first female Hayward police chief to her list of firsts.
"There have been a lot of firsts," she says. "I've been in law enforcement for 26 years. I'm used to being a trendsetter."
She's not alone.
Urban is the sixth woman in the past six months to earn a police c...Read More
On Duty Police Fatalities Continue to Rise
Posted 08/17/2011 6:58 am
A San Diego Police Officer and decorated combat veteran was assassinated last week by a attempted murder suspect, officials said.
The death of Jeremy Henwood, 36, who was eulogized Friday as "a great cop" by SDPD Capt. Lawrence McKinney, is the latest in a national trend of increasing violence against police officers.
In the U.S., 98 law enforcement officials died in the line of duty during the first six months of 2011 - up 14 percent from the same period in 2010. The number of officers killed by firearms is up 33 percent, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
"The economy has forced reductions in training, safety equipment and personnel at law ...Read More
California Police Chiefs Launch News Site
Posted 08/15/2011 9:17 pm
The California Police Chiefs Association announced today that it will share news and feature stories on a website dedicated to educating the public about the value police departments provide to communities in California.
CaliforniaPoliceChiefs.org is part of the association's strategy to be "an effective and respected voice for all municipal California police chiefs," said David Maggard, President of the Board of CPCA.
Maggard noted that police agencies throughout the state are facing unprecedented challenges despite a sustained drop in crime.
"Thousands of state prisoners will soon be coming to our local communities for incarceration and supervision," he said. "This...Read More


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Posted Apr 12, 2012By sbarker
UConn's Andre Drummond will enter the NBA Draft.
Khalid alBalooshi (Top Fuel), Courtney Force (Funny Car), Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motor
Vincenzo Nibali won the Tour de France on Sunday, becoming the first Italian in 16 years to triumph in cycling's gr
Tony Martin of Germany and the Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team won the individual time trial during the twen
Mario Peruzzi day at Quigley Stadium in West Haven. The West Haven Twilight league celebrated the inaugural Mario P
The Force sisters, Brittany, in Top Fuel, and Courtney, in Funny Car, lead pro qualifying after the first day at th
Photos of Seymour vs. Exton in Little League Eastern Regional Softball Semifinal. In a hard fought game Exton defea

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Narrow your search
Excellent picture quality, well thought-out features and distinctive design make the Vizio M-Series seem like a much more expensive TV than it really is.
Author David Mitchell has released a new short story called "The Right Sort" piecemeal, less than 140 characters at a time.
Modern Polaxis tells the story of a paranoid time traveller, and the secrets of his book can only be accessed via augmented reality.
BBC says it is "concerned" that a blog post from 2007 has been removed from Google's search results, but an expert suggests requests to remove data have the potential to backfire.
Regina Dugan of Google's skunkworks division gave an update on projects Ara and Tango, but it was a Disney-styled animation that stole the show at Google I/O.
This browser plug-in and soon-to-be smartphone app that will launch during CES 2013 automatically summarizes news stories and other articles for you.
Pricing not available
Game maker hopes a bevy of fresh titles with new play styles will make the tablet controller and its accompanying Wii U console more appealing.
Excellent picture quality, well-thought out features and distinctive design make the Vizio M series seem like a much more expensive TV than it really is.
The Iriver Story HD is a decent e-reader for fans of Google Books, but it's tough to recommend over its identically priced competitors, which offer touch screens and 3G.
A user posts a fake news piece to CNN's iReport news hub. It stays live for 22 hours before someone realizes it must surely not be true.


text:
Another New Year's Day has come and gone, marking three years since the death of 20-year-old Jessica Mejia in a DUI-related car accident.
Nicholas Sord, 25, has been charged with reckless homicide in the incident and is out on bond. He was offered a plea deal, which was subsequently turned down.
A hearing on Jan. 11 was supposed to include arguments on motions about evidence in the case, but a new date in February was chosen instead.
Sord didn't speak during the brief hearing. His attorney Jeff Aprati said the prosecution will be filing the motions but wasn't able to elaborate on what they may include.
Police said Sord was close to three times over the blood-alcohol limit on New Year's Day 2010 when he lost control of his SUV near 147th Street and Oak Park Avenue, killing 20-year-old Jessica Mejia of New Lenox, a Lincoln Way-Central High School graduate. The defense claims that Mejia caused the accident.
For Mejia's family, the wheels of justice have been turning slowly, apparent in the latest hearing that has been continued for another three weeks.
Mejia's mother, Christina Mejia, has been at every hearing with other family members and her fiance. Mejia's father, Luis Mejia, doesn't get to the hearings as often due to his work schedule but expressed his frustration with the proceedings after court Friday.
"You don't want to say the justice system isn't fair," Luis Mejia told Patch, "but it's just so hard, the extent of this case dragging out is just so much harder. Just prolonging everything. It's a hard thing for everybody."
Luis Mejia said the case "has been devastating" and "a piece of me goes away every time I have to come to the courtroom."
Sord is scheduled to be back in a Markham courtroom before Judge Frank Zelezinski on Feb. 1.
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Quote:I've always just used Virtual Moon Atlas http://ap-i.net/avl/en/start
Quote:Lunar Observer's Toolkit is a computer program designed to aid lunar observers at all levels to plan, make, and record their observations. This popular program was first written in 1985 for the Commodore 64 and ported to DOS around 1990. Those familiar with the old DOS version will find most of the same tools in this new Windows version, plus many new ones. A complete list of these tools include Dome Table View and Maintenance, Dome Observation Scheduling, Archiving Your Dome Observations, Lunar Feature Table View and Maintenance, Schedule General Lunar Observations, Lunar Heights and Depths, Solar Altitude and Azimuth, Lunar Ephemeris, Lunar Longitude and Latitude to Xi and Eta, Lunar Xi and Eta to Longitude and Latitude, Lunar Atlas Referencing, JALPO and Selenology Bibliography, Minimum System Requirements, Lunar and Planetary Links, and Lunar Observer's ToolKit Help and Library. Some of the program's options include predicting when a lunar feature will be illuminated in a certain way, what features from a collection of features will be under a given range of illumination, physical ephemeris information, mountain height computation,coordinate conversion, and browsing of the software's included database of over 6,000 lunar features.From "The Strolling Astronomer", Volume 50, Number 4, Autumn, 2008, the newsletter of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers.
Quote:I would be interested in hearing what you find out from Harry as I still have the "older" version....
Quote:There have been no changes made to ToolKit since your last copy. Demand for the product has been essentially non-existent, and this has what has always driven change in the past.
Quote:I still use v1.1.19Was there any significant issues addressed in 1.1.25 or was it minor stuff? Any way to get the 1.1.25 update or am I out of luck?Rob