Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff's Department use new database to track down 11 suspected taggers.

LAKE FOREST – Eleven teenagers accused of tagging public property were arrested this morning in a sweep by the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the latest effort to curb vandalism in the city through the use of a new electronic database.

Deputies served four search warrants in two South County cities this morning, as well as one in Los Angeles County, in an effort to rub out vandalism in Lake Forest, which officials say has been experiencing an increase the dollar amount of costs associated with graffiti in the last three months.

Using an electronic database called Tracking Automated and Graffiti Reporting System, or TAGRS, sheriff's investigators tracked down the 11 minors, who are believed to be responsible for 68 cases of vandalism on public property, causing about $10,000 in damages, said Lt. Don Barnes.

"We want to significantly reduce the number of incidents of graffiti," Barnes said.

To read the rest of the Register's story click here.

The California Peace Officers Association has bestowed its highly coveted Sherman Block Award on Assistant Sheriff Michael Hillmann. Chief Hillman was given the award earlier this year for his work with the Los Angeles Police Department, where he served as a Deputy Chief.

The citation said in part:

Deputy Chief Michael Hillmann has dedicated his life to raising the standards of the law enforcement profession, and the entire Los Angeles Police Department has benefited from his presence among their ranks.  As a pillar of the Los Angeles Police Department, and the entire Los Angeles community, as well as being the personification of excellence in police work, Deputy Chief Hillmann is highly worthy and deserving of receiving the Sherman Block Law Enforcement Professional of the Year Award. 

On the award:

The Sherman Block Law Enforcement Professional of the Year Award is designed to recognize California law enforcement professionals who, like Sheriff Block, have distinguished themselves through dedicated service to their departments, their community and to the law enforcement field. It is the most prestigious award for which a law enforcement professional can be nominated. There will be only one recipient each year.

To see the full text of the award criteria and the citation for Assistant Sheriff Hillmann click: Sherman Block Award.pdf (176.35 kb)

Sheriff's special officer Bob Kiefer has saved lives by training others, and most recently, by helping man in Vons supermarket.

It's called Harbor Watch and it is hoped that it will do for the Orange County boating community what Neighborhood Watch has done for residential areas.

"The goal is to have hundreds of extra sets of eyes and ears out there and to have anything suspicious reported to us," Harbor Patrol Sergeant Steven McCormick.

Harbor Patrol wants to hear about things that observers may feel are suspcious but not worth reporting.

Harbor Patrol wants to hear about things like people who appear to be engaged in surveillance, those who look out of place near critical facilities, tossing into or recovering items from the water, unattended boats and vehicles in criticial areas, unusual diving activity, boats signaling each other and people transfering between boats.

The program has begun with a pamphlet that has already been distributed to to shipyard operators and will soon being going out to marina operators and, ultimately, to boaters and shoreline residents.

"With all of our Homeland Security concerns, we want to hear about just about anything," Sergeant McCormick said. "We want to keep people alert, looking for suspicious activity."

The Harbor Patrol has enlisted its Reserve Deputies to help put together a presentation to take to public meeting and to do outreach in the Newport Harbor area to promote the program.

To see the program flier click: Harbor Watch 2008 flyer.pdf (603.02 kb)

A Catholic Detention Ministries sponsored Day of Reflection was observed at the James A. Musick Facility and 35 male inmates participated along with 14 volunteers.

It was the fourth annual one day retreat for Musick inmates and a female Day of Reflection is planned for October 22.

The volunteers and chaplains are present during the daylong event of religious reflection. The group explores specific topics dealing with negative behavior, and is intended to deepen the participant’s integration of faith and life through prayer and shared discussion. The day consists of 6-7 hours which includes lunch. The visitors bring in their own sack lunch and eat alongside the inmates.

This year the volunteers were Father Anthony Baer, Peter Fuerst, Christopher Gonzales, Deacon Philip Goodman, Chaplain Fredrick LaPuzza, Nhat Le, Ruben Mata, Stanley Necikowski, Tony Patronite, Arthur Pinto, Stewart Sheehy, Michael Sortino, Father Edward Walshe, Ernesto Mantillo and Gerald Zelko.

The event concludes with the volunteers washing the feet of the inmates. It is a symbol of humility; their action is similar to Christ washing his disciples’ feet. Many of the inmates cry and state it the most humbling and powerful experience they have ever had. The participants thanked Captain Deana Bergquist, Inmate Programs Supervisor Dan Connelly and Deputy Ray Guerrero for allowing the event to occur and for allowing them to attend. [more]

Deputy Guerrero said the event was scheduled to have no impact on facility operations, work crews or classes.

Here are some more pictures of the activity.

Taffy is one of the most celebrated K-9 members of the Department, being the focus with her owner Reserve Lieutenant William Douglas of numerous news features and awards.  

To see a picture of Taffy and Lieutenant Douglas and a story that ran in South Coast Magazine click: South Coast Magazine.pdf (669.92 kb)

Here is a portion of the Press Release that was issued this week by the American Kennel Club.

 AKC HONORS OUTSTANDING DOGS WITH 2008 AKC AWARDS FOR CANINE EXCELLENCE (ACE) 

--Extraordinary Dogs Receive Top Honors for Their Contributions to the Safety and Well-being of Humankind --

New York, NY – The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) announced today the winners of the seventh AKC Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE), the award designed to commemorate loyal, hard-working dogs that have made significant contributions to their community. The ACE is given annually to dogs in each of the following five categories: Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Therapy, Service and Exemplary Companion Dog.

“All of this year’s ACE nominees have contributed immeasurably to the lives of individuals and communities across the country, choosing just one for each category is the hardest thing to do,” said Ronald Rella, AKC Director of Project Administration and member of the judging panel. “Whether they serve as law enforcement, search and rescue, therapy, service, or exemplary companion dogs, each nomination is a testimony to the loyalty, devotion and strength dogs give to us.”

The ACE recipients in each category will receive $1,000 and an engraved sterling-silver collar medallion at the nationally televised AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Long Beach, California on December 13, 2008. In addition they will be honored individually at local dog shows this fall.

Search and Rescue Dog: “Taffy” owned by Lt. Douglas Williams of Laguna Niguel, CA

Taffy, an 8-year-old Bloodhound, is a faithful civil servant, who uses her skills as a scent hound by saving the lives of others. Taffy and her owner, Reserve Lieutenant Douglas Williams, volunteer for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) near Los Angeles, where Lt. Williams is the Supervisor of the Search and Rescue K9 Operations Unit. Taffy kept her community safe by helping to find lost children, Alzheimer’s patients who wandered off, and criminals on the run. She has worked on over 115 documented cases for the police, providing credible information that helped solve crimes. Taffy has had 12 walk-up finds of lost persons or criminals to her credit, a remarkable number for a search and rescue dog.

She travels with Lt. Williams across Southern California and five other states to assist law enforcement agencies and civilian search and rescue groups in training dogs. Taffy also serves as an advocate for the community and as the face of the OCSD Search and Rescue unit. She has attended over 20 community parades, visited schools for presentations with Lt. Williams, and helps raise students’ awareness about the dangers of drug use, gangs and strangers. She also has participated in numerous Boy and Girl Scout events. An ambassador for the American Bloodhound Club and Bloodhounds West, she appeared in numerous “Meet the Breed” booths, including the one at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship.

On May 25, 2008, Orange County Sheriff’s Department Investigators assigned to Special Operations received information that OCSD employee Lissa Marie Domanic, age 42, of Yorba Linda was providing confidential law enforcement information to gang members and gang associates and was associating with members of a racist criminal street gang. Domanic has been employed as an Office Specialist/911 call taker for the OCSD since February 2007.

On 9-3-08, members of the OCSD Gang Enforcement Team and Special Operations Bureau served a search warrant at Domanic’s residence. During the search letters and photos suggesting gang involvement were located.

On 9-22-08, the Orange County Grand Jury indicted Domanic on two counts of CPC 653F(a), Solicitation  to commit a violent crime and one count of CPC 11142, providing confidential law enforcement information to an unauthorized person(s). All charges have a gang enhancement due to Domanic’s gang involvement. The defendant is ineligible for bail.

On 9-23-08 investigators arrested Domanic at her residence in Yorba Linda. She was booked into the Orange County Jail on a $50,000 warrant. At the time of the arrest Domanic was in possession of methamphetamine and was also determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance.

Services will be held tomorrow for Reserve Deputy Stan Kudla, who died on September 18 of heart failure.

Reserve Deputy Kudla was 65 years old when he entered the Reserve Academy and was one of the oldest individuals ever to graduate from the physically demanding program. He worked out at the gym three days a week until he was diagnosed with cancer in June.  

He was proud to be a member of the Department and his passion was serving with the Search and Rescue Team.

He was born on June 21, 1935 and graduated from Compton High School in 1954 and went on to receive an Associate’s Degree from Compton College in 1959.

From 1966 until 1994 he served as a senior account agent for Allstate Insurance.  Then he relocated to New Mexico where he served as squadron commander in the Civil Air Patrol and later joined the Angel Fire Search and Rescue Team. He also served with the New Mexico Mounted Patrol.

At age 65, he joined the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as a Reserve Deputy, graduating at an age when most people are retiring.

And he didn’t stop there; he went on to become a Level II Reserve Deputy in December 2003.

As a member of the Reserves, Deputy Kudla received numerous commendations.

He was a regular in the contingent that serves during the Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano.

He also served repeatedly as security for ballots on election night.

Last year he helped evacuate inmates from the James A. Musick Facility when it was threatened during the Santiago Fire.

Reserve Deputy Kudla did everything from helping investigators clean out a big marijuana patch near Loma Ridge to searching for hidden ordnance and helping maintain high visibility patrols at Mile Square Park.

He strived to do all that was possible to find those lost and in trouble.

There was no sign of health problems prior to June when he was diagnosed with cancer. 

  
SHERIFF-CORONER DEPARTMENT
COUNTY OF ORANGE
CALIFORNIA

550 NORTH FLOWER STREET – P.O. BOX 449
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA 92702-0449
(714) 647-7042 
 
   Sept. 24, 2008
 PRESS  RELEASE 

 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE AWARDS GRANT TO SOLVE COLD CASE VIOLENT CRIMES WITH DNA

Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens announced Wednesday that The National Institute of Justice has awarded the Sheriff's Department a $295,742 grant for Solving Cold Cases with DNA.

The selection process was one of the most competitive seen to date and the award was credited to the high caliber of the Department’s forensic scientists and investigators available for the program.

The Department has already cleared Cold Case Homicides as a result of their comprehensive investigation and additional tests using new DNA technology. The Cold Case Investigators typically use DNA collected at the crime scene to determine if it matches any individuals in the state or national database.

The new award will allow the Department investigators to expand the Cold Case program to help solve violent crimes other than homicides. This funding and the associated essential resources will bring closure to victims and victim's families and prevent these violent crimes from causing additional ongoing emotional distress.

“The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is proud to accept this grant which awarded after a highly selective process. It is a credit to the investigators and forensic scientists who help make this Department so successful,” Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said.

For more information contact Sheriff’s Department Media Relations at (714) 647-7042.

Department Emergency Management Bureau Manager Donna Boston and Senior Emergency Program Coordinator Denise  Bundy spent three days in Texas last week observing Response and Recovery operations in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

They observed the operations in some of the areas hardest hit by the hurricane, like Galveston and Houston and at some of the most challenged points within the overall response and recovery effort.

“It was something to see some of the Points of Distribution,” said Emergency Manager Boston. “They had some of the points set up almost like a DUI checkpoint. They would bring seven cars in and fill them with ice, water and MREs.” MREs are military style rations known as Meals Ready to Eat. “The cars were filled and sent along in two minutes so that the next batch of seven cars could pull in.”

Two other Department employees were also in the area of Hurricane Ike, Dispatcher Janice Murphy is a member of a Disaster Medical Assistance Team and Facility Maintenance Worker Jeff Baker is a Red Cross volunteer.

Managers Boston and Coordinator Bundy were there on Department business.

Some of the Points of Distribution were run by federal workers based at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.

“What was interesting was that the local authorities were able to task FEMA with support responsibilities. That placed FEMA in a position to support local efforts,” Emergency Manager Boston said. [more]

She said she observed a shelter location that turned nobody away and a Debris Task Force that impressed her with its efficiency.  

“The Public Works teams were based out of Dallas and Fort Worth. They were self contained, they didn’t even report to Houston, they reported to Dallas.  I literally saw a SWAT officer, posted there for security, driving a big rig to help clear debris.  Whatever they needed to do, they did.

Manager Boston was also impressed by the response of private industry. National department store chains and supermarkets sent response teams to the area.

“They brought generator that operated the entire supermarket, I was amazed at how many employees were in the supermarket. They worked hard to have the supermarket back serving the community.”

One thing she was impressed by was the spirit of the victims.

“The storm couldn’t kill southern hospitality. We saw people whose homes were damaged and they invited us in for fried chicken.” The offers were turned down but the sentiment was long remembered.

A lot of elected officials were serving in a public information capacity. Reporters were asking them to criticize FEMA but they refused.

The buzz word in the area was:
Hurricane Ike isn’t managing us, we are managing the hurricane.

We got in at the end of the response and the beginning of the recovery.

Some of the issues they went to the Hurricane scene to learn more about included:

Highlights from Hurricane Ike    
• Look and Leave Policy for Galveston—residents were allowed to return to the devastated area to assess their damage and then return to their temporary shelter/lodging.
• Houston used the 3-1-1 system for information dissemination.

Points of Distribution (PODs)
• FEMA ran the Points of Distribution—staffed by TSA, Army Corps of Engineers, compilation of city staff and other volunteers.
• POD Security was provided by Houston PD, Event Staff contractors.
• Limited Supplies:  Ice, Water, MREs
• Only open as long as supplies were available.
• 7 cars loaded every 2 minutes.
• Mayor of Houston was extremely clear “PODs will be reduced as power comes up NOT increased.”
• Priority distribution based on impact.
• Mobility Response Teams set up.
• Community Services Department was surveying both POD Recipients and Volunteers: 
o How long were you in line?
o Are you getting the needed supplies?
o Are enough supplies given?
o What was your experience with the POD Process?
o What could be done for improvement?
o 
Public Information
• Elected officials were typical for each jurisdiction.
• Officials were careful not to blame when problems arose: “It just took some doing.” “Our goal is to make sure this doesn’t happen tomorrow.  It’s sorted out now.”
• Local Media established a Person Locator Blog on their website.
• Public Information Hotlines
o 24 hour operation
o City employees
o Volunteer registration was done there as well
o Used 2-1-1 for residents to register for mass notification system.
o Use mass notification system to disseminate information up to 3-4 times a day.

Law Operations
• Houston PD ran shifts of 12/12 after Ike made landfall.  Some officers initially worked 26 hours the first day.
• Law Enforcement support at gas stations.
• Back-up power required for the coroner facility.
• Border Patrol on patrol in Galveston.

Shelter Operations
• American Red Cross feeding operations were supported by AmeriCorps Volunteers.
• Neighborhoods assisted with bringing food to older people who could not get to the canteens.
• Shelters had individuals from outside their local area due to devastation. 
• Provided facilities for a displaced women’s shelter.
• Shelter Operations Continued
• MD in shelter was a CERT Volunteer.
• Wrist bands provided for shelter registrants.
• Congregation provided additional support to the shelter (laundry, cooking, etc).
• In kind donations poured in.
• Child Disaster Services provided free child care for families at the shelters.

The Drug Use is Life Abuse Golf Fundraiser was held Monday a the Coto De Caza Golf & Racquet with 120 volunteers and 144 golfers, including many members of the Department. For the first time in the 13 year history of the fundraiser, a golfer got a Hole in One. It was Ralph Stern, businessman and member of the Drug Use is Life Abuse Board of Directors. Drug Use is Life Abuse is non-profit corporation affiliated with the Sheriff's Adivsory Council and commited to educational programs in the war on drugs and gangs.

Here are some pictures of the event.

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens helps open the Golf Tournament [more]

The Orange County Register recently had a story about Department Investigators Joe Gaul and Joe Hoskins working to solve a 43-year old homicide. 

By KIMBERLY EDDS
The Orange County Register

The dusty orange grove where the body of Jesse Martinez Jr. was discovered is long gone, paved over by progress. An out-of-business car dealership now sits there – at a dead end.

Forty-three years later, Jesse's killers think they got away with murder.

Joe Gaul showed up at the Orange County Sheriff's Department homicide unit in 2005, the newest transfer and the odd man out. Without a partner and with little experience in homicide, he was handed the department's oldest unsolved slaying. See what you can do with this one.

A lot happens in 43 years. People get married, and divorced, and die. They tell lies, hoping to hide from reality. And they numb the pain any way they can.

To see the full story click here.

Two sergeants from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department have completed the Sherman Block Supervisory Institute, a program designed for law enforcement first-level supervisors to promote personal growth, leadership and ethical-decision making.

Sergeant Dan Lurie of the Harbor Justice Center and Sergeant Steven Mitchell of North Operations were congratulated by Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.

The Department encourages the program because sergeants in the sworn ranks have the most influence on deputies. They ensure not only that Deputies do their job but have a responsibility to mentor and prepare the line staff to be tomorrow’s leaders.

According to the Police Officer Standards and Training Website, the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute was designed and implemented in 1988 through the efforts of California law enforcement professionals and top educators and trainers. The institute is an intense program based on experiential learning techniques. Students are challenged to learn new ways to resolve issues through group and individual work.

POST also said this of the program:

The curriculum takes students through an analysis of management (planning, organizing, directing, etc.) and leadership (inspiring, challenging, developing, etc.) and how each discipline compliments the other. The course progresses from self-evaluation, to interpersonal evaluation, to organizational relationships. [more]

During the program, a typical successful student develops the ability to:

• Correlate the relationship between personal and organizational principles and values
• Exercise greater leadership in personal and professional activities
• Increase personal influence with individuals and groups to accomplish organizational goals
• Analyze issues from multiple perspectives
• Develop increased self-confidence and confidence in the ability of others
• Provide support and development for peers and subordinates
• Recognize and address areas for personal improvement
• Effectively integrate management skills and leadership qualities

A typical successful student is willing to learn, open to new ideas, and able to engage in deep self-examination of values and beliefs. The program is not a "how-to" course and should not be viewed as a fix for problem individuals. The curriculum provides a forum for personal growth and development of qualities necessary for effective public safety leadership.

Attendance and Class Information

Students are required to live at the course site while the course is in session. The SBSLI consists of eight 24-hour sessions held approximately every four weeks. The total course hours are 192. Students are expected to attend all sessions but are allowed to miss 16 total hours of class time so long as not more than one eight-hour day per 24-hour session is missed. Evening social activities are strongly encouraged.

Each class is structured to accommodate 24 students. Class composition is managed to ensure a diverse student body utilizing such factors as agency size and type as well as geographical location. At the completion of the program, a commencement ceremony is held for successful students.

Student Expectations

A considerable amount of reading and writing is required between sessions on the student's own time. A minimum of two books are assigned per session and written book reviews of both are required. Students must be prepared to discuss the readings and take part in all learning activities as well as actively participate in classroom discussions. A final team project is completed and presented in session eight.

For more information click: http://www.post.ca.gov/Training/sbsli/candidate.asp

Letter from the Sheriff

We are a Team

I began my law enforcement career in 1976 as a secretary. I was proud of my role and my contribution to the organization because I knew I was doing my part to assist the Sheriff's Department in serving out our mission.

In the Orange County Sheriff's Department we have more than 2,041 professional staff filling 159 different job classifications and 1,631 sworn deputies filling eight job classifications. We also have 230 Reserve Deputies and 470 Professional Service Responders who augment the services we provide each and every day. Sworn or professional staff - we each have a specific role in our mission to provide professional and responsive law enforcement services to the residents and businesses of Orange County.

One of the seven members of my Executive Command Staff is a civilian and seven of my 21 Department Directors are civilians.

We are a team.

Our professional staff has a diverse list of responsibilities such as protecting public buildings, serving as bailiffs in civil courts, and supervising inmate work crews in the jails. Professional staff calculates our paychecks, sifts for evidence at crime scenes and analyzes evidence in the crime lab. Our professional staff maintains and programs our computers, builds networks, purchases our patrol cars and body armor, answers our phones - dispatching calls for service, and finds the money we need to fulfill our mission.

We are a diverse organization that must rely on the talents and expertise of a broad range of individuals in order to be successful. We, as a professional organization, cannot tolerate differential treatment based on the position one holds or the uniform one wears. Every single employee and volunteer is essential to the success of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

This is not a matter of policy, but a matter of human decency and respect.

Both I and the Command Staff expect all members of the Orange County Sheriff's Department to treat each other with respect and to work in collaboration in fulfilling our collective mission. We will not tolerate anything less.

SANDRA HUTCHENS
Sheriff-Coroner

The Christian Talk Radio station KBRT (740 AM) broadcast a series of spots called “Uncommon Heroes” to remind people that the heroism of 9/11 is repeated in everyday events to this day.  Three of the segments involved the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

To hear one involving a boat rescue by Deputy Diane Honicker and Deputy Russell Endsley, both of Harbor Patrol/Dana Point,

[mp3:http://blog.ocsd.org/file.axd?file=HONICKER+OCSD.mp3]

Both deputies were awarded Medals for Lifesavings in 2006 in connection with the rescue.

The announcement of their award said: Deputy Diane Honicker and Deputy Russell Endsley will be awarded the Medal for Lifesaving for saving the lives of four men whose boat was capsized by a large wave and had sunk. The four men were returning to Dana Point from San Diego where they had been fishing for bait. Sea conditions were rough with seven foot swells -- and Deputies Honicker and Endsley had to navigate in the darkness using the compass and radar due to decreased visibility to find them in the treacherous waters. [more]

To hear one involving Deputy Robert Finn, Deputy Scott Ostash and Sergeant Ronald Hodges,

[mp3:http://blog.ocsd.org/file.axd?file=FINN+OCSD.mp3]

The three received the Medal of Courage for their action in 2006. Here is what was said when their award was announced:
Deputy Robert Finn (West Operations), Deputy Scott Ostash (North Operations), and Sergeant Ronald Hodges (Jail Operations/Theo Lacy) will be awarded the Medal of Courage
for capturing a male suspect who was fighting with the driver of a gasoline tanker truck at a gas station. The male suspect had thrown lit road flares into the underground gas storage tank at the gas station and a fire had ignited. When the driver of the tanker truck tried to put out the fire, the suspect stole the tanker truck and was driving down the highway. Deputy Finn spotted the tanker, and with the assistance of Deputy Ostash blocked the tankers path with their patrol cars. The deputies ordered the suspect out of the truck and he refused. Deputies Finn and Ostash broke out the driver's side window of the tanker while Sergeant Hodges broke out the passenger side window. Deputies Finn and Ostash removed the suspect from the cab of the tanker and
prevented a potential explosion from occurring.

To hear the segment involving Deputy Timothy Cullen,

[mp3:http://blog.ocsd.org/file.axd?file=CULLEN+OCSD.mp3]

Deputy Cullen received the Medal for Lifesaving and the Medal for Courage for his actions. Here is what was said when the award were announced:

Deputy Tim Cullen will be awarded the Medal for Lifesaving and the Medal of Courage for his actions at a residential fire where a mobile home was fully engulfed in smoke and flames. When he arrived, neighbors told Deputy Cullen a man was trapped inside the burning house. Deputy Cullen made several attempts to enter the burning structure but the thick smoke kept him at bay. He was finally able to pull the 250 pound man out a window that was over six feet up from the ground.

Deputies Mark Wehrli and Brian Gunsolley were honored by the Orange County Board of Supervisors for their heroic actions on August 10 when they saved a distraught woman who was dangling over an overpass on the freeway in Laguna Hills.

Copies of the resolutions were presented to the deputies by Supervisor Pat Bates, who credited the deputies with saving the life of the 24-year old woman.
Deputy Mark Wehrli also credited CHP Officer Rob Rand for the successful effort.

He gave this account of his action that day to the Board of Supervisors:

Officer Rand and myself walked along the ledge. When I looked at the next day, it was only about a two inch ledge. It seemed much bigger at the time. Officer Rand grabbed one part of her right arm I grabbed just above it. We held on to her while we were holding onto the fence. I was holding her with my left hand and holding onto the fence with my right arm. And just after we grabbed on to her, she let go and she was off the ledge, dangling. I didn’t realize that until later when I saw a video from down below looking up. She was kicking her legs and screaming at us to let her go. Just to let her drop. Which, you know, I’m not about to do. We held on to her. After a few minutes I was losing my grip.  Sgt. (James) Fouste was holding on to me. I have to thank him for keeping me alive. He’s the reason I’m here today.  We started losing her.  She was slipping out of our grasp. That’s when Deputy Gunsolley climbed over the fence, amazing. He grabbed hold of her other arm and helped us hold her against the fence.

Deputy Brian Gunsolley:
Good morning. This was a group effort. I wouldn’t have climbed over that fence if I didn’t know that I had a few deputies behind me to hold on to me. When I saw Deputy Wehrli and Officer Rand struggling with her and I saw she may take them off that ledge as well, it was a scary moment. It was one of those moments where you have think very quickly and act very quickly in order to solve the problem and have a good outcome.  I felt the only way to do that was for someone to get on the other side. I was there. It was my turn. So I climbed over the fence and got on that other side. I held on to her. She fought us. She wanted to fall. And we just hung on to her with every bit of strength we had until the Fire Department could come. We actually had about three-seconds left and she was going to drop. We were getting sweaty at the time and she was about to drop. She actually pushed off the ledge with her feet. That actually helped us, when she pushed from the ledge we used her body against her. We had her and held her until the Fire Department came and put a ladder up behind us.  We lowered her down after that.

To read the Resolutions click here: 

Sheriff Sandra Hutches was the featured speaker last week at the Orange County Forum, a non-profit, non-partisan educational current affairs forum for leaders and headline makers in Orange County.  More than 200 attended the luncheon on Wednesday at the Hilton across from John Wayne Airport.

Here is some of what she told them:

Sheriff Hutchens began with some facts about the Department.

It is the second largest Sheriff’s Department in California.

It is the fifth largest Sheriff’s Department in the United States.

The Department has a $700 million annual budget and 4,000 employees.  We serve 12 contract cities, the Orange County Transportation Authority, Superior Court, John Wayne Airport and three harbors.

Our jail system is the second largest in the state, the eighth largest in the nation. Of the inmates we hold, 80 percent are charged with felonies and held in facilities designed for county misdemeanors.

We have a cross designation program with Immigration Customs Enforcement that enables our Deputies to screen for illegal immigrants in our jail. To date, 7,000 have to detained for action by ICE.  The program is a success. We are not able to track once they go to ICE. Of the 7,000, 4,400 are felons. We have been successful.

Our crime lab is one of the leading facilities in the country for DNA.

The Department has 230 reserves and 430 Professional Service Responders. 

“The PSR’s volunteered 20,000 hours in fiscal year 07-08. That is a 100 percent increase over a 3-year period,” Sheriff Hutchens said.  “You’ve heard about badges. Our PSRs are a wonderful group of people. They are doctors, lawyers, college professors.  I decided to take the badges not because I do not value their service, I took them because of an attorney general’s opinion.  The people of Orange County want their Sheriff to follow the law. “

She then described some of the community programs that help keep the crime rates low in our contract cities.

“ It’s about programs. We keep the children off the streets. We have  a lower crime rate.”

Sheriff Hutchens said she has been busy in her first three months in office.  [more]

The executive staff has been reorganized.

A jail audit is underway.

“ What I asked was that in view of the Chamberlain investigation, look at everything we do. We want to make sure we do all we are required to do,” she said. “I expect the report in late October, but if they find something that needs to be changed immediately, they are to let me know about it. We are getting interim reports.”

“We are also looking to hold people accountable for what they do,” Sheriff Hutchens said. “There was an employee survey by the previous sheriff. A high percentage of the employees  are proud of the Department. That is a good thing. But an overwhelming number of people felt that people were not held accountable. They want people who don’t want to do their job out of the Department. I hear a lot of enthusiasm for accountability in the Department.”

“The County Board of Supervisors has hired an executive director for the Office of Independent Review. If there is a deputy involved shooting or a use of excessive force, we will bring in the OIR,” she said.

Sheriff Hutchens said she wants the public to know what is going on the in Department.

“ We’re being very transparent, we’ve opened our doors. I have been interviewed by the press and I shall continue to the interviewed by the press for good news and bad.  We will make mistakes but the difference will be that I am accountable for those mistakes. I am accountable to the public. And I will hold my employees accountable.”

She has already found a great deal of satisfaction during her time as Sheriff.

“I’ve seen a lot of great work since I became Sheriff,” she said. 

The kidnapping of Ryan Ramos, taken by his father after his father shot Ryan’s mother, ended in the youngster’s safe return. Fifty investigators went to work while the rest of the Department worked the 4th of July details. Virtually everybody  in the Department worked that weekend. The investigators put on pressure through many means to  literally drive Ramos to a place where he had to leave the boy at a church.

“We went to the mother in the hospital and said, ‘we got Ryan back.’ We told her he’s okay,” Sheriff Hutchens recounted. “She said that’s not enough, I want to see him.”
The boy was returned to his mother with all speed possible.

“We have a PSR who flew his own plane on his own dime  to take our investigators to Juarez,” Sheriff Hutchens said. “He brought the boy back just as quickly as possible, without him having to wait for a commercial flight.

The Saddleback Forum was the first time both major party Presidential candidates met in the same room in public. It was also the first time Sheriff Hutchens had the opportunity to see the Department gear up for a national event and coordinate with a long list of other public safety agencies.

Both candidates were well protected.

“Protestors were able to peacefully protest with without disrupting the forum,” the sheriff added.

It doesn’t take a nationwide manhunt or a Presidential forum to impress the sheriff. Two deputies in south county managed to do that all on their own.

“Two of our deputies rescued a woman trying to commit suicide on a freeway overpass,” Sheriff Hutchens said. “Those two deputies literally held her hands. If she fell, they would have fallen. These deputies are heroes. “

“When people ask me why I came out of retirement, well, it was to work with people like these.”

Another controversial  issue is CCWs, or concealed weapons permits.

“I support the Second Amendment. I follow the law. The people of Orange County want a Sheriff who will follow the law. If there is good cause, I will give a CCW. The definition, according to a 1977 Attorney General opinion is that you must show you are at risk and law enforcement can’t handle the risk,” Sheriff Hutchens explained.

“If they change the law, I will support it. You don’t want a Sheriff who legislates from her office any more than you want judges who legislate from the bench,” she said. “I will enforce the law equally, respect civil rights, provide security and protection at businesses and homes.”

There were some questions from the audience and those included:

Q: what surprised you the most coming to the office?

A   “I focused on what I saw n the newspaper. It focused on the court case and the indictment. I found that inside the Department things were stalled, understandably. People were very concerned that they did not know who to trust, who to believe. We have a lot of work to do on policy and procedures to bring us into the 21st Century. “

Q: What do the deputies want us to know about them?

A: They were not part of what went on at the top. They are doing their job. I’ve been to our contract cities and I have no complaints about are Department is serving those communities. The deputies are proud of what they do. They want your trust. Their heart is in their work. 

Dispatcher Janice Murphy is off again to help victims of a disaster, this time those in the path of Hurricane Ike.

A 20-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Dispatcher Murphy has put her communications skills to good use in her off hours by becoming a member of a Disaster Medical Assistance Team. She has been with the same team for about 18-years and has been sent with them to help after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and in the response to Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

“We’re like you see in the M*A*S*H* television show,” Dispatcher Murphy said in a telephone interview from Dallas. “We are a medical unit and use temporary shelter whereever we are needed. We don’t do surgery but we triage the victims, see that they have what meds they may have left behind when they evacuated. We do some treatment and if we can’t take care of their needs we send them off to where they will get the medical treatment they need.”

She landed in Dallas just before the storm hit that city.

“I was nearly blown off my feet by the wind. We had heavy wind, rain and hail,” she said. What Dallas received was minor compared to the coastal cities of Galveston and Houston.

Dispatcher Murphy’s job on the team of about 35 volunteers is that of communications officer. She ensures that the unit’s radios are working, that they can communicate with each other and other units they will need to be in contact with during deployment. She also ensures that the unit radios do not interfere with neighboring public safety frequencies. 

Her team is one of several from around the country, including four from California, that have been brought to Texas to help the victims of Hurricane Ike.

The unit has already helped some victims from the Corpus Christi and it is anticipated they will move into areas even more badly hit by the storm.

“This is my passion,” she said of her efforts.

Her unit is officially part of Health and Human Services and is an important component to the federal response to the devastating storm.
She expects her deployment will last another two weeks.

To learn more about Dispatcher Murphy’s Disaster Medical Assistance Team click here.

The classes at the Department’s Jail Academy are mostly about safety and security. The exception is the  Inmate Programs Class facilitated by managers of the Inmate Services Division. This class spells out for new deputies what must be done to afford inmates what they are entitled to by law.

“Title 15 is the state code that governs the rights of inmates and it must be obeyed by Department staff,” said Tracy Zuber, Administrative Manager with the Inmate Services Division. 

“These are the inmate rights, accept them, they are not going to go away,” said Administrator Zuber. She said her goal is to see to it that inmates get what they are entitled to without compromising the safety of the jail staff or the security of the facility.

She started the class by instilling in the Deputies the seriousness of what she and Administrative Manager Don Wightman were about to teach them.

“Some Deputies look at this as inmate “fluff and fold”, but you need to recognize the importance of Title 15,” said Administrator Zuber.  She told the new Deputies to not assume that she is a bleeding heart out to expand the cause of inmate comfort. She wanted to be a Deputy but dropped out of the Academy due to an injury. She is married to a Department Investigator.  

In the Orange County Jail system, Inmate Services is responsible for three areas of inmate care: Commissary, Food Services, and Correctional Programs.

Commissary allows inmates to purchase necessities such as soap and toothpaste and luxuries such as candy and popcorn.  The James Musick Facility even has a soda machine, which allows inmates to purchase soda with the use of special cards they purchase. Inmates are not permitted to have money in their possession but they have money “on the books” which can be used to purchase items from Commissary.

Discussion of the inmate books drew a question from one of the 22 deputies in the class.

“Where do inmates get money?” the deputy asked. [more]

“Usually the family puts money on the inmate’s books,” said Administrator Wightman. He added that many inmates have nobody to put money on the books for them.  “It’s like a bank account, they have money deposited in, and they withdraw by making purchases from Commissary,” he said. 

Inmates can have up to $500 on their books.

“Inmates can also arrange to send See’s candy gift certificates and greeting cards to friends and family through the Department Commissary but there are some limits,” said Administrator Wightman.

“We don’t let them send “Wish You Were Here” cards,” along with other greetings inappropriate to the circumstances of an incarcerated person,” he added.

Food and Commissary is coordinated for all Department Correctional facilities through a warehouse in Anaheim. The warehouse keeps a 3-week supply of necessary supplies on hand at all times. The use of a central warehouse helps security by allowing deliveries to the three correctional facility sites by Department employees rather than by truck drivers hired by vendors.

The Commissary is stocked with name brand items at prices similar to those posted at 7-Eleven or AM-PM stores.

“We don’t gouge our inmates,” Administrator Wightman said.

The Commissary is run through the Inmate Welfare Fund, with any profits going to Inmate Programs aimed at reducing recidivism. The principle is to have the Commissary profits going to help the inmates.

“What if the inmates want to eat healthy?” asked one Deputy after hearing their favorite food items were Top Ramen and Jalapeno Popcorn.

“We try things, like tuna,” Administrator Wightman said. “If the items are popular, it is kept on as a choice. If nobody buys it, it is dropped. The biggest trouble with the tuna is that it causes an odor after the open pouches are thrown in the garbage.”

For indigent inmates, the county provides Welfare Packs, containing some essentials like soap, toothpaste, stationary, a pencil, and a stamp. If the inmate later has money put on his books, $1 is charged for each Welfare Pack. Between 1,000 and 1,200 Welfare Packs are distributed each week.

One of the items discussed at length was the razors sold to the inmates. They have no long handle that can be fashioned into a shank. The trouble is that it does not provide the best shave and some inmates find it nearly impossible to be clean shaven. Inmate workers are required to be clean shaven.

The Deputies were instructed that the Commissary belongs to the inmates and that staff should do nothing to damage the goods. 

Administrator Wightman advised the Deputies that Commissary is important to the inmates.

“Commissary makes inmates happy, a happy inmate is a quiet inmate,” he explained.

The Commissary operation is based on scan sheets filled out by inmates. The computerization of the Commissary orders has improved reliability so that currently more than 99 percent of inmate orders are filled correctly.

The Food Service Program in the jails is one of the best anywhere.

“I’d prefer to eat at one of our jails than at most restaurants,” said Administrator Zuber.

She said the monitoring of inmates by staff and by each other keeps inmate workers from contaminating the food.

“The inmates in our jails eat better than your kids eat at school,” she added. The jail has a Resident Public Health Nutritionist who coordinates menus to insure a balanced diet.

Many of the kitchen supervisors are former military cooks and the jail has several accredited Sous Chefs, ranked just below executive chefs in the culinary world.  They can typically make $70 an hour at restaurants but work for the county because the job is steadier and the benefits are better.

She added that Title 15 allows inmates 15 minutes to eat and that hurrying the inmates any faster will create a timing problem in the kitchen.

She warned Deputies to refrain from eating food meant for inmates. 

The jail kitchens serve 22,000 meals a day in 5 kitchen facilities. About 1,000 sack lunches are prepared for inmates due in court and inmates are provided with seven different types of diet, based on health and nutrition needs. The facilities also prepare 77,000 meals a year for the homeless, purchased at cost by the St. Vincent De Paul Society. 

The Food Services program is also used to train inmates and caters events for the Department, Grand Jury, and volunteer events like the Peace Officer Memorial.

Correctional Programs provide an array of services for inmates. It is funded by the Inmate Welfare Fund, with nearly one half of the revenue covered by inmate phone calls.

Programs allow inmates to acquire a GED, computer business training, develop skills such as sewing and food services, construction, welding and painting.

Correctional Programs also makes available to inmates volunteer services like Alcoholics Anonymous, Anger Management counseling, religious studies and the availability of a law library and exercise equipment. 

The duty of the Department is to protect those in custody, no matter the reason they have been placed in  our jails.

Administrator Zuber has gotten to know the character of our inmates.

”The individuals incarcerated in our jails are ‘family, friends, and neighbors’, and the majority are going to be released back into our communities. It’s our responsibility to do what we can for them while they’re in our care so upon release, they can become productive members of society. The programs and services provided by the dedicated employees of the Inmate Services Division are mandated; the empathy and compassion are intrinsic,” she said.

The Orange County Register reported on Sheriff Sandra Hutchens giving a speech at the 9/11 commemoration at Irvine Valley College.

The story said in part:

Hutchens urged residents to remain aware of the danger terrorism presents, but cautioned them not to live their lives in fear.

"We must acknowledge that they exist and their purpose is to eliminate our freedom and our democratic way of life," Hutchens said. "We will not let them prevail."

To read the full Orange County Registers story click here:

Assistant Sheriff Michael Hillmann also spoke about the impact of 9/11 on our society. His talk in Laguna Niguel was also featured by the Orange County Register in their roundup of 9/11 Memorials.   

Of Chief Hillmann's message, the Register story said:

LAGUNA NIGUEL:Candles glowed at dusk Thursday in Crown Valley Community Park's amphitheater as crowds gathered to commemmorate the victims of Sept. 11, 2001. Representatives from the Orange County Fire Authority, the Orange County Sheriff's Department and servicemen from the USS McClusky. Laguna Niguel's adopted Navy vessel, attended the event. A three piece orchestra played American music as a background to the memorial.

Orange County Sheriff's Department Chaplain Kathleen Rutland was there to greet guests, offering a sense of spiritual comfort during the ceremony when she gave the benediction.

Assistant Sheriff Michael Hillman, recently retired from the Los Angeles Police Department and with the OCSD for only four days, spoke about the tragedies of the day seven years ago.

“We have to stop and reflect for a moment on how precious life is,” he said. “Our lives changed, and we can't take for granted these men and women who are now in a faraway place. Take a moment and hug your families. What did we do today? Our day isn't over. Vigilance will go on forever.”

The California Emergency Services Association has awarded a Certificate of Special Recognition to the Citizen Emergency Preparedness Academy run by Department Director of Crime Preventions Programs Jan Sener.  

The certificate said in part: The academy is coordinated fully through the Neighborhood Watch Program. Neighbors are encouraged o create a plan with the understanding that after a disaster there will be a strain on the resources of emergency services. Depending on the severity of the diaster, this can result in little or no available assistance from emergency services for an extended period of time. Emergency service agencies previously recommended preparation to exist for a minimum of 3 days without outside assistance. In the aftermath of Katrina, their recommendations have increased to 2 weeks and include a plan that allows them to function independently and effectively.

For the letter and certificate click here: cesa letter.pdf (116.46 kb)

The Capistrano United School District offered the following commendations at a recent Board meeting to Lt. Brad Virgoe, Sgt. Mike McHenry and Deputy Lance Christensen. Also honored was civilian Heather Premac.  

Deputy Lance Christensen:  Deputy Christensen has been with the Sheriff’s Department since 1993 and has demonstrated a continued interest in the area of Juvenile Crimes throughout his career. 

After serving as a patrol officer in the City of Mission Viejo, Deputy Christensen developed a reputation for truly knowing his constituents and developing relationships with students in an effort to proactively steer them away from criminal activities.  Deputy Christensen has always been an integral supporter of the city’s annual Red Ribbon Week, allocating personal time to support each of our CUSD schools and teaching the 6-week “Say No to Drugs” awareness course. 

In 2006, CUSD was fortunate to sponsor Deputy Christensen as a School Resource Officer through our Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant.  With his experience as a “Trainer of Trainers” in the California School Resource Officers Association, we benefit from Deputy Christensen’s expertise, as he has provided numerous opportunities to educate teachers, parents, and students about the dangers of drugs, including drug recognition and symptomology. 

Deputy Christensen has also assisted with the implementation of the “Is Your Teen at Risk” community forums and is an active participant in coordinating with the school district’s emergency preparedness procedures and site plans and has worked extensively with Sergeant McHenry and Mike Beekman on our web-based safety plan program which we refer to as CUSD-ER.  It is because of the commitment of people like Deputy Lance Christensen that CUSD is renowned for our outstanding district safety programs. 

Thank you, Deputy Christensen for the positive difference you have made in our school district. [more]

Sergeant Mike McHenry: Serving as the Supervisor of the Juvenile Services Bureau, Sergeant McHenry’s efforts have been vital to the success of the both the School Resource Officer program, the “Is Your Teen at Risk?” program, mentioned in the previous recognition of tonight’s honorees. 

A 19 year veteran of law enforcement, Sergeant McHenry has worked throughout our community, developing special expertise in gang awareness and prevention.  He has also been instrumental in bringing resources to CUSD through the Pepperdine Resource, Youth Diversion & Education program (PRYDE), run through Pepperdine University, and is considered to be a true expert in Juvenile Services, leading workshops on drug trends, fight clubs and other juvenile at-risk behaviors through the California School Resource Officer Association. 

Sergeant McHenry facilitated the implementation of the CUSD-ER program on the Sheriff’s mobile data computers, which allows Deputies to readily access school data in the event of a crisis situation. A multi-year recipient of the Medal for Lifesaving and Mothers Against Drunk Driving Officer of the Year, Sergeant McHenry has been our primary contact point between the Sheriff’s Department and CUSD, and makes himself available 24/7.  He has been an invaluable resource to our district. Sergeant McHenry is a respected member of his professional community, and we are fortunate to benefit from his commitment to students within our CUSD community.

Lieutenant Brad Virgoe:  Lieutenant Virgoe is a 23 year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department. Following the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School, Lieutenant Virgo was instrumental in forming a multi-agency program called the School Mobile Assessment and Resource Team, or SMART for short.  Securing funding through the Board of Corrections, SMART was formed in 2001with Lieutenant Virgoe leading this one-of-a-kind team. 

With his strong tactical and gang enforcement background, he hit the ground running, navigating through uncharted territory as he traveled the United States reviewing programs and becoming an expert on student and campus safety.  Developing the SMART structure, procedures, policies, assessment protocols and training, Lieutenant Virgo developed a stellar team which provides our schools with assistance in school violence prevention, threat assessment, juvenile investigations and rapid deployment/critical incident response.  Because of his leadership, SMART continues to thrive.  Thanks to funding from the Safe Schools and Healthy Kids Grant, CUSD will continue to partner with the SMART program. 

A civilian honoree is Heather Premac, founder of the “Is Your Teen at Risk” program.

Mrs. Premac has been a reliable volunteer for years, serving as a room mom, classroom reading volunteer, character education coordinator and even a voluntary custodian scrubbing dirty desks!  Serving in her 7th year as a PTA board member, Mrs. Premac has been instrumental in the establishment of community outreach programs for the Tesoro family schools.  We are fortunate that Mrs. Premac will be extending her vision and skills to the entire district, as she steps into the position of  Parent Education coordinator for CUSD Council PTSA this year.  The “Is Your Teen at Risk” program has become so successful, that demand for Heather’s presentations are extending across the county.  In collaboration with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Orange County Fire Authority, California Highway Patrol and CUSD, Heather has developed a program that effectively educates parents in areas of student safety including drugs, internet usage, violence, and gangs.  The impact of her commitment has been realized by hundreds of parents and students across the Capistrano Unified School District.  Thank you, Heather, for your outstanding contributions to our CUSD community.