Recent training by the SWAT Team at a "Live Fire House" is the subject of a slideshow available for view. Go to the right side of the Blog page and scroll down to Flickr. Then click on the picture and enjoy the SWAT show.

Slide Show

Deputies came to the aid of a woman attempting to jump from I-5 Freeway overpass.

About 5 p.m., a man passing by apparently saw the woman perched on a 4-inch-wide ledge above the freeway and climbed over the chain-link fence to help her, said Lt. Kurt Vasentine of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. A California Highway Patrol officer saw the situation and climbed over the fence to help the man keep the distraught woman from jumping from the ledge.

To read the whole story click here.

The latest update from the Department.

An informant reported a female subject who appeared to be preparing to jump from the Via California overpass onto the I-5 freeway.  Deputies responded to the scene, and saw a male civilian had already climbed over the fence onto the ledge to assist the female, who was struggling with the male. Deputies L. Packard and Deputy P. Kinney slid a cord through the fence, and with the assistance of the civilian, wrapped it around the female and secured her to the fence. CHP Officer Stoney, also at the scene, climbed over the fence to take over for the civilian, who then climbed back to safety. Dep. Kinney assisted Officer Stoney in handcuffing the female, who was still struggling and fighting, to the fence. Deputies then used bolt cutters to cut a hole in the fence to allow Dep. Kinney to go out on the ledge and assist Officer Stoney in restraining the female, who at times was letting her feet fall from the ledge, being held only by the cord and officers. The remaining deputies then cut a hole in the fence directly in front of the female, and pulled her to safety.  The female, a 39 year old Dana Point resident, was taken to Mission Hospital for treatment and evaluation. CHP assisted by shutting down the freeway, and OC Fire responded a ladder truck, which ultimately was not utilized. Sgt. Wren supervised.

Professional Services Responder Sam Haddad has received the Presidential Service Lifetime Achievement Award for donating  4,497 volunteer hours to the Department.

He works in a variety of assignments for the Department, including High Tech Support, John Wayne Airport, and Harbor Patrol, He also works in the Lost Kids Booth at the Orange County Fair and as an actor in disaster drills. He also trains members of the Hazardous Devices Unit.

He is an expert in Islamic Terrorism and Culture and trains members of the Department and other law enforcement agencies in “Roots of Terrorism.”

Haddad also volunteers for the Citizens Patrol in the City of Villa Park. He speaks 17 languages and dialects, has two grown children and five grandchildren.
He has owned Austin Aerospace since 1993 and sells aircraft parts all over the world.

Photos by Professional Services Responder George Ridley

He was one of 104 PSRs who received Presidential Volunteer Service Awards last week at the Orange County Rescue Mission’s Village of Hope in Tustin. The Mission’s facility is run by PSR Jim Palmer.

On hand to present the awards was Alison T. Young, Special Assistant to the President and Acting Director of the White House Office of USA Freedom Corps.

“President Bush said on many occasions that the great strength of our nation lies in the hearts and souls of the American People. And he often repeats the admonition, ‘to whom much is given, much is required,’” she told those gathered for the award presentation.

 “President Bush called on all Americans to commit their lives to serving a cause bigger than themselves. Americans across the country are answering that call. You are among the almost 61 million people that dedicated their time to volunteering last year.

“The Presidential Volunteer Service Award is an award created to thank and honor Americans like you who through their continued commitment and example inspire and engage others in volunteer service. Truly the greatest privilege of my job is to learn about and know the extraordinary acts of kindness from Americans of all ages, races and genders for doing extraordinary things simply by giving of themselves.” More...

It was an uneventful flight until Deputy Mike Russell turned Duke north from the county line and the radio broadcast that a bank robbery had just taken place almost immediately below at the Union Bank in the Ralph’s Supermarket in San Clemente.

Observer Deputy Don Dear grabbed the craft’s high powered gyro- stabilized binoculars and scanned  below for any sign of suspicious activity. Deputy Russell banked the helicopter into a tight circle around the shopping center where the holdup took place. 

“Suspect is wearing black shorts and carrying a black bag,” the radio reports.

“There’s a man running to the bushes,” Deputy Russell announced.

Deputy Dear checked the man out through the binoculars but the running man was wearing white pants, had no bag and was not the same race as the suspect.  It appears to be a jogging trail that this man is running on. He’s not their man.

A more detailed description came across the radio. The aircrew checks every likely hiding place where a bank robber might hide but to no avail.

(To read more about the Air Support Unit click here.)

“I wish we had a car description, and then we could be of some real use,” Deputy Dear remarks. More...

On October 24, 1988 Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Mark Tonkin died with seven other law enforcement officers when a helicopter crash during a drug fighting mission.

To see the Department's salute to Deputy Tonkin published in the Bulletin at the time click: tonkin.pdf (1.23 mb)

The Orange County Register published an account of the tragic event shortly after it happened.   

Here is what the Register said:  

8 officers killed in copter crash
Orange County deputy among group involved in a drug-fighting mission
October 25, 1988

Byline:   James V. Grimaldi; Edward Humes

The Register

An Orange County Sheriff's deputy, three local National Guardsmen and four other law-enforcement officers were killed Monday night when an Army National Guard helicopter from Los Alamitos crashed during a drug-fighting mission near the Mexican border.

The UH-1 Huey transport Deputy Mark Steven Tonkin hit a power line while in low-level flight chasing a vehicle, crashed and burned about 9:30 p.m., said Phil Jordan, spokesman for the California National Guard.

The crash was in mountainous terrain near Ocotillo Wells, about 35 miles west of El Centro in Imperial County.

Killed were one deputy each from Orange, Imperial and Riverside counties and two deputies from Los Angeles County. The three-member California National Guard aircrew and their Vietnam-era chopper were from Company D, 140th Aviation Battalion, based at the Los Alamitos Armed Forces Reserve Center, Jordan said.

Two victims were identified this morning: Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Mark Steven Tonkin, 31, of Chino, who worked for seven years with the department and was assigned to the Career Criminal Apprehension Team; and Imperial County Sgt. Richard G. Romero, 39, a resident of El Centro and 14-year member of the Sheriff's office, Imperial County Sgt. Dan Ingle said.

The names of the six others aboard were withheld until their families could be notified.

Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates flew to El Centro immediately after learning of the crash, sheriff's spokesman Lt. Richard Olson said.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by members of the Army Safety Center at Ft. Rucker, Ala., and California National Guard safety officers, who were are on their way to the crash site.

According to a news release, the UH-1H Army helicopter was "on a training mission in support of a drug task force."

Ingle said the law-enforcement officers were involved in a task force Operation Border Ranger, a cooperative border drug-interdiction effort between local and federal authorities, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and the Border Patrol.

The one-week operation was begun as a joint project of the San Diego, San Bernardino, Imperial, Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties, which each sent five or six deputies to take part in border surveillance, said Phil Donahue, head of the state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement office in San Diego. Donahue said his agency played a support role in the operation.

He said numerous National Guard aircraft were involved and that the Border Patrol also contributed surveillance equipment and manpower to help stop the flow of drugs in a "highly concentrated, one-week operation."

Operation Border Ranger was intended to be covert until the crash, a sheriff's spokeswoman said. The operation was canceled today.

The crash occurred not far from the intersection of old Highway 80 and Interstate 8 at the bottom of the San Diego-Imperial County line mountain springs grade.

Meanwhile in Orange County, the Board of Supervisors ordered that county flags be placed at half-mast to mourn the death of the deputy.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to receive the County Performance Auditors Overtime Audit of the County Sheriff-Coroner Department at it's meeting next week.

A key finding of the audit was that:

Total overtime hours over the past eight fiscal years increased from 418,861 hours in FY 00/01 to 831,935 hours in FY 07/08, a total percentage change of 99% or average annual increase of 14%. Total overtime costs also increased during this same time from $18.4 million in FY 00/01 to $47.57 million in FY 07/08, an overall 158% increase or an average annual
increase of 23%.

The 89-page audit was followed by a 19-page response by Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. Both documents were made public today with the filing of the Board of Supervisors Agenda for the Oct. 28 meeting.

Sheriff Hutchens agreed with many of the findings and said some changes are already in place and others are in the works. She also said that the overall problem came about because the Department was faced with a choice of lowering standards to hire more deputies or filling vacant positions with overtime.  

To see the entire audit click here.

To see the Sheriff's Response click here:  

The Orange County Register has reported on the "Is Your Teen At Risk?" forum in Rancho Santa Margarita, a program in which the Sheriff's Department is deeply involved.  If you link the the whole story, please note that Josh Money is a Reserve Deputy. The Register also ran a slide show ofthe presentation with their story.  

By JOHN CRANDALL
The Orange County Register
Comments 0| Recommend 1

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – Online videos detailing how to create hallucinogens, Web sites enabling sexual predators to snare victims and cell phones acting as inventory lists to keep track of drug sales.

These were just some of the dangers that parents and adolescents learned about at the "Is Your Teen at Risk?" forum at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center.

To read the whole story and view the slide show click here.

Updated 10/21/08

Deputy James "J.J." Johnston, of San Clemente Police Services, had a commendable "two-fer" day. J.J. took second place in the overall competition against over 300 opponents. In order to accomplish this, J.J. posted a perfect score on all six cone patterns. The winner was decided by the "slow box", a 30'x3' rectangle. The goal for the rider is to traverse the slow box as slowly as possible without touching the brakes, putting a foot down, or riding out. J.J. was in the box for an incredible 47 seconds! The winner was in for a more incredible 49!

Not satisfied with that accomplishment, J.J. also went on to take second place among 60+ competitors, in the very competitive "Top Gun" box. The Top Gun box is a test not only of riding ability, but of the ability to balance, to concentrate, and to pay attention to detail while under stress.

Congratulations to J.J. on a great performance! 

More than 300 Motor Officers from around Southern California gathered in Huntington Beach for the Orange County Traffic Officer’s Association Motorcycle and Skills Competition.

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens was a guest speaker at the event. She told those gathered she recognized the value of the motor officers who save lives by issuing traffic tickets.

“Motors is a dangerous assignment and I’m glad that the goal of this event is to enhance performance and increase safety,” she said.

Sheriff Hutchens congratulates Sergeant Doug Bertoglio, who was recognized for his contribution to motorcycle and traffic safety.

Photos by Professional Services Responder George Ridley 

The Orange County Motor Deputies have a slogan, "We enforce laws of traffic and defy laws of gravity."

Of the eight deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department who have been killed in the line of duty since it was established in 1889, two were motor officers; Sgt. Matthew Davis and Deputy Steven Parsons.

Two Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies received special recognition by the OCTOA.

One was Sgt. Doug Bertoglio, who is scheduled to retire soon after 29 years with the Department. He became one of the first motor deputies assigned to Mission Viejo when the unit there was formed in 1990. He was promoted to sergeant in 2002 and became the second sergeant to supervise the Department's motorcycle unit. He replaced Sergeant Matthew Davis, who was killed in the line of duty.

The the second was Deputy Pete Perez, who is now retired and living in Oregon.

The recognition said:

Pete started his career with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in 1986. Pete became a “Motor” for the City of Mission Viejo in 1994. On September 29, 1999 at approximately 2000 hours, Pete was on his way home to Oceanside and attempted to make a transition from the S/B I/5 onto E/B Hwy 76. More...

A total of 55 Department employes showed up to donate blood last week, donating 51 pints of blood. That is potentially enough to save 153 lives, according to calculations by the Red Cross.

The blood drive took place at the Intake Release Center and those participating were given T-shirts and were eligible for raffle prizes drawn. The prizes included gift cards as follows: $10 Blockbuster, $15 Starbucks, $25 Best Buy, $25 Barnes and Noble and $25 Shell.

Letter from the Sheriff

State of the Department

Many of you have viewed the State of the Department presentation the Executive Command Staff and I presented to the Board of Supervisors last week. If you missed it, it is available on the Department Blog.

Leadership and accountability are two critical areas that we have been focusing on during our internal review. All of us must be leaders, ready to serve the community and fulfill our obligations to the citizens we protect. Over the last four months we have promoted many individuals to assist us in advancing our goals.

These promotions include one Assistant Sheriff, two Captains, six Lieutenants, ten Sergeants, eight investigators, sixteen Deputy II's and thirty-six Deputy I's.

Accountability is another popular theme that I hear when discussing the Department. As Undersheriff Scott detailed in his remarks at the Board, we are working to institute a monthly critical issues forum known as S.A.F.E., which stands for Strategy, Accountability, Focus and Evaluation. S.A.F.E. will facilitate a program where supervisors and managers report out and are held accountable for crime and risk management issues under their respective commands.

The areas we will review will include citizen complaints, use of force, overtime and crime statistics. We will institute strategies to decrease risk and liabilities in each of the twenty Divisions in our Department, further safeguarding the county and the department.

These are exciting times of reform and transformation and I am thrilled to work with each of you to make this the trusted and respected law enforcement agency the people of Orange County so richly deserve.

The County of Orange is participating in the statewide Golden Guardian 2008 exercise.  The scenario for the exercise focuses on a 7.8 magnitude earthquake originating near the Salton Sea, which would have the potential to devastate the region.  This exercise will be the largest ever to take place in the country and through a partnership with a public education campaign called The Great Southern California ShakeOut, will involve the participation of millions of California residents.  While the State and local jurisdictions exercise emergency plans for earthquake response, businesses, schools and households throughout the southland will be conducting their own drills and programs to educate themselves on how to prepare for a catastrophic earthquake.  The Golden Guardian and ShakeOut exercises are designated to complement each other and maximize community preparedness at every level.

ShakeOut is One-of-a-Kind
The Great Southern California ShakeOut is a week of special events featuring the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history, organized to inspire Southern Californians to get ready for big earthquakes, and to prevent disasters from becoming catastrophes.  At 10 a.m. on November 13, 2008, millions of southern Californians will “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” Why? An
enormous earthquake is an inevitable part of our future, and the ShakeOut Drill is our chance to practice what to do when it happens. Individuals, families, businesses, schools and organizations will join firefighters, police officers, and other emergency responders in our largest ever earthquake preparedness activity. Don’t miss out!

In addition to the ShakeOut Drill, there are many other ways to participate in the ShakeOut, tailored for businesses, schools, individuals, places of worship, and communities. Plus you can create your own event for your neighborhood, business or school. See the ShakeOut website for a schedule of all events. http://www.shakeout.org/

The Department Challenge
The Emergency Management Bureau is challenging every Division within our Department to take time out to plan and participate. This may be one of the few drills available before the “Big One”.

Every Division should use this time to ensure their emergency plans and employee preparedness is in order.
Here is the recommendation for complete Department participation:

• At 10 a.m. on November 13th - ALL OCSD Employees use Drop – Cover – Hold On position for 3 minutes.
• Pre-designate which management will inspect their division
o At start of drill to ensure participation
o At end of drill
• After drill, e-mail survey to gather employee thoughts, reflections and suggestions and look on how to improve.

You Can Make a Difference!
In addition, the entire community is invited to participate both individuals and families can Drop, Cover and Hold On.

Participate in the ShakeOut:
•  Register at www.ShakeOut.org/register to be counted in
the ShakeOut Drill, get email updates, and more.
•  Have a Drop, Cover, and Hold On drill at 10 a.m. on
November 13 and practice your earthquake plan.
•  Practice what else you will do during and after an
earthquake at home, work, or school.

If anyone has questions or need further preparedness information, please contact the Emergency Management Bureau 714-628-7054 and visit our website at www.ocgov.com/eoc

Academy Commander Jeff Bardzik welcomed the family, friends and colleagues of Class 186 and said their six months of training had concentrated on three things:

“Hard work, discipline and integrity.”

Class president Deputy Christopher Hunt gave a glimpse of what the training course had been like and what the graduates had learned when he addressed the hundreds who had come to witness the graduation of 32 law enforcement officers.”

Photos by Reserve Deputies Steve Sobodos and Stanley Pesner and Professional Services Responder Randy Frager

“We quickly learned that our most important tools were not attached to our duty belts but rather in our hearts and in our minds,” he said.

“Our first week we learned from the tactical staff orientation lecture that although we may not be a smart class, we sure would be a strong one,” he added. More...

There were 150 students in the Anatomy and Physiology Classes at Newport Harbor High School but only room for 38 to take a tour of the Orange County Coroner’s Facility during Wednesday’s OpenHouse.

“There was a lot of competition, everybody wanted to go,” said teacher Karin Chaney, who accompanied the youngsters on the tour.

Why do teenagers want to tour a Coroner’s Facility?

“CSI, they all watch CSI,” offered one of the parents chaperoning the Newport Harbor group.

Supervising Deputy Coroner Mitch Sigal greeted the class and advised that they all needed to visit the restroom business was necessary and shut down their cellphones before starting the 90-minute tour.

The first stop was a mobile biological, chemical and nuclear decontamination station.  Coroner’s Chief Training Officer Richard Rodriguez explained to the teens how bodies had to first be decontaminated during an attack by weapons of mass destruction.  It provides cover like a tent and has a row of wheels set up to roll a gurney at waist level for the decontamination and examination. Decontamination is primarily by water sprayed over the body and captured in a reservoir, The tent looks like it’s lined in water lines and nozzles.  Once decontaminated the bodies need to be examined for evidence that could lead to the apprehension of the terrorists who used the weapon.

The youngsters are already still asking questions as they are led to a display of the protective suits and equipment used by Coroner personnel in the event of attack by weapons of mass destruction. More...

The rescue of a 61-year old Rancho Santa Margarita woman who lay injured on the bed of Tijeras Creek for three days was the result of persistance and hard work by Sheriff's Deputies, Reserve Deputies and Professional Services Responders.

Reserve Sergeant Michael Losquadro gives an account below.

The Orange County Register reports on extended search for missing woman.

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – A 61-year-old Rancho Santa Margarita woman who disappeared after an argument with her husband has been found alive in the Tijeras Creek bed after spending more than three days alone in the countryside.

The woman suffered broken bones, including a broken arm, and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

To read the whole story click here.

KCBS2 and KCAL9 had a report on the rescue also. To view it click here.

A Walk in the Canyon
By Reserve Sergeant Michael Losquadro

What started as an argument between a Rancho Santa Margarita husband and a wife, and ended up a life and death situation for a local resident.  After a brief argument Saturday morning, October 12th, Sirpa Lee left her home for a walk in the nearby Tijeras Creek.  She left her mobile phone, took no food, water or normal hiking supplies.  Ms. Lee often went to this wilderness area, and expected to return before sundown.  When she didn’t return, her husband and family members became concerned and called the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

What followed was a three day ordeal for Ms. Lee as frustrated deputies, family, friends and civilian volunteers scoured the nearby hiking trails and rough canyon.  More...

The kidnapping of Ryan Ramos and the shooting of his mother Gynnae Schiffilea set off one of the largest Department responses in recent years. 

Mother and son are working hard to get past their ordeal and Gynnae Schiffilea sent a letter to Sheriff Hutchens thanking the Department for their support and a bicycle that was donated to young Ryan by friends of the Department. 

Dear Sheriff Hutchens

Ryan and I want to thank your department for the cool bicycle and helmet. Ryan absolutely loves it and his friends this it is really "cool." I am sorry this thank you is so late in gettng to you, but believe me it is no less sincere. Thank you for thinking of Ryan and for such a generous gift. I also want to thank you and your team for all you did during such an unimaginable time.

I never thought I would ever be in a position to where I would need your help but I did and I can't thank you enough for everything you did for me and my family.  Tim Board, Wendy Davis, Officer Wert, Jim Amormino, and everyone involved was so kind, caring, and gave us so much hope during he worst time of my life. Thank you so much!

Thank you for getting Ryan back safely, for authorizing the flight and the manpower to do so and having your entire department on our case.  It was well worth it and I can't express how much my family and I appreciate it! Thank you! Thanks you! Thank you!

Ryan and I are getting back to living a normal life and putting this all behind us. Even though we won't be seeing you so much, please know you'll always be in my prayers. Please be safe out there and again thank you for everything.

Thanks again,

Gyanne Schiffilea 

Seven of the top dogs in police work competed Saturday night in the Orange County Police Canine Association's Toughest Dog Competition and the winner was the Sheriff's Department's own Storm, handled by Deputy Tim Kozma.

Sheriff Hutchens was questioned at length by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday about her review of CCWs, licenses to carry concealed firearms. The Orange County Register has written two stories since then, outlining the controversy and some of the reasons the review was ordered.

To read those stories, click here and click here.

The Sheriff's statement on her action follows. 

IT’S SIMPLE, IT’S THE LAW         
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens

As a citizen, I support the 2nd amendment and the rights of law-abiding gun owners.  As the Sheriff-Coroner of Orange County, it is my sworn duty to uphold the law and apply it equitably to all people.  Recently, there have been some who have questioned my policy on the issuance of concealed weapon permits.   I would like to take this opportunity to give you the facts.  California Penal Code Section 12025(a) prohibits a person from carrying a concealed firearm.  California Penal Code Section 12050 authorizes the Sheriff of a county or the chief of a municipal police department to issue a license to carry a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person.   Penal Code Section 12050 was designed to be an exception to Penal Code section 12025(a)—not a way around it. 

Penal Code Section 12050 reads in part:  The sheriff of a county, upon proof that the person applying is of good moral character, that good cause exists for the issuance, and that the person applying satisfies any one of the conditions specified in subparagraph (D) and has completed a course of training as described in subparagraph (E), may issue to that person a license to carry a pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon the person ………

The only guidance on “good cause” is from a 1977 Attorney General’s opinion :  Opinion No. CR 77/30I.L. states “the issuing authority must determine whether the threat to the applicant (or other causal situation) is as real as the applicant asserts (e.g., is there a clear and present danger to the applicant, his spouse, his family, or his employees).    Finally, if the danger is manifest, the authority should determine whether that danger cannot be significantly alleviated by alternative means of security and whether in fact can be lawfully mitigated by the applicant’s obtaining a concealed weapons license.”

As the Sheriff-Coroner of Orange County, it is my duty to follow the law as it currently exists.  Some have argued that I am somehow impacting their 2nd amendment constitutional rights.   This could not be further from the truth.    My decision to issue or not issue a concealed weapons permit to an applicant in no way impacts that individual’s right to bear arms in their place of business or in their home.      In fact, I would encourage those who are concerned about the concealed weapons permit policy to put their energies into getting the law changed.   And, if the State of California decides to change Penal Code section 12025(a), I will support that law as well.

I encourage anyone who believes they have good cause to apply for a Concealed Weapons Permit to apply.      It’s simple: The decisions I make and those made by the over 4000 members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department are to follow and uphold the law.  I believe that is what the citizens of Orange County want us to do and what I was hired to do.

From the Board of Supervisors hearing Tuesday, October 7, 2008:

Command staff stands with the most recently promoted: Lieutenant Robert Peterson, Sergeants Mitchell Wang, Michael Cataline, David Chewiwie, Monte Huotari, Keith Mittermeier, Scott Ostash, Claudio Fabris, Luke South, John Murray and Gary Smith.

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens gave her 120-day report to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, with her Command Staff outlining for the Supervisors the specifics of changes and plans that have been undertaken since she was sworn into office.

The PowerPoint presentation that was given the the board follows:

State of the Department - Oct 7 2008.pptx.swf (2.75 mb) 

For the Orange County Register's story on the Sheriff appearing before the Board of Supervisors click here.

Sheriff Hutchens held a press briefing on her presentation to the Board of Supervisors.

For the Orange County Register's story on the briefing click here. 

For the Los Angeles Times story on her briefing click here.