When the door opens anybody can be brought inside.

““We don’t know their names or what they did, or what they’re thinking,” said Sgt. Ken Smith, the shift operations Sergeant at the Intake Release Center on a recent Friday night.  “We could have a guy who has just killed three people, and we’ve had those, sitting next to a lady who had too much to drink at a party.”

On a typical night the Deputies who process arrestees delivered to the IRC face a myriad of challenges. On a recent Friday they processed over 100 inmates. They dealt with an older man suffering a possible heart attack; a young man who had just kicked a window out of a patrol car challenged the Deputies to do something about it; a stylishly dressed woman with elegantly coiffed hair had blood drawn for her DUI case and then verbally lashed out at Deputies claiming connections in the legal community and the ability to destroy the career of anybody who displeased her.

The path of an arrestee starts outside the IRC. The cars and vans carrying the arrestees enter through a sally port. When the arrestee is cooperative, they park in the lot and the officer escorts the arrestee. If the arrestee is uncooperative, they pull up to the curb and a team of Deputies escort the arrestee.

Outside of the building there are high counters for arresting officers to complete paperwork and nearby are special phones, outfitted so the arresting officer can dial a number and the arrestee can talk on the phone while handcuffed behind the back.

Some of the arrestees are then taken by the arresting officer to a room where blood is drawn. Those arrested for Driving Under the Influence are given the choice of giving a blood sample or taking a breathalyzer test. With blood there is a sample available for a defense lawyer to have independently tested.

When the arrestee is ready for booking they come through another sally port, this time a set of glass doors operated by the Receiving Deputy.

Deputy Brian Snow was the Booking Prowler on a recent shift.  He makes sure that the identification processing goes smoothly and all arrestees are accounted for.

“Everything needs to be in alignment,” Deputy Snow said. “One trip-up and we have a bottleneck.” The most common cause of a bottleneck is an arrestee who becomes sick or troublesome. When that happens, a show of force is necessary and most often the deputies called for a show of force are from workstations along the booking process.”

The jail has a highly efficient system for classifying inmates and once classified the inmates are identified by color wristbands denoting their security level. Any Deputy can tell a good deal about the inmate just by looking at the wristband.

When the arrestees walk into the IRC there are no wristbands yet. Nobody knows who they are or why they were  brought through the door. More...

ORANGE COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREAEMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE # 1  Date:  November 25, 2008

  Time:  8:15 a.m.

ORANGE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER AND PUBLIC INFORMATION HOTLINES ACTIVATED

VOLUNTARY EVACUATION IN YORBA LINDA

 The County of Orange activated and staffed the Emergency Operations Center with County agency representatives at 0700 hours on Nov. 25, 2008.  The Public Information Hotline has been staffed and is ready to accept calls of inquiry in regard to voluntary evacuations in burn areas of the City of Yorba Linda. The Public Information Hotline phone number is (714) 628-7085.   

A voluntary evacuation went into effect at 8 a.m. today for three specific areas of Yorba Linda that burned in the Freeway Complex Fire earlier this month. Rainfall expected in the next few days creates the potential for debris and mud flows in these areas. Residents of these areas were notified on Monday evening at approximately 7:30 p.m. via the AlertOC System.  

The three areas subject to the voluntary evacuations include the Brush Canyon Area, the Box Canyon Area, and the North Fairmont/San Antonio area. Residents are encouraged to remove themselves from these areas until the current rain event has passed. Public safety officials will be watching all burn areas closely throughout the rain event. Residents will be alerted if mandatory evacuations become necessary. During the voluntary evacuation, the Thomas Lasorda, Jr. Field House at 4701 Casa Loma Ave. will be available as a shelter location.  

Residents who wish to receive these alerts on their cell phones, text numbers and e-mail addresses can register at www.alertoc.com. More evacuation information is available on the City of Yorba Linda’s Web site at www.ci.yorba-linda.ca.us. 

Mari has interviewed several members of our department on several issues. It's time to get caught up:

Here's Sgt. Mike Gavin of OCSD's Transit Police Services:

Segment 1

Segment 2

Here's Sgt. Robert Gunzel of North Operations:

Segment 1

Segment 2

Eulogy by Deputy Vicki Coonradt 

El Primero Cabernet ("Cabby")

On October 22, 2008, one of the long time equine members of the Mounted Enforcement Unit passed away.  "Cabby" was 28 years of age and had been a member of the MEU since 1988. He was donated by a private citizen from the city of Irvine.  Cabby was a blood bay Arabian with some white markings, hence the name Cabernet. During his years of service on the Mounted Unit he worked many enforcement assignments and carried several different Mounted Deputies.  Cabby was the last surviving equine member of the original Mounted Color Guard that was established in 1997.  As a Color Guard Mount, Cabby was ridden by the now retired Lieutenant Randy McLennan.  He proudly carried the America flag during many ceremonial events.  His presence on the unit and around the MEU barn will be missed.  But his spirit will live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew him.  R.I.P. Cabby

The Newport Harbor Patrol and Sergeant John Hollenbeck were recognized on Saturday at the American Cetacean Society Conference in Monterey. Deputy Joel Monroe said that the Harbor Patrol had helped to track sightings of bottlenose dolphins up.

Deputy Jason Middlekauff took a photograph of one dolphin (in the poster below) that was identified by markings as having been identified in San Diego Harbor as long as 20 years ago.

The wildfires in Yorba Linda have left yet another OCSD family member homeless. 

Retired Sergeant, Chuck Bensinger, lost his Yorba Linda home in the fires this weekend.  He is currently assigned as an Extra Help Deputy in Community Programs. 

Our thoughts, prayers and support go out to Chuck and his family.

As law enforcement personnel and firefighters continue to work around the clock battling the wildfires, at least two Deputy Sheriffs and their families have fallen victim to the fires that are ravaging parts of North Orange County and beyond.

Deputy Russell Sison, of Theo Lacy, and his wife were picking up their 9-year-old son from school when his apartment complex caught on fire.  The building was burned to the ground. 

Deputy James Russell, of Theo Lacy, also lived in Yorba Linda.  His home was a total loss as well. 

AOCDS is reaching out to help our colleagues and their families. 

ORANGE COUNTY OPERATIONAL AREA
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  PRESS RELEASE # 1
  Date:  November 15, 2008
  Time:  1300

ORANGE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER ACTIVATED FOR WILDFIRE RESPONSE; SOME HOMES LOST  AND EVACUATIONS ORDERED

The Orange County Fire Authority, Orange County Sheriff’s Department and other county and city agencies are responding to wildfires in the Brea and Yorba Linda areas.  The Orange County Emergency Operation Center has been activated because of the fires.

Some homes  have been reported lost in the blaze. There are no reports of injuries.

A mandatory evacuation has been ordered for the Olinda Ranch area, at Valencia Avenue and Lambert Road.

A voluntary evacuation has been advised for the vicinity east of State College Road and North of Lambert Road.

Shelters have been set  up at Esperanza High School, at 1830 N. Kellogg, Anaheim and  the Brea Community Center, 695 Madison Ave., Brea.
 
The Public Information Hotline at the Orange County Emergency Operations Center (714) 628-7085 has been activated for any inquiries.

For the latest information go to the Orange County EOC Website at: www.ocgov.com/eoc

Regaining a Positive Image

Next Tuesday the findings of the Orange County Jail Assessment Project will be released at the Board of Supervisors meeting. This exhaustive audit, conducted by Crout & Sida Criminal Justice Consultants, is the culmination of extensive onsite evaluations of all five correctional facilities, all court holding facilities, and various divisions and units supporting the corrections mission. The goal was to get an understanding of the operation and the challenges we face each and every day in the safety and well-being of our inmates and staff - and to identify areas on which we can improve.

Throughout this process, the auditing team has communicated with the Executive Command Staff and Corrections Division Commanders on critical issues that required immediate attention. The men and women serving in corrections have embraced these changes - the final report notes, "Staff at all levels is engaged and enthusiastic about the work that they perform in the jail and express pride in their department." The report continues, "[m]any expressed that they are looking forward to moving the department out of the glaring light of public scrutiny and regaining a positive image..." We are well on our way.

As you will hear in the report presentation, there are many challenges ahead. Today more than ever, inmate populations are in poorer health, more drug addicted, more mentally ill and more prone to violence. Additionally, many of the improvements we will need to make on our correctional facilities will require additional funding - a sobering admission as we wrestle with ever-tightening budgets. However, as I've witnessed over the last five months, the men and women in our department will rise to these challenges and pave a way to greater success.

I look forward to the jail assessment presentation next week as it will showcase the extraordinary work we've already accomplished for the residents of Orange County and it will guide us all as we move forward to "regaining a positive image."

SANDRA HUTCHENS

Sheriff-Coroner

Deputy Curtis Vincent won top honors from the Red Cross for coordinating the Department Blood Drive that reaped 108 percent of the goal that had been set. The Red Cross cited several other county department Blood Drive Coordinators for achievements but Deputy Vincent's results were the highest, according to Red Cross officials.

Deputy Vincent has been coordinating the Department Blood Drive at the IRC since at least 2002. He buys lottery tickets and Starbucks gift cards and other items with his own money to give out as raffle prizes to Department members who donate blood.

He is currently preparing to coordinate the Department's effort in the Red Cross's Battle of the Badges Blood Drive. Anybody donating blood at Red Cross Centers from January 20 to February 2, 2009 can designate the Department as the sponsor of their contribution. The Department will compete against local, state and federal law enforcement agencies around the state in the competition.

The Golden Guardian Drill ended at 1:40 p.m.

SHERIFF-CORONER DEPARTMENT
COUNTY OF ORANGE
CALIFORNIA

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

SANDRA HUTCHENS
SHERIFF-CORONER
November 12, 2008

PRESS RELEASE
OCSD DRILLS FOR BIG QUAKE

Orange County, CA- An enormous earthquake is inevitable and the Great Southern California Shake Out Drill is an opportunity to prepare for when it happens.

At 10 a.m. on Thursday November 13, 2008, millions of southern Californians will “drop, cover, and hold on” for the Great Southern California Shake Out. Families, businesses, schools and organizations will join police, firefighters and other emergency responders in the nation’s largest ever earthquake preparedness drill.

California’s Golden Guardian 2008 focuses on the Shake Out, a simulated catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake on the southern portion of the San Andreas Fault. Seven southern California counties are participating, as well as the State Operations Center in Sacramento. Thousands of participants representing local, state and federal agencies including the U.S. Military are taking part in GG08. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Operations Center will be fully activated for the exercise.

“An earthquake like this is really one of the worst-case scenarios for California,” said Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. “This drill is a great opportunity to test and enhance our disaster response capabilities.”

The Sheriff is inviting the media to attend the tabletop drill at the County’s Emergency Operations Center in Silverado. The exercise will include coordinating response to local damage as well as staging supplies and evacuees.

Simultaneously, the Sheriff’s Department will be running a fully operational Department Operations Center (DOC) located on Sixth Street in front of OCSD headquarters. This drill will test the department’s ability to operate in the event that the OCSD headquarters building were to fall victim to a major earthquake.

These drills will also provide a rare opportunity for the media to obtain invaluable B-Roll and pictures of both Operations Centers in action that can also be used for future stories.
The goal of Golden Guardian ‘08 is not only to test California’s emergency preparedness, but to also remind the community to have a family disaster plan and that ensures all family members know what to do, where to go and who to call in case of a disaster.

The Golden Guardian Statewide Exercise Series is the nation's largest state-sponsored emergency preparedness exercise endeavor.

For more information regarding the Golden Guardian Exercise and the Great Southern California Shake Out, Contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Management Bureau at 714-628-7055.

Deputy Rick Fassel was profiled this week in the Orange County Register. He was named the 2008 Deputy of the Year by the City of San Clemente.

San Clemente's 2008 Deputy of the Year has worked all over Orange County during his 28-year career with the Sheriff's Department. You can tell where he likes to work best by the fact that Rick Fassel has been a San Clemente deputy the past 15 of those years.

To see the complete story, click here.

Veterans Day is more than a time to honor those who fought in battles of the World Wars, Korea and Vietnam.  For some sworn personnel and professional staff it is a day to remember recent brushes with hostile fire, days of challenge, hours of suffering and moments of terror experienced serving with the military in Iraq an Afghanistan.

"These men and women have long put their lives on the line to protect our communities and we are proud to honor them leaving their homes and families and putting themselves in harm's way to protect our country and our way of life," Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said. 

Eleven members of the Department are currently serving on active duty the the military. In the last two years, 23 have served extended tours of military service. Since 9/11, 93 Department members have gone on extended military leave. We wanted to list the names of all of the veterans but some felt that could endanger them because of the sensitivity of their assignments with the Department with the military. We honor without using their names and will rely on a few of them who spoke to us to give us some insight into the hardships they have faced defending our country.

Lieutenant Willie Moreno at Harbor Justice Center is one of those who has to go without one of his key staffers due to the needs of the nation. Deputy Pete Ada is serving with the Air National Guard.

“ He’s been with us here about three years. It’s hard to have him away but as a Marine veteran and a New York City hometown boy, I’m proud of him,” the lieutenant said.

“ 9/11 has real meaning for me,” Lieutenant Moreno said. “My daughter lives in New York and works in near the World Trade Center. For 17 hours we didn’t know where she was. I went to New York with (former) Sheriff Carona and we went to Ground Zero when it was still smoking.  I also found out that a friend I knew, an FBI agent I had met when I was an investigator in south county, had gone to work for the Port Authority. They provide security for the World Trade Center. He was killed in the attack.” More...

The Orange County Chapter of TIP honored 14 members of Orange County's public safety community, including two members of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff Sandra Hutchens was this year's honorary chair of the event, which took place on Friday night.  The two Sheriff's Department members honored were Deputy Justin Osterfeld, of the City of Mission Viejo Police Services and Senior Deputy Coroner Janet Shearer, of the Sheriff/Coroner Office.

The Trauma Intervention Program, Inc. (TIP), a national non-profit organization founded in 1985 and has 15 chapters serving over 250 cities across the nation. At the request of Police, Fire and Hospital personnel, TIP volunteers provide emotional and practical support to victims of traumatic events and their families in the first few hours following a tragedy. Service recognition TIP has received includes the Ford Foundation "Innovations in State and Local Government" and the US Justice Department "Crime Victim Service" awards.

The Orange County Chapter of TIP currently has 99 volunteers who are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, serving 20 cities, 12 hospitals, and 11 public safety agencies. To volunteer, donate, or for more information go to www.tiporangecounty.org or call 949-707-9016.

To visit the Website of Orange County's Chapter of TIP click here.   

The Orange County Election Ballots were once again secured by the Department's Reserve Deputies and Professional Services Responders. Lieutenant Roger Neumeister said that 68 Reserves and 4 PSRs took part in the Election Night operation. The Reserves and PSRs provided security while ballots, both electronic and paper, were transported form polling locations all over the county to the central location where the ballots were stored.

Lt. Neumeister estimated that the use of Reserves and PSRs for the detail saved the county about $35,000 in overtime costs.

Graphic by Sergeant John Hollenbeck

From Sheriff Sandra Hutchens:

On September 12th, bureau commanders and managers, both sworn and professional, were asked for assistance in producing the Mission Statement and Core Values for the Sheriff’s Department. They were requested to have their supervisors solicit suggestions from line staff on what they believed should be included in the Mission Statement and Core Values for the Department. The volume of suggestions offered was extraordinary.

The Mission Statement was based on a submission by Sheriff’s Special Officer Shawn Tangard of the John Wayne Airport Police Services division. The Core Values were selected from those consistently offered for inclusion by Sheriff’s Department personnel. The following individuals played a key role in the crafting of the final version of the Mission Statement and Core Values:

Administrative Manager Denise Litten          Southeast/Southwest Operations Divisions
Sergeant Vince Bravata                                  Tactical Training Center
Investigator Margie Sheehan                         Economic Crimes Bureau
Deputy Ryan Anderson                                   West Justice Center
Deputy Theresa Bard                                      Risk Management Bureau
Deputy Aaron Brady                                       North Patrol Bureau
Deputy Christine Chang                                  Lake Forest Police Services
Deputy Jeff Puckett                                         Lake Forest Police Services

We should all be proud of the collective effort that shaped our new Mission Statement and Core Values. It is my hope that the Mission Statement and Core Values will serve as our guide and assist our residents in measuring our performance in the service of our communities.

     Marine Operations Deputies J.C. Roberts and Tracy Sizemore were honored in a ceremony at the Newport Harbor station on November 6th.  Sheriff Sandra Hutchens presented the Deputies with their official commendations, earned for saving the life of a drowning fisherman off Corona Del Mar on October 3rd.  Dispatcher Keli Sheridan also received a commendation for her actions that day, although she was unable to attend.  The ceremony took place in the station’s conference room, packed full of Marine Operations staff members including bureau commander Lt. Erin Giudice, the Harbor Reserve unit, and representatives from local yacht clubs and businesses.  Sheriff Hutchens praised their dedication to duty and selfless actions in a dangerous situation in which a drowned fisherman was pulled from heavy surf and resuscitated by the two deputies.  Their actions were a perfect example of the outstanding performance of the staff of the Orange County Sheriff’s Marine Operations Bureau.

Left to Right: Deputy J.C. Roberts, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and Deputy Tracy Sizemore

For details on the rescue as reported in an earlier Department Blog entry, click here.

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens is quoted in the Press Release Issued today by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.  

News Release

Record number of criminal aliens targeted for enforcement in Southland jails
ICE teams with local law enforcement to process more than 35,000 criminal aliens in 2008

LOS ANGELES – The number of criminal aliens identified and processed by federal and local officers in Los Angeles-area jails and prisons reached record levels this year, up more than 10 percent compared to the year before, according to statistics released today by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

ICE officials attribute the gain to expansion of the agency’s Criminal Alien Program (CAP) and the continued success of ICE’s 287(g) partnerships with the sheriffs’ departments in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.  Under those partnerships, specially-trained sheriffs’ personnel interview criminal aliens in the county jails, lodging immigration detainers against those who are potentially deportable to ensure they are turned over to ICE upon release from local custody. 

“We made a commitment to the American people to embark on an ambitious enforcement strategy aimed at securing our borders and strengthening our nation’s immigration system,” said Julie L. Myers, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE. “The record results seen across the country reflect significant, steady progress toward this goal. The men and women at ICE, along with our law enforcement partners, deserve our thanks for their hard work and dedication.”

In fiscal year 2008, ICE officers and sheriffs’ department personnel processed a total of 35,562 criminal aliens in the seven-county jurisdiction covered by ICE’s Los Angeles Office of Detention and Removal Operations, an increase of 12 percent compared to fiscal year 2007.  Of that number, a little less than one third were cases identified by sheriffs’ department personnel.  The remainder were criminal aliens identified and processed by ICE personnel at local, county and federal facilities throughout the Southland.

“The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is proud of our partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” said Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. “Our Cross-Designation program has assisted us in identifying thousands of undocumented foreign nationals who have committed crimes and are booked into our jails. This collaboration keeps criminals from returning to the streets and increases the safety of our communities.”

The local growth in criminal alien cases is consistent with the national trend.  In fiscal year 2008, the number of criminal aliens charged by ICE while incarcerated nationwide soared to more than 221,000, more than three times the total from just two years before.  Ensuring criminal aliens held in the nation’s jails and prisons are targeted for removal rather than being released onto the streets is one of ICE’s top priorities through its Secure Communities program. 

The cornerstone of Secure Communities is the implementation of interoperable technology that will provide local law enforcement agencies immigration history information contained in DHS databases.  By spring 2009, it is estimated that some 50 law enforcement agencies will be utilizing this new process, with a target of 100 percent participation by 2011.  Already, 100 percent of inmates at federal and state facilities are being screened as part of CAP.  This new link to immigration databases ensures a virtual ICE presence at local jails as well.

Another ICE enforcement priority is reducing backlog of immigration fugitive cases and ensuring that deportation orders handed down by the nation’s immigration judges are enforced.  Today ICE has more than 100 Fugitive Operations Teams deployed nationwide to pursue these types of cases, including seven teams here in the Southland. 

In fiscal year 2008, the Los Angeles-area Fugitive Operations Team accounted for 3,300 arrests, a 23 percent increase compared to the previous year.  Nationwide, the teams recorded approximately 34,000 arrests, more than double the figure from just two years ago.  As a result of these efforts, the nation's fugitive alien population continues to decline.  Estimates now place the number of fugitive alien cases at slightly under 560,000, a decrease of nearly 37,000 in the fiscal year.  This is a historic reversal of the previous growth trend in fugitive cases.

Reflecting the impact of ICE’s heightened, strategic enforcement efforts, the number of illegal aliens repatriated by the agency in fiscal year 2008 jumped 20 percent.  During the past 12 months, ICE removed or returned a total of 349,041 illegal aliens to their native countries, compared to 288,663 aliens in fiscal year 2007.  Notably, one third of the illegal aliens removed from the United States last year were foreign nationals who had prior criminal convictions in addition to being in the country illegally. 

       # ICE #

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.  ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is pleased to announce the launch of our On-line TrafficCollision Report Program. This new program will reduce time and inconvenience for individualsinvolved in traffic accidents by allowing them to obtain their accident reports, free of charge, via ourwebsite at: http://www.ocsd.org. 

Traffic accident reports dated September 15, 2008 or later will be made available on-line for up tothree years from the date of incident, provided they do not involve serious injuries or fatalities,criminal offenses, or other protected or otherwise confidential information. 

While we realize the importance of making these reports available on-line to better serve the generalpublic, we recognize the importance of safeguarding report information from unauthorized disclosure.For this reason, the accident reports will be stored on our agency’s server, which is protected byfirewalls. The program will require requesters to declare that they have a proper interest in obtaining acopy of the traffic report, in accordance with Vehicle Code section 20012, and an internal audit trailwill capture the information submitted by requesters, including their IP addresses. 

Reports will still be made available upon request through our Records Bureau at: (714) 834-6454,during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.