There is alot of bad news out there: from war in the Middle East to financial carnage on Wall Street stretching to Main Street and lots of other awful things we'd rather forget.

Here is our list of stories from 2008 that will make you glad you're with the Orange County Sheriff's Department.  

10. Women’s Running Team Places First in Baker 2 Vegas Run, inspired by the untimely death of their coach, Retired Sheriff's Lieutenant Darrell “Guy” Poncy.

Click: Sheriffs-Womens-Team-is-Tops-at-Baker-2-Vegas-Run

Click: County-Supervisors-Honor-Departments-Womens-Running-Team

9.   The Department Crime Lab Won Prestigious Accreditation and a special acclaim from the Department of Justice.

Click: Coveted Accreditation

Click: Justice Department Kudo

8.  A search team made up of Deputies, Reserve Deputies and Professional Services Responders found a woman who had been missing for three days in Tijeras Creek. 

Click: Searchers Find Woman in Tijeras Creek.

7.  TAGRS Program developed by Department personnel helps nab Taggers across jurisidictions.

Click: TAGRS

6.   Deputies Rescue Woman from Overpass

Click: Rescue 

Click: Heroism Cited

5.  Immigration and Customs Enforcement applauded Department for the Cross-Designation Program that helped prevent illegal immigrants jailed for crimes from returning to further victimize our community.

Click: ICE Credits OCSD Cross Designation Program 

Click: ICE Cross Designation Program Thrives

Click: Five Deputies Join ICE Program

4.  The Saddleback Presidential Forum was the first joint public appearance by Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. It drew hundreds of protestors from both sides but the OCSD kept all peaceful and safe.

Click: Demonstration

3.    Crime rates are lowest in cities policed by Sheriff’s Department.

Click: Sheriff's Jurisdiction Safer

2.  Kidnap victim Ryan Ramos found safe In Juarez, Mexico after all-out effort by OCSD.

Click: Amber Alert for Kidnapped Boy

Click: Aero Squadron Pilot, OCSD investigators retrieve Kidnapped Boy

1. Sandra Hutchens sworn in as Orange County Sheriff

Click: Swearing in Video

Click: Hundreds Witness Swearing In

Click: OCSD Welcomes Sheriff Hutchens

  
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    

                                                                                                                                 Dec. 30, 2008
PRESS  RELEASE
 
Orange County Law Enforcement To Crack Down On New Year’s Gunfire

There is no place in Orange County where it is safe or legal to fire a gun in the air to celebrate the New Year.

Even a small caliber bullet will go up to 2 miles in the air and come crashing back to the ground at a speed capable of penetrating a human skull.

Incidents of guns fired to celebrate the New Year have declined in Orange County in recent years but even one carelessly fired shot carries with it the potential to kill. We commend the media for getting out the word on how dangerous this practice can be but we still receive reports that guns are being fired without regard to who is endangered.

t least one child in Orange County has died due to a celebratory shot fired into the air and Orange County law enforcement agencies are united in their commitment to prevent any more such casualties.  On July 4, 2002, a shot fired in the air during a Buena Park fireworks demonstration killed 9-year old Xavier Morales of Anaheim.

To further thwart those who insist on shooting their guns to herald in the New Year, special teams are being deployed on New Year’s Eve to respond to any reports of gunshots. The District Attorney has assured us that his office will prosecute those arrested to the fullest extent of the law.

These teams are being deployed by the Sheriff’s Department and will assist other agencies when needed.

Some things to remember:

• If you shoot your gun in the air, you might be jailed for up to a year.

• If your bullet kills another person, you will be prosecuted for murder.
• A bullet fired into the air is traveling at a speed of 300 to 700 feet per second when it falls back to earth, it has enough force to penetrate a human skull.

• Call 911 if you see someone fire a gun into the air.

Section 246.3 of the California Penal Code outlaws the “Grossly negligent discharge of a firearm.”

The law says in part:

“any person who willfully discharges a firearm in a grossly negligent manner which could result in injury or death to a person is guilty of a public offense and shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment in the state prison.”

To see the Orange County Register's story on the press conference click here.

Orange County Register Reporter Kimberly Edds spent Christmas morning at the jail and filed this report:

SANTA ANA -- The stockings and twinkling white lights were hung in the Module M guard station with care. Christmas carols were piped across the booking area and Christmas cards and family pictures lined a shelf inside a one-woman cell. The phones inside the inmate visiting booths at the county's Central Jail Complex dangled lifeless Christmas morning as thousands of inmates dozed in their bunks.

To read the whole story click here.

A letter from Sheriff Sandra Hutchens to the Department

This past year we have experienced many successes and I am proud of you all for what you do to make our department an organization that is highly respected by the public. I know that as we move into the New Year, your commitment and dedication will remain unwavering.

Unfortunately, the New Year will usher in one of the worst economic forecasts in memory and the impact on our department will be profound.

We must focus on doing the most we can with the resources we have. Virtually all revenue sources are down from last year and the state is slashing the funds it provides to counties for many critical programs. The press has reported on severe cost reductions and layoffs for the Social Services Agency and major reductions in funding to Probation and the Health Care Agency. Eventually, all departments will experience severe budget cuts.

To maximize our services and to minimize staffing impacts, we must work together to reduce our costs. Overtime is being minimized, extra-help is being used for critical services only, discretionary annual leave payoffs have been suspended, training and travel is being reduced, and non-critical purchases are being deferred. All of these savings may minimize the future need to reduce staffing.

For our department, Proposition 172 funds (public safety sales taxes) are running about $12 million under budget this year and the holiday shopping numbers are disappointing at best. The financial plan adopted by the Board provides some additional General Funds for our department, but we will still likely be facing a $20 to $30 million shortfall in FY 09-10 and a $40 million plus shortfall the year after that. Based on the financial plan adopted by the Board, there is no doubt that we will be making serious reductions in the services that we provide to the public.

More than ever, we must focus on our core services.

As individuals, we will all be sharing the burden through deferred salary increases, reductions in overtime, reductions in annual leave payoffs, and experiencing the frustration of seeing the services that we provide to the public being reduced. But within our Department, I am confident that we will pull together to continue to serve and protect the residents of Orange County in our usual extraordinary way.

The next few years will be difficult and I thank you in advance for your dedication and hard work to keep Orange County safe.

SANDRA HUTCHENS
Sheriff-Coroner

Christmas came early this year to 25 men and women of Basic Academy Class 187 who were sworn as Deputy Sheriffs and Police Officers on Tuesday by Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.

 Lt. Jeff Bardzik said the accomplishment of the graduates was impressive.

“The instruction included law, community relations, officer safety, health and fitness, cultural diversity, ethical decision making,” and a wide range of other subjects he said. The trainees were shown to be committed to principle, hard work and integrity, Lt. Bardzik said.

Photos by Professional Services Responders Randy and Kyle Frager

Deputy Brad Gonzales, served as Chaplain of the Class 187 and gave an invocation.

“We are thankful for the honor and duty we have been charged with to help others and do good continuously,” he said in part.

There was a show of appreciation for the Tactical Staff and special recognition was given to Deputy Jeff Hallock, Santa Ana Police Officer Garry Couso, and Manhattan Beach Police Officer Ron Walker. The three are being reassigned.

Lt. Bardzik said the academy benefits greatly when outside agencies assign sworn personnel to serve as Tactical Officers. 

Deputy Jeremy Buraglia, served as Class President and he gave a talk to the hundreds of family and friends who came to the graduation.

He made a reference to the fact that Section 187 of the California Penal Code is Murder, with malice aforethought. [more]

 “The first day we thought the tactical staff made it crystal clear they definitely had malicious aforethought,” he quipped.

“We learned over the last 26 weeks that that they carried no malice whatsoever. The reason for their demeanor and expectations was exactly the opposite. They were so hard on us because they cared so much. They only wanted to make us into the best possible law enforcement officers that we could be.”

The academy works to create a stressful conditions for the trainees and then teach them to perform with excellence despite the stress.
The top performers were also honored.

There were 12 Deputies among the 25 graduates and they placed first in four of the categories, Deputy Storm Huie took the Physical Training category, Deputy Amyh Raphael, Communications Skills; Deputy Katherine Decoup-Crank, Practical Applications and Deputy Brad Gonzalez, Written Examinations. Deputy Robert White tied with Huntington Beach Police Officer Jesse Garber in the Arrest Controls Techniques category. Deputy White is the son of Captain Ron White. Officer Garber also took the Fire Arms Proficiency honor and was named the Class’s Outstanding Officer.

The keynote speaker was Chief Roy Campos, of the Downey Police Department.

“I wish to thank Lieutenant Bardzik and his academy staff for the wonderful work they do in making this training facility what we all recognize as the very finest that California and the nation has to offer,” Chief Campos said.

He said that it was during the holiday season 30 years ago that he had graduated from the police academy.

He then offered remarks of guidance to the graduates, not as a chief but as a veteran of virtually every aspect of law enforcement.

“I was one of nine 9 kids, a police student worker in 1977 at LAPD where I did various errands and file work,” he said of his life experience.  “ It comes from me having worked every stage at Downey police department.” 

He has three areas of advice; People, Teamwork and Caring.

Their training will continue throughout their careers but the graduates now have sufficient skills to assess people responsibly.

“You have the skills and talent to recognize the importance of people we approach every day in every potential encounter you have.  Value your partners, your community members, have respect for even the people you arrest. “

He added that care must be taken with those who are arrested, no matter what the circumstances of the arrest.

“We don’t break the law to enforce the law,” he said.  All people must be treated with empathy and dignity and respect, and sometime respect involves recognizing the danger a person poses to the community.

On the teamwork side, he told how fellow officers had helped him every step of the way, even to the extent of preparing him for promotional exams they were competing against him in.

And caring is what will bring success.

“With genuine and sincere caring you will not fail,” he said. “You may make mistakes here and there but if you care, show diligence and caring in all you do, you are going to excel, you are going to shine,” he advised.

Basic Academy Class 187 By The Numbers

1 Former Orange County Correctional Services Technician sworn as a Deputy.

2 Females sworn as Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies.

3 Former Sheriffs Special Offices sworn as Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies.

4 City police departments in Orange County with graduates in Class 187. Three Los Angeles County city police departments also had graduates in the class.

5 Military veterans in the class.

6 Dynamic Will To Survive Events in Academy.

7 Categories of Special Achievement Awards.

9 Agencies represented by the graduates.

10 Core members of Academy staff, one Lieutenant, three Tactical Sergeants and Six Tactical Officers.

12 Deputy Sheriffs in class.

13 Members of outside agencies in class. 14 Charity Events attended by class during Academy

15 Graduates with a BA degree

25 Graduates in the class

26 Weeks of training

37 Recruits who started training with Class 187

43 Learning Domains covered in Academy

50 Physical Training Sessions

69 Estimated number of lives that may be saved with blood donated by class members

135 Miles run together as a class on distance runs

837 Hours of community service donated by class.

984 Hours of training

5,000 Average number of rounds fired by each graduate in training.

Recruits of Basic Academy Class 187 turned out for the Traditional Hot Dog run in the midst of Monday's downpour. The runners kept up the tradition and they are all expected to turn out tonight for their Class Graduation.

California Highway Patrol Officers from the Santa Fe Springs Area Office are raising money to help the family of CHP Officer Joe Sanders, who was killed in the line of duty on December 15.

Here is part of the press release they have issued:

Santa Fe Springs - On December 15, 2008, CHP Officer Joe Sanders was struck and killed by a motorist while working on the 60 freeway. Officer Sanders leaves behind three children and a wife who is expecting another child. Many companies and private citizens have expressed a desire to help the Sanders family.

The CHP was recently notified of a corporation who wished to implement a very generous donation to the family of Officer Sanders, and involve those individuals who wish to help.

Chili’s Grill & Bar has confirmed that three local area restaurants will host “Joe Sanders Night,” on Tuesday,
December 23, 2008, from 11:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. 10 percent of the food proceeds sold that night will be donated
to the Sanders Family.

DATE/TIME: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, from 11:00 a.m., to 10:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Puente Hills Chili’s Chino Hills Chili’s Whittier Chili’s
17588 Castleton 3670 Grand Ave 13580 Whittier Blvd.
Industry, 91748 Chino Hills, 91709 Whittier, 90605
(626) 581-4769 (909) 364-9098 (562) 693-7300

To read the whole press release click: Officer Sanders.pdf (50.03 kb)

To see the flyer click: chpa5665.pdf (1.55 mb)

Strategy, Accountability, Focus and Evaluation are management principles the Orange County Sheriff’s Department plans to utilize more effectively under a new program that will go into operation in January 2009.

When Sheriff Sandra Hutchens came into office in June 2008 she conducted an assessment of Department policies, performance and the organizational culture that had developed over the years.  The core values she found were good ones but the lack of consistency in record keeping, policies and procedures were a concern for both the performance of individuals and units within the Department.

The establishment of the SAFE (Strategy, Accountability, Focus and Evaluation) Program is intended to achieve an improved culture within the Department, one that always strives toward ever improving professionalism, self pride and organizational cohesion.  A dividend to the success of this program will be to reduce risk and liability, assist in employee development and promote problem solving behavior that is consistent with Department goals of serving and protecting the public. 

The SAFE Program will be managed by Lieutenant Mike Hiller and will serve as a catalyst to maintain consistency and a high standard of performance throughout the Sheriff’s Department’s 4,000 men and women working in 20 division commands.

In the future, the Sheriff’s Department will have easy access to statistics for Department wide crime fighting utilization. These uniform numbers will better enable managers to determine crime trends, staffing needs and resource deployment.  The standardization of regulations and policies will provide a better gauge to measure the performance of units and individual members of the Department.

A preliminary SAFE Unit was established in October 2008 following the Sheriff’s assessment of Department resources.  The unit’s members are experienced and understand the importance of policy development, information gathering, joint and inter-agency collaboration, and working with the public.  The SAFE Unit members are familiar with all aspects of the Department and have established themselves as progressive team members who are eager to face the challenges of developing a new and innovative program.

The new program is in large part the product of the project undertaken by consultant Lee McCown. He has an extensive background in law enforcement Risk Management. A similar assessment he conducted for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department contributed to a 35 percent reduction in litigation losses against that Department, with a significant savings to taxpayers. To see the Department Blog story on Lee McCown click here.

Lt. Hiller has most recently commanded the staff at the Central Courthouse where he directed the seemingly impossible task of ensuring the on time daily delivery of hundreds of inmates to dozens of courtrooms and the weapons screening of thousands of jurors and courthouse visitors. During his quarter century with the Department he has served as Academy Commander and he helped form the Terrorism Early Warning Group in 2002.

As SAFE Program Manager, Lt. Hiller will coordinate the tracking of such activities as use of force incidents, traffic accidents, officer involved shootings and citizen commendations of Department members.   These activities will be evaluated and assessed in regularly scheduled forums to allow managers to do trend and event analysis.  The assessment of trends and events within the jails or community will allow each division to manage incidents more effectively and proactively. 

In addition, SAFE will develop and implement an employee review process to provide a fair and responsible system for assessing an employee’s work performance.  Some examples of information maintained include, commendations, complaints, evaluations, etc.  This process benefits the employee as well as his or her current and previous supervisors and ensures the employee remains a productive and effective member of the department. [more]

SAFE will also evaluate activities of department personnel and utilize this information to enhance training programs and personnel performance.  Information gathered will also allow executives to hold managers accountable for actions or non-actions within their command.  The idea is to positively reinforce activities and behavior through evaluation and accountability. 

A primary objective of the SAFE Program is to improve operations; ensure policy and procedures are being written or updated as necessary; allow input from all levels of the organization; and identify systems that require modification to support the SAFE Program.  Some of these systems include use of force protocols and documentation, crime trends, employee activities, and resource deployment. 

An analysis of past incidents and lessons learned are important in confronting today’s law enforcement challenges.  The entire process will standardize how information is collected and disseminated and the use of this information will improve overall Department Operations.  This will occur through information sharing, risk assessment and policy updates.  The SAFE Program will manage the coordination of these systems with the continued focus of improving Department accountability. 

The SAFE Program Manager will report directly to Undersheriff John Scott. This will ensure an effective standardized approach.  To provide a broad departmental impact, there must be involvement from all commands in the organization. 

The SAFE Program Manager will oversee the Department’s policy updates and statistical information collection.  This particular facet of the SAFE Program is unique to the Sheriff’s Department.  Organizing, developing, and maintaining this type of information is a monumental undertaking.  The creation of the SAFE Program reinforces the commitment of the Sheriff to improve the Department. Among the goals for the SAFE Unit is the establishment of an Employee Early Warning System and Management Accountability and Review System.

The cost of the SAFE unit has been minimal to date. The Department utilizes a reallocation of existing resources both in personnel and facilities. Growth of the team will be carried out in accordance to both need and the constraints of the county budget.

The standardization of Department policies will enhance the professionalism of the Department and enable Department personnel to better serve the public. The standardization of statistics will help create a climate of Department wide accountability, reduce liability and increase performance. Every law enforcement agency, whatever its size, location, or jurisdiction, needs a thorough standardized approach to policy and statistical management in order to protect itself and the community.

The SAFE Program will ensure consistent compliance in these areas and move the Orange County Sheriff’s Department into a new era of accountability.

Bio of Lieutenant Hiller  

Lieutenant Michael Hiller was named to head the new SAFE Program based on his 25 years of experience in the Department.

He joined the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in 1983 and graduated as a member of Basic Academy Class #62. Before joining the Department he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Long Beach State University.

After he was sworn as a Deputy he served two and a half years in jail operations and five years in patrol. He then promoted to Sergeant and served as a jail administrative Sergeant, Harbor Patrol and as a Tactical Sergeant at the Academy.

He promoted to Lieutenant in 2002 and helped assemble the Terrorism Early Warning Group, now called the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center. In that role he helped the county purchase response equipment and to develop terrorism response courses for operations deputies and supervisors.

His next assignment was back at the Academy, where he served as Academy Commander until 2006. While serving at the Academy, he was elected president of the California Academy Director’s Association. He also was part of a statewide team that developed a new method of evaluating and scoring recruits during scenario testing. His team raised the bar for testing the performance of recruits. Recruits now must demonstrate proficiency in core competencies through performance factors, comprehension and performance quality. 

Lieutenant Hiller was assigned to Court Operations where he quickly developed a rapport with the court’s executive management team.  His pro active approach to problem solving made him a valuable and trusted commodity in working out justice partner issues. 

In his new role as head of the SAFE Program, Lieutenant Hiller will facilitate a program where supervisors and managers are held accountable for crime and risk management issues under their respective commands.  The areas being reviewed will include citizen complaints, use of force, overtime and crime statistics.  The goal of the SAFE Program is to gather and analyze data to develop strategies to decrease risk and liabilities in each of the twenty Divisions in the Department. 

Lieutenant Hiller has been married to his wife Sharon for 22 years and has four children.  

It was anything but a typical night along Rancho Santa Margarita Parkway near Buena Suerta in Rancho Santa Margarita.

In the space of a little more than five hours, five suspects were arrested for DUI, six vehicles were towed and six other people arrested, four for unlicensed driver and two for possession of marijuana.

It is the kickoff of the “Over the Limit, Under Arrest” campaign geared to deter holiday revelers from driving on the highways while drunk.

The Department’s Traffic Unit began the campaign with a Sobriety Checkpoint set up in Rancho Santa Margarita. The Checkpoint is funded by a grant from the State of California Office of Traffic Safety and targets drivers who are driving a vehicle without a driver’s license or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The ultimate goal is to reduce highway accidents, injuries and deaths.

In 2007, 12,998 people were killed in alcohol related accidents, Traffic Unit Sergeant Jerold Brittain told the Checkpoint crew; four times the number of members of the U.S. Armed Forces killed in Iraq.

A Sobriety Checkpoint is no simple operation.

The first task in setting up a Sobriety Checkpoint is to locate a road where there have been a high number of alcohol related traffic accidents and get approval to set up there.

Then you put down some signs, place 500 to 600 traffic cones in just the right places,  and position a portable booking station, a trailer equipped with floodlights and finally patrol cars with flashing yellow lights, a chase car, in case anybody attempts to flee, and a transport vehicle for those headed to jail. [more] 

If you do it just right and staff it with the right people you have an operating Sobriety Checkpoint.  “The City of Rancho Santa Margarita is very supportive of the effort,” Sergeant Brittain said.

The pattern of the traffic cones was complex at the Sobriety Checkpoint set up last week on Santa Margarita Highway near Buena Suerta in Rancho Santa Margarita.

The staff is a mix of Deputies, Reserve Deputies, Explorers and CSOs.

“The deputies are mostly working on their days off,” said Captain Ron White. “They get paid overtime (paid by the grant) but most are working because they are committed to making the roads safe for the community.”

Deputy Paul Villeneuve supervised the placement of the cones by eight other Deputies and eight Reserve Deputies. He made sure the Sobriety Checkpoint sign and other signs telling motorists to prepare to stop were in the right places.

The cones guided three lanes of traffic to one and then marked off a location in the center of the three lanes for five cars at a time to undergo primary screening.  Still ahead a secondary screening area near the curb is marked off.

The final inspection of the quarter-mile long checkpoint setup was conducted by Sergeant Brittain.

They must have done something right; the checkpoint netted five suspects arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

But it was no easy task. Helping the sworn personnel at The Checkpoint were 15 Explorer Scouts and several CSOs.

If the various signs, flashing yellow lights and orange traffic cones failed to signal to the motorist that a Sobriety Checkpoint was in operation then they learn about it from the Checkpoint Greeter; Motor Deputy Mark Haselton.

Earlier, at the briefing, Deputy Haselton had called out like an amusement park barker, “keep your hands and feet inside the ride.”

In the field, he is all business.  He informs the motorists that a DUI and driver’s license check is being conducted.  For the most part, he waves five cars through the checkpoint and directs five into the primary screening area.  He tags the windshield of the vehicles he directs to screening with a post it note with a number on it. The post it helps with the record keeping.

There were 476 vehicles directed into primary screening.

 “We have to do it systematically,” said Sgt. Brittain. “If we get away from the system, we have to have good reason.”

There are five Deputies and five Reserve Deputies working in the primary screening section. The Deputy talks to the driver and the Reserve Deputy handles the passenger side of the vehicle.

Deputy Villeneuve counsels the Primary Screening Deputies to keep the conversation polite but brief.

“If they have a license and they haven’t been drinking, send them on their way,” he counsels.

A Black & White equipped with a video camera is set up to record each Field Sobriety Test.

By 2140 hours the checkpoint is hopping.

“Good Evening,” Deputy Haselton says loudly to each motorist. “We’re operating a DUI and Drivers License check.”

He says to those selected for screening”:

“Please pull up as far to the right as your car can go.”

Two Reserve Deputies use light sticks to direct the cars into the screening lane.

The screening lane can handle five cars at a time.

A Deputy is on the driver’s side with a flashlight to check the driver’s license.

The primary screening deputy introduces himself or herself and also his or her partner. They explain that they are checking for drunk drivers and driver’s licenses and the driver is asked to produce a driver’s license. The motorist is also asked if he or she has been drinking.

A Reserve Deputy works the passenger side, using a flashlight to see if there is anything illegal in plain sight.

It is in the screening lane that the Deputies must determine whether there is reason to direct the vehicle to secondary screening.

There are 22 vehicles directed into secondary screening.

“Driver” is the call when a car is held for secondary screening.

The motorist and any passengers are asked to exit the vehicle and an Explorer gets behind the wheel and pulls it off into the secondary screening lane, the one closest to the curb and the exit end of the checkpoint.

In secondary screening the deputies check the vehicles from outside with flashlights and obtain permission to look inside the car when necessary.
Before long drivers and passengers are on the side of the road, the passengers sitting in chairs placed for them and the drivers undergoing questioning or preliminary checks to determine sobriety.

One of the tests is to use a narrow light to see how the motorist tracks the light with his or her eyes.

One car holds a driver without a license and his wife and two young children.

The mother and two children are placed in a Department truck to keep them out of the cold while they await a ride home.

At the mobile booking trailer, a Deputy has a suspected drunk driver seated on a bench and is checking how his eyes track a light.

Outside the trailer, a second DUI suspect is undergoing a Field Sobriety Test, showing how coordinated the arms and legs move.

Inside the trailer is an Intoximeter, used to measure blood alcohol levels. The suspect’s drivers license is swiped in the device. From the booking station, Deputies can also check to determine if there are any priors or warrants for the suspect.

In all, four men and one woman are held on suspicion of DUI. The number of women drinking and driving is on the rise.

The consequences of a DUI arrest are serious, the Auto Club estimates the cost in Southern California is about $13,500 for the first offense.

More than 6,000 gifts were collected from Department employees this week and they were shipped off to Orange County's Operation Santa Claus. The annual campaign is aimed at helping youngsters and the needy.

The Orange County Register reported on its Website Thursday on the resolution by the Board of Supervisors calling on Sheriff Sandra Hutchens not to revoke any Concealed Carry Weapons Permits issued by the previous administration.

Sheriff Hutchenshas said she believes that some of those permits were issued without good cause required by law. Some members of the Board of Supervisors have suggested that she use her discretion to leave all current permits in place.

From the Register Website:

Supervisors lobby sheriff on concealed weapons

Hutchens says she disagrees with supervisors and will let voters decide her fate in 2010

BY NORBERTO SANTANA JR.
The Orange County Register

Orange County supervisors this week abandoned their traditionally cautious approach and formally urged Sheriff Sandra Hutchens not to revoke any concealed gun permits.

Hutchens' response: "I think we're going to get to a point where we have to respectfully agree to disagree."

The fledgling sheriff triggered a firestorm earlier this year from gun activists when she announced that the sheriff's department would adopt a stricter approach toward handing out concealed weapons permits and would reevaluate the existing 1,100 licenses held across the county. Nearly 100 activists, including National Rifle Association attorneys, showed up last month at a county supervisors meeting, threatening to politically oppose Hutchens and any supervisors who backed her gun policies.

To read the entire story click here.

Sheriff Hutchens has temporarily ceased revocations pending discussion with the California Attorney General to ensure that it does not reflectly negatively in the state data base if a permit holder has his or her permit recalled as a result of the review.

In the story, Sheriff Hutchens said:

"I'll be prepared to discuss the issue in its entirety and have some resolution in January," she said in an interview this week.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department is joining law enforcement agencies from throughout Southern California next month in a friendly competition to see which agency's members can donate the most blood.

The Blood is being collected by the American Red Cross and will be used to help make up for the short supplies of available blood that the medical community typically experiences at this time of year.

The Red Cross said of the event:

The Battle of the Badges is an opportunity for all badge carrying personnel, including friends and family, to positively impact our community by
competing in a friendly competition to see who can donate the most blood and ultimately save the most lives.

Blood supplies typically fall to critically low levels during the winter months. We can have a substantial impact on the availability of blood for accident victims, cancer patients, premature babies and burn patients.

Thanks to Southern California’s law enforcement agencies’ commitment to saving lives, the 2nd Annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive was a
tremendous success - 57 agencies participated with 1,405 individuals presenting to donate blood. However, even with our successful blood drive,
Southern California still suffered blood shortages during January and February 2008. We will continue to battle blood shortages and help save more lives. Our goal for the 3rd Annual Battle of the Badges Blood Drive is to have at least 2,500 badge carrying personnel donate blood. All blood donations will go to Southern California hospitals.

To see the Red Cross flyer on the competition click: battleofthebadges.pdf (1.03 mb)

The Annual "Battle of the Badges" Blood Drive will run from January 20th to February 2nd. The Department drive will take place on Wednesday, January 28 from 7 a.m. to 7 pm in the Intake Release Center briefing room.

Please sign up to donate blood today!

To make your appointment please visit: http://www.givelife.org
Type in the Sponsor Code: OC1

(OR)
 E-mail at cdvincent@ocsd.org or call
 Curtis Vincent at 647-6063 to sign up
 IRC – BRIEFING ROOM
 

For Orange County Sheriff's Department Personnel who participate:

***FREE T-shirt***
***In-house raffle for Gas Cards and other Prizes***
FIRST 30 DONORS TO PRE-REGISTER WILL RECEIVE A $1.00 SCRATCHER FROM CALIF. LOTTERY
***With Parent Permission children as young as 16 years old may donate***
 
MUST BRING PICTURE IDENTIFICATION 

Santa Claus left his sleigh home Tuesday and caught a ride aboard a Marine Unit fireboat for a ride across Newport Beach Harbor.

Santa was aboard the Department vessel to pay a surprise visit to 215 seriously ill youngsters taking a harbor cruise courtesy of the “Make a Wish” Foundation.

Photographs by Professional Services Responder George Ridley

Santa was escorted by Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and the Deputies who make up the crew of the fireboat.

The youngsters and their families were aboard Crystal, a charter craft from Electra Cruises for a 2 ½ hour dinner cruise of the harbor when Santa and Sheriff Hutchens came alongside in the fireboat.

Santa distributed gifts to all the good children, and luckily none of the 215 youngsters aboard had made Santa’s naughty list.

While the youngsters were happy to see Santa and their parents glad to visit with the Sheriff, the Department personnel volunteering for the event were overjoyed to see Honorary Deputy Dylan.

Honorary Deputy Dylan was granted a wish last year, to be an honorary Deputy Sheriff for one day. He visited throughout the Department and won his way into the hearts of almost everybody he met that day. Dylan was on the cruise.

Updated with Award Photo 12/17/08 

The American Kennel Club took note this weekend of what many of those Department have known for a long time: They don't come any better than Taffy.

It was at the AKC's annual show, the one dog professionals pay heed to and the rest of us catch on television when channel surfing. Taffy was selected in the national competition and came out on top.

Taffy is now semi-retired but has been working with the Department for many years. She still goes out to track lost children, disoriented adults and fleeing suspects when there is a need for the services of her and her handler, Reserve Lieutenant Doug Williams.  

Here is what the AKC said about Taffy in their press release on the honor bestowed on Saturday night at the show held in Long Beach:

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.

To see some of the runner-ups who competed click here. Scroll down to Search and Rescue. The runner-up dogs are lower on the Webpage.

To see the Department Blog story that ran when Taffy was first selected for the honor, click here.  That Blog story has links to even more awards that have been received by Taffy and Reserve Lieutenant Williams.

Taffy and Lieutenant Williams have received many awards. To see some of them click here.

The following commendation was submitted by Yorba Linda resident Joanne Stone on Tuesday, November 18, 2008:

"I was one of the fortunate people whose home was spared in the horrific fire over this past weekend. Unfortunately, my neighbors up
the street from me on Juniper were not so lucky. I just want to send along sincere thanks to your department and your deputies for
helping our neighborhood and community through such a tragic, frightening time. Unfortunately, we were not able to thank your deputies
in person since we were evacuated, but please pass along our thanks to all of those deputies who worked so long and hard for our benefit.
Words cannot express our gratitude."

On December 4, 2008, Teresa Roach of Support Services Division received an email from Mr. Jim Hamersley, Chief Information
Officer of Kings County Government Center, Information Technology Department, thanking her for the professional service she
provided. The email from Mr. Hamersley stated:

"We appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to show Kings County IT, Sheriff, Hanford PD and Corcoran PD the Geospatial
product in production. We were all very impressed with your professionalism - knowledge, the Orange County centralized dispatch and
vision of the Orange County Sheriff's Department - Emergency Operation Center. It is always appreciated when other agencies share
their operational products and processes. We share the same idea about the patrol computers mounting units, etc... If you are ever in the
area of Kings County, please let me know, I would be happy to give you a tour and buy lunch. Again, thank you for your time and making
us feel welcome."

On December 1, 2008, Lieutenant E. Giudice received a letter of commendation from Captain Tom Gazsi, the Support Services Division Commander of Newport Beach Police Department.  The letter commended Harbor Patrol deputies Carlos Contreras and Kathy McBride for their assistance with a vintage fishing vessel moored in Newport Harbor. 

The letter stated:

“I want to extend a grateful thanks to Deputies Contreras and McBride for their thoughtful hospitality in transporting a few volunteers out and back to the vessel.  Please know that they were very professional and considerate.  Deputy Contreras was alone when he dropped us at the boat early in the day.  He made a number of “seasoned” suggestions that were remarkably helpful in making the repairs.  He even provided us with bottles of drinking water to help us through the work.  You have an exceptional group of professionals who I am honored to call colleagues in our profession.” 

By Jason Felch and Maura Dolan
December 14, 2008

In June, Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas made a bold grab for a crown jewel of local law enforcement: the DNA unit of the sheriff's crime lab.

With the lab's director out of town and the sheriff recently deposed by corruption charges, Rackauckas submitted a brief agenda item to county supervisors two business days before their regular meeting. 
 
"Our aim is to make significant changes in the way forensic DNA analysis is conducted," Rackauckas wrote. The D.A.'s office is "the only organization capable of harnessing the vast potential of forensic DNA technology."

The move capped a three-year tug of war for control of DNA analysis in a historically conservative county where putting criminals behind bars can bring substantial political rewards.

"I have never experienced anything like it in more than 30 years of law enforcement," recalled Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, who took over the department in the midst of the battle. "I couldn't get my brain around it, and no one I've spoken with could either."

To read the whole LA Times story click here.

The Deputies lined up in four straight ranks of seven, shoes shined brightly, creases crisp and seams as straight as an arrow.  The next group was made up of Community Service Officers and civilians but they were every bit as anxious to give a good impression as the Deputies.

The unit stood for inspection, some wearing commendations for extraordinary police work and others the accruements of special assignments, like the two motors and the K-9 officer.

The scene was in a restaurant parking lot on top of the Dana Point headlands, the city’s beautiful harbor far below.

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens had come to inspect the men and women of Dana Point Police Services.  She is in the process of inspecting each unit in the Department. 

Photos by Sheriff's Photographer Jerry Manson and Professional Services Responder George Ridley

“In addition to doing a good job, we need to look good,” she tells each of the units she visits.  She envisions the inspections as a new tradition in the Department.

First Assistant Sheriff Michael Hillmann, Captain Brian Wilkerson and Lieutenant Mark Levy came before the group.  Assistant Sheriff Hillman called the ranks to attention.

Next Sheriff Hutchens and Undersheriff John Scott walked in step before the group and returned the salute of Assistant Sheriff Hillmann.

She and Undersheriff Scott inspected Assistant Sheriff Hillmann, Captain Wilkerson and Lieutenant Levy. Then all five formed a line and approached the first rank of Deputies.

Assistant Sheriff Hillman gave the order, “second, third and fourth squads, Parade Rest.” [more]

Sheriff Hutchens stood before each of the Deputies, CSOs and civilians, closely looked over each individual and spoke a few words with every individual.

Following the inspection she called for the men and women to gather around her.

“I’m very proud to be the Sheriff and to be part of this Department,” she said. “I know what the community thinks about you. I go to Rotary, I go to Kiwanis. I go to every community group you can think of, four or five nights a week. They know you’re doing a good job.

“I’m very proud of you. “

Undersheriff Scott thanked the unit for its service and wished them a happy holiday.

Assistant Sheriff Hillmann complimented the unit for the turnout for the inspection.

“You owe a big thanks to yourself,” Assistant Sheriff Hillmann. “Everything was squared away.  As the sheriff said , when you look sharp, you feel sharp, you do sharp work.”

He added, “You guys have done a great job, all of you. Keep the drunk drivers out of here. Arrest the taggers. Give it everything you’ve go!” He concluded, “Don’t be hesitant. You’ve got a lot of support at the top. A lot of support. So please keep up the good work and have a happy holiday.”

Captain Wilkerson, a former commander of the training academy, said, “Twenty eight years I’ve  been with the Department, I don’t know that I’ve ever been more proud of the Department.  I want to thank all of you for what you showed today, it makes a real difference. Your daily uniform appearance is impressive. Remember that every day,. You’ll conduct yourself better just because of the way you look. For me it’s a real honor to work with all of you.”

Lieutenant Levy  was the final speaker.

“I am absolutely impressed with every one of you,” he said. “I can’t thank you enough for this serious showing that you’ve given us today, how serious your commitment is to both the Department and the City of Dana Point.  It is very much reflected in the way you look and you’re deportment today at this inspection.”

Several city officials also observed the inspection. Following the inspection, the Sheriff and Command Staff posed for a group picture and for many individual pictures with the men and women of the unit, each dressed in his or her best uniform or office attire.  

Here are some kudos for field work others appreciated.

On November 21, 2008 Lieutenant Linda Solorza of Laguna Niguel Police Services received a letter from Sergeant Dave Sawyer of the Special Investigations Bureau commending Deputy Ross Caouette.   Sergeant Sawyer praised Ross for his actions on November 17, 2008. Sawyer received a call from Ross, saying he had stopped a vehicle in the City of Laguna Niguel with about (8) pounds of marijuana.  Ross went on to explain how he had developed information from a citizen informant regarding suspicious activity within a neighborhood in the City.  Ross took the initiative to watch the residence, make a stop and arrest, then notify the supervisor of the narcotic detail of his find.

Based solely on the observations and heads-up work by Ross, we were able to obtain a search warrant for the residence.  The search revealed almost (40) pounds of high-grade marijuana, (22) grams of cocaine and over $76,000.  We estimate the value of the marijuana alone to be in excess of $150,000.

During the preparation of the search warrant and subsequent search of the residence, Ross assisted with the detention of suspects, collection of evidence and preparation of required documents.  We recognized that he did not just sit around and watch us work.  Ross took the initiative and volunteered to help with many aspects of the investigation.

Sergeant Sawyer recognizes and appreciates all of Ross’s his hard work, dedication and ability to take an investigation to the next level.  He should be commended for his outstanding efforts and abilities.

On December 2, 2008 Lieutenant Linda Solorza of Laguna Niguel Police Services received a letter from Investigator Tracy Morris of the Criminal Investigations Bureau commending Deputy Miguel Sotelo.  Investigator Morris praised Deputy Sotelo for his actions on December 2, 2008 while working uniformed patrol in Laguna Niguel.  He came upon suspect who was recently arrested for having sexual activity with a 16-year old parked on a street in Laguna Niguel.  Through his interview Deputy Sotelo learned that the suspect was text messaging someone.  Deputy Sotelo dug further, conducted a records check and learned there was a restraining order prohibiting suspect from contacting the 16- year old victim.  Deputy Sotelo recognized the victim lived down the street from where the suspect was parked.  Deputy Sotelo went even further and contacted the victim. Ultimately the victim admitted the suspect had been text messaging her and she had even met him in person on two separate occasions.  Based on the information Deputy Sotelo received, the suspect was arrested for violating a court order.
 
Investigator Morris would like to commend the investigative efforts put forth by Deputy Sotelo of Laguna Niguel Police Services. Deputy Sotelo went above and beyond a normal occupied vehicle encounter.  As a result of his tenacity the suspect is again in custody, the victim is protected and supects’s bail was increased from hundred thousand dollars to five hundred thousand.  Deputy Sotelo is a credit to the City of Laguna Niguel and the Sheriff’s Department. 

On December 1, 2008, Lieutenant E. Giudice received a letter of commendation from Captain Tom Gazsi, the Support Services Division Commander of Newport Beach Police Department.  The letter commended Harbor Patrol deputies Carlos Contreras and Kathy McBride for their assistance with a vintage fishing vessel moored in Newport Harbor.  The letter stated:
“I want to extend a grateful thanks to Deputies Contreras and McBride for their thoughtful hospitality in transporting a few volunteers out and back to the vessel.  Please know that they were very professional and considerate.  Deputy Contreras was alone when he dropped us at the boat early in the day.  He made a number of “seasoned” suggestions that were remarkably helpful in making the repairs.  He even provided us with bottles of drinking water to help us through the work.  You have an exceptional group of professionals who I am honored to call colleagues in our profession.” 
 

The Marine Operations Bureau recently received a “Thank You” card from the Orange County and Inland Empire Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  The card stated:
“On behalf of our Chapter, we’d like to thank you for all your effort and support to our wish kids and helping us make a difference in their lives.  But most of all, we appreciate your dedication which enables our kids to believe that wishes really do come true.  We wish each of you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving.”

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and the Command Staff helped greet 80 seriously ill youngsters who flew in from Canada to visit Disneyland as part of Dreamlift 2008.

There were 114 members of the Department who, using their own time, worked as escorts for the youngsters while at the park. The Sheriff's Advisory Council purchases park tickets for the escorts.

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens asks public to open their hearts and homes to pets at county animal shelter.

On Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 80 critically and terminally ill young people ages 7-18 from Canada’s Sunshine Foundation will arrive at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport for a dream come true one-day visit to Disneyland.  Known as “Dreamlift” this is the 35th year this group has traveled to the United States for this dream fulfillment trip.  Escorts for the day are employees of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department that take personal time to be the host for this event.  One hundred employees from throughout the Department will meet the plane when it lands at the airport.  Each volunteer’s ticket is provided by the Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council.  Volunteers will escort these special guests through the Magic Kingdom—some in wheelchairs, some on crutches; all with serious and in some cases life threatening illness.

The plane is expected to arrive in a restricted area of John Wayne Airport at 9:50 a.m.  The guests are met by the volunteers and then they board buses donated by Saddleback Valley Unified School District and their contract bus partner. Each child also receives a miniature replica of a Sheriff’s car, hat, shirt, camera to chronicle the day and bag full of treats. The buses then travel to Disneyland and both volunteers and guests enjoy a fabulous day until the very last moment the park closes.  All re-board the buses and then return to the airport where the Canadians board the return flight at 9:00 p.m. to Vancouver, Canada.

Good police work by Department investigators led to the arrest of three in connection with string of Casino follow home holdups.

The work was applauded by Mission Viejo Mayor Trish Kelley who had this to say about the case:

Wow! This is very impressive work on the part of our OCSD staff! I am thankful for their professionalism, resourcefulness and diligence in tracking down these dangerous robbers. You all do such a great job of keeping us safe. Please pass along my thanks.

The Department issued this statement about the case:

On October 24, 2008 at approximately 3:45 am, a couple from Mission Viejo, was followed home from the Hustler Casino in Gardena where they had been gambling.  As they were approaching their apartment, an African American male and a Hispanic male both in their twenties wearing dark clothing confronted them.  The suspects demanded their money and used physical force to remove both their wallets and purse. The loss was cash, a cell phone, camera and black Coach purse; the suspects left in an unknown vehicle. Orange County Sheriff’s Department Investigators went to the Hustler Casino and reviewed the surveillance tape and observed a suspect vehicle following the victims as they left the parking lot.  There were no other suspect leads.

Hustler Casino Security informed Investigators that they had several follow home robberies in the past month and provided the Orange County Sheriff’s Department with the agencies’ names and report numbers.  Investigators contacted each agency and obtained copies of their reports in attempt to establish a pattern.  Investigators then met with the Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Gambling control and gathered additional information and surveillance photos regarding these incidences.

The previous follow-home robberies are as follows:
• September 15, 2008 at 10:55 pm in Torrance.
• October 10, 2008 at 4:00 am in Redondo Beach.
• October 18, 2008 at 4:00 am in Los Angeles.
• November 7, 2008 in Hawthorne. 
• November 15, 2008 in Hawthorne. 

Department of Justice, Bureau of Gambling Control, provided investigators with surveillance photos from the Commerce Casino.  The photos showed the exact same suspect vehicle, following the victim from the Hustler Casino as the Mission Viejo case.
 
On November 30, 2008 at 2:15 am, three African American males followed a 66-year-old male victim home from the Commerce Casino to his residence in Lake Forest.  The suspects pointed a gun at the victim and demanded his money.  The victim refused to give them his money and the suspect proceeded to give him directions to turn around and get on his knees, while pointing the gun at him.  Fearing that he would be shot in the back, the victim ran away and dropped his money.  The suspects then picked up the money and fled the area.  The victim did not see a suspect vehicle.
 
Orange County Sheriff’s Department Investigators were able to make an identification of the vehicle’s license plate from the toll road photos.  The suspect was identified as John Atkins (12-31-86).  Atkins is currently active in the US Army and resides in Barstow.
Orange County Investigators along with DOJ conducted a weeklong surveillance of the suspect’s activity and was able to identify several other subjects involved.

On Saturday December 6, 2008, Atkins and his crime partners were observed targeting a victim at the Commerce Casino and proceeded to follow the victim to his residence in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles.  Orange County Investigators coordinated with patrol units from the Los Angeles Police Department and conducted a high-risk investigative stop on the suspects. The suspects in the vehicle were Jonathon Atkins and his cousins, Raymond Little Jr. (7/31/90) and Gary Smith (3/30/88).  All suspects were all arrested at 12:57 am for Robbery and Conspiracy to commit Robbery.  A search of the vehicle revealed a replica handgun resembling a Glock pistol, a ballistic vest and a load bearing vest.

Later that day, several members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department conducted search warrants on all three suspects’ residences.  No additional arrests were made; however, the investigation is still ongoing.

No photos will be released at this time, as other victims still need to be re-contacted and shown photographic line ups.

Investigation was conducted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department South Investigations. Case Agents Investigator Jared Dahl and Vanessa Anderson, coordinated the case with the assistance of 15 other investigators, Gang Unit, SWAT and Directed Enforcement Team.  They also used the assistance of Department of Justice Bureau of gambling Control, Warren Sorensen and John Park and several of their agents.

If you have any additional information or you have been victimized, please call 714-628-7170.