Deputy Peter Mach was honored last year for having recovered the largest number of stolen cars in the Department. In fact, he ranked highest among all law enforcement agencies in Orange County.

Deputy Peter Mach receiving his award for stolen car recoveries.

This year it was Mothers Against Drunk Driving that honored Deputy Mach: he made 103 drunk driving arrests.

He’s a busy Deputy and a recent ride along with him showed he handles whatever comes his way while on patrol. He’s always looking for another way to protect the public.

I joined up with Deputy Mach at about 9 p.m. on a Thursday night at the temporary Police Services Facility in Stanton.

He was already on a call for a traffic collision.  

It involved an unlicensed driver and no injury and in an unincorporated area where traffic collisions are investigated by California Highway Patrol.

No sooner was the matter turned over to CHP than a radio call came about a domestic disturbance.

Deputy Mach recognized the address. More...

The Law Enforcement Cancer Support Foundation is a national network of law enforcement cancer survivors, or "Mentors", as well as friends and family of law enforcement personnel, committed to supporting you through your cancer experience.

To find out more about the organization, click here to go to their Website

The Department is making temporary promotions due to the uncertainty of the Department's budget. It is the Department's desire to make the promotions permanent in the near future.

Monday, May 4, 2009

New Mission Viejo chief seeks to keep crime at bay

Lt. Mike Gavin was introduced to the City Council Monday night.

By LINDSEY BAGUIO
The Orange County Register

MISSION VIEJO - Lt. Mike Gavin is looking to bring in new programs and maintain Mission Viejo's safe reputation as he takes the lead of the city's police services.

Lieutenant Mike Gavin

Orange County Regiser photo by H. LORREN AU JR

Gavin, a 23-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, succeeds Lt. Steve Bernardi, who is retiring, as city police chief. Gavin has been in the position about a week.

Gavin is no stranger to south Orange County. As a deputy, he spent three years on patrol in Lake Forest and three and a half years in San Clemente. As an investigative sergeant he worked in the south investigations bureau, handling property crimes in Mission Viejo and other cities. He was an investigator in the narcotics division for five years – working with the south narcotics team.

To read the full story click here.

The first activity summary of the Orange County Office of Independent Review will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.  OIR Executive Director Stephen Connolly was appointed in September 2008. 

The OIR will also present a report on their review of complaints about security measures at the January 13, 2009 Board of Supervisors meeting. To see that report click: O00309-000839E.pdf (655.86 kb)

His activity report said that since he took the job he has established a protocol for reviewing the Orange County Sheriff's Department's disciplinary procedures.

"My role is to promote the proper level of investigation and responses to all cases by consulting with the Department from an informed and independent outside perspective," he said in his written report to the Board.

He has already reviewed close to 300 cases, ranging from "low-level discourtesy complaints to criminal misconduct resulting in discharge. They include allegations of excessive force, false reporting, obstruction of justice, domestic violence, racial profiling, improper detention, insubordination, failure to supervise, and various forms of harassment or mistreatment of inmates."

Director Connolly said, "While I have been impressed with the quality of most investigations-particularly the more serious ones-I have also had occasion to question the adequacy of the Department's investigative work in individual matters, and have been able to request further information-gathering and analysis.  My opportunity to discuss potential outcomes and to make recommendations has also resulted in adjustments to the Department's initial findings and determinations. I have also worked with the Department to suggest interventions outside the discipline process (counseling, training, briefing bulletins) as warranted by the circumstances of the case, and in an effort to promote a more holistic response by the Department."

To view the full report click: O00309-000839E.pdf (655.86 kb)

The unicorporated areas of Orange County are patrolled by the Sheriff's Department.  These areas experienced an 8.4 percent reduction in violent crime, comparing 2008 to 2007, the California Attorney General has reported.

Homicides, forcible rapes or robberies were too few to provide statistically significant numbers, but overall violent crime went down from 178 in 2007 to 163 in 2008.

Property crime also went down in the unincorported areas, from 942 in 2007 to 938 in 2008. Vehicle theft in the unincorporated areas was reduced by 10.5 percent, from 162 in 2007 to 145 in 2008. Theft of less than $400 went down by 9.6 percent, from 539 in 2007 to 487 in 2008.

Violent crime was reported down statewide by 3.3 percent and property crime was down by 3.5 percent.

To read the full report, including rates for large cities and other counties, click here. 

The Orange County Board of Supervisors today ratified and extended for 14 days the April 30, 2009 proclamation by the Chair of the Board, declaring a local emergency resulting from Swine Flu. The Orange County Health Care Agency will provide updates allowing the Board to determine any continuing need for emergency action on May 19, 2009 and every 14 days thereafter. 

Supporting the Health Care Agency is the Department's Emergency Management Bureau. 

Bureau Manager Donna Boston said the Department's role is to focus on information-sharing with Operational Area partners, made up of 114 government entities and jurisdictions in the county. 

Emergency Management staff has been working diligently on resource support and coordination, including the dissemination of the Strategic National Stockpile of pharmaceuticals and support medications.

Emergency Management staff is on conference calls daily with the California Emergency Management Agency, the Health Care Agency, and the Orange County Emergency Management Organization to ensure that situation updates, health guidance, and situation forecasts are shared with all agencies involved in preserving public health and safety.

Emergency Management is using the WebEOC software to enhance information-sharing with jurisdictions.

There have been numerous releases of information on the Swine Flu emergency. 

To see the latest Center for Disease Control Fact Sheet click: CDC FACT SHEET.pdf (54.89 kb)

Recent information from the Orange County Health Care Agency click: For HRL PHNs - Screening Testing Directive 5-4-09.pdf (27.06 kb)

Advice on publicized precautions click: Face Masks Tamiflu.pdf (63.05 kb)

Health Care Agency Update click: HCA Influenza A _H1N1_ Update #7 5 04 09b.pdf (19.24 kb)

California Department of Public Health health alert click: Health Alert 050409-health alert.pdf (633.64 kb)

Captain Dave Wilson talks to KUCI's Mari Frank about the Department's new S.A.F.E. Division and standards of accountability.

To listen to the interviews click the icons below.

The first week statistics are in from the Battle of the Badges Weight Loss Competition.

Each of the teams has lost weight.  The total lost by all of the teams combined is 306.3 pounds.

The contest is sponsored by Lindora Medical Clinic's Lean for Life Foundation.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department had a combined weight loss of 80 pounds, for a percent average of 2.98 percent.

Santa Ana Police had a combined weight loss of 95.6 lbs. and a combined weight loss percent average of 3.43%. 

Anaheim Police had a combined weight loss of 57.3 lbs. and a combined weight loss percent average of 2.79%. 

The Adolescent Team had a combined weight loss of 73.40 lbs. and a combined weight loss percent average of 1.97%. 

To read the Blog posting on the start of the competition click here.

My family and I would like to express our most sincere appreciation to the department for the support shown to us during the past year. 

We were facing an extremely difficult time in our lives and thanks to those who donated hours, sent emails, made timely telephone calls and above all prayed for us. Your assistance was instrumental in helping to get through. 

As some of you know, I have been back to work for over a month now.  Although I have not yet finished with all of my procedures, my health is improving and I am glad to be back at work amongst friends.  

There are no words that can begin to describe our gratefulness for all the things you have done. 

Because of your extreme generosity, I was able to stay at home while I was going through Chemo Therapy treatment and various surgical procedures.  The cards that were sent, the outpouring of love and concern that was shown to our family were emotionally overwhelming.  It made us realize the people who work for this department are truly like a second family.  Everything you have done was and is greatly appreciated.

Once again, thank you very much for all of the love and support you have given us.

Sincerely,

Maria Harrell and family                        

UPDATE with Link to story on reader kudos to Deputy Mora.

To see the comments click here.  

Friday, May 1, 2009

He's the graffiti translator of South County

MORNING READ: John Mora has some special training for his job in Lake Forest.

By ERIKA I. RITCHIE

The Orange County Register

Early one night in 1995, John Mora and his father parked a truck on the narrow, dusty alley behind their modest home, then in Boyle Heights.

It was a hot evening, July, and the boy who would later become a key crime prevention expert in south Orange County, helped his father unload generators and power tools, cleaning what they had to clean after a long day at a construction site.

When they ended their task, Mora's father did what he usually did on a Friday night; he met up with his brother and walked to the neighborhood liquor store for a cold beer.

John, then 17, had his own plans. It was the summer before his senior year in high school and he was going to meet friends. He walked into the family house, where his mom was busy cooking dinner, kissed her cheek and walked to back of the house to take a shower.

As he took off his shirt, he heard gunshots. It was a common sound, but when the shots were followed by the sounds of women screaming and men shouting, he knew that this shooting was close.

To see the full story click here.

May is the month for our law enforcement family to honor those who were killed in the line of duty at the local, state and national level.

Thankfully, Orange County will not be adding any names to the Peace Officer’s Memorial this year. To commemorate the 48 peace officers in Orange County who paid the ultimate price in past years, a Candlelight Vigil will be held May 19th and a Memorial Ceremony will be held on May 20th at the Plaza of the Flags.

Nine officers and deputies were killed in the line of duty in California in 2008. They will be honored at the enrollment ceremony in Sacramento on May 8th.  Nationally, 138 died in the line of duty in 2008, the lowest total since 1960.  They will be honored at the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. on May 13th.

In addition, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and its personnel support the Project 999 Bike Ride.

The organization’s Website said this of its salute to fallen officers:

"Every year approximately 50 Orange County law enforcement officers gather to ride from the State Peace Officers’ Memorial in Sacramento to the Orange County Peace Officers’ Memorial in Santa Ana.

Each participant in the ride represents an Orange County law enforcement officer who has been killed in the line of duty.

The grueling 630 mile, five day journey is the largest fundraiser for Project 999, a Foundation formed in 1980 by the Orange County Sheriff’s Advisory Council. The mission of Project 999 is to assist the family of any Orange County POST Certified Deputy or Officer who is injured or killed in the line of duty.

The foundation has raised in excess of one million dollars for the sole purpose of assisting peace officers and their families.

To learn more about the Project 999 Bike Ride click here.

To learn more about the California Peace Officer Memorial click here: 

To learn more about the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund click here:

To learn about the Deputies in the Orange County Sheriff's Department who gave their lives in the line of duty click here.

Letter from Sheriff Sandra Hutchens

Our culture is often defined by those outside our organization by what's printed in the paper. The problem with basing any opinion solely on the news is the reality that "if it bleeds it leads." Newspapers, like any other business, must make a profit and controversy and sensationalism sells.

Outrageous statements referring to a pervasive "code of silence" or headlines such as "18 Seconds Missing from Jail Video" can quickly become "indisputable facts" if left unanswered.

The Orange County Register article referring to the missing 18 seconds of video was printed last Wednesday, April 22. By lunchtime, our personnel discovered that the 18 seconds of videotape was not, in fact, missing, but was inadvertently left out of the multi-video footage we provided the plaintiff's attorney. All of the video in question is accounted for and has been provided to the attorney - though this has not been reported.

On April 17th, a spokesperson for the District Attorney's office made allegations of a "code of silence" in the department. Such allegations are very serious and greatly impact the ability of law enforcement personnel to perform their primary duties of investigating crimes, documenting incidents, and testifying in court. Peace officers must be held to the highest standards of integrity. We, as law enforcement, cannot tolerate untruthfulness or deception and should continually hold offending Department personnel directly accountable for their actions.

Our culture should be defined by the individuals we honored at this year's Medal of Valor awards ceremony, (which was covered in a very comprehensive story in the Orange County Register). Our culture should be defined by the 99 percent of honorable and decent individuals serving Orange County as proud members of the Sheriff's Department, not the small minority who tarnish the badge and become the news that sells.

The celebration was featured in an earlier Department Blog item. To see the article click here.

To see the magazine story click here:   Then go to page 27.  Click the + sign to make the image larger.