In July 1984, the Sheriff’s proposal for a helicopter support unit was approved by the Board of Supervisors.  After selection of personnel and equipment was completed, an extensive training program began.  On May 21, 1985, during ceremonies dedicated to the life and memory of actor John Wayne, the Sheriff’s first two helicopters entered service as “Duke I” and “Duke II”.   

The Air Support Bureau is part of the Airport Operations Division commanded by Captain Dennis DeMaio and managed by Lt. Mike Mullen.  The current members of Air Support are:  Sergeant Mike Sharpe and Deputies Santos Garcia, Don Dear, Mike Russell, Dave Tilstra, Mark Northart, Rob Mergen, and Jeff Crowley.   

   These are technologically advanced aircraft equipped with such devices as a Wescam Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) thermal imaging camera, a gyro stabilized color video camera with 14X magnification, a 50-million candle power Nightsun, and gyro stabilized binoculars.  The aircraft also has a Lojack stolen vehicle tracking system and a GPS-based moving map system capable of displaying Thomas Brothers maps, topographical maps and aviation maps.  The flight crew is also equipped with night vision goggles that increase Air Support’s night mission capabilities significantly. 

Through the years, Air Support has been extremely effective in assisting narcotic units with discovering marijuana fields growing in the Cleveland National Forest and surrounding areas.  In 2006 alone, Air Support assisted in finding over 25,000 marijuana plants growing in several locations with a street value of over 16 million dollars.  Because of these efforts by the Air Support Bureau and the Department’s Narcotics Unit, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department won the 2006 National Marijuana Eradication Award, which was presented to members of the Department in Washington D.C. 

Over the years the Air Support Bureau has been recognized for their excellence by several agencies and organizations.  The Bureau has received several Commendation Awards and Letters of Appreciation.  Individual member awards include the Department’s Medal of Valor, Medal of Courage and three American Red Cross “Bravo for Bravery” Life Saving Medals.  In 2005, two members of Air Support won the “Captain Gus Crawford” Memorial Aircrew of the Year Award in recognition of their outstanding performance in Airborne Law Enforcement operations.     

It was a very special thank you from a U.S. Navy Veteran to the Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol.  

Kevin Hennessee returned home to Orange County from the war in the Middle East in May.  Prior to being deployed last year, he spent a good deal of time on his boat which served not only as his favorite toy, but a place of refuge while he was dealing with other personal issues. 

His twin engine vessel though, had seen better days as well.   “I was operating it on only one engine for a while”, Hennessee said. 

Not the best situation for a seaman to be in, especially when the winter weather strikes. But as the savvy Midshipman put it, “No matter the circumstances, the Harbor Patrol Deputies were always there, not to write tickets, but to lend a helping hand.” 

So to show his appreciation for the times when the waters were just too tough for his boat to navigate or too rigorous for one engine to handle, Hennessee, while fighting overseas in the Middle East, flew an American Flag in honor of the Harbor Patrol.  It was his way to say thanks. “They helped out during some of the toughest times in my life,” Hennessee said.  “Without those guys and their unwavering dedication and mutual respect, who knows where I’d be today.” 

Hennessee presented the Flag to Harbormaster, Captain Deana Bergquist on August 8^th.   

“We’re honored to receive it, especially considering it’s coming from a military man who knows the ultimate meaning and responsibility of to 'protect and serve,'"  Captain Bergquist said.  

The Flag will be placed in a shadow box and put on display at the Harbor Patrol Headquarters in Newport Beach.

Many Southern Californians stopping to fill their cars with gas have, undoubtedly, seen Sheriff Carona on the fuel pump recruiting for the OC Sheriff's Department.  As the Grand Jury reported earlier this year, "In 2006, 4,414 people applied to the OCSD for a deputy sheriff position, 1,146 passed the written exam, and 118 completed the background process and were hired. Of these 118, 19 were lateral transfers from another law enforcement agency and the rest were sent to the OCSD Academy. Of the 99 sent to the OCSD Academy, 49 graduated." 

PumpTop TV was brought to us by a generous member of the Sheriff's Advisory Council. Recruiting isn't getting any easier and we are always looking for new ideas to get our message out.

An anonymous donor has offered a $15,000 reward for the safe return of Donna Jou. Jou, who lives in Rancho Santa Margarita with her mother, is an honor student at San Diego State University.  She went on a date with John Steven Burgess, AKA Sinjin Stevens, a man she met on the internet. Burgess, a convicted sex offender, picked her up on June 23rd, and took her to a party at his home in Los Angeles.  She has not been seen or heard from since.

Sheriff Carona will be joining Donna Jou's family at a vigil this evening at 5:00 PM at Rancho Santa Margarita City Hall.  Read the press release here.

Six thousand marijuana plants were removed from Wood Canyon in Aliso Viejo by Sheriff’s Deputies, Thursday morning.   The plants were discovered by air support during a routine fly-over. Deputies noticed several green patches of foliage that were unusual, given the current drought conditions.   Later, on foot, investigators confirmed the presence of two marijuana farms on the north and south sides of the canyon.   

“This drug organization figured out a way to grow their plants in spite of the ongoing dry-spell,” said Assistant Sheriff, Steve Bishop.  “They were tapping into the adjacent Home Owners Association water supply to irrigate the illegal crops.”   “Due to increased security on our borders we are seeing more and more of these home grown marijuana farms here in California,” Bishop said.    

The plants were in a very early stage of development with an estimated street value of approximately $600,000. No arrests have been made.  This case is still under investigation.

The search continues for 19-year-old, Donna Jou of Rancho Santa Margarita. John Steven Burgess, AKA, Sinjin Stevens  is a convicted sex offender who is wanted for questioning in the disappearance of Donna Jou. 

Jou was last seen at a party at Burgess' Los Angeles home on the evening of Saturday, June 23.  That same day, Burgess picked up Jou outside of her Rancho Santa Margarita home on his motorcycle, after the two met via an internet personal ad on craigslist.org.  

Burgess is believed to be driving a blue Ford Ranger pick-up truck seen here.  The black plastic flat bed tool box seen in the picture was found about a mile from Burgess' home with both of the truck's license plates, (SINJIN 1) and a motorcycle helmet.  

If you have seen Donna Jou, or have any information as to her whereabouts or any information regarding the location of John Steven Burgess, AKA Sinjin Stevens, please call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 628-7170.
 

News reports are here and here.

The FBI, The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, The Los Angeles Police Department, and The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squads, have combined 13 bomb technician divers together to form a regional “Underwater Hazardous Devices Team” known as UHDT-ONE. This team now supplements the capabilities of the many existing local public safety dive teams and significantly increases the public safety dive team’s expertise in the area of underwater explosives and improvised explosive device tactics, techniques and procedures.

Read the whole story here.   may_jun_2007_article_8.pdf (430.43 kb)