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. 

Division Commendation
Deputy Frank Tomeo

On Friday January 9, 2009 the Field Operations Command held its’ first crime analysis meeting.  In attendance were Sheriff Hutchens, Executive Command Staff and the Field Operations Commands Division Commanders and Bureau Commanders.

In order to conduct the meeting, two lengthy synchronized presentations incorporating each of the Field Operations Commands statistical data were needed to be crafted into a Power Point presentation.  With the meeting just 24 hours away, on January 8, 2009 Deputy Frank Tomeo of the SAFE Unit was asked for assistance in developing the presentations.  He was tasked with compiling the statistical data of the five different divisions containing 26 different bureaus, units, sections or teams. 

Each command area included crime statistical data from 2007 and 2008 identifying the number of crimes and arrests as reported to the Uniform Crime Reporting Index as well as maps depicting the location of the incidents. Deputy Tomeo received information from the different areas to be presented throughout the day.  Several times he had to replace and update data that was provided earlier in the day.  He was able to complete the Power Point presentation allowing a side by side comparison of the data which facilitated questions from the Sheriff and Executive Command Staff to the Bureau Commanders in charge of the particular area. 

Deputy Tomeo realized the importance and benefit to the department this crime analysis meeting could provide.  He did not hesitate to reprioritize his assignments so as to be able to utilize his exceptional computer programming skills to the benefit of the department in creating this presentation. 

Deputy Tomeos’ presence of mind, ability to see the big picture, commitment and selfless attitude are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. 
On behalf of the Sheriff, Executive Command Staff and the Field Operations Commands you are hereby commended for your contribution and commitment to the Department. 

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

The staff of the Support Services Division makes it possible for a Department as large as ours to function in the most efficent manner possible. Some of the divisions personnel were recognized recently for the Accomplishments that make it possible for the rest of us to do our jobs the best way possible.  

Project: Microfiche Conversion

Project Manager: Carol Ann Mendoza

·         Increased staff efficiency and improved service by converting departmental crime reports and other Sheriff records (approximately 21,000,000 images) that were stored on microfilm to digital images.  These images are now available to multiple users from their desktop computers.  It is also a much better way to permanently retain the records, which are now replicated electronically to an offsite backup storage system. 

Key staff members:

o   Howard Huang

o   Ken Hong

o   Therese Morales

o   Martin Herrmann

o   Olivia Prudencio (now w/Financial)  More...

This video was featured at the Medal of Valor luncheon last Friday. The Register covered the ceremony here.

From the Orange County Register:

For more than a year the Orange County Sheriff's Department has had specially-trained deputies screening county jail inmates for immigration status. Arrestees who are determined to be in this country illegally are detained and turned over to federal immigration authorities after their criminal cases are resolved.

Out of about 68,000 arrestees who were screened between Jan. 2007 and January of this year, 4,683 were found to be illegal immigrants, or about 7 percent of all screened arrestees. (About 3,000 of them had been arrested for non-immigration-related felonies, the rest for non-immigration misdemeanors.)

Read it all right here.

The Orange County Regional Narcotics Suppression Program (RNSP) is a multi-agency task-force currently comprised of thirty-six investigators and four non-sworn support personnel from various local, state and federal agencies.  Presently the Orange County Sheriff’s Department has twenty sworn and four professional staff assigned to RNSP.  RNSP’s mission is to target, investigate and prosecute subjects involved in high-level (major) illicit drug trafficking or money laundering.  

RNSP is an initiative (task-force) in the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (LA-HIDTA).  The LA-HIDTA encompasses the four counties of Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino.  During the past five (5) years, RNSP has experienced an enormous increase in total seizures, arrests, and assets seized.  As a result, RNSP is a leading initiative in the LA-HIDTA. 

During 2007, RNSP maintained this high standard and continued to conduct significant investigations resulting in successful seizures and arrests.  RNSP’s investigators are the backbone of these investigations.  Their continued professionalism, commitment and experience are necessary for these types of intricate investigations. 

While “old fashion” police work drove RNSP, investigators were assisted by recent technological advances that have allowed RNSP to grow.  The procurement of additional equipment including cellular telephones, global positioning satellite tracking equipment, digital cameras, pole cameras that have internet transmitting capabilities, and renovation of the telephone intercept room (wire room) have greatly enhanced the program’s ability to impact the narcotic problem.

During 2007, RNSP expanded its enforcement capabilities with the purchase of a new airplane. The new plane, a Cessna 206T, which complements the existing Cessna 186, will enhance effectiveness, while enabling RNSP’s ability to readily assist other law enforcement agencies throughout the Southern California region.

The reach of RNSP is significant. During 2007, RNSP’s investigations resulted in large seizures of narcotics and assets in areas such as New York, Miami, Chicago, Detroit, Boston and Phoenix.  Locally, RNSP maintains a good working relationship with all federal, state and local agencies. 

The results of the hardworking members of RNSP this past year has been outstanding.  The resulting impact included the following:

The arrest of 109 violators
2602 pounds of marijuana seized
1300 pounds of cocaine seized
1 pound of heroin seized
74 pounds of methamphetamine seized

Proceeds from illegal narcotic trafficking totaling $13,036,964.00 were seized over the course of the year. 

The events of this week have no doubt left you with many questions and concerns. While I have had the opportunity to speak to the Board of Supervisors, the media, and many of our contract partners to offer reassurances to the public, I have not had the same opportunity to speak with many of you. Maintaining the public’s trust in the great work you do has been essential, especially in light of the media’s favorite question: “What does the future of the Sheriff’s Department look like?”

I don’t have a crystal ball, but the answer is easy. Unless our mission statement changes, we are not going to stop providing professional, responsive, and caring law enforcement services to the residents and businesses of Orange County. The future of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department is not about one single person. The future is about the over 4000 men and women who, in the midst of all of our challenges, continue to mount success after success.

As I have reiterated over the last three days, we continue to provide law enforcement services to some of the safest cities in the nation, our Forensics Science Services Division remains one of the best and most nationally recognized, and we continue to professionally operate one of the safest mega-jails in the country. Certainly we have had our challenges, but our mission remains constant and the county can rest assured of our steadfast commitment.

The next few months will be a time of great transition, and it is my goal to keep you all up to date and informed as to what is occurring both within the department and throughout the county. I sincerely appreciate your patience and professionalism as we move forward, and I know that each of you will continue to protect the county in your usual extraordinary fashion.

Another of our contract cities - we provide police services to twelve OC cities - has just been named the "Safest". This recognition comes from the FBI. Eugene W. Fields writes:

"For the second consecutive year, Rancho Santa Margarita ranked as the safest city in California among cities with a population of 20,000-100,000 residents.

According to figures recently released by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the city averaged 0.98 crimes per 100 residents in 2006. Rancho Santa Margarita was the only city in that population range to average less than one crime per 100 residents.

[...]

Lt. Chuck Wilmot, chief of police services, said the numbers had as much to do with the community as the policing of it.

"There's a lot that goes into those statistics. We're a relatively new city and we're relatively far away from the freeways," Wilmot said. "And a lot of it has to do with the city council being very public safety-orientated."

This news comes after the City of Mission Viejo was named the safest in the nation. We think Santa would agree. 

Read about RSM's recognition right here.

From Assemblyman Todd Spitzer's letter: 

"I want to extend my sincerest congratulations to the City of Mission Viejo and to Mission Viejo Police Services for receiving the distinction as the Safest City in the Nation by the CQ Press.  This distinguished honor is a testament to your leadership within the department and your commitment to public safety. 

I am honored and proud that Mission Viejo has consistently ranked among the top ten safest cities in the nation since the inception of the Safest City and Metropolitan Area Awards 14 years ago.  Your officers are to be commended for their dedication to protecting citizens, enforcing laws, and preventing crimes.  I applaud your diligent efforts in preserving the standard of safety our community has come to pride itself on. 

Again, congratulations on this extraordinary distinction.  It is well deserved. 

Sincerely,  

Todd Spitzer
Assemblymember, 71st District"

Director Dean Gialamas talked with KUCI's Mari Frank last week. The interview's below. For more information on DNA and Forensic Services, click right here.

The City of Mission Viejo, one of the Orange County Sheriff's Department twelve contract cities, was given the top ranking by Congressional Quarterly.

From Congressional Quarterly news release: 

"Washington, D.C., November 19, 2007: Mission Viejo, California—a top-ten safest city since the inception of the Safest City and Metropolitan Area Awards—reigns for the first time as the United States’ safest city.

[…]

Mission Viejo experienced no murders in 2006, had the nation’s lowest rape statistics, and boasted the third-lowest rates of aggravated assault, violent crime, and property crime among cities with populations of 75,000 or more. Joining Mission Viejo among the safest city ranks are Clarkston, New York; Brick Township, New Jersey; Amherst, New York; and Sugar Land, Texas."

Beyond crime stats, of course, is the perception of the residents, businesses and visitors we serve. "How do they feel," is usually what the media wants to know. Here are the results of our 2005 Resident Opinion Survey.

From January 19 to October 28, Orange County Sheriff’s Department Jail Deputies interviewed 5,382 foreign nationals booked into Orange County jails, detaining 3,766 individuals for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Among those detained, 226 were being held for aggravated felonies, 2,375 for felonies, 1,391 for misdemeanors and 231 affiliated with gangs.

From January 1 to October 28, a total of 56,876 individuals were booked into Orange County Jails.

This past Wednesday, Lt. Roland Chacon discussed our cross-designation program with KUCI 88.9's Mari Frank. Here's the interview:

The Register's Gordon Dillow writes, Net scams still net too many:

"Nancy, 77, is relatively new to the Internet – this may shock younger readers, but some people are just learning how to use a computer – and she hadn't seen any of these e-mail come-ons until recently. Nancy's too sharp to be a sucker herself, but she asked me to warn people.

"I'm sure there are people out there who would fall for it," she said.

And sadly, she's right. There are people – the uninitiated, unsophisticated, the confused, the gullible, the greedy – who do get suckered into these scams.

"Unfortunately, people are still falling for it," says Sgt. Tim Moy of the Orange County sheriff's Economic Crimes/Computer Crimes unit. His office gets about a dozen calls a month about such Internet scams – and he figures that only a small percentage of victims report them, because they're too embarrassed to tell police or even their own families that they were taken for chumps."

On October 3rd, Sheriff Carona sat down with Channel 6 in Laguna Woods to discuss crimes against the elderly, focusing on economic crimes and fraud. Laguna Woods is the safest city in Orange County. It is also one of the safest cities in the state and the nation.

• The Orange County Sheriff’s Department continues to partner with the City of Laguna Woods and its residents and businesses to maintain this level of safety.

• While the crime rate remains low, instances of fraud have increased dramatically at the city, county, state, and national level.

• Much of the increase in reported fraud within Laguna Woods is due to public education and awareness.  The public is less hesitant or embarrassed to report fraud than it has been in the past.

Here's the video:

From January 19 to August 26, Orange County Sheriff’s Department Jail Deputies interviewed 4,598 foreign nationals booked into Orange County jails, detaining 3,147 individuals for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Among those detained, 202 were being held for aggravated felonies, 1,988 for felonies, 1,159 for misdemeanors and 195 affiliated with gangs.

From January 1 to August 26, a total of 45,864 individuals were booked into Orange County Jails.

For more on our Cross-Designation Program, click here.

Sheriff Carona is presenting a review of our DNA programs to the Board of Supervisors this morning. Here's the presentation. 

The Orange County Crime Lab is nationally recognized as a leader in facilitating the use of DNA technology to solve crime. The Orange County Sheriff's Department was the first law enforcement agency in the Western United States to incorporate DNA using public-private partnerships back in 1989.

Other highlights:

nIn May 2006, became and continues to be the number one DNA hit producing local crime lab in California

• n20% of all DNA hits in California originate from the OCSD crime lab
• In September 2006, OCSD set a new state record of 22 DNA hits on a single day

• nWe are on target to see 1000 DNA hits per year by 2009

Over the last four years, the crime lab has been leading the nation in the application of DNA testing to high volume crimes, such as Residential & Commercial Burglaries and Robberies

• OCSD lab leads the nation in successful DNA recovery from touch / trace DNA samples 
•  60-70% of all DNA hits are from DNA samples recovered from burglaries and robberies

Orange County’s cost per case was the lowest of all participating agencies and more cost-effective than outsourcing

• OC Crime lab cost per case:           $395.57
• Next lowest agency cost:                $620.83
• Agency using outsourcing:              $960.91

Example: A particular investigation requires three DNA samples. Orange County Sheriff's cost would be $395.57 for this case (and for all cases). The District Attorney has a cost of $450.00 per sample; therefore, the cost for this case would be $1,350.

Beneath the headline: War zones are safer than some cities as assaults, robberies and murders sweep the world.

From the LA Times piece: The world is experiencing a crime pandemic. Crime rates are on the rise almost everywhere, and these crime statistics typically are distinct from the death and mayhem that comes with terrorism, civil war or major conflict. The data reflect the booming number of civilians assaulted, robbed or murdered by other civilians who live in the same city, often in the same neighborhood. Frequently, the victims are as poor as the criminals.
 

It's easy to take for granted the fact that we live in one of the safest places in the nation.  Click here for the latest on Orange County Sheriff crime stats.