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All OCSD Employees, Family and Friends;
On Wednesday January 27, 2010 from 7AM to 7PM, The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be participating in the 4th Annual “BATTLE of the BADGES” Blood Drive.
The Battle of the Badges Blood Drive will run for two weeks from Tuesday January 19th to Tuesday February 2nd 2010, as Police and Fire Departments throughout Southern California compete in a friendly competition to see which Badge Carrying Personnel, Family and Friends can donate the most blood and ultimately save the most lives.
So please join us and help save a life, and help Law Enforcement collect and donate the most blood. Last year we finished in 2nd Place behind Riverside Police Department for Donations collected (94 to 107), with your help again, we will exceed that amount.
To see the Battle of the Badges poster click: BATTLE OF BADGES POSTER 2010a.pdf (86.94 kb)
To sign up directly, please send an email to Deputy Vincent at cdvincent@ocsd.org
Systems Senior Developer Consultant Ramin Aminloo
Systems Consultant Ramin Aminloo attended the Blackberry Developer Conference in San Francisco this month. Ramin gave a presentation on the use of the Blackberry in the Department's highly successful Tracking Automated Graffiti Reporting System. TAGRS has won numerous honors, including a prestigious Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties.
To listen to the presentation click the icon below:
Crime Survivors, Inc has donated bags packed with essential items to help Deputies assist residents and their families recover after a crime.
From the Crime Survivors Website
WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
Crime Survivors is committed to serving our community by being an advocate and resource for crime victims and their families. If you don’t know where to turn, or are confused or frustrated with the public services that are available to you as you recover or seek justice, Crime Survivors can help. Our web site will provide information, resources and tools that will help you become a “Survivor”.
For more about Crime Survivors click here and go to their Website.
To see a video on the organization turning over the bundles click the icon below.
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Air Force Reserve Master Sergeant Katrina Faulkner, left, photographed in Afghanistan, has since returned to Department's Emergency Management Bureau.
Veterans Day has long had a special meaning for those who serve in the Orange County Sheriff's Department. Again this year many of our colleagues are currently on active duty with the military and facing combat. So far this year, 39 members of the Department have served on active duty with the military. They include one Data Entry Technician, 15 Deputy Sheriff I's, six Deputy Sheriff II's, one Forensic Scientist, one Investigator, one Marine Mechanic, two Senior Emergency Management Coordinators, one Senior Institutional Cook, one Sergeant, three Sheriff's Special Officers I, and six Sheriff's Special Officers II.
Recent overseas assignments have included such hotspots as Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.
One of the best moments we can all experience is when one of our co-workers returns from duty in a combat zone.
One of the most recent to return is Senior Emergency Management Program Coordinator Katrina Faulkner.
In her words:
"In April 2009, Katrina’s unit was activated and stationed at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan. Katrina completed a successful tour and returned September 2009. While serving with the 455th APS in Bagram, Katrina was promoted to the rank of Master Sergeant and also received group level recognition for her outstanding attitude by receiving the Start Right Award."
We can all be proud of her and the other 38 who have served on active duty with the military.
We can do more than be proud, we can try to help their tour of duty be more pleasant. More...
Deputy Lance Christensen, second from left, at award's presentation with proud supervisors
To view the Blog story on Deputy Christensen named as California School Resource of the Year for 2009 click here.
Deputy Curtis Vincent
To hear the Public Service Annoucement click the icon below.
U.S. Representative Gary G. Miller has presented Rancho Santa Margarita Police Services Sergeant Matthew Barr and Deputies Jack Ackerman, Jason Finley and Richard Oates with a “Certificate of Congressional Recognition” in honor of their outstanding service to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The certificate read in part: “Your effort to serve and protect the community provides a vital public service. The hard work and dedication that you exhibit is an invaluable asset to public safety. Thank you for your law enforcement service.”
The award stems from a private meeting that Congressman Miller, who represents the 42nd Congressional District, was to have at a local cable television facility.Word of the meeting was leaked on the Internet and several advocacy groups geared up to use the meeting to further their causes and possibly draw far more people and protestors to the event than the facility could accommodate.
The deputies worked closely with Lieutenant Bill Griffin, Sergeant Lisa Von Nordheim and Investigator Robert Taft to ensure that the event took place peacefully and without interfering with public access to the facility. Those individuals were also commended by Congressman Miller.The Department strives to protect the First Amendment Rights of all and in this case Department personnel were able to successfully balance that responsibility and allow all concerns and issues to be expressed peacefully.
FROM COWBOYS TO CRIME LABS: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE
ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT
By Sergeant John Hollenbeck
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department came into existence on August 1, 1889, when a proclamation of the state legislature separated the southern portion of Los Angeles County and created Orange County. The entire department consisted of Sheriff Richard Harris and Deputy James Buckley, with an operating budget of $1,200 a year and a makeshift jail in the rented basement of a store in Santa Ana. They served a sparsely populated county of 13,000 residents, scattered throughout isolated townships and settlements. The problems faced by the first sheriff were typical for a frontier county – tracking down outlaws, controlling vagrancy, and attempting to maintain law and order across 782 square miles of farmland and undeveloped territory.
Sheriff Theo Lacy, circa 1890s
But the county was expanding, and the department grew with it. The Spurgeon Square Jail was opened by Sheriff Joe Nichols in 1897, and the Orange County Courthouse followed in 1901. Sheriff Theo Lacy (the second and fourth sheriff of Orange County, who served from 1890-1894 and 1899-1911) was able to move from borrowed office space in Santa Ana to a dedicated headquarters in the courthouse that remained in operation until 1924.
When he took office in 1911, Sheriff Charles Ruddock commanded a staff of eight full-time deputies and jailers, serving a county of nearly 34,000 citizens. But the county’s frontier past returned to haunt it on December 16, 1912, when Undersheriff Robert Squires became the first member of the department to be killed in the line of duty while part of a posse attempting to apprehend a violent fugitive. More...
With the recent retirement of the two former K-9 teams at John Wayne Airport (JWA), three newly certified Explosives Detection Canine Teams have begun to serve on the front lines of security at JWA. Each team is trained to quickly locate and identify dangerous materials that may present a threat to transportation systems. The work of the K-9 teams has evolved to include searches during bomb threats associated with aircraft, airport terminals, vehicles, luggage, and cargo, as well as serving as general deterrents to criminal activity.
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens joins JWA Director Alan L. Murphy, rear left, and TSA Federal SecurityDirector B.C. Bell in welcoming the new dogs to airport security team
Photos by Sheriff's Photographer Jerry Manson
Left to right; Deputy Len Letze with "Goldy"; Deputy Dave Ray with "Cyril" and Deputy Lynn Ridenour with "Rico"
To see the Orange County Register report and photo display on the arrival of the new K-9 teams, click here.
To see the Daily Pilot story, click here.
Director Dean Gialamas accepts Vital Link award for Department
The Orange County Sheriff's Department has been selected as Career Outreach Partner of the Year by Vital Link. Vital Link is an organization working to maintain a link between businesses and educators in an effort to prepare students for the successful transition to meaningful employment. As a catalyst for systemic change, Vital Link is committed to making high school an integral component in the career development process for students.
This summer, Vital Link sent several teachers/counselors for a tour of the Department's Crime Lab.
For more information on Vital Link, click here.
The "Orange County Lawmen" Police Football Team is looking for a few good football players.
The Orange County Lawmen Football Team plays full contact football games to raise money for charity.
The Lawmen give scholarships to graduating high school athletes to assist them with their college career.
The 2010 season will start in just a couple of months. The plans for this season are to travel to Columbus, Ohio.
The practices are held on Saturday mornings at 0800 hours (to accommodatethe players working graveyard shift). Non-mandatory practices for skillplayers will start in January 2010 with full practice beginning in February.
Playing on the Orange County Lawmen Football Team is a fun and rewarding experience. You have the opportunity to meet and work with lawenforcement personnel from all over Orange County. You also get to meetand befriend cops and firefighters from all over the country.
Anybody interested in playing or assisting with the off field events, Lawmen team meeting is Saturday November 7th at 11am.
It will be at the HB POA Office located at 18211 Prodan HB.
Any interested players are encouraged to attend. For more information please call 714-608-5936
Photo courtesy of Orange County Register photographer Michael Goulding
Many people turn away at the sight of Manny, the newest training device at the Coroner's office. The life-like mannequin was created by a studio that works for television and the movies. The mannequin is designed to bring realism to the lessons taught Coroner's investigators from around the state who train at the Department's facility in Santa Ana.
The Orange County Register and KCBS did news features on Manny.
To view the Register's story, click here.
To view the KCBS broadcast clike the icon below.
Register Reporter Larry Welborn, who started his career at the paper when James Musick was Sheriff, is seeking to identify the 10 most notorious crimes in the county. To make up the list he is featuring 50 notorious crimes, one each day, on his Blog in the Register.
Silent film star Bebe Daniels is entertained while serving 10-day sentence at Orange County Jail in 1921 for speeding
He will be seeking input from readers and nominations of crimes he has overlooked.
He started the series this week and the first three cases he profiles all have a link to the Sheriff's Department. The cases so far include the 1892 lynching of jail inmate Francisco Torres, the 1920 apprehension of serial killer Mose Gibson, who was brought back to Orange County from Arizona by a team of Sheriff's Deputies, and the incarceration in the county jail of silent film star Bebe Daniels, sentenced for speeding in 1921. Her case appears to have been the most celebrated car chase in the county until OJ Simpson passed through in a Ford Bronco in 1994.
To see the story click here.
November 4, 2009 13:56 by Admin
Over 300 county employees, including members of every Division in the Sheriff’s Department, helped win high praise in preliminary reports by federal evaluators of the recent SONGS Plume Phase Exercise, Sheriff’s Emergency Operations Bureau Manager Donna Boston told the Orange County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is the lead agency in County-wide emergency planning and preparedness. This is done through the Homeland Security Division, Emergency Management Bureau (EMB). Within the EMB there exists a team of highly trained emergency planners and coordinators who work to ensure the County develops effective emergency plans and is able to respond to any imaginable catastrophic event. Among those hazards that the team plans for is an emergency at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, commonly referred to as SONGS.
The County is mandated by federal and state regulations to manage a nuclear preparedness program, and part of that is to participate in evaluated exercises. On September 23, 2009, the Sheriff’s Department hosted one of these evaluated exercises: The 2009 SONGS Plume Phase Exercise.
Preparation for this exercise included countless training sessions, a fully staffed dress rehearsal, major event preparations, and the involvement of every division of OCSD.
On the day of the graded exercise, Sheriff Hutchens, as Director of Emergency Services led the Emergency Operations Center to a successful final exercise grade. At the conclusion of the emergency exercise, Federal Emergency Management Agency evaluators candidly stated that the “OC EOC rocked.” Evaluators were extremely impressed with the EOC’s ability to make decisions, implement protective actions for the public and inform the public through media relations and hotline operators. The final report for the SONGS Exercise captures the dedication to excellence which exists in the County and the Sheriff’s Department.
The EMB staff who energized the entire EOC included Sara Kaminske, Vicki Osborn, Peggy Erdner, Donna Mayer, Raymond Cheung, Janell Harriman, Katrina Faulkner, Michelle Anderson, Luis Ramirez, Michelle Prieto and Mellisa Chorn. It is through their attention to detail and willingness to push past challenges and reach for solutions that the EOC has become a national model for nuclear preparedness.
On Saturday, October 24, 2009 the Westminster Police Department’s Police Officers Association hosted a bike race called the “ Haunted Ride”.
The ride was to raise money for their memorial fund. Five teams entered this inaugural event in hopes of bringing home the first place trophy.
This was a five person team event with a relay-type format. This marathon ride went from Midnight to 8:00AM with each team member taking a turn on the course that traversed along the Westminster Mall access road.
At the end of the night the team that had ridden the most laps won.
The Sheriff’s Department’s team was made up of Sgt. Ben Stripe ( North Operations), Deputy Kevin Lapyrne ( North Operations) Deputy Stu Thomsen ( North Operations) Sgt. Stu Rawlings (South Operations) and Deputy Jim Nasser (Central Jail Complex) .
OCSD took home the first place trophy for their efforts.
More importantly, their efforts assisted the Westminster Police Department’s Peace Officer Association in raising money for its Memorial Fund.
The Class 191 Guidon bears this motto:
“Never Afraid, First to Attack, Nothing Can Break the Strength of the Pack”
Photos by Professional Services Responder Randy Frager
The 17 graduates included seven from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, four from the Santa Monica Police Department, two from the Newport Beach Police Department, and one each from the Irvine Police Department, the Vernon Police Department, Santa Ana College and the U.S. Navy.
“As we go forth in our careers we will strive to be the best, as you have taught us. We will never go down without a fight because of the training that you and the other county instructors have provided us,” said Class President Kevin McInerney, a Santa Monica Police Officer.
The class training began on May 18 and since then seven class members dropped out.
“The unprepared, the unfit for duty and the weak are no longer here. Recruits who will graduate this evening deserve to be here, you have made sure of that,” said Officer McInerney. More...
Project 999, which supports the survivors of Peace Officers killed in the line of duty, is sponsoring a comedy benefit at Original Mike's on November 7.
To see the front of their flyer click: COMEDY FIESTA FLYER FRONT FINALa.pdf (223.71 kb)
For the back of the flyer click: COMEDY FIESTA FLYER BACK FINAL.pdf (449.66 kb)
Here are some videos of the scheduled performers:
Photographs by Audio Visual Specialist Robert Smith
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens congratulates Deputy Kevin Spellerberg, left, and Deputy Coroner Kelly Ralph on their Heroes with Hearts Awards
Deputy Kevin Spellerberg and Deputy Coroner Kelly Ralph of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department were nominated for Heroes with Hearts Awards by Trauma Intervention Programs, Inc. volunteers Renee Lutz and Cindy Gosting.
In May of 2009 an elderly woman was found dead in her backyard by her son. Because of the circumstances of the death, family members had many questions about what happened to their mother.
Two TIP volunteers responded to the scene where they worked alongside Deputy Kevin Spellerberg and Deputy Coroner Kelly Ralph. According to the TIP volunteers, both Deputy Spellerberg and Deputy Coroner Ralph were exceptionally compassionate with the distraught family members. They spent time answering all the family members’ questions and were very available to them throughout the afternoon.
Deputy Coroner Ralph allowed the son of the deceased to be with her when she examined his deceased mother. This was very important to the son.
Family members complimented both the Deputy and the Deputy Coroner on a number of occasions. Following are direct quotes from Renee Lutz and Cindy Gosting, the TIP volunteers who nominated Deputy Spellerberg and Deputy Coroner Ralph:
• “Deputy Coroner Ralph has a lovely demeanor and is very kind.”
• “Deputy Spellerberg was very respectful and kind and takes his job very seriously.”
• “I have been on other calls with both of these individuals and they always show caring and compassion.”
For their compassionate care of citizens in crisis, Trauma Intervention Programs of Orange County is pleased to present Deputy Kevin Spellerberg and Deputy Coroner Kelly Ralph with the 2009 Heroes with Heart Awards.
For visit the Website of the Trauma Intervention Programs, Inc Orange County Chapter click here.
The Exchange Club of San Clemente recently held their awards luncheon and honored three members of the Department for good work.
Those honored were Deputy Rod Valdez, Senior Volunteer Bill Waibel and Investigative Assistant Karen Huggins. Included are the remarks given when they received their awards.
DEPUTY OF THE YEAR
Deputy Rod Valdez
Deputy Rod Valdez was hired by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in August of 1986 as a deputy sheriff where he was assigned to the jails.
In 1994, Rod transferred to the contract city of San Clemente where he has spent the past 15 years.
He spent three years as a motor officer working traffic in San Clemente, during which time he was struck while on the motorcycle in two separate collisions – neither was his fault, but after the second accident he decided to not tempt fate and returned to driving a black and white patrol vehicle. More...
Deputy Christensen, left, gives a presentation to the National School Resource Officers Association in 2008.
The California School Resource Officer's Association has named Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Lance Christensen it's SRO of the year. Earlier this year he was named a runner-up for School Resource Officer of the Year by the National School Resource Officer's Assocation.
Deputy Christensen will receive the state organization honor on Wednesday during the organizaton's annual conference being held this year in San Diego.
His nomination by Tesoro High School said in part:
"Deputy Christensen guides students toward making better, informed choices and he checks in on them often. He works at building long-lasting relationships with students, rather than simply doling out consequences and moving on to the next case. His strong rapport and relationships with students have impacted students to confide in him when otherwise they might not, and either would have made destructive decisions or ignored when their peers have. Deputy Christensen demonstrates the "critical friend" model without asking students to be critical friends. Under this non-judgmental guidance, students are drawn from an inner sense of responsibility regarding their friend's choices as well as their own. This phenomenon has thwarted many negative outcomes."
The CSROA describes itself this way on it's Website:
The CSROA is comprised of dedicated peace officers and educators of California who readily commit their experiences, efforts, and knowledge to achieve the common goal of providing all California schools with a safe and healthy learning environment. Members of the CSROA serve California’s schools statewide, participating in various community-based prevention efforts and convene with a number of committees dedicated to recognizing the potential in today’s youth.
To view the Employee Spotlight feature on Deputy Christensen run on the Blog previously click here.
To learn more about the organization click here.
Deputy Christensen has been featured in the Deparment Blog several times. Click here to see some of his contributions to the Department's mission.
To view his nomination by Tesoro High School click: ChristensenCSROAOfficer2009Nomination2.pdf (115.42 kb)
Project 999, which helps support the survivors of peace officers killed in the line of duty, is one of the Orange County charities that benefit from United Way contributions.
To learn about Project 999 click here.
To learn more about the United Way of Orange County click here.
To view Sheriff Hutchens' Public Service Announcement click the icon below.
More than 70% of potential organ and tissue donor cases recovered by OneLegacy are, at one point, coroner’s cases. It is only after a forensic investigator gives clearance that the donation process can proceed. This special relationship between the two agencies can be summarized by the title of the mural: “Working Together to Save Lives.” To show appreciation to the men and women of the Department's Coroner's Division, OneLegacy has donated a mural painted in the Coroner's facility.
“Working Together to Save Lives” is the newly completed mural located in the Orange County Coroner Division facility. The mural celebrates the special collaboration between the Department and OneLegacy, the organ and tissue recovery organization serving the seven-county greater Los Angeles area.
Among those at the presentation were Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, Chief Deputy Coroner Jacque Brendt, officials of OneLegacy and a couple of special ladies.
The mural captures the first time that Amber Vargas listened to her mother’s heart beat in the chest of the Karen Athey, whose life was saved by the organ donation. Both Amber and Karen were present.
The presentation of the mural was covered by both the Orange County Register and KCAL.
Click here to view the Register report.
Click the icon to view the KCAL report.
More than four thousand people joined the 21st Annual Walk Against Drugs and 2nd Annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo on Saturday in the City of Mission Viejo.
The Sheriff’s Department and local schools have long played a leading role in bringing local businesses, schools, parents and students together with law enforcement to fight against drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse.
This was the kick-off event for National Red Ribbon Week for Orange County. The event included a rally at Mission Viejo High School Stadium at which Sheriff Sandra Hutchens introduced Jennifer Smart, a young broadcast personality who was featured at the rally.
The crowd, all wearing red, then walked down La Paz Rd, through the Oso Creek Trail. The one and a half mile walk ended at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center where the community was invited to a fair and Emergency Preparedness Expo.The fair along the Village Green featured music, food, game booths, crafts, inflatables as well as vehicle displays by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Orange County Fire Authority. The Expo also featured emergency preparedness booths with informative, interactive displays to educate residents about how to adequately prepare for a large-scale disaster and showcase the resources available during disaster responses.
For more pictures click More...
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