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