Saturday, July 06, 2013

A Typical Independence Day In The Newport/Mesa

PROMPT CMPD REPORT

The Costa Mesa Police Department issued a report late Thursday night informing us of their activities yesterday as they attempted to keep us safe - from ourselves, mostly.  Technological glitches prevented me from posting this earlier.  Since this report was delayed Lauren Williams published a report for the entire Newport/Mesa area, including the very significant police presence in Newport Beach, HERE.

INCREASED DEPLOYMENT
They deployed between 14-26 officers throughout the city, depending on the time of day, a very significant increase over normal staffing levels.

HOW THE DAY WENT FOR THEM
Here's their summary of events from 7:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. last night.

Calls For Service
224 fireworks related calls were received
40 fireworks calls were directly handled by officers dispatched to related locations
47 fight or disturbance-type calls (non-fireworks) were received and handled by officers

Arrests Made
1 drug possession arrest
1 drunk in public arrest
4 DUI arrests
1 warrant arrest
1 fireworks related arrest (refusal to sign citation)
1 "failure to register as an arsonist" arrest

I don't know about you, but that last one got my attention!  Yikes!

NO MAS!
The CMPD reminds us that, even though it was legal to discharge so-called "safe and sane" fireworks on the evenings of July 2nd, 3rd and 4th, it is NOT legal to discharge them at any time, on any other day, throughout the year.  That means tonight or the rest of this weekend.  They will be patrolling and they will bust you if they catch you.

 


HOPE YOURS WAS SAFE AND FUN
We here at A Bubbling Cauldron hope you had a great Independence Day holiday.


Labels: , ,

54 Comments:

Anonymous cant we be safe and sane said...

Can you tell the we at Bubbling Cauldron to tell Wendy that the people lighting off non legal fireworks are special Costa Means that have lived here for 3 decades and have RVs parked on the front lawn.

Or the we can blame city council.

And for all those that complain about how illegal fireworks make their pets crazy, question 4 u's . If you know it is going to happen why do you putter your pets through that?

7/06/2013 02:32:00 PM  
Anonymous Boom! said...

So let me guess..... next year when the police contract is up, Righeimer will be yapping about how much the cops make, counting the OT some of these officers were forced to work on the 4th against them.
Is that about right?

7/06/2013 02:52:00 PM  
Blogger The Pot Stirrer said...

Boom!
Yep, you've got it. But, hey, it's all about the kids, right Steve? If it was all about the kids, one of the Estancia athletic groups wouldn't have been forced to share their booth with Costa Mesa United this year.

7/06/2013 02:57:00 PM  
Anonymous Glad its over said...

No, its not about the kids. The train is about the kids.

Steve, you are at fault for this on every level. I will not forget how awful this 4th was because of your selfishness.

7/06/2013 06:50:00 PM  
Blogger kwahlf said...

"why do you putter your pets through that?"

What? Just where are our animal family members supposed to go?
They live in Costa Mesa they are residents too.
What do you suggest?

7/06/2013 07:50:00 PM  
Blogger kwahlf said...

Glad- so true!
My son loved to ride that train when he was a toddler.

7/06/2013 07:52:00 PM  
Anonymous half the park is ours said...

the train is fun but how the heck did one group get all that land? who did they know on council? and who let them plant palm trees of all things?

7/07/2013 05:45:00 AM  
Anonymous Boo ya! said...

Are we smarter than you? We don't live in Costa Mesa, yet our kids still play sports. I doubt it. We don't have to endure several days of noise, explosions, and scared pets.

7/07/2013 06:56:00 AM  
Anonymous MV said...

I guess Mensinger doesn't consider them kids until they are old enough to play Pop Warner. Toddlers get the same treatment as pets.

7/07/2013 08:55:00 AM  
Anonymous my guess is said...

MV is guessing again

7/07/2013 10:50:00 AM  
Anonymous Can't Catch Em' All said...

I'm not surprised by an arsonist not being registered in the City, it happens every day with our homeless population and it's usually a criminal sexual offender not being registered. This is happening right now in your City, but oh well says the City Council as long as it's not in the Mesa Verde area of the City.

7/07/2013 01:20:00 PM  
Anonymous snich in the midst said...

I think there should be an investigation into PD that post here.

It would be easy to figure out.

Eliminate all who are on duty, working hard to protect and serve.

Eliminate all who are at the river with other cops and fireman.

Then you would be left with a small group of suspects residing in south county gated communities.

You would not have to catch'm all, just the rogue disgruntled one that neither Irvine nor Beverly Hills would hire.

If you would just open up that contract then Wendy can make us all safer.

7/07/2013 02:07:00 PM  
Anonymous Mary Ann O'Connell said...

I thought this was the worst year ever! The fireworks started weeks in advance of the holiday and on Wednesday night it seemed I was in a war zone. Legals blended with illegals make policing virtually impossible. I did the usual, close the house, turn up music andturn on the AC, but it was cool that night so I had the to set it for the mid-60's to make it effective. I was cold, the cat was freaked and I can't wait to see what my electric bill will be.

Costa Mesa kids are smart and can figure out another way to raise money that does not disturb so many residents.

7/07/2013 03:32:00 PM  
Anonymous wolfpack said...

mary ann: how about a dunk tank with the councilwomen. that would raise a bunch and all us alpha males would dunk them on most shots. hilarious fun.

7/07/2013 05:06:00 PM  
Anonymous Wyatt Earp said...

snich in the midst....are you suggesting CMPD personnel have have less first amendment rights to free speech than does the general citizenry?

7/07/2013 05:09:00 PM  
Anonymous BootLicker said...

Time to ban all fireworks including the Safe and Sane. A ballot measure is the way to do this. It is unfortunate the illegal stuff has made this holiday a day to dread. My neighborhood is a war zone that extends to the early hours. Sadly those needing to raise funds will have to resort to old fashion bake sales and car washes instead.

7/07/2013 05:32:00 PM  
Anonymous Truthout said...

It's not about "politics" or ideology folks- it's a land grab and a power grab.

It's build build build, feed the contractors, developers, etc. who contributed.

It's litigate litigate, feed the big firms who contributed.

It's let's have fireworks 365, 24/7, so pet projects can be funded.

Truth, Justice, and the American Way died in Costa Mesa just before Huy Pham did.

7/07/2013 05:35:00 PM  
Anonymous arm of the law said...

Dear Wyatt Earp.

We are recommending that the Chief show all disgruntled boys in blue the door. It is the only way he can be successful. Only a couple more to go according to our count. Almost there

Sorry you did not make the cut with Irvine or Beverly Hills and have to come to work and be miserable.

once that contract gets opened you will regret how you chose to exercise your free speech as well that of your union bosses.

7/07/2013 09:09:00 PM  
Anonymous Authenticity said...

Can you please share with us one program from surrounding cities that has been raising anywhere in the neighborhood of what fireworks bring in for Costa Mesa groups.

Before you shoot your mouth off you need to have facts

7/07/2013 09:11:00 PM  
Anonymous Steve O'Malley said...

Troll:
"Can you please share with us one program from surrounding cities that has been raising anywhere in the neighborhood of what fireworks bring in for Costa Mesa groups."

Like some have said, it's not "about the kids," it's about the dollar.

In the Developer universe, money always takes priority over people and safety.

Let's give Mensy the power to fund his projects by selling bullets and dynamite too. Why not go all in? In later years we can add crack and meth and raise a couple BILLION!

With such a fantastic track record, maybe the Junior Developer can score a W-2 job!




7/07/2013 10:50:00 PM  
Anonymous Dam It said...

Yeah cops and firefighters, no going near the Colorado River for recreation.

The Developer and his buddies wanna build there after they're done ruining Costa Mesa.

7/07/2013 10:52:00 PM  
Anonymous Wyatt Earp said...

arm of the law.....so, the plan is to run out "disgruntled" cops and punish through contract negotiations those who stay at CMPD for exercising their free speech rights in a past election? Duly noted. That, along with Righeimer's public and private statements about taking revenge on the cops through pay cuts, should play well in front of a jury. As usual with this council majority, the citizens lose in the end.

Thanks for answering my question without actually answering. It is obvious you only support free speech when you agree with the content. What happened to the spirit of COIN?

7/07/2013 11:05:00 PM  
Anonymous CMTaxpayer is back said...

Arm of the law,
you have just convinced me that the council majority aim is to kill Democracy and Free Speech in Costa Mesa. Wishing a Happy Independence Day to you would be worthless. How about a happy threat, intimidation and dictatorship day? Does that make your jeans bulge?

Petty tyrants are far from the Republican ideal. How dare you identify your ilk with the Grand Old Party.

I have been a Taxpaying Republican resident of this City for over 40 years.
I’m no fan of unions. But even less of hypocrites like you.

You spend our money like drunken fools. You tell us you are for less government while you strive and maneuver for more and more power and control. You openly reward your cronies with fat contracts and big salary and benefit packages. When what you say and what you do contradict each other you are not Republican leaders. You are Rhinos of the first degree, you and your fake conservative friends.

7/08/2013 01:18:00 AM  
Anonymous John. Armstrong said...

"Arm of the law"... Lemme make sure I got this right: your council,pals don't intend to negotiate in "good faith" as prescribed by law? Further, they intend to target employees who were loyal to the organization irrespective of all the underlying issues and run them out?

Good to know. Perhaps you shouldn't let your ego override your intellect. You are putting the council between a rock and a hard spot should negotiations go to impasse. Keep it up bright guy.

7/08/2013 01:26:00 AM  
Anonymous Logic said...

Mary Ann, etc.

Explain how banning safe and sane will do anything to slow down the near non-stop illegal fireworks?

The only ones who can do that are CMPD, and according to them, they have higher priority calls to handle.

People all around me were setting off serious high-explosives, the kind that the ATF would throw someone in a federal pen for possessing.

7/08/2013 02:02:00 AM  
Anonymous reluctant supporter said...

Yes Mary Ann!

I live at the west bluffs area and its STILL GOING ON. This started way earlier than i noticed last year, and its still going strong! I can hear the boom- crackle signaling its an illegal one. Last night i had an interesting 30 minute display visible from my window

I usually dont mind such things, but its getting old fast. Loud, huge illegal fireworks almost directly overhead, or not more than 100 yards away. Some at 4am.
My poor dog didnt react much to the fireworks last year, it was much much quieter. Over the last two nights hes been shaking uncontrollably for a good while after it stops. Even the disney fireworks are making him edgy (completely new behavior)

Lets pray they keep them away from the burnable talbet/bluff/fairview park area. On the 4th i noticed them going off over or very near to fairview park. I saw a cop try to look for them at the end of pacific around 11:30 but he gave up very quickly (2 minutes, tops)! Maybe he wanted to go to bed. He didnt say a word to people he passed lighting legal ones well past curfew.

That being said, i dont want a few bad apples to ruin it for everybody. I love that some are legal here! Its celebrate freedom day! I love that it supports local groups and i know in a few days theyll run out. I guess the apathetic officer must have felt the same. They probably feel its not worth the energy, and i cant say i really blame them. Maybe i should invent a pair of noise cancelling earphones for pets!

7/08/2013 02:53:00 AM  
Anonymous do as we say or u r not listening said...

Mary Ann s logic falls apart as it usually does.

Newport Beach was the same issues with illegal fireworks.

In fact much of Costa Mesa buys the illegal in the garages of Newport Beach.

But that reality will not get in the way of hater logic.

Council is bad. Therefore all things that make me angry are a direct result of city council

And many of my hater crowd will agree with me and give me courage.

7/08/2013 08:57:00 AM  
Anonymous Mary Ann O'Connell said...

When there is a ban on ALL fireworks, it is easier to spot and catch those with illegal ones. The use of contraband of any kind does not completely end, because many people will always believe themselves above the law (reading some of this comment thread, some of those people post here). But it lessens the amount and it makes law enforcement's jobs easier and more effective. What I witnessed this holiday was people blending the two types of fireworks so when patrols went by, everything looked fine.

It was as if CM residents were doing the wave: the helicopters would scan, the police would follow and the use would die down until they passed and then resume. You could hear the noise rise and fall like a wave.

As for the teams earning a little less: Is that all bad? Fundraising has two results: Earning money for the team and teaching the kids about planning, selling and living with the consequences of their decisions. Perhaps a year where they miss a tournament or some new equipment will make them appreciate what they do have and the hard work it takes to earn the money that now flows so freely through these booths. It can help them think as adults.

What I saw in FaceBook comments were calls for the parents to come and man the booths, not the kids. They are learning very little from this and some feel that they are entitled to profit from this holiday. Let them start the path to adulthood now and EARN their funds through creativity, ingenuity and hard work.

My friends in Irvine have their kids sell me magazine subscriptions and other goodies, they have lots of fund raisers and the teams aren't crying poor as they gather together as a community to watch a professional fireworks display over Woodbridge Lake and return home to peaceful neighborhoods. In fact, the fireworks become more special because they are a limited experience.

7/08/2013 01:44:00 PM  
Anonymous aint got time for facts said...

All you need to do is get'm talkin and they will hang themselves with their words ...

mary ann wants kids not parents to sell fireworks. Really?

Nice play Shakespeare as they say

She wants kids to shift to selling magazines. See, when you ask them for solutions, this is what you get.

selling magazines does not come close to generating the revenue of fireworks.

You can call it quits, or we can give you more rope.

face it. There are no events that will generate similar revenue.

And when you look to Newport Beach not having the safe and sane has not come close to eliminating many big loud booms overhead in that city.

7/08/2013 02:57:00 PM  
Anonymous smells like inside information said...

Is anyone else wondering how Snitch seems to know private details about officer applications and the results of the hiring process?

Things that make you go hmmmm.

7/08/2013 03:34:00 PM  
Anonymous Damn those details... said...

Mary Ann O'Connell writes: "What I saw in FaceBook comments were calls for the parents to come and man the booths, not the kids."

Uhh...that would be because it's illegal for minors (under 18 years of age) to sell fireworks.

7/08/2013 04:06:00 PM  
Anonymous 4th of july isnt time to celebrate the nanny state said...

maryann

Its pretty simple. Illegal ones (at least the most concerning ones) soar overhead like a giant flare making huge boom sounds, legal ones crackle on the ground or make smaller poping sounds. THey are pretty darn easy to tell apart.

"My friends in Irvine have their kids sell me magazine subscriptions and other goodies"
-- UMM, those exist here too in huge numbers! How many times have i answered my door to kids working from home trying to sell me magazines/newspapers in the last 4 years, countless! I have to keep shooing them away. I find the door to door begging far more annoying than fireworks. Irvine also has higher property taxes on average (due to higher average home cost) and mello roos and such to make up the difference. You are comparing apples to oranges.

I traded living in the boring trap of irvine 4 years ago to move to costa mesa, i havent looked back (except to laugh). I smiled sooo big driving back home on the 4th after sitting in s***ty post firework show traffic seeing kids having a ball making their own fun on the streets here!

7/08/2013 05:56:00 PM  
Blogger kwahlf said...

How many here DON'T see the correlation between selling Safe and Sane fireworks and the proliferation of illegal fireworks being discharged on those sale days or before?

7/08/2013 08:12:00 PM  
Anonymous Mary Ann O'Connell said...

Ah, the kids who skipped Reading Comprehension class are all over this blog tonight.

No, I do not want kids to sell fireworks: I don't want them sold in the city at all. And the call to action to parents, not kids, is related to the statement that this type of fundraising does not/cannot teach the kids anything because their participation is so limited.

I promise to use simpler sentences and smaller words next time.

7/08/2013 10:27:00 PM  
Anonymous Rita Bentworth said...

Interesting how the rig-trolls leap up to defend the junior mayor and his fireworks projects. Maybe someone struck a nerve or got too close to something. Is it time for audits?

Who are they buying the product from? Are all revenues accounted for? Are there any contributions involved from the fireworks manufacturers?

We don't believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, or ocgop largesse.

7/08/2013 10:42:00 PM  
Anonymous Troll Tracker said...

Troll:
"selling magazines does not come close to generating the revenue of fireworks."

Oh, but previouslythe advocates said it was "about the kids." Now it's "about the revenue." Here's my shocked look.

With magazine instead of fireworks sales, the kids themselves, not their overworked parents, do the work. Plus printed magazines are a lot quieter than fireworks "magazines."

Just imagine if certain council members had read more books and magazines when they were growing up. Maybe they wouldn't be such lunkheads as adults.

7/08/2013 10:52:00 PM  
Anonymous Wyatt Earp said...

Is anyone really surprised snitch in the midst and/or arm of the law didn't respond when I called them out? So i guess in the OCGOP/Righeimer world CMPD cops are disgruntled for leaving and those remaining (ie, loyal?) will be punished in contract negotiations next year for exercising their constitutional free speech rights in 2010. Welcome to law enforcement" Costa Mesa style.

7/09/2013 04:27:00 PM  
Anonymous YOU LIKE APPLES said...

Yo Yo Wyatt. we seem to remember your union boss getting caught with his pants down. Literally. Was on TV news for all 17 million or so to see.

He met the badge bunny at a citizens academy. Stacked breaks to be with her on duty, while married. Buddies shopped at Victoria Secret while others defended him on this blog.

No one exercised their rights to call him out,

No disciplinary action occurred.

Is that the kind of department you are proud of? Neither are we.

We got our constitutional rights as well. And no we are not the jealous types just support the new sheriffs in town.

7/09/2013 10:23:00 PM  
Anonymous Wyatt Earp said...

You like apples.....ah yes, yet another political maneuver. Start slinging mud when you have no points, facts or arguments. In this case, completely avoided my initial question about free speech rights, and instead bring up the bad actions of one officer in an obvious attempt to paint every CMPD ofificer with the same brush. As for discipline, agree 100% discipline should have been applied. Unfortunately, and I know this is a recurring theme at city hall, the city failed to follow well established rules regarding imposing discipline. As with everything else, you just can't make up your own rules as you go along.

To answer your question, I am absolutely proud of this organization. I am proud of the men and women who continue to put their lives on the line everyday and who have continued to serve the residents and visitors to Costa Mesa in spite of the best efforts of Righeimer and his crew crush morale with their retribution. The level of professionalism and integrity displayed by CMPD personnel day in and day out has never wavered despite the constant negative attacks by Righeimer and his camp. You're damn right I'm proud of this organization.

Next question?

7/09/2013 11:14:00 PM  
Anonymous Them apples stink said...

YOU LIKE APPLES, Well, you couldn't make an intelligent argument on the issues, so your best shot is bring out the old irrelevant shiny object. All you got is a load of horse apples.

7/09/2013 11:28:00 PM  
Anonymous next question said...

Wyatt

Can you educate us on a whisper campaign. what is it and how do unions use it?

7/10/2013 09:16:00 AM  
Anonymous Dave M. said...

Never heard of a "whisper campaign", so I googled it. Sounds exactly like what all te detractors of the PD and police association are doing on this very page. So perhaps whoever asked that question of Wyatt ought to explain whisper campaigns to us, and explain how the council and their shills here use said tactics. Pease cite examples like the comments by "Apples" above.

And to be clear, I don't think any of the PD personnel ever defended the actions of that officer( here or elsewhere). It's indefensible and for him to answer to.

7/10/2013 10:59:00 AM  
Anonymous Wyatt Earp said...

Next question.....I have no idea what that is. Please enlighten us.

7/10/2013 11:15:00 AM  
Anonymous spin cycle said...

Look no further than today's Current for an example of a union playbook to influence public opinion in action.

"It's just a matter of resources," said Sgt. Bryan Wadkins of the Costa Mesa Police Department. "We don't have the staff we once did, so we can't document everything."

7/10/2013 02:32:00 PM  
Blogger The Pot Stirrer said...

spin cycle,

You're amazing! You're actually attempting to describe Sgt. Wadkins' statement of facts - that the CMPD doesn't have the resources it once did - as a page out of the "union playbook to influence public opinion."! You suck-ups to the current power elite in Costa Mesa must think the rest of the folks in town are just plain stupid. That's what happened with Righeimer's Charter last year - and will likely happen with the next one, too.

7/10/2013 03:25:00 PM  
Anonymous Rieckhof defenders said...

Dave M.,

Nice try, but you just don't get it.

Go read the comments defending Rieckhof, there are many:

http://abubblingcauldron.blogspot.com/2012/06/price-of-amore.html

There are MANY comments defending him and what he did and ALL are written by cops or insiders, it is clear from the language and knowledge of CMPD policies.

7/10/2013 03:27:00 PM  
Blogger The Pot Stirrer said...

Rieckhof defenders,
You misrepresent that comment thread. Many, if not most, vilify the officer for his transgression. I'm curious how you KNOW that ALL the supportive comments are written by police officers.

7/10/2013 03:37:00 PM  
Anonymous Wyatt Earp said...

Spin cycle..... I did not see The Current so I can only presume Sgt. Watkins was referring to CMPD's inability to handle certain calls with a police report due to the staffing shortages imposed by this current council majority. You remember those don't you? Where Righeimer and his camp ignored the staffing recommendations of their own $39,000 consultant(fiscal conservatism)? And the recommendations of their own police chief (btw, one of the most tenured and respected chiefs in the entire state of California)? Remember how Staveley warned the staffing levels would make CMPD a reactive department where it had traditionally been a proactive law enforcement agency? And what has happened since that time? A 15%-20% increase in crime. Hardly a coincidence.

You can always do more with less until you can only do less with less. Well guess what? CMPD can only do less with less at this point thanks to the OCGOP and the council majority.

Anything else you'd care to discuss?

7/10/2013 03:57:00 PM  
Anonymous Grandma Redondo said...

Pot Stirrer, maybe the same way they know where he applied and the outcome.

Most of the comments pro were actually written by the against, that is why they are over the top.

Whisper campaigning at it's finest!

Have you asked the chief who has access to the mans personnel files? The department may be very interested in that.

7/10/2013 04:03:00 PM  
Anonymous Code Badge Bunny said...

Here is an example of a Union boss supporter using free speech

Maybe Wyatt can tell us what a badge bunny is?

There is no policy that says an officer must notify anyone they are on a lunch break. There is a policy against break stacking, so Rieckhof probably deserved a written reprimand for that.

As for what is going on in his marriage and specifically his bedroom, quite frankly that is between him and whoever is in his bedroom. It certainly is not your business or mine, and neither of us should be the judge of him there.

But, I understand your mentality of wanting to be the bedroom police. After all, republicans have been attempting to control what people do in their bedroom and with their bodies since the beginning of time. Nothing new there.

And one final thought... last time I watched an Estancia football game I saw a whole lot of "grab ass" going on. Grab ass is everywhere.

7/10/2013 04:31:00 PM  
Anonymous Resources said...

Wyatt Earp,

We're talking about resources - which really are dollars in this case.

Interesting that you equate continuing to adhere to an unsustainable pension system and the refusal of the union to make realistic pension concessions with a lack of resources.

7/10/2013 07:47:00 PM  
Anonymous Them apples stink said...

You know. I know a lot of personal stuff about some of you poster posers, especially the most prolific poseur. Bad apples shouldn’t throw stones, or like Jesus said, Let him that is without sin throw the first rotten apple. Yeah I’m talking to you, hypocrite. Get your own mess straightened out. And watch this space for karma’s little helpers.

7/10/2013 11:37:00 PM  
Anonymous Oranges said...

Karma, huh?

What will happen to the police union members who hire a corrupt law firm and their PIs to try and entrap people and make knowingly false police reports?

7/11/2013 03:37:00 PM  
Anonymous 400 said...

oranges, nothing.

next

7/11/2013 04:25:00 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home