Coffee With A Cop And DUI Stops

ANOTHER SUCCESS...
Well, the latest installment of Coffee With A Cop was another success.  The good folks at Starbucks at 1170 Baker Street (which will soon be shuttered for renovations, according to posted signs) hosted the Costa Mesa Police Department and the good friends and neighbors who showed up for a free cup of java and conversation with a cop.

CHIEF RON LOWENBERG ATTENDED
A special treat this time was the presence of new Interim Police Chief Ron Lowenberg, who came early and stayed late and took the opportunity to meet members of the community and to swap tales from his long and illustrious career.  He made some new friends and rekindled some old ones, too.

GOOD TURNOUT
I didn't do a headcount - the number was fluid as folks came and went - but the turnout seemed to be fairly typical of previous events.  Among those officials who attended were Mesa Water Director Jim Fisler and Costa Mesa Councilwoman Katrina Foley.

SEVERAL OFFICERS PRESENT
A half-dozen officers were present for the two hours available - most off duty and serving on their own time to meet residents and answer questions.  Among them was Officer Kha Bao, our most highly decorated DUI enforcer, shown here greeting resident Mary Spadoni.

Officer Kris Cover engaged in an early recruitment effort in this image.

Captain Mark Manley shared stories with some of the regulars at this Starbucks, where they meet daily to solve the problems of the world.

Here Chief Lowenberg schmoozes with resident, and former council candidate, Tony Capitelli, resident Teri Fuqua and United Neighbors newsletter publisher Diane Hill.

DUI CHECKPOINT RESULTS
While we're talking cops, the most recent DUI/Driver's License Checkpoint last Friday night, February 13, 2015, was successful, too.  The event, which was in place at northbound Newport Boulevard at Flower Street from 8:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. showed the following results.


This activity, funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, continues to prove it's value as an effective educational tool and deterrent against drunk or impaired drivers.