DUI Checkpoint Friday Night

A CHANGE IN POLICY?

For the first time in years the Costa Mesa Police Department told us where and when a DUI Checkpoint will be conducted!  In the recent past they've chosen to announce the date and time of the  checkpoints, but didn't tell us where they would be located, waiting to snatch up transgressors.

 BEAR AND BAKER...
The press release about this checkpoint is shown below.  Click on the image to read it more easily.  The event will be held at Bear and Baker Streets starting at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 15th and will continue until 2:00 a.m. Saturday, April 16th.  You've been warned!

It's Time...

A MESSAGE FROM THE CMPA
The Costa Mesa Police Association posted a message on its web site, HERE, on Monday.

SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION THURSDAY
On Thursday, October 29, 2015, three members of the Costa Mesa City Council - Katrina Foley, Sandra Genis and Gary Monahan - are scheduled to meet in a special closed session to discuss the negotiations with the Costa Mesa Police Association toward a new contract.  On that date the men and women of the CMPA will have been working without a contract for 486 days!

LONG HOURS...
And when I say "working" I mean exactly that!  They work long, long hours - overtime, away from their families and friends - to keep us safe.  And, of course, there will be criticism from certain elected leaders and their sycophants because these men and women MUST work long hours to try to get the job done.

NEW LEADERSHIP
During that time they've seen their highly-respected police chief, Tom Gazsi, depart for a new job and one of their own - Rob Sharpnack - take his place.  He's a fine guy, enthusiastic and full of good ideas... but....

THE BLEEDING CONTINUES
They've seen the continuation of the hemorrhaging of experienced police officers to other jurisdictions or into retirement years earlier than anticipated.

THE VINDICTIVE LAWSUIT CONTINUES
They've seen the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem continue their bogus lawsuit against the men and women of the CMPA.  They've seen their stubborn, vindictive unwillingness to even consider a proper staffing number.  They are either completely clueless about what it takes to effectively police this city - or they just don't care.  All the while, crime is on the rise and things continue to get worse.

IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT
But you cannot blame that on the men and women of the CMPA - those souls who have sworn to protect and serve us despite all that adversity. 

IT'S TIME FOR A NEW CONTRACT
It's well past time for our elected leaders to negotiate a new contract for the CMPA in good faith.  It's time for them to pull together to resolve the issues and get it done.  Without a contract it is difficult to attract new officers - we've still got more than 20 open positions - and more are coming.

IT'S TIME...

A Great Way To Start The Day!

COSTA MESA POLICE DEPARTMENT PROMOTIONS
This morning I joined many others in a packed City Council chambers for the promotion ceremony for three of the Costa Mesa Police Department's finest.  Bryan Glass was promoted to Captain.  Joyce LaPointe was promoted to Lieutenant - the first woman ever to rise to that rank in the CMPD.  Dan Miles was promoted to Sergeant.  Read the City-issued press release with biographies HERE.

PRESENTATION OF THE COLORS
In a room full of family, friends and other dignitaries, Sergeant Clint Dieball ran the show.  The proceedings began with the Presentation of the Colors by the CMPD Honor Guard.

INVOCATIONS
Chaplains Johnson and Decker then presented separate invocations.

A PROUD CHIEF
Chief Rob Sharpnack stepped to the podium and addressed the audience and those being promoted, his words obviously filled with pride.  He spoke about the future of the CMPD and the quality of the men and women serving in his organization.  It was clear that he viewed these three promotions as very significant in the history of the department and a great stride into what he plans to be an outstanding future, where the department will return to it's once-lofty place among the best departments in the country.

SERGEANT MILES
First up was Sergeant Dan Miles. who was pinned by his father, a retired police officer.

LIEUTENANT LAPOINTE
Then came Lieutenant Joyce LaPointe, who was pinned by her partner, Linzi.

CAPTAIN GLASS
And then came Captain Bryan Glass, who was pinned by his wife, Irene.

ONWARD AND UPWARD
Glass then spoke for the three of them, addressing the challenges that are ahead and how proud they all are to be part of the Costa Mesa Police Department.

FAMILIAR FACES
Representatives from other police jurisdictions were in the room to help mark this day as well as many old familiar faces from the CMPD family.  Former Chief Dave Snowden and former Interim Chief Ron Lowenberg attended.

ELECTED LEADERS AND CITY STAFF
Mayor Steve Mensinger and Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer attended, as did CEO Tom Hatch and Assistant CEO Rick Francis and many other city staffers.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
So, the future is bright for the Costa Mesa Police Department.  The City Council has budgeted for new equipment and we are beginning to hire more officers and, according to all reports, we're getting the cream of the crop.  That's all good news because we need more and we need the best because of all the challenges facing the department in the near term.  Specialty units will begin to be staffed once again, which offers encouragement to all the members of the CMPD.  Chief Sharpnack has aggressive, forward-thinking plans which will soon begin to bear fruit.  Kudos to all the men and women of the Costa Mesa Police Department.

CMPD Bike Cops Are Back!

BIKE PATROLS RETURN!
The Costa Mesa Police Department has re-instituted bicycle patrols in the city in response to a recent uptick in drug sales and criminal activity in the city's parks, according to the press release issued yesterday, HERE.  Take a minute to read that lengthy bit of information.

GOOD NEWS
This is great news for the residents, business owners and visitors to our city.  Crime is on the rise and this VERY visible presence will go a long way to reversing that trend.  Kudos to Chief Rob Sharpnack, Captain Mark Manley and the command staff for this bit of good news... we need it.

SORRY... COULDN'T RESIST
I was interested in one statement made in the press release that mentions the bike patrols are quieter and easier to maneuver.  I smiled and thought to myself maybe we should use clothes pins (remember those... anyone...?) to stick playing cards in the spokes to make it easier for miscreants to know the cops are coming.  Sorry... sometimes that's how this old mind works.

LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE...
Anyhow, this is very good news for us all and we hope to see this kind of creative approach to policing expanded in our city as staffing levels permit.  Presently we are still way, way, way below authorized strength and that is based on the bogus number forced on the CMPD by the mayor and mayor pro tem.

Chief Dave Snowden Calls It A Career

SNOWDEN RETIRES JUNE 13, 2015 

By the time most of you read this it will already be Saturday, June 13, 2015 and our great friend, Dave Snowden, will offically be retired as the Chief of Police for the Beverly Hills Police Department, ending - to the precise day - a 49-year law enforcement career.  He hoped to stick it out to a nice round "50", but life intervened and his recent back surgery accelerated his decision.

HIS GOOD-BYE LETTER
With his permission, I've posted the letter he wrote earlier today on Facebook describing his career and his feelings upon retirement.  Please take a minute to read it.

Tomorrow, June 13th, I will be retired. 49 years to the day from when I was sworn in as a police officer in my home town of Montebello. I wanted to make it an even 50 years, but my doctor had a different opinion after my recent back surgery. Well, I have had quite a run, having served with four great agencies (Montebello-1966-1977, Baldwin Park-1977-1986, Costa Mesa-1986-2003 and Beverly Hills-2004-2015). I was first appointed chief (Baldwin Park) on November 1, 1980. 

All of this time my beautiful wife Ellyn has been by my side and supported both me and the communities we have served. I met her when I was, an officer in Montebello, which is also Ellyn's home town, 44 years ago. Ellyn is amazing and has received volunteer awards every year for her work with various causes in BH. 

I wish we could do it all to do over again. 

I have served with the finest and most dedicated people in the business during my career. I feel very proud of the great protection we have provided to the communities in which I have been privileged to serve. I am also proud to have watched many people that I have hired over the years succeed in their careers.. Some have even become chiefs themselves. I salute them all and thank them for their service.

Sadly and most regrettably, I have lost three great officers in the line of duty on my watch: Dave Ketchum, Mike Libolt and Gabe Coyoca. They will never be forgotten and I think of their sacrifice daily. I am proud to say I hired Gabe twice. First at CMPD and later BHPD.

I am very proud of BHPD. Among so many accomplishments, we have the lowest crime rate in the region, a consistent response time for the past 11 years of under 3 minutes and some of the best technology available is now operational. All of this in a city with 127 sworn officers and daily population estimated at 295,000. BHPD does a fantastic job of keeping our city safe!

There will be a City Council recognition for me Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM at the Beverly Hills City Hall and a retirement party is being planned for early August. I hope to see you all there. More info to follow.

Thank you for your support and your friendship.
God bless.

FORWARD-THINKING LEADERSHIP

During his tenure as Chief of Police for Costa Mesa Dave was an extremely effective leader.  Many of the men and women he hired are still with the department and form the solid core of the organization.  He took the organization that Roger Neth, shown here with Dave and former Chief Tom Gazsi, built with such care and expanded and refined it and helped make it one of the premiere law enforcement organizations in the state.  For that, the residents of this city should be eternally thankful. 

THANKS, AND GOOD LUCK
I, personally, want to thank Dave Snowden, not only for his dedication to my city and his steadfast leadership, but also for his friendship and wisdom.  I value his patient encouragement and his enthusiastic support.   Our friend will now ride off into the sunset.  Well, maybe "hobble into the sunset" is a more accurate term, until he fully recovers from his back situation.  Susie and I wish Dave and Ellyn the very best in his retirement.  Happy Trails, my friend....

 

It's Almost Party Time!

FAIRGROUNDS OPEN HOUSE
The staff of the Orange County Fair and Event Center (Fairgrounds), headed by new CEO Kathy Kramer, held an Open House in the Administration Building on the Fairgrounds Tuesday night to tell the community about their plans for the upcoming 125th Orange County Fair this summer - operating for a month beginning July 17, 2015 - and to introduce the theme of this year's fair - One Big Party!

SORRY...
I apologize for the poor quality of the images this time.  I took my backup camera with a slow lens.  That, coupled with the light glaring across the screen, have made for some shoddy images.

A GOOD CROWD
The crowd of more than five dozen people paid close attention as Kramer spoke of their plans and the relationship the Fairgrounds has with the Costa Mesa Police Department, since noise, rowdiness and neighborhood parking issues are major concerns of nearby residents.  I noticed many community activists in the crowd, but most were residents of College Park and Mesa del Mar - the two residential areas closest to the Fairgrounds.  With the exception of the members of the CMPD present, I saw no elected or appointed city official, nor did I see any member of the city staff.

CMPD INTERACTION

Captain Mark Manley spoke from the CMPD standpoint and introduced Lieutenant Vic Bakkila and Sergeant Bryan Wadkins, who will be the command staff in charge the CMPD interface with the Fair staff.

ENTERTAINMENT

Dan Gaines, who heads up the Entertainment element of the Fair, spoke briefly about that subject.  We learned that they usually have about 80% of returning acts, but this year in the Hanger there will be 40% new acts.

EVENTS

Joan Hamel spoke about the events planned, as listed on this image.  As you can see, they include a new ice skating attraction, Fairenheit 32 and the ever popular Cattle Drive on August 8th.

SECURITY
Nick Buffa, who manages Safety and Security, ( I apologize for having no good photo of Nick, son of former Costa Mesa Mayor Peter Buffa) then spoke about the new Neighborhood Ambassador Program, which is designed to have eyes and ears in the two main communities around the Fairgrounds to help head off problems.  The folks will patrol in 2-person teams in GEM electric cars and be dressed in bright Orange uniform shirts.  They will have dedicated VOIP telephones with which they can report problems as they roam through the neighborhoods.  They will NOT be sworn officers - all police-related matters will be directed to the CMPD.

SOUND CONTROL
Sound guru Gary Hardesty spoke briefly about the efforts that will be made to contain and control the sound from the musical acts this year.  He told us that there will be two self-contained sound monitoring units placed in the community - one in College Park and one in Mesa del Mar - to provide valuable real-time information to help with this year's Fair and into the future.

COMMUNICATIONS
Robin Wachner told us of the communication tools that will be used, as listed on this image.  She also gave us a link, HERE, which will take you to the page shown below for more information.

BEHAVIOR
Then Kramer took questions from the audience and had her team available to answer them.  The concerns expressed covered the gamut - drunkenness, rowdiness, trash and unwelcome parking in the neighborhoods.  To those kinds of questions Manley and Wadkins advised us that the CMPD will be properly staffed to handle those issues.  Resident Jeff Wilcox advised folks concerned about parking to go to the City and request resident-only parking stickers.

AND THE NOISE...
Noise - from the musical groups and the car, motorcycles and truck events that happen during the fair - were concerns of many residents.  I smiled as Hardesty tried to console them with vague assurances that they will try to control the musical groups.  The automotive noise will be addressed.  For example, if the contract requires mufflers on vehicles and they show up without them, the event will be cancelled.

VANGUARD CONCERNS
Residents along Vanguard expressed concern about parking and rowdy folks, indicating they feel neglected because they are a little farther away from the Fairgrounds.  They were encouraged to immediately call the police if there are problems.

CMPD ON THE JOB
Wadkins assured the neighbors that the CMPD would be there to manage the traffic during the Fair, and to route it to alternate parking sites when the Fairgrounds parking filled up.

OTHER STUFF
Other issues, like being able to buy tickets with a smart phone and not have to print it out, entering the Fair from Gate 5, were discussed.  Kramer, who has only been on the job about 4 months, has a nice, easy style and did her best to make the members of the community feel welcome and appreciated.

IT SHOULD BE ANOTHER GREAT FAIR
This meeting was video taped and will be made available somewhere on the OC Fair web site in the near future.  It sounds like we have yet another terrific Fair ahead of us.  For the past decade more than 1,000,000 people attended the Fair - the ninth largest county fair in the country.  Last year over 1.3 million folks attended.  To learn more about the Orange County Fair and Event Center and the Fair click HERE.