Halloween Traffic Safety!

Halloween night will bring plenty of gatherings and activity to our neighborhoods. As you drive or make your way around town, please pay close attention for pedestrians and little goblins running across the street. Watch out for our kids as they trick or treat on Halloween night from house to house or while getting out of parked cars.

Arcadia, like many communities, has many homes that are decorated and offer "haunted houses" attracting crowds of kids and traffic. When visiting these locations, enjoy the experience but remember to obey traffic laws and parking regulations.

• Don't double park or drop off passengers in the roadway.
• Don't block driveways.
• Don't park in crosswalks.
• Don't park in front of fire hydrants.

Please be courteous and respectful of your neighbors. Drive carefully and be aware of all the children celebrating tonight!

Longden Avenue will be closed to through traffic between El Monte - Holly Avenues tonight from 5:00 - 10:00 pm.  The closure is to accomodate expected pedestrian and vehicle traffic converging on this area on Halloween night.  Please use Duarte Road or Las Tunas Drive as alternate east-west roadways.  Residents with identification living in the 200-400 blocks West Longden Avenue will be able to access the closure.

And always - Don't Drink & Drive!

Weekly Tip - Halloween Safety

The safety of our children is on our minds each and every day. The celebrations and traditions that go along with Halloween add to the importance of monitoring our children's activity and giving them the guidance to help keep them safe. Here are a couple of websites that offer good tips on Halloween safety:

- CDC (Department of Health and Human Services)

- Halloween-Safety.com

- Pasadena Humane Society (for our four-legged friends)

There are also options to traditional "trick or treating" that allow your children to celebrate in a controlled and safe environment.  The City will be hosting their annual Halloween event for elementary age kids at the Community Center tomorrow, Wednesday, October 31st from 4:30-6:30 pm. The Community Center event is open to the public.  The Westfield Santa Anita Mall will also be hosting trick or treating in the mall from 4:30-6:30 pm tomorrow.

Holiday DUI & Driver's License Enforcement

Weekly Activity Highlights for October 14 - 20, 2012

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_10.14.12.pdf

Weekly Tip - Origin of Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week runs October 23rd-31st, 2012. Red Ribbon Week began in remembrance of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena who was kidnapped and murdered in Mexico in 1985. Agent Camarena had been working undercover for the DEA and was key in developing information that led to the eradication of large scale narcotics manufacturing operations in Mexico. Mexican cartel leaders sought revenge for these operations, murdering alleged informants and ultimately Agent Camarena. The RedRibbon.org website gives a well written summary of the history of Red Ribbon Week and offers an excellent tribute to slain DEA Agent "Kiki" Enrique Camarena.

Following his death, in Agent Camarena's home town, Calexico, CA, the public outpouring of support turned in to an organized community response in which citizens dawned red ribbons. They became a voice for prevention in order to reduce the demand for illegal drugs and use of drugs in America. The following year the California State PTA adopted the Red Ribbon Campaign. Then, in 1988, Red Ribbon Week was recognized nationally with President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan serving as the Honorary Chairs.

Today, the Red Ribbon Celebration brings millions of people together to raise awareness regarding the need for alcohol, tobacco and other drug and violence prevention, early intervention, and treatment services. It is the largest, most visible prevention awareness campaign observed annually in the United States.

Weekly Activity Highlights for October 7 - 13, 2012

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_10.7.12.pdf

Weekly Tip - Are you Prepared?

Are you prepared for the next big earthquake?  Tomorrow, Thursday, October 18, 2012, at 10:18 am, millions of people will join in the annual Great California ShakeOut, bringing awareness to a very real threat to California.  Preparedness and knowledge are the keys to surviving during and after a significant earthquake.  The Los Angeles Fire Department offers an excellent preparedness booklet with information about steps you can take before and after an earthquake to help keep you safe, family plans for earthquakes, disaster and emergency supplies, and much more.  The LAFD booklet is available through either of the embedded links above.

Remember, if an earthquake strikes us today - Drop!  Cover!  And, Hold On!

•DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),

•Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and

•HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.



Teen Driver Safety Week 2012

Teen Driver Safety Week runs from October 14-20, 2012.  Take some time this week to discuss good driving habits and traffic safety with your teen and young adult drivers - before it is too late!  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a great selection of online facts, safety tips, and videos dedicated to educating both the teen drivers and parents alike.

Here are some quick stats to think about:

• In 2010, 3092 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver.  And an estimated additional 416,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver.
• In 2012, 11 percent of all drivers under the age of 20 who were involved in fatal crashes were reported to be distracted at the time of the crash.
• Unfortunately teens are more likely to driver distracted than other drivers.  Drivers under the age of 25 are two to three times more likely than older drivers to send text messages or emails while driving.
• Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent - at 55 mph - of driving the length of an entire football field, blind.
• All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety.  From texting and talking on a cell phone, to eating and playing with the radio, using a navigation system, CD player, or MP3 device, any of these distractions while driving a car, can be deadly.

*Stat information courtesy of NHTSA.

Police Explorer Recruitment Open House

Recruitment: The Arcadia Police Department is looking for young men and women, ages 14 to 20-years-old, who live in the East San Gabriel Valley area and are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

Philosophy: The "Learning for Life" division of The Boy Scouts of America developed its Explorer Division for career-oriented young adults. Members of the Explorer Program are referred to as "Explorers" as the program is distinctively different from scouting. Members are actively engaged in variety of exploring activities of which are developed and supervised by local law enforcement agencies. The program is co-educational and each member works alongside professional and experienced law enforcement personnel.

Post #101: Explorer Post #101 is sponsored by the Arcadia Police Department as a community-based policing program. This highly successful program is designed to educate and involve young men and women in day-to-day police operations. The program also serves to increase interest in law enforcement functions and encourage individuals to seek a rewarding career path in the field of public safety.

As an Explorer, young adults will have the opportunity to assist the Arcadia Police Department in various community events such as parades, health fairs, and concerts. Explorers will assist the Department with tasks related to various operational and administrative functions, and during times of emergency such as wind storms or other natural disasters. Through participation in the Department’s Ride-A-Long Program, individuals will also broaden their knowledge of jobs skills, obtain greater understanding of police work, and gain insight into the daily challenges of police work. In addition, Explorers will be given the opportunity to give of themselves to the community and build lifelong positive attributes.

For questions or more information, contact Detective Ashby, (626) 574-5188

Weekly Tip - Keep Me Wild! (Bears)

The City of Arcadia’s proximity to the foothills increases the opportunity for various wildlife to wander into our neighborhoods and private property. Bears are no strangers to the foothill neighborhoods and the likelihood of bears coming into yards, pools, and trashcans is increased during the warm months like we have been experiencing. Foothill residents should be alert for bears in their neighborhoods. Here are some tips from the California Department of Fish and Game:

Stash Your Food and Trash

Bears and other animals are attracted to anything edible or smelly.

• Store garbage in bear-proof containers, or store garbage in your garage until pick-up.
• Keep food indoors or in airtight and odor-free containers.
• Put away picnic leftovers; clean BBQ grills.
• Keep pet food inside, and bird feeders away.
• Pick up fallen tree fruit as soon as possible, or protect fruit trees with electric fencing.
• Remove cosmetic fragrances and other attractants, including bird feeders and compost piles.

Bears are wild animals and should never be approached.  Make sure to check your yards and closely monitor children and even small animals, even in the "safety" of your own yard.

Our officers will respond when called to a wildlife sighting and our primary goal is to allow the animal to leave the area and return back to the foothills.  Under most conditions, the officers presence, use of vehicles, horns, lights, or stun bag rounds (similar to bean bags), are sufficient to encourage the animal to leave the area.  Our officers are not equipped with tranquilizers and Game Wardens may not be readily available to respond due to large areas of coverage.  If life is threatened, use of deadly force is an option.

Please visit the California Department of Fish and Game "Keep Me Wild" website, or the City of Arcadia's "Living with Wildlife" page for additional information.

Weekly Activity Highlights for September 30 - October 6, 2012

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_9.30.12.pdf

Taking Pride in our Badge

Weekly Tip - End Distracted Driving "Put it Down"

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched a campaign to help combat "Distracted Driving." DOT is encouraging Law Enforcement, community groups, schools, and everyone to become involved and spread the word of the dangers associated with distracted driving

"Distracted Driving" is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing. Using a cell phone without a "hands-free" device and texting are two of the most common examples of distracted driving. However, grooming, changing your radio station or MP3 player, manipulating a GPS device, reading, eating are all other example of common activity that drivers engage in, placing themselves and others in harms way.

California law prohibits use of a cell phone while driving without using a "hands-free" device. There are a few exceptions including in case of an emergency, for emergency service personnel, and for certain commercial purposes. Texting is also prohibited in California. California Vehicle Code sections 23123-23124 cover these violations.

Research on distracted driving reveals some surprising facts:

•Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)

•Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. (Source: Carnegie Mellon)

•In 2010, 3092 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver and an estimated additional 416,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver. (NHTSA)

•The younger, inexperienced drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes.

•Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

Please join the campaign and help spread the word, "Put It Down!"

Weekly Activity Highlights for September 23 - 29, 2012

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_9.23.12.pdf

Greatest Compliments Come from Your Community!

Link to the story at the Mountain View News!