Monday, December 31, 2012

Guests, Family, or Friends in town for the Tournament of Roses?


Visitors in town for the parade or big game?  Have a friend staying at one of our local hotels?  Nixle is a great resource for those living in town or visitors to the area.  The two major agencies responsible for Tournament of Roses activity both have active Nixle accounts and share valuable safety information with the public.  The Pasadena Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, along with other local police agencies like Arcadia, Burbank, and South Pasadena, all use the Nixle platform for instant messaging.

We would like to encourage everyone, including those visiting the area, to take advantage of these services and subscribe to local public safety before the need arises.

A simple method to subscribe for Nixle alerts is to text your zip code, or perhaps the zip code for your local hotel, to 888777.  For those in Arcadia, text either 91006 or 91007 to 888777 and you will be included in any emergency alerts sent by APD.  Check with your host or concierge for the local zip code for your area hotel in neighboring cities.

You can also download our smart phone app for links to other information and services.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Weekly Activity Highlights for December 16-22, 2012

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_12.16.12.pdf

Sorry for the delay in posting, been off for the holidays! ^TL

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Weekly Tip - Jan's Towing "Don't Drive Drunk Detour Program"


Jan's Towing offers a free service known as "Don't Drive Drunk Detour Program" throughout the year. Jan's is committed to helping to keep drunk drivers off the road and takes an active role by offering this program to those who have indulged a little too much. With the holiday weekend upon us, take advantage of this offer should the need arise. Jan's can be reached at (626) 334-1383.


Remember to report drunk drivers, call 9-1-1 and help keep our roads safe! Have a safe and fun New Years!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Road Closure & Traffic Info for Wednesday, December 26th


The day after Christmas is sure to bring many visitors, shoppers, and racing fans to the City of Arcadia. The Westfield Santa Anita Shopping Mall will be filled with people seeking sales, exchanges, and returns. The Santa Anita Race Track comes to life once again, with opening day for live racing. Yes, this coming Wednesday, December 26th, will surely be a busy day in town!

The mall can be accessed off Baldwin Avenue and Huntington Drive. Shoppers may see gate closures inside Gate 8 (north of JC Penney) and best times for arriving or departing the mall would be earlier in the morning, mid-afternoon, or evening hours, after the race track has closed.

The majority of Race Track patrons leave between the hours of 3:00pm - 7:00pm, so the following closures and restrictions will be in place during that time period:


BALDWIN AVENUE:

- Traffic congestion between Huntington Drive & the 210 freeway

- There will be No Parking on Baldwin Avenue between Hugo Reid and Huntington Drive from 3:00pm – 7:00pm


HUNTINGTON DRIVE:

- There will be No Left Turns from E/B Huntington to N/B Baldwin Avenue (Left Turn Lanes will be Closed from 3pm-7pm)

- There will be No Right Turns from W/B Huntington Drive to N/B Baldwin Avenue (Right Lane Closed from 3pm–7pm)


COLORADO PLACE:

- All Southbound lanes of Colorado Place will be closed at the intersection with Colorado Boulevard (closure in effect from 4pm – 7pm). All traffic will be detoured onto E/B Colorado Blvd towards Santa Anita Avenue.


If you would like to avoid the traffic congestion in these areas, you are advised to use the following alternate routes:


ALTERNATE NORTH/SOUTH ROUTES:

Michillinda Avenue

Santa Anita Avenue


ALTERNATE EAST/WEST ROUTES:

Foothill Boulevard

Duarte Road


Santa Anita Race Track gates will open at 10:00 am and the first post is at noon. Racing fans can access Gate 8 off Baldwin Avenue, however, other gates may be less congested. Suggested routes for easier access may include;

From the west or northbound on Baldwin Avenue, use Huntington Drive to Gate 3 at Holly Avenue.

From the south, use Santa Anita Avenue to Campus Drive for Gate 3 access, or to Huntington Drive for access to Gates 5 and 6.

From the east, use Huntington Drive or Colorado Boulevard/Place to access Gates 5 and 6.

Police officers will be manning traffic signals and certain intersections throughout the day. Traffic will be heavy and you should expect delays. Allow extra time for your travel and please be patient.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Death Investigation News Release

Incident:                                  Death Investigation

Date/Time of Release:            December 21, 2012 at 10:30 AM

Location:                                 500 Blk. South First Ave


On December 20, 2012 at approximately 4:00 PM Arcadia Police Officers responded to a medical assist in the 500 block of South First Ave.  The reporting party advised that his daughter was choking.  Upon arriving at the scene, the officers encountered a child who was not breathing.  Officers began CPR and were relieved by Arcadia Fire Paramedics.  The child was transported to Methodist Hospital of Southern California in Arcadia where life-saving efforts continued.  At approximately 4:40 PM, the child was pronounced deceased. 

Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim may have died as a result of choking on strawberries.

Arcadia Police Detectives along with the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office will be conducting follow up with this incident.

Any information refer to APD Case Number 12-5905


Robert T. Guthrie
Chief of Police


By:  Dan Crowther
        Sergeant

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Suspicious Package Brings Police/Bomb Squad to Santa Anita Mall

Incident: Suspicious Package
Date and Time of Release: December 20, 2012 at 1345 hours


Location: Westfield Santa Anita

400 S. Baldwin Ave, Arcadia


Arcadia Police Officers responded to the report of a suspicious package at the Westfield Santa Anita Mall on December 20, 2012 at approximately 0952 hours. The package was located in a northern parking lot and a safety perimeter was established. The Los Angeles County Bomb Squad was requested for assistance and arrived on scene at approximately 1055 hours. A short time later the Bomb Squad rendered the package safe and determined it was not an explosive device. It was determined that the package contained what appeared to be marijuana.

No suspect(s) were arrested and there were no injuries to officers or bystanders.

The investigation into the origin of the package is ongoing by Arcadia Police Officers.

Any information refer to APD Case Number 12-5896.


Robert T. Guthrie

Chief of Police


By: Dan Crowther

Sergeant

Santa Pays a Visit in a Police Helicopter



Santa arrived at Huntington Memorial Hospital via a Pasadena Police Department helicopter yesterday, delivering toys to children in the pediatric unit.  This has been an annual tradition carried out by the PPD Air Support Unit for many years.  PPD provides air support for Arcadia through the Foothill Air Support Team (FAST). 



APD Detective Mike Hale is a Tactical Flight Officer with FAST and had the honor of playing Santa for the children this year.

After the visit to HMH, Santa and his PPD elves made their way to the Hathaway Sycamores Children's Home in Altadena.  This was bit more conventional ride in a police unit.  Even Police Chief Phil Sanchez helped out!  









Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Find Your Arcadia Neighborhood on Nextdoor.com


Interested in connecting with you neighbors, exchanging ideas and sharing information? We have a great way for you to do just that!

The City of Arcadia has a long history of encouraging neighborhood interaction and communication. We believe that knowing the people who live near us makes for stronger neighborhoods, and oftentimes results in cherished friendships. The way we communicate with our family, friends, and neighbors has changed significantly in recent years with the increasing popularity of social media. One social network you may want to take a look at is Nextdoor.com. Nextdoor.com is a private network that posters communication between neighbors. Participation is free. Discussion topics can range from information sharing to notices about local events and school activities, contractor recommendations, disaster preparedness, crime prevention, lost pets and…what would you like to talk about? Neighborhoods establish and manage their own Nextdoor website. The information shared on each Nextdoor site is visible only to the members who live in the neighborhood and have verified their address.


How does Nextdoor work?

Nextdoor allows neighbors to create a private website for their neighborhood. On Nextdoor, members can find neighbors in the directory, view a neighborhood map, ask for advice, exchange local recommendations, and share neighborhood information with each other. Residents can choose to see and respond to updates via e-mail, or only on the website.


How much does Nextdoor cost?

There is no charge for an Arcadia resident to participate in their neighborhood site.


How is Nextdoor different from a neighborhood mailing list?

Nextdoor is designed for the specific communication needs of a neighborhood. For example, Nextdoor websites include a neighborhood map and directory, and a catalogued list of recommendations for local services. Members can choose to receive e-mails about each new post, see everything in a daily digest, or turn off e-mails and check the website for new posts from neighbors.


What is the City’s involvement in Nextdoor?

The City will have the ability to post information on an Arcadia neighborhood site; however; the City cannot view discussions that take place outside of those related to the City post. Information the City will share with neighborhoods – individually or collectively – might include that relate area street projects, event announcements, crime prevention and safety tips, and emergency bulletins.


How do I get started?

Go to Nextdoor.com and put in your address to see if your neighborhood is already established. If not, define your neighborhood, invite your neighbors to the group, and get the discussion going! The website includes step-by-step instructions for getting started – it’s easy! Please note that for optimal participation and success, it is recommended that your neighborhood have between 250 and 2,500 properties.

If you have any questions about the City’s participation in Nextdoor, please call Lt. Tom Le Veque at 626.574.5163, or Linda Garcia, Special Projects Manager, at 626.574.5401.

 https://nextdoor.com/

Follow Nextdoor on Twitter @Nextdoor or like them on Facebook.

Multi-Agency Sobriety & Driver's License Checkpoint


Incident: Sobriety & Driver’s License Checkpoint


The Arcadia Police Department will be hosting a multi-agency sobriety and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, December 21st, 2012, evening hours, in accordance with a grant issued and administered by the Glendora Police Department from the Office of Traffic Safety, as part of the AVOID the 100 DUI Campaign, East-Los Angeles County. Participants will include officers and personnel from the Arcadia, Monrovia, El Monte and Sierra Madre Police Departments.

One of the goals of the checkpoint is to promote public safety and increase awareness of the dangers associated with drinking and driving. This will be accomplished by providing a highly visible enforcement and publicity campaign, in order to deter intoxicated drivers from getting behind the wheel and driving. Through these efforts, we also seek to reduce the number of injuries and deaths associated with collisions involving intoxicated drivers.

We would like to remind the public of the dangers associated with drinking and driving. It simply is not worth it to drive while impaired. Give the gift of life this holiday season and celebrate responsibly by using a sober designated driver. Remember, “Friends don’t let friend’s drive while impaired.”

Jan’s Towing provides a no cost “Don’t Drive Drunk” detour program, 365 days a year, and will provide a free lift home for drivers and their vehicles up to 7 miles in their service area. Call (626) 334-1383 for more information.

Don’t forget to visit the Arcadia Police Department News & Information Blog or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Nixle for other pertinent news and information. Remember, the solution begins with you!


Robert T. Guthrie, Chief of Police


By: Brett Bourgeous, Traffic Sergeant
(626) 574-5475


Weekly Tip - Holiday & Christmas Tree Safety



FEMA and the US Fire Administration offer some valuable tips on Holiday and Christmas Tree safety.  The video above is an example of how quickly a dry Christmas tree can catch fire and spread to your home.  Please keep your Christmas tree watered, never overload an outlet, and maintain your lighting in good working order for your tree.  Visit the FEMA/USFA website for other tips and information.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Holiday Hours for APD Records Bureau



The Arcadia Police Department Records Bureau and Front Counter will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on each of the following days: 

Christmas Eve, December 24th 

Christmas Day, December 25th 
New Years Eve, December 31st 
New Years Day, January 1st 

The normal operating hours for the Records Bureau are 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 

http://arcadiapolice.blogspot.com/2012/09/new-operating-hours-for-apd-records.html 


http://local.nixle.com/alert/4930642/

Continuing on through Tragedy

Our thoughts and prayers continue for all touched by the tragedy in Newtown.  As stated last Friday in an APD Facebook post, safety at our schools is always a priority with the Arcadia Police Department and all law enforcement. Our officers are trained and equipped to respond to situations involving active shooters and other threats similar to this senseless violence. While we cannot change what has occurred, we always prepare for the future. Hug your kids, talk with them, and reassure them...

Increased patrols were visible and continue at Arcadia schools.  The following comment came through the City online portal and has been shared with our staff.  The feedback is very much appreciated and we would like to share this parent's voice with the community.


"I am a parent whose children go to Baldwin Stocker Elementary School. I want to thank you for sending police officers to check on the school after the news of mass shooting in Connecticut came out this morning. The principal ... told me that she didn't request the police presence. You guys just came by to be sure everything was ok. I feel a great sense of gratitude for the sensitivity the police department has shown after such an unthinkable tragedy. It calmed my nerves and increased my trust in the department. Though I know ultimately no one can prevent such insanity from happening to us there in Arcadia, I certainly feel very cared for and safe because my police department cares enough to come over to check on us. Thank you so much!!!"

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Annual Chief's Christmas Breakfast 2012


Chief Bob Guthrie carried out a long standing Arcadia Police Department tradition this morning, hosting the Chief's Annual Christmas Breakfast. The breakfast is a great event where current and former members of APD can gather to share memories and a meal prepared by the Chief and fellow police management staff. In addition to the APD family, all City employees and City staff are invited to attend, along with our elected officials.

There was a great turnout today with well over 250 plates served. A special thanks to Vons, Nichol's Egg Ranch, and Papa Cantella's for the generous donations of food for the event.



Weekly Activity Highlights for December 2 - 8, 2012

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_12.2.12.pdf

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Congrats are in Order

City Clerk Gene Glasco performs the swearing in at a ceremony held yesterday honoring two new officers and a recently promoted sergeant.  Officers Elders and Tafoya (left and center) have completed field training and are now working as patrol officers.  Officer Elders started his career with the Arcadia Police Department as a Police Cadet several years ago.  He was hired as an officer and graduated from the police academy earlier this year.  Officer Tafoya comes to us as a lateral police officer having worked as a deputy sheriff with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for the previous two years. 

Sergeant Cieadlo has been utilized as an Acting Sergeant for the last year and his promotion was formalized in September.  He has been with APD for over five years now and is also an active member of our SWAT team.

Congratulations to Officers Elders and Tafoya, and to Sergeant Cieadlo.

Weekly Tip - Parking Lot Survival


The holiday season is upon us - and with that brings large crowds and parking lots filled with anxious shoppers! Private property accidents contribute to a number of our calls for service during the holiday season and most of these incidents are avoidable. Here are some tips to help avoid collisions and other vehicle related incidents on private property:

Slow down, don't be in a rush. The sales will still be going on when you get there.

•Obey shopping center or mall stop signs, yield signs, speed limit signs. They are there for a reason...SAFETY!

Drive only in marked isles. Avoid driving across the parking lot and watch out for those that are using parking stalls as a short cut.

Park a little further away. It is probably quicker than driving up and down looking for that perfect spot.

Look all around before backing out and back SLOWLY from your stall.

Watch for pedestrians and watch out for yourself while walking in the parking lot.

Avoid the urge to "beat" the other driver to that one last spot.

•Practice common sense and courtesy. Everyone can be on edge in a crowded parking lot. Give each other a break.

Leave valuables at home or at least out of sight in your LOCKED vehicle.

Park only in marked stalls. Fire lane, red zones, handicap stalls may all be enforced at most shopping centers.

Always be aware of your surroundings. Park in well lighted areas. Alert store security or the police to suspicious persons or vehicles.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Overnight Parking Enforcement Holiday Suspension begins December 16th


Residents and visitors will not have to obtain temporary overnight parking permits for passenger vehicles parked on the City streets from December 16, 2012 through January 6, 2013. This permit suspension affords the community the opportunity to entertain guests and visitors without worrying about purchasing permits during the holidays.

This enforcement suspension pertains only to overnight parking restrictions for passenger vehicles between 2:30 am and 5:30 am. All other parking restrictions remain in effect and will be enforced, such as time zones, street sweeping, curb markings, etc.

The 2013 permits are available at the City Hall Cashier's Office and are being honored for the remainder of 2012, if properly displayed.

If you have any questions, please contact the APD Watch Commander at (626) 574-5156.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

I-210 Freeway Closures Next Two Nights


Weekly Tip - Valuables In Your Car Invite Theft



Vehicle burglaries are reported to local police throughout the year. However, during the holiday season, mall parking lots and parking structures are packed with vehicles that are sometimes stuffed with presents and packages. Just like presents under your family Christmas tree being an invite for a child's curiosity, your car filled with packages is an invitation for theft and auto burglary. Here are some tips to help prevent you from becoming a victim this holiday season:

•Park in well lighted areas.

•Lock your vehicle and set your alarm.

•If you must leave packages in your car, keep them out of sight. Some stores and malls offer to hold your packages while you shop. Pick all of them up when you are done shopping.

•Do NOT make multiple trips to your vehicle. Thieves watch and wait in parking lots targeting persons leaving items in their cars.

•Be aware of your surroundings! Look about and see who is around when you park.