Weekly Activity Highlights for February 17-23, 2013

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_2.17.13.pdf
And, here is the report for Feb 10-16, 2013
http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_2.10.13.pdf

Pedestrian Safety Enforcement Today!

The Arcadia Police Department Traffic Bureau will be conducting Pedestrian Safety Enforcement throughout Arcadia today (Wed Feb 27). The officers will be targeting not only drivers who fail to yield, but also pedestrians who place themselves in danger by jaywalking or committing other ped violations.

You can find pedestrian safety tips in a previous APD blog post at http://arcadiapolice.blogspot.com/2012/08/weekly-tip-pedestrians-crosswalks-right.html.

Be safe!

Weekly Tip - Don't Text & Drive!

A short video reminder for all of us from ConnectSafely.org.  Don't text and drive!  Be a role model for your kids - they are watching every move you make!

Where is Arcadia's Chicago Park?

If you are ever listening to the police scanner and hear an Arcadia unit broadcast a traffic stop, or make reference to "Chicago Park", you are not alone if you don't know where that is.  The light industrial area, east of Peck Road, that is home to the Arcadia Public Works Services Department, among other business locations, is known to the more tenured officers as "Chicago Park".

"...little known piece of history about Chicago Park, Arcadia...Actually, Chicago Park was just an outrageous, not viable real estate developer scheme. This proposed town lay almost entirely in the San Gabriel Riverbed. Periodic flooding changed the landscape and altered the river channel. And the land sat idle for decades...in 1957, Chicago Park was annexed to Arcadia..." (VillageProfile.com)  With land develoment and modernization/control of the San Gabriel River flow, the area is now home to numerous commercial and residential locations.

The Arcadia city border actually extends along the north side of the Peck Road Conservation Park, widening out in the "Chicago Park" area, and runs south, east of Cogswell Road.  The southern tip of Arcadia again widens and encompasses the Arcadia Reclamation Project and several commercial locations along Lower Azusa Road.

Ford's Teen Driver Class Coming to Los Angeles

Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, the Governors Highway Safety Association, and The California Office of Traffic Safety have teamed up to bring Ford Driving Skills for Life (Ford DSFL) to San Diego and Los Angeles California for two FREE hands-on training events.

Ford Driving Skills for Life is a national award winning teen driver safety program and the most comprehensive teen driver program in the nation.

Teens will receive hands-on advanced training by some of the top driving instructors from across the world. They will learn crucial skills in the four areas that experts have identified as most crucial in decreasing teen driving crashes and fatalities: speed management, space management, vehicle handling and hazard recognition.

The Los Angeles class will be held March 2-3, 2013, at Hollywood Park.  Click HERE to link to the registration page.  Ford was offering 400 free spots in this event.

Driver's License & Sobriety Checkpoints This Saturday

News Release
Incident: Sobriety & Driver’s License Checkpoint

February 23rd, 2013

The Arcadia Police Department will conduct sobriety and driver’s license checkpoints at multiple locations within the City on Saturday, February 23rd.

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. Be responsible and use 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



Fundraiser for Fallen Officer & Detective

Great opportunity to help raise funds for families of fallen Riverside Police Department Officer Michael Crain and Yucaipa Police Department Detective Jeremiah MacKay (SBSD) at any California Pizza Kitchen location, Monday-Thursday, February 25th-28th.  You can link to the APD Facebook page and print out the photo/flyer HERE.



Weekly Tip: Two-Way Left Turn Lanes

The two-way or center left turn lane is often misunderstood. California Vehicle Code defines the two-way left turn lane and allows entry into the lane for only two purposes; preparing for and making a left turn or entering traffic. Travel in this lane is restricted to 200 feet.

This IS NOT a passing lane. It is not uncommon to find drivers using the two-way left turn lane on El Monte Avenue for passing stopped traffic waiting in line at stop signs. This is a violation and will be cited. It is also illegal to use this style lane for passing slower traffic.

In order to make a lawful left turn, you must enter this middle lane and then complete the turn. Making a left or u-turn turn across the middle lane from through traffic would be considered an improper turning movement.

Crossing the middle lane and entering the through traffic is acceptable when entering the roadway from an intersecting driveway, alley or property. It would be allowable to enter the middle lane and wait for traffic to clear in order to safely enter the flow of through traffic as well. 

Officer & Civilian of the Year 2012

The Arcadia Police Department is proud to honor two of our own as Officer and Civilian of the Year for 2012. In December 2012, then Sergeant, Tom Cullen was named Officer of the Year for 2012. Tom was later promoted to Lieutenant in late January 2013, complimenting his Officer of the Year award. In late January 2013, Police Records Technician II Stella Weimer was named as the Civilian Employee of the Year for 2012.

Lieutenant Tom Cullen was hired as an Arcadia Police Officer in March 1998. Ten years later in 2008, Tom was promoted to Sergeant. Throughout his tenure, Tom has been involved with Field Training and our Special Weapons & Tactics Team. His most recent assignment was heading up the APD Personnel and Training Office where he did an exemplary job for the last three years. In addition to his service to the City of Arcadia, Tom proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1990-1996, attaining the rank of Sergeant.

Records Technician II, Stella Weimer, has been with the Arcadia Police Department since July 1985. Stella has performed various duties in our Records Section over the years and has been a dedicated employee for what is quickly approaching 30 years of service. Several nominations for Civilian of the Year were received for Tech Weimer and each one noted her dependability, her caring and positive attitude, and her outstanding character.

Congrats to both Tom and Stella!

Weekly Tip - No Broken Hearts for Valentine's Day

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!  But, please don't let any hearts be broken by driving under the influence and causing someone to be injured.  If you are out celebrating the holiday with a loved one, make sure to get everyone home safely!  That broken heart could even be your own, should you be arrested for DUI.

Don't Drink and Drive!  Remember Jan's Towing offers the Don't Drive Drunk Detour Program where they will give your car and you a lift home within their service area.  See their website for details or call (626)914-1841.

Happy Chinese New Year 2013

Weekly Activity Highlights for January 27 - February 2, 2013

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_1.27.13.pdf

Weekly Tip - Don't Tailgate

Following Too Closely is the technical term for Tailgating. Unfortunately, this is a term that is all too often used in collision reports as the “Primary Collision Factor”. Maintaining distance between vehicles while driving is one main key in preventing collisions. Even the best driver, with great reaction time, still takes a moment to perceive the need to slow or stop, and then apply the vehicle brakes.

Increasing following distance between vehicles increases our ability to perceive a problem, apply brakes if needed or take some other evasive action. Time and distance is your friend when it comes to speed. As a young driver, you are taught about the Three Second Rule. Sometimes we forget this one important piece of advice. But maintaining a following distance of three seconds between vehicles will definitely increase your ability to avoid a rear end collision. An alternate recommendation is to maintain a following distance of one car length per 10 mph while driving. So, if you are driving 65 mph on the freeway, you should be about 6-7 car lengths behind the vehicle in front of you.

Don’t be overconfident, either in your ability as a driver or in your vehicle. Remember these basic rules and greatly increase your chance to avoid a collision. Think about this; tailgating the car in front of you is not going to "push" them out of the way or down the road. Your disregard for safe following distance will only increase your chances of causing a collision. Take a breath, take your time and we'll all get there in one piece.