Weekly Tip - Motorcycle Safety

May is also Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. This post will offer some tips on motorcycle safety and education.

Summer time or gas prices may both be reasons why many people turn to a motorcycle for their daily commute. Motorcycles can save time and fuel cost, but without proper training and practice, the rider can be much more prone to becoming involved in a collision compared to driving a car. California law requires that a motorcycle rider obtain a Class M1 endorsement on their license. The test is fairly simple and with a minimum of studying and practice, a rider can pass the tests. However, that is NOT enough.

Prior to straddling a motor and hitting the streets or freeways, motorcycle riders need to understand their bikes, know their capabilities as a rider, what to look for, and what to expect while riding. To accomplish this, the rider needs to practice, study, and hopefully, take a safety course. Learning from other's mistakes and taking advantage of the advice from an experienced rider can save your life.

Here are some links to information resources and rider classes:

•California Motorcycle Safety Program

•National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

•Web Bike World

•Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. Sac - Local Safety Classes)

Weekly Activity Highlights for May 19-25, 2013

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_5.19.13.pdf

Memorial Day 2013

To those that are serving, and to those that have served, we wish you the best on this Memorial Day 2013.

To the men and women who served our country and gave the ultimate sacrifice, we salute you!

We urge you to take the time to say "Thanks" to our vets and to current members of our military, not just today, but everyday.

Fake-A-Rooney (Click It or Ticket!)

(Courtesy our partners at NHTSA)

Click It or Ticket!

The 2013 National Click It or Ticket Mobilization Campaign runs from Monday, May 20 through Sunday, June 2, 2013. In order to support national efforts to make Click It or Ticket a success, the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are asking traffic and patrol officers from every agency to join police departments across the State in conducting maximum visibility seat belt enforcement during the campaign time frame. To assist with the campaign, Arcadia Police Officers will be conducting increased enforcement looking for seat belt and child restraint violations, both day and night.  This is a zero tolerance campaign.

From the Office of Traffic Safety website:

It only takes two seconds to buckle up. Two seconds! And those two seconds could literally save your life. They will also keep you from getting a ticket and a fine.

Law enforcement throughout California will be looking for drivers and passengers who don’t buckle up during the “Click It or Ticket” seat belt enforcement campaign. They will be on the lookout for drivers and passengers - including passengers in the back seat, day and night.

Drive Safely! Buckle Up!

Weekly Tip - Share the Road

Here are some important rules of the road for bicyclists from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.  All motorists need be aware of these laws.  Drivers and bicyclists alike should Share the Road!

Bicyclists:

•Are entitled to share the road with motor vehicles.

•Have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle and motorcycle drivers.

•Must obey all traffic signals and stop signs.

•Are lawfully permitted to ride on certain sections of roadway in rural areas where there is no alternate route.

•Must ride in the same direction as other traffic, not against it.

•Shall ride as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practical– not on the sidewalk.

•Are legally allowed to ride in the center of the lane when moving at the same speed as other traffic.

•May move left to pass a parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, animal, or avoid debris or other hazards.

•May choose to ride near the left curb or edge of a one-way street.

•Should ride single file on a busy or narrow street.

•Must make left and right turns in the same way drivers do, using the same turn lanes. If the bicyclist is traveling straight ahead, he or she should use a through traffic lane rather than ride next to the curb and block traffic making right turns.

•Must signal all their intentions to motorists and bicyclists near them.

•Must wear a helmet if under the age of 18.

•Should carry identification.

•Shall not operate a bicycle on a roadway unless the bicycle is equipped with:

◦A brake which will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.

Weekly Activity Highlights for May 12-18, 2013

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_5.12.13.pdf

Annual Bicycle Rodeo and the APOA vs. AFFA Softball Game

The 1st Annual Bicycle Rodeo was hosted by the Arcadia Police Officers' Association this past Saturday, May 18, 2013.  The event was held in conjunction with the Closing Day Ceremonies for Arcadia Girls Softball Association and the Arcadia Police vs. Firefighters softball game.  Everyone had a great time!  Take a look at the APD/APOA Facebook pages for albums of photos from both the Bicycle Rodeo and the APD/AFD Softball Game.

The Bear Truth

From our partners at California Department of Fish and Wildlife:

Wanted for Parcel Theft

The male shown in this surveillance photo is wanted as suspect in a parcel theft occurring on April 11, 2013, at about 4:15 p.m. in the 800 block Coronado Drive.  The suspect removed the parcel from the front porch of the home after delivery.  He then fled in an older, dark gray, Toyota 4-Runner, as described by the victim.  Computer parts were taken in the theft.

Although the loss value in this case was not significant, crimes of opportunity like this do occur and losses range in dollar value in each case.  It is important for everyone to be aware of their neighborhoods and anyone coming or going within them.  If you see someone suspicious, or as in this case, someone walking away with a package from a home, please don't hesitate to call the police.  Be a good witness and obtain the good descriptions for police dispatchers.  If possible, obtain any vehicle information and license plates as well.  Looking out for one another and reporting this type of crime if you are victimized will aide law enforcement in helping prevent this and other crimes.

HERE is a previous post with tips on helping to prevent against package theft.

Anyone with information on this or similar crimes is asked to call the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5150.  You can also submit crime tips and information via text, phone, or web to LA Regional Crime Stoppers, 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by clicking on the "Submit a Tip" button on the APD Blog side bar.

Refer to Detective Crawford, case #13-1760.

Weekly Activity Highlights for May 5 - 11, 2013

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_5.5.13.pdf

Weekly Tip - Bike Arcadia!

Did you know that the City of Arcadia has over 28 miles in suggested bicycle riding loops? The different loops tour the City and highlight our parks and neighborhoods. You can download the City of Arcadia brochure, Bicycling in Arcadia, HERE. The brochure offers loop maps, safety tips, rules of the road, and information from the MTA on public transportation and bicycles. The State of California Department of Motor Vehicles website also is a good resource with links to bicycle laws and tips.

Before you ride, visit the Arcadia Police Department and register your bicycles. If you are an Arcadia resident, we will register your bike and record the serial number for free. Should your bicycle ever be stolen, this greatly increases the chances of recovery and makes entering the proper information in the statewide database much easier. Many bicycles are booked into property each year that are never able to be returned to an owner. Don't let it be your bicycle sold at auction.

Be sure to join us this Saturday, May 18th, for our 1st Annual Bicycle Rodeo at Camino Grove School, noon - 2:00 p.m.

Join Us in Flying the American Flag at Half Staff for Peace Officers' Memorial Day on Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Presidential Proclamation: 


Peace Officers' Memorial Day and Police Week, 2013


Day after day, police officers in every corner of America suit up, put on the badge, and carry out their sworn duty to protect and serve. They step out the door every morning without considering bravery or heroics. They stay focused on meeting their responsibilities. They concentrate on keeping their neighborhoods safe and doing right by their fellow officers. And with quiet courage, they help fulfill the demanding yet vital task of shielding our people from harm. It is work that deserves our deepest respect -- because when darkness and danger would threaten the peace, our police officers are there to step in, ready to lay down their lives to protect our own.

This week, we pay solemn tribute to men and women who did. Setting aside fear and doubt, these officers made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the rule of law and the communities they loved. They heard the call to serve and answered it; braved the line of fire; charged toward the danger. Our hearts are heavy with their loss, and on Peace Officers Memorial Day, our Nation comes together to reflect on the legacy they left us.

As we mark this occasion, let us remember that we can do no greater service to those who perished than by upholding what they fought to protect. That means doing everything we can to make our communities safer. It means putting cops back on the beat and supporting them with the tools and training they need. It means getting weapons of war off our streets and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals -- common-sense measures that would reduce gun violence and help officers do their job safely and effectively.

Together, we can accomplish those goals. So as we take this time to honor law enforcement in big cities and small towns all across our country, let us join them in pursuit of a brighter tomorrow. Our police officers serve and sacrifice on our behalf every day, and as citizens, we owe them nothing less than our full and lasting support.

By a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962, as amended (76 Stat. 676), and by Public Law 103-322, as amended (36 U.S.C. 136-137), the President has been authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each year as "Peace Officers Memorial Day" and the week in which it falls as "Police Week."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2013, as Peace Officers' Memorial Day and May 12 through May 18, 2013, as Police Week. I call upon all Americans to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also call on Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of the other territories subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers' Memorial Day. I further encourage all Americans to display the flag at half-staff from their homes and businesses on that day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand thirteen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

Public Assistance Requested in Fatal Hit and Run

The Arcadia Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating information on the suspect and suspect vehicle who struck a motorcyclist along Foothill Boulevard in Arcadia, on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, shortly before 8:00 p.m. Our thoughts and condolences remain with the victim, Kenneth Doherty, 32-years-old, of Los Angeles, and his family. Kenneth died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.

Witnesses say both the suspect vehicle and the motorcyclist had been driving erratically and at high speeds on the eastbound 210 Freeway before they both exited at Baldwin Avenue. According to witness accounts, the suspect and victim appeared to be yelling at each other, possibly engaged in an argument or road rage incident. The witness lost sight of the suspect vehicle and motorcyclist as they turned and drove east on Foothill Boulevard at a high rate of speed. A witness came upon the downed motorcyclist a short time later.

A passenger-side mirror was found at the scene, broken off from the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle appears to be a 2002 to 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer, similar to the one pictured above, but with tinted windows. Based on the unique color and parts recovered at the scene, the vehicle is most likely a 2005 or 2006 Lancer Evolution or “Evo”. Surveillance video (above) from a local business shows what appears to be the suspect vehicle approaching Santa Anita Avenue in the #2 (slow) lane of Foothill Boulevard.  The second portion of the video shows the suspect vehicle pulling away, continuing eastbound on Foothill boulevard, shortly after the collision. 

While investigators have reached out to local dealerships and online Mitsubishi communities, we believe that someone in the community may have additional information on the suspect and suspect vehicle. The Arcadia Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspect driver and in locating the suspect vehicle in this tragic, fatal collision.  The photo below depicts a similar vehicle to the suspect vehicle.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5150. You can also submit crime tips and information via text, phone, or web to LA Regional Crime Stoppers, 800-222-TIPS (8477). Please reference case #13-2136.

(Not actual suspect vehicle)

Happy Mother's Day 2013

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. ~Author Unknown

Wishing all mothers a very Happy Mother's Day!

WANTED - Missing Chiefs

Yes, they are "Wanted"!  In the atrium of the Police Department, there is a wall dedicated to recognizing the Chiefs of Police who served over the years at APD.  Unfortunately, we are missing photographs for five of the Chiefs.  Are there any history or genealogy enthusiasts who might have one of their photos to share?

 

The missing Chiefs include:

• O.C. Berdie, 1906-1908
• Charles S. Smith, 1908-1912
• William T. Bush, 1912-1914 and 1916-1917
• E.F. Glass 1914-1916
• L.I. Hollowell, 1934

If you happen across one of our missing Chiefs, please email Sergeant Tom Le Veque at tleveque@ci.arcadia.ca.us.

Suspect Vehicle Sought in Fatal Hit and Run

Original News Release http://arcadiapolice.blogspot.com/2013/05/hit-and-run-fatality.html

Weekly Tip - May is National Bike Month

May is National Bike Month!

Did You Know?

• Head injuries are the most serious type of injury and the most common cause of death for bicyclists. Bicycle helmets have been proven to reduce the risk of head and brain injury when a crash occurs by as much as 85 to 88 percent.
• Children with bicycle-related head injuries are more likely to require hospitalization and to have their injuries result in death.
• More than one-fifth of all bicyclist deaths occur among school age youth ages 5 to 15.
• More children go to hospital emergency departments for bicycle related crashes than for any other sport.
• Of child bicyclists (16 years and under) killed on the road, 49 percent are killed while bicycling on minor roads (connecting roads and neighborhood streets) and almost 49 percent are killed while bicycling on major roads (high-volume roads across cities and towns).
• Almost half of bicycle crashes occur in driveways or on sidewalks

For some great safety tips and additional information, please visit the Safe Kids USA website.  You can also find information on "bike to work" and "bike to school" programs on the CalTrans webiste.

Join members of the APD bike team at our 1st Annual Bicycle Rodeo on May 18, 2013!

Hit and Run Fatality

Incident: Fatal Hit and Run Traffic Collision


Contact: Watch Commander – (626) 574-5156

Date / Time of News Release: May 7, 2013 – 11:00 p.m.

On May 7, 2013 shortly before 8:00 p.m., the police department received a series of 9-1-1 calls reference a traffic collision that occurred in the 200 block of west Foothill Blvd. The collision reportedly involving a motorcycle. Upon arrival, officers discovered a motorcyclist had been involved in a traffic collision with an automobile. The rider was down and severely injured; the other involved party fled the scene in the automobile. The motorcyclist was treated at the scene by Arcadia Fire Department Paramedics and transported to Huntington Memorial Hospital. Sadly, he died from injuries sustained in the collision. The rider’s name is not being released pending notification of family. (See below)

The hit and run suspect fled in an “electric blue” Mitsubishi, possible Lancer, that will have passenger side collision damage.

The incident is being investigated by the Arcadia Police Detectives.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at (626) 574-5151, case #1302136

If you prefer to provide information ANONYMOUSLY, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the tip page at Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers.

Robert T. Guthrie, Chief of Police


By: Bob Anderson, Lieutenant

*UPDATE 2:00 p.m. on May 8, 2013:  The motorcyclist's name is Kenneth Doherty.  Mr. Doherty was 32-years-old and was a resident of Los Angeles.

 

Weekly Activity Highlights for April 28 - May 4, 2013

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_4.28.13.pdf

Community Bike Ride 2013

A few shots from the Community Bike Ride where some of our Arcadia Police Department Bicycle Enforcement Team assisted with traffic control.  The bike ride is held annually in conjunction with the Arcadia Firefighters' Pancake Breakfast.  Don't forget about the 1st Annual Bicycle Rodeo coming up on May 18th. 

 

National Police Week 2013

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.  National Police Memorial Week runs from May 12-18, 2013.  Thousands of members of law enforcement will attend local, state, and national memorial services during this week.

The National Memorial Service began in 1982 as a gathering in Senate Park of approximately 120 survivors and supporters of law enforcement. Decades later, the event, more commonly known as National Police Week, has grown to a series of events which attracts thousands of survivors and law enforcement officers to our Nation's Capital each year.

For information on events at the California Peace Officers' Memorial (pictured), please visit the California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation website.  Events in Sacramento began on Sunday, May 5, 2013.

Weekly Tip - Celebrate Safely & Responsibly!

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 Cinco de Mayo!