Halloween Street Closure - Longden Avenue

Halloween Night, Saturday, October 31st. - Longden Avenue will be closed to through traffic between El Monte - Holly Avenues from 4:00 - 10:30 pm.  The closure is to accommodate 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.

Happy Halloween! Celebrate Safely!

Wishing everyone the best on Halloween! Please celebrate safely!

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 & Human Services)

• Halloween-Safety.com

Time for a Change! Clocks Fall Back Tonight!

Set your clocks back one hour tonight before you go to bed. Officially, the time change is at 2:00 a.m., Sunday, November 1, 2015.  Gain an hour of sleep and wake refreshed!

DUI Saturation Patrols Scheduled Halloween Weekend

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

October 27, 2015

 

Contact:  Sgt. Kollin Cieadlo – 626-574-5475

DUI Enforcement Operations Planned this Weekend

Arcadia, CA - Officers from the Arcadia Police Department’s Traffic Bureau will be deploying this weekend to stop and arrest alcohol and drug-impaired drivers in the Department’s ongoing traffic safety campaign.  DUI Saturation Patrols will deploy on October 30, 2015 between the hours of 7:00 PM and 3:00 AM in areas with high frequencies of DUI collisions and/or arrests.

In California, this deadly crime led to 867 deaths and over 23,000 serious injuries in 2013 because someone failed to designate a sober driver.  Nationally, the latest data shows over 10,000 were killed by an impaired driver. Over the course of the past three years officers have investigated 119 DUI collisions which has resulted in 76 people being injured.

Recent statistics reveal that 30 percent of drivers in fatal crashes had one or more drugs in their systems.  A study of active drivers showed more tested positive for drugs that may impair driving (14 percent) than did for alcohol (7.3 percent).  Of the drugs, marijuana was most prevalent, at 7.4 percent, slightly more than alcohol. Everyone should be mindful that if you’re taking medication – whether prescription or over-the-counter – drinking even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment affects. 

Law Enforcement emphasizes the preventable nature of drunk driving reminding everyone that all it takes is a little planning ahead. Designate a sober driver or call a cab. But whatever you do, don’t drink and drive. The California Office of Traffic Safety DDVIP (Designated Driver VIP) mobile app is now available for free download on iOS and Android devices. Launched last year, the new DDVIP app offers enhanced features, allowing users to “Map a Spot” with their current location to find DDVIP partnering establishments in their area or a “List of Spots” to search all participating bars and restaurants throughout California. Users will be offered free incentives at each bar to celebrate their life saving role.  They can stay up-to-date with the latest from DDVIP and see what other users are saying via its social tab. Also through the app, for those who want to imbibe but also make it a point to plan ahead, users can easily order a sober ride from Uber, Lyft or Curb – all from one screen. 

The cost of a ride home is cheap, nothing compared to a $10,000 DUI conviction and the ‘inconvenience’ of not driving your own car home is nothing compared to the inconvenience of spending time behind bars.

Funding for this DUI operation is provided to the Arcadia Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to ‘Report Drunk Driver – Call 9-1-1.

Robert T. Guthrie

Chief of Police

By: Kollin Cieadlo

Traffic Sergeant

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!

Arcadia Public Library CLOSED on Thursday, October 29th

The Arcadia Public Library will be closed for business on Thursday, October 29, 2015, due to a planned power outage. Library staff expects to reopen for normal business hours on Friday, October 30, 2015.

Weekly Tip - 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!

Halloween Night, Saturday, October 31st. - Longden Avenue will be closed to through traffic between El Monte - Holly Avenues from 4:00 - 10:30 pm.  The closure is to accommodate 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 Activity Highlights for October 18 - 24, 2015

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_10.18.15.pdf

Special Traffic Enforcement and Crash Prevention Grant

NEWS RELEASE

October 26, 2015

           

CONTACT: Sgt. Kollin Cieadlo / 626-574-5475

ARCADIA POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT FOR

SPECIAL TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND CRASH PREVENTION

The Arcadia Police Department has been awarded a $137,000  grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries. The Arcadia Police Department will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education.

The Arcadia Police Department benefits from this grant by enhancing the department’s current traffic philosophy that embraces educating our community regarding traffic safety and enforcing hazardous traffic violations that place the city’s residents and visitors at risk.  As with last year, the grant will provide advanced, specialized training for Arcadia Police Department personnel and will create even more opportunities for our officers to be visible throughout the community.   We have every reason to believe the combined efforts of the Office of Traffic Safety and the Arcadia Police Department will have an impact in reducing the number of people injured or killed in traffic collisions.

After falling dramatically between 2006 and 2010, the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions has been slowly rising.  Particularly alarming are recent increases in pedestrian and bicycle fatalities, the growing dangers of distracting technologies, and the emergence of drug-impaired driving as a major problem. This grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these and other devastating problems such as drunk driving, speeding and crashes at intersections.

“Overall, California’s roadways are among the safest in the nation,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft.  “But to meet future mobility, safety, and accessible transportation objectives, we have to reverse this recent trend in order to reach our common goal – zero deaths on our roadways.  The Office of Traffic Safety and the Arcadia Police Department want to work with everyone to create a culture of traffic safety across Arcadia and the state.”

Activities that the grant will fund include:

·         Educational presentations

·         DUI checkpoints

·         DUI saturation patrols

·         Distracted driving enforcement

·         Seat belt and child safety seat enforcement

·         Bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement

·         Speed, red light, and stop sign enforcement

·         Warrant service operations targeting multiple DUI offenders

·         Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets,” identifying worst-of-the-worst DUI offenders

·         Specialized DUI and drugged driving training such as Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE), and Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE)

·         Stakeout operations to observe the “worst-of-the-worst” repeat DUI offender probationers with suspended or revoked driver licenses

Funding for this program is from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Robert T. Guthrie

Chief of Police

By: Kollin Cieadlo

Traffic Sergeant

  

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!

What is Red Ribbon Week?

Red Ribbon Week runs October 23rd-31st, 2015. 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.

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 Tip - Connect with APD BEFORE the Need Arises! #Preparedness

Take the time to connect with the Arcadia Police Department before the need arises!  Be it an emergency or natural disaster like the winds of late 2012, or an earthquake; a school lock down or evacuation; a lost child or missing at-risk adult; neighborhood crime information and prevention tips; road closures or traffic information; help locating suspects in crimes; online reports or purchase of overnight parking permits; alerts of area police activity, and more!  APD has a presence on a variety of platforms in order to reach the community at virtually any time or any place.

Website - www.ArcadiaPD.org

Arcadia PD MyPD Smart Phone App - http://mypdapp.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ArcadiaPD

Twitter - @ArcadiaPD

Nixle - http://local.nixle.com/arcadia-police-department/

City of Arcadia Nextdoor -  https://nextdoor.com/login/

Crime Mapping - http://www.crimemapping.com/

Weekly Activity Highlights for October 11 - 17, 2015

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_10.11.15.pdf

Weekday Road Closure on First Avenue

Weekday Road Closure through November 6, 2015

First Avenue / Wheeler Street to Santa Clara Street

First Avenue will be closed on weekdays to accommodate storm drain improvements between Wheeler and Santa Clara Streets. The roadway will be open on weekends and business access is available. Please use alternate routes.
 

Longtime APD Sergeant Says Goodbye

(Sergeant Steve Fallavollita and Chief Bob Guthrie)

We bid farewell to longtime Arcadia Police Department's Sergeant Steve Fallavollita this week. Steve has served the Arcadia community since January 1985. As a young Police Officer, Steve served as a Field Training Officer, SWAT Sniper, and Detective. He promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1992 and proudly worked many details in his supervisory role. In addition to Patrol Sergeant, Steve was our Personnel and Training Sergeant for several years and spent time supervising our former K-9 program, SWAT Snipers, and our Field Training Program.

Chief Guthrie summed it up best, saying, "Thank you, Steve, for all your hard work, commitment, mentorship, and, most of all, friendship over the years. What you’ve done here for our organization the past three decades has truly mattered.  Enjoy your well-deserved retirement, my friend...you’ve certainly earned it!"

Thank you Steve...enjoy the next chapter in retirement, we will all miss you!

Weekly Tip - Drop! Cover! And, Hold On!



Are you prepared for the next big earthquake?  Tomorrow, Thursday, October 15, 2015, at 10:15 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.

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.

Follow #LAQuake on Twitter for earthquakes occurring in the greater LA area. As focus shifts to a local area or quake name, more specific hashtags may become relevant.

Weekly Activity Highlights for October 4 - 10, 2015

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_10.04.15.pdf

Recent Robberies are Good Reminder to Think About Your Personal Safety!

Our personal safety is something we should always be considering, especially when out in public. As the shopping season approaches, and in light of a couple recent area street robberies, there is no better time for a Personal Safety reminder. Here are some tips and thoughts on steps you can take to help maintain your personal safety:

 

 

•Awareness & Avoidance - Not enough can be said for being aware of your surroundings. It does not matter where you are, at home, out shopping, driving, at the park, DO NOT settle into a fog and become so involved in your task that you fail to look around. Scan the area before you head out. Look around and see what potential threats may be looming. Are there suspicious persons parked by your car? Is there a car approaching slowly from behind? If you see something that makes you suspicious or uncomfortable, walk away, return to the store, and report the activity and your observations to security or store staff.

 

•Be a Good Witness - If you see a crime or fall victim, be the best witness you can be. Without good suspect descriptions it is difficult for police to conduct follow-up, apprehend criminals, and hopefully, help prevent others from becoming future victims. Basic physical descriptions such as hair color and style, height, weight and build, clothing color and type, suspect vehicle description and license plate, direction of travel, are all things that a responding police officer will ask for. Try and make note of anything specific to the suspect such as tattoos, scars, piercings or perhaps damage in a particular location on a suspect vehicle.

 

•Consider the Stakes - If this is a property crime and you are in fear for your safety, give up the purse, the wallet, the car. Your personal well-being is much more valuable than your property. Property can be replaced, you can't. 

 

•Make a Scene! - Drawing attention to yourself, and more importantly, to the suspect, can not only deter the crime but also bring forward other witnesses and possibly help. Yell, scream, use a whistle, run away...

 

•Don't be a Target - Walk with a purpose and look about surveying your surroundings. Carry your keys and whistle in your hand, not buried in your purse. This allows you to immediately open your vehicle or set off your car alarm if needed. Keep your purse tucked under your shoulder, not dangling down or sitting unattended in a cart.

 

Query the topic of personal safety on-line. There are many quality sites that offer additional advice and products that can bolster your safety. Best overall advice...Awareness and Avoidance!

Weekly Tip - Curious About Police Activity?

Quite often, our officers are asked, "Why were there police cars on my street yesterday?" Did you know, you can take a proactive approach to crime prevention by becoming aware of crime trends and police activity in your neighborhood? The Arcadia Police Department provides the community with daily updates that detail crimes occurring within our jurisdiction through the service CrimeMapping.com. You can access the CrimeMapping.com website at any time, or you cna subscribe to daily email alerts, delivering a daily synopsis of activity directly to your email in-box. Community members are the first step in crime prevention and this type of information will give you the advantage in knowing what to watch for. Sign-up for daily updates HERE.

Weekly Activity Highlights for September 27 - October 3, 2015

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_9.27.15.pdf

Home & Personal Safety Presentation

Global Tweet-a-Thon 2015 (Virtual Ride-Along)

A Day on Patrol with Your Local Police or Sheriff – Arcadia PD to Participate in Global Tweet-a-Thon

The Arcadia Police Department is participating in a Global Tweet-a-thon on Friday, October 2, 2015. What is it like to patrol the streets of Arcadia on a Friday morning or evening? What types of calls do Arcadia officers respond to? We will participate in this "virtual ride-along" in an effort to give Arcadia residents a glimpse inside the way officers work to keep our community safe.

The Arcadia Police Department will join hundreds of participating law enforcement agencies across multiple countries to take to Twitter in an effort to bring attention and understanding to the use of social media by law enforcement.

Agencies will tweet using the same hashtag, #poltwt, to create awareness about police work and law enforcement issues, as well as to promote the use of social media and transparency in law enforcement.

Please be aware the number of Twitter messages generated in conjunction with the hashtag, #poltwt, and from our agency, @ArcadiaPD, will be in excess of a typical daily number of Twitter messages from our agency. Please take this into consideration should you have “push notifications” activated for our Twitter feed.