Weekly Tip - Vacation Home Checks

Before you head out of town for vacation this summer, do everything you can to make sure your home is safe while you are gone.  After you get your home ready and ask your neighbors to keep an eye out for anything suspicious, there is one more thing you can do to have extra piece of mind while you are away.

The Arcadia Police Department’s Volunteers in Patrol offer a free Vacation Home Check service. Police Volunteers will keep a periodic eye on your home and conduct random safety checks of your property.  To sign up for this free service, call 626-574-5151 the day before you leave. 

Memorial Day 2017

The men and women of the Arcadia Police Department want to say "Thank You" to all members of the United States Armed Forces who currently serve, or served our country.

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 veterans and to current members of our military, not just today, but everyday.

Please enjoy your holiday responsibly. 

Weekly Activity Highlights for May 14 - 20, 2017

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=9861

Weekly Tip - Think Pool Safety!

Summer is quickly approaching and one of the biggest attractions during this time of year is the swimming pool. Unfortunately, our pools are also one the leading contributors to accidents, injury and death in the home. Children love water and a pool is an inviting place, not only in the summer, but throughout the year for a young child. That is why there are rules and regulations that apply to all residential swimming pools. Fences, alarms, clearance, self-closing gates and latches, are just some of the requirements. Visit your local City website and view the municipal code requirements or call your local City Hall.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has a handout available on-line that gives excellent tips for pool safety. See the City of Arcadia website and other sources, such as the Red Cross, for additional tips and resources available on the web.

In addition to the physical requirements, remember to always be aware of your young childs whereabouts when pools are near. Even if they know how to swim, keep an eye on them. Set rules for your children about not using the pool without adult supervision, keep toys and other inviting objects away from the pool when not in use, always have a phone available near the pool, keep pool gates locked and shut when not using them, do not place ladders or chairs against the outside of a pool fence. Learn basic safety techniques and take a CPR class. Be proactive and prevent accidents before they happen!

Summer time is also a time for outdoor gatherings and hosting a pool party. Never assume your child is being watched. Appoint someone to be the "pool monitor" at all times. Time is not on your side with a drowning victim. Drowning can happen in a matter of seconds. Answering the phone, getting another drink, grabbing a snack, all allow time for a drowning. Be responsible and be always aware of what is happening in the pool! If a child is missing, the first place to look should be the pool. In the event of an emergency, immediately call 9-1-1.

Zero Tolerance Click It of Ticket Campaign

Click It or Ticket Campaign May 22 - June 4 2017

 Arcadia Police Will Show Zero Tolerance

As summer kicks off and families hit the road for vacations, The Arcadia Police Department and the California Office of Traffic Safety is reminding motorists to Click It or Ticket.  Aimed at enforcing seat belt use to help keep you and your family safe, the national seat belt campaign will take place May 22 through June 4, concurrent with one of the busiest travel and holiday weekends of the year.

As the Memorial Day weekend approaches and the summer vacation season ramps up, The Arcadia Police Department wants to keep our community members safe, and make sure people are doing the one thing that can save them in a crash: buckling up. If the campaign wakes up the hundreds of thousands of Californians who still don’t heed the dangers of unrestrained driving and gets them to buckle up, it will be a success.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of the 22,441 passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in 2015 were unrestrained. During nighttime hours, that number soared to 57 percent of those killed. That’s why one focus of the Click It or Ticket campaign is nighttime enforcement. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. In Arcadia, the ticket cost for an adult seat belt violation is $162, with penalties for not restraining a child at $465.

In 2015, 545 Californians where killed because they did not buckle their seat belts according to NHTSA. Nationally, almost twice as many males were killed in crashes as compared to females, with lower belt use rates, too. Of the males killed in crashes in 2015, more than half (52%) were unrestrained. For females killed in crashes, 42 percent were not buckled up.

For more information on the Click It or Ticket mobilization, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/ciot         

Arrest of Interest/Crime Trends

On Thursday evening, May 11th, a GPS enabled package was taken from an Arcadia resident's porch. The package had been placed there by APD in cooperation with the resident. Following the GPS signal, officers were led to a business parking lot in the City of Hacienda Heights where a suspect vehicle in the theft was found. The suspect vehicle immediately fled and a pursuit was started. Due to the unsafe driving by the suspect, the pursuit was terminated shortly thereafter by APD. Air support continued to track the suspect vehicle and another police agency initiated a pursuit of the suspect who ultimately abandoned the vehicle in the City of South Gate, fleeing on foot to a nearby theater. The suspect was found inside the theater and was arrested.

During the investigation, officers learned the suspect vehicle was embezzled and they found stolen items to include credit/debit cards along with methamphetamine inside the vehicle. The suspect was identified as Christopher T. Cook, a 27-year-old man from Rancho Cucamonga. Cook was booked at the Arcadia City Jail on multiple felony charges along with a LA County Probation PRCS (Post Release Community Supervision) hold.

Anyone with information on this case or other cases is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5156. Or, if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” mobile app on Google play or the App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org. 

Weekly Activity Highlights May 7 - 13, 2017

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=9819

National Police Week 2017

President Donald J. Trump Proclaims May 15, 2017, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 14 through May 20, 2017, as Police Week

PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY AND POLICE WEEK, 2017

- - - - - - -

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

During Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week, we honor the men and women of law enforcement who have been killed or disabled in the course of serving our communities.  Police officers are the thin blue line whose sacrifices protect and serve us every day, and we pledge to support them as they risk their lives to safeguard ours.

Last year, 118 officers died in the line of duty, and of those, 66 were victims of malicious attacks.  These attacks increased by nearly 40 percent from 2015.  This must end.  That is why one of my first actions was to direct the Department of Justice to develop a strategy to better prevent and prosecute crimes of violence against our Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement officers.

In addition, my Administration will continue to further the efforts of the Department of Justice to improve the lives of law enforcement officers and their families.  This includes supporting the Officer Safety and Wellness Group, which improves officer safety on the job, and accelerating the processing of benefits through the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program, which provides vital resources to the families of fallen officers.

Our liberties depend on the rule of law, and that means supporting the incredible men and women of law enforcement.  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 and 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, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2017, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 14 through May 20, 2017, as Police Week.  In humble appreciation of our hard-working law enforcement officers, Melania and I will light the White House in blue on May 15.  I call upon all Americans to observe Peace Officers Memorial Day and Police Week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.  I also call on the Governors of the States and Territories and officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, 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 fifteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-first.

DONALD J. TRUMP

Happy Mother's Day 2017

Wishing the best to all Moms on this Mother's Day 2017!

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

Arrest of Interest/Crime Trends

Two weeks in a row, we have had a significant identity theft related arrest. An officer working burglary suppression late this past Tuesday night, May 9th, came across an occupied car with no license plates parked in front of a home in the 300 block Monte Vista Drive. APD units stopped the car when it pulled away and contacted the driver. The officers saw credit cards, mail, and open packages in the vehicle. Investigation by the officers found the items to be in different names from the area and outside the city. The driver also had issued driver's licenses in two different names but with his picture. Checks, money transfer receipts, social security numbers, and other items related to identity theft were found in the car.

Jun Kuai, a 30-year-old "transient" was arrested and booked at the Arcadia City Jail on multiple felony charges.

After follow-up, Detectives believe Suspect Kuai was able to fraudulently obtain in excess $20,000.00 loss from various victims through assorted means.

Anyone with information on this case or other cases is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5156. Or, if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” mobile app on Google play or the App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org. 

Weekly Activity Highlights for April 30 - May 6, 2017

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=9789

Weekly Tip - Motorcycle Licensing and Safety

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Here is a post offering some tips on motorcycle safety and education.

Summer time, gas prices, both are 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:

•National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

•Web Bike World

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

Bicycle Riders and Motorists Alike, Let's Be Cautious!

The Arcadia Police Department and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) today call upon bicycle riders and motorists alike to be cautious during May’s National Bicycle Safety Month, and every other month during the year.

For riders and drivers, "Roll Model" means actively decreasing the risks of traffic crashes, preventable injuries and deaths. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 818 bicyclists died and over 45,000 were injured in crashes in 2015, with deaths rising over 12% from 2014 numbers. Over the 10-year period from 2006 to 2015, the average age of cyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes increased from 41 to 45. Alcohol involvement – either for the motor vehicle operator or for the cyclist – was reported in 37% of all fatal cyclist crashes in 2015.

“Spring has arrived after a wet winter season which makes it a great time for family and friends to strap on a helmet, hop on a bike, and see just how fun and welcoming our community’s streets and bike paths are,” said Sgt. Kollin Cieadlo. “Whether a person rides or drives, everyone should know about bicycle safety, now more than ever.”

California has the Move Over Law to share the road requiring motorist to pass bike riders with at least a 3 foot cushion. Support community efforts in your community, be involved in bicycle safety, whether while riding a bike, or driving a vehicle.

* Be A Roll Model:

* Ride and Drive Focused - Never ride or drive distracted.

* Ride and Drive Prepared - Always expect the unexpected.

* Safety First - Always wear a bicycle helmet when on a bicycle and a seat belt when in a vehicle.

* Know the Rules of the Road - A bicyclist is considered a vehicle on the road with all the rights and responsibilities of motorized traffic.

* Share the Road - Both motorist and bicyclist should look out for each other and show mutual respect.

For more information on Bicycle Safety Month, please visit www.NHTSA.gov/bicycle-safety.

Successful Distracted Driving Campaign During April

Arcadia Police Department Conducts Successful Distracted Driving Effort

Safety Message Strongly Enforced

During the month of April, motorists caught violating California’s distracted-driving law received a clear message from law enforcement during the high-visibility enforcement campaign.

“Using a hand-held phone for calls, texting or apps while driving is something we all know is dangerous and wrong, but too many drivers are doing it anyway. So when we see it, we show zero tolerance,” said Sergeant Kollin Cieadlo, Arcadia Police Department.

The Arcadia Police Department issued 191 citations to violators of California’s distracted-driving law during the recent enforcement period. The law provides that it is illegal to hold and use a cell phone while texting, calling or using apps while driving. It must be affixed to the vehicle and may be operated in hands free mode using voice activation or used with the motion of a single swipe or tap of the driver’s finger.

“Distracted driving kills too many people for us to ignore the facts and pretend it’s okay—it is never acceptable to text and drive,” said Sergeant Kollin Cieadlo. According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,477 people were killed, nationwide, and another 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015.

Offenders caught texting and driving will face tickets totaling at least $162, and higher for a second violation. Though the high-visibility enforcement effort is over, law enforcement officers will continue watching for distracted drivers to make sure all motorists keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.

This campaign is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Weekly Activity Highlights for April 23 - 29, 2017

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=9722

Weekly Tip - 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 website.