Deputy David March, You Are Not Forgotten!

Today is the anniversary of the murder of Deputy David March. Dave was killed during a traffic stop on Live Oak Avenue, east of Peck Road, on April 29, 2002, at about 10:40 a.m. A memorial was built in his honor at the scene. Temple Deputies remember Deputy March not only on the anniversary of his death but throughout the year by displaying his call sign, "57" on the rear window of Temple units. Please join APD in honoring this slain local hero, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Deputy David March.

Weekly Activity Highlights for April 15 - 21, 2018

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=16855

Weekly Tip - Be Safe While Walking!

Warmer weather, daylight saving time, summer approaching, are all reasons more pedestrians are hitting the road in the early mornings and evenings.  It is important to practice good walking and running safety as a pedestrian.  Many factors impact whether or not drivers will see pedestrians. Some vision obscurements and lighting conditions are not controlled by the pedestrian, but we can greatly enhance our safety and visibility with some proactive steps:

• Wear light/bright colored clothing, preferably clothing with reflective strips or perhaps a safety vest.
• Carry a lighted flashlight when walking at night.
• Use sidewalks when available.
• Walk facing traffic so you can see cars approaching.
• If walking or running in the roadway, stay out of traffic lanes - it is unsafe and possibly unlawful.
• Make eye contact with drivers before crossing streets, additional lanes, or driveways.
• Never assume drivers will stop or yield - walk defensively.
• If you must have music or talk on your phone, use only one earpiece and keep the volume down. Listen for traffic!
• Be aware of your surroundings and practice personal safety!
• Vary your routes so you are not predictable.
• Avoid dimly lit roads, alleys, and areas.
• Carry identification and a cell phone.
• Walk with a partner or friend.
• Don't approach vehicles stopping near you or in your path.
• Consider personal safety items such as pepper spray.

Child Seat Directed Enforcement and Safety Info

During the week of April 29, 2018, through May 5, 2018, the Arcadia Police Department Traffic Bureau will be conducting directed enforcement focused on child seat safety. During this week officers will be targeting drivers who allow children to ride in vehicles while not properly restrained.

Education is a significant deterrence when it comes to child seat safety. Educational materials will be handed out to area schools and officers will be available for questions regarding child seat safety.

Motor vehicle crashes remain the number one cause of death for children and young adults. In 2014, over 6000 children under 14 were killed or seriously injured as a result of vehicle crashes in California. Sixty-three percent of children who died were unrestrained.

California law requires children to ride in a safety seat or booster, in the back seat, until they are at least eight years old. However, most children need a booster seat for proper belt fit until they are 10 to 12 years old. SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. recommends that children ride in the back seat, which is 40% safer than the front until they are old enough to learn to drive. For more information on child passenger safety, visit www.nhtsa.gov.

Contact Sgt. Kollin Cieadlo for additional information at 626.574.5475 or kcieadlo@arcadiaca.gov.

Ten Years of Hands-Free Law: Challenges Remain

 Put Your Phone Down. Just Drive!

Drivers are using their cell phones less often while driving, 10 years after “hands-free” became the law, but distracted driving remains a serious safety challenge in California.  Observing April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the first week in April as California Teen Safe Driving Week, safety advocates will focus on education and enforcement efforts statewide.

The Arcadia Police Department will join law enforcement throughout the state to step up enforcement along with awareness efforts by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to discourage distracted driving.  Officers will have a special emphasis this month on enforcing all cell phone and distracted driving laws. The goal is to increase voluntary compliance by drivers, but sometimes citations are necessary for motorists to better understand the importance of driving distraction 

Traffic officers have issued hundreds of thousands of citations over the past three years to those texting or calling on a hand-held cell phone. Recent legislation now makes it illegal to use your smartphone’s apps will driving.  Still, everyone has seen other drivers on a device driving in a dangerous manner next to them during a commute or a trip around town.

Since 2011, OTS has conducted an observational study of handheld cell phone use every year.  “This year’s study on the use of handheld cell phones and texting shows a decrease over past years; however, more work needs to be done to target those who were observed to still be breaking the law,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft.  “The best way to put an end to distracted driving is to educate all Californians about the danger it poses. We will do this through enforcement and education efforts like our new advertising campaign “Just Drive”, reminding drivers to put down their phones and focus on the road.”

"California’s distracted driving laws have been saving lives for a decade now,” said former State Senator Joe Simitian, who authored the state’s hands-free and no-texting laws.  “Every day, somewhere in California, someone is sitting down to dinner with their family who wouldn't have made it through the day without these laws on the books.  That’s tremendously gratifying.”

Preliminary 2017 data also shows nearly 22,000 drivers were involved in distracted driving collisions in California, a decline from the more than 33,000 drivers involved in distracted driving collisions in 2007, the last full year before the hands-free law went into effect.

“Smartphones are part of everyone’s lives now.  Texting, phone calls and posting on social media are nearly addicting,” said Sergeant Cieadlo.  “But doing these things can have deadly consequences while driving on our city’s street.  Changing these dangerous habits will help make our roadways safer for everyone.”

The Arcadia Police Department has the following Safety Tips:

-        If you receive a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location, but ‘never’ on a freeway.  Once you are safely off the road, it is safe to text.

-          Designate your passenger as your “designated texter.”  Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.

-          Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.

-         Cell phone use can be habit-forming.  Struggling to not text and drive?  Put the cell phone in the trunk or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your final destination.

The Arcadia Police Department is deploying extra traffic officers with grant-funded resources on April 23, 2018, in various locations throughout the city. Violators will be stopped and cited with fines set at $162 for first-time offenders.  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 8 - 14, 2018

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=15833

Weekly Tip - Neighborhood Concern? Reach Out to Your Area Commander!

The Arcadia Police Department has dedicated Area Commanders who are liaisons for residents, businesses, and community members within designated areas of the City. The boundaries were recently changed to align with Council Districts in the City. Take advantage of your Area Commander for any non-emergent concerns you have related to safety and quality of life issues. Our Area Commanders can be reached through at 626.574.5151 or their emails listed below. If you reach out or leave a message, please allow time for them to reply based on their schedules.

For emergencies, always dial 9-1-1. For general calls for service, contact our Dispatch at 626.574.5123.

District 1:  Lt. Nakamura - rnakamura@arcadiaca.gov

District 2:  Lt. Cullen - tcullen@arcadiaca.gov

District 3:  Sgt. Bourgeous - bbourgeous@arcadiaca.gov

District 4:  Lt. Whalen - vwhalen@arcadiaca.gov

District 5:  Lt. Castro - mcastro@arcadiaca.gov

Congrats Officer Turner - Probation Complete!

Officer Jonathan Turner has successfully completed his probation and was honored last week with a ceremonial badge pinning during the City Council meeting. Completing probation is a big step in a young career and we congratulate Officer Turner! Pictured above (left to right) are Chief Guthrie, Officer Turner, Captain Goodman, and Captain Foley.

7-Eleven Teams with Local Law Enforcement for Operation Chill

Each year, 7-Eleven, Inc. helps thousands of local police officers recognize the good guys, specifically the young ones. For the 23rd year, 7-Eleven is partnering with law enforcement agencies across the country to distribute free Slurpee® drink coupons through Operation Chill®, its popular community-service program. 

Big-city departments and small-town forces alike use the Slurpee coupons to enhance relations with the young people of their cities by rewarding them for good deeds, positive activities, and acts of kindness.

Our Officers have been armed with Slurpee coupons to distribute in coming weeks to the kids in our community. It is a nice opportunity for officers to engage and interact with kids in a positive way. Officers will "ticket" youngsters caught in the act of doing good. Appropriate "offenses" might include helping another person, deterring crime, standing up to bullying, practicing good walking, biking, or driving safety, or participating in a positive activity in our community. Each coupon can be redeemed for a small Slurpee drink at participating 7-Eleven stores.

If you receive an Operation Chill coupon, consider posting a picture to social media with your Slurpee and be sure to tag Arcadia Police Department. If we catch it, we may repost your pic! Thanks to Ashley Chen Alonzo for sending us this pic of her little ones with Officers Wang and Ashby.

Weekly Activity Highlights for April 1 - 7, 2018

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=15797

Weekly Tip - Don't Be a Target of Theft at the Gas Pump

Recently, there has been increased media coverage across the country regarding theft at gas stations. The unique setting allows thieves to catch their victims by complete surprise — when they are pumping gas or paying their tab inside the station. Most of the time, gas station customers leave their car doors unlocked and items like purses and wallets are often left in plain view. A thief is able to drive up next to the victim’s car, open an unlocked door, and grab any valuables within reach. Then, the thief quickly drives off. It happens in a matter of seconds. Some refer to these thieves as "Sliders." The pic below was from a theft in Simi Valley.

Here are some prevention tips from the National Crime Prevention Council:

• Pick stations that are well-lit and have video surveillance cameras at the pump.
• Always remove your keys and lock the doors while you are pumping gas.
• Keep valuables out of plain view in your vehicle and lock the doors even if you are going inside for a moment.
• Pay attention to your surroundings.
• Don’t let your cell phone distract you.

Dispatcher Appreciation Week 2018

The week of April 8-14, 2018 is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Appreciation week, also known as Dispatcher Appreciation Week.  Our dispatchers are the ones who answer most of the incoming calls to the department, answer all the 911 calls, and relay important information to our officers in the field. 

Dispatchers are the ones behind the scene, who are often not recognized for their work.  They are the ones who answer when you dial 911 when you need help. They are a calm voice in that moment of need, and the ones who get the information to tell first responders where they are needed. 

Telecommunicators Week began in California in 1981 and quickly grew to national recognition. Just ten years later, Congress designated the second full week of each April as a time to remember the critical role that dispatchers play in keeping us all safe.

On behalf of the Arcadia Police Department, we say “thank you.”  Thank you to all the public safety telecommunicators and dispatchers out there.  And of course, we say a special “thank you” to our dispatchers. 

Arcadia Road Closures for Santa Anita Derby 5K

The Annual Santa Anita Derby Day 5K Run and Walk will be held on Saturday, April 7^th, 2018.  As a result of this event, vehicles driving on Baldwin Avenue between Huntington Drive and Foothill Boulevard will be delayed or diverted from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.  It is recommended that alternate routes be used during this time period to avoid being detoured or delayed.

Questions or concerns may be directed to Sergeant Brian Ortiz or the on-duty Watch Commander at the Arcadia Police Department, (626) 574-5156.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Additional event information can be found at the official Derby Day 5K website HERE.

Weekly Activity Highlights for March 25 - 31, 2018

https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/showdocument?id=15758

Weekly Tip - Just Drive

(Just Drive via California Office of Traffic Safety)

Happy Easter 2018

Wishing the best to everyone during this Easter holiday. In addition to all those on the road for the holiday weekend, many schools are out for spring break. Take care on the roads and travel safely.Happy Easter!