Weekly Activity Highlights for February 6-12, 2011

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_2-6.pdf

CANCEL Missing Person's Alert

The Arcadia Police Department is cancelling the Missing Person’s Alert for Emilia Alvarez.

The family for Ms. Alvarez reported to the Arcadia Police Department that they found the missing person in the City of Los Angeles this afternoon sitting at a bus stop. Apparently, Ms. Alvarez went to the area to visit family and became disoriented.

She is in good health and back at home.

Thank you to all who assisted and expressed interest with this case.

LT P. Foley#440 2/12/11 5:40PM

LAFD News & Information: 40 Years Ago Today: The Sylmar/San Fernando Earthquake Strikes Los Angeles

Brian Humphrey, Los Angeles Fire Department Spokesman, posted this piece on the tragic Sylmar quake that hit 40 years ago in 1971. It is an interesting article! Take the time to view the attached video with actual footage from the incident. This serves as a great reminder to prepare yourself and your family "for the inevitable."

LAFD News & Information: 40 Years Ago Today: The Sylmar/San Fernando Earthquake Strikes Los Angeles

Weekly Tip - Telephone Scams & the Elderly

Back in November 2010, we ran a post entitled "Grandparent Scam - Don't Fall Prey."  Arcadia Police had responded on several incidents involving telephone scams and the elderly, one of which resulted in financial loss to a victim.  It was, and remains our desire to make the public aware of this type of scam and encourage everyone to share this info with family and friends.  We hope that by making potential victims aware of this type of scam, they will be more likely to question unknown callers and not be victimized.

During the last week of January 2011, an Arcadia couple in their 80's received a series of phone calls from two different suspects claiming to be their "grandson" and a police sergeant.  The "grandson" told the victims that he was on a trip to Mexico with a friend who had been arrested for drug possession.  The "grandson" said that he needed bail money and not to tell his parents about the incident.  A few hours later, the victims received a second call, this time from a male who said that he was a police sergeant and gave the victims instructions and amounts of money to send for bail and fines.  The suspect told the victims to wire the money via Western Union and gave 3 different amounts, wired to two different people. 

Unfortunately, many people are unaware of bail and release procedures here in California, let alone in another country.  This, among other factors, is one of the reasons suspects will target older folks, hoping that they can gain an emotional and quick response to the "need" to help out the young relative.  In our case, the victims went to their bank and withdrew funds, transferring the money the next day.  By the time the money was transferred and the victims realized their loss, the money had been picked-up by the suspects and was gone.

Investigation of this type of case is difficult on many fronts and the crooks know this.  That is why it is so important to spread awareness and to educate those that we know in hopes of preventing the crime from happening to others.  If you have a loved one, a friend, or perhaps a neighbor that is older, share this information with them and help keep them from becoming a victim.  Thanks to Brian Day at the Pasadena Star News who recently ran an article on the topic to help raise awareness.

Weekly Activity Highlights for January 30 - February 5, 2011

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_1-30.pdf

Celebration for a 30-year Career!

Co-workers, current and retired, gathered along with family and friends of Captain Randy Kirby on Friday night to celebrate his retirement.  The evening was filled with great memories and stories recapping Randy's career that stems some three decades.  Randy served as a Police Reserve Officer for the Sierra Madre Police Department before beginning his 30-year career here in Arcadia.  Rising through the ranks, Randy retired on December 30, 2010.  Take a look at a nice article at Arcadia Patch, written by Joe Taglieri, that speaks to the career of Captain Kirby.  Captain Kirby is pictured to the left, receiving his retirement badge and identification from Chief Bob Sanderson.

A main focal point to Randy's career was the Arcadia Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics Team.  Randy was placed on the team early in his career and played a key role in the constant development of the team throughout his career.  Newly appointed Captain Bob Guthrie put together a slide show that chronicled the APD SWAT evolution over the years highlighting Randy's involvement. Members of the current team (below left) then presented Captain Kirby with a framed memento, detailing the team development.

Chief Bob Sanderson, Captains Gene Gioia and Bob Guthrie also presented newly retired Captain Randy Kirby with a snapshot of his career, in the form of a shadow box.  The party was a nice send-off for Randy who thanked his family and co-workers for influencing his career.  Thank YOU, Randy, for 30-years of service to APD! 

A NOT to do tip with Marijuana!

Two plain clothes investigators are conducting business in the local city credit union and a young man enters the small establishment.  Everyone exchanges polite nods, but almost immediately, the plain clothes sergeant is overwhelmed by the smell of marijuana.  Turning to his partner, the sergeant asks the other officer, "Do you smell something?"  The sergeant just happens to be a trained DRE, or Drug Recognition Expert, and the partner officer who is trained and experienced in narcotics, also acknowledges the smell of marijuana.

The sergeant then turns to the young man who had just come in and politely asks, "So, do you have a medical marijuana card to go along with all that weed in your pocket?"  The young man, now stunned, turns to the sergeant with a look of being caught with his hands in the cookie jar and replies, "Uh, no."  The investigators identified themselves, the young man was cooperative, and within minutes was issued a citation for possession of marijuana.

With the recent changes in laws pertaining to marijuana, simple possession of certain amounts of marijuana are now treated as infractions in the State of California.  The topic of marijuana is widely talked about and opinions differ as to the dangers associated with use of marijuana, but we will indeed enforce all regulations in regards to its use and possession.  Please don't be lulled into the belief that simple possession of marijuana is not unlawful.

Two take-aways from this story come to mind: first, don't walk into a public business when you possess and reek of marijuana, especially when the business is frequented by police officers; and second, realize that marijuana laws are still being enforced.