Police Explorer Recruitment Open House

Recruitment: The Arcadia Police Department is looking for young men and women, ages 14 to 20-years-old, who live in the East San Gabriel Valley area and are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement.

Philosophy: The "Learning for Life" division of The Boy Scouts of America developed its Explorer Division for career-oriented young adults. Members of the Explorer Program are referred to as "Explorers" as the program is distinctively different from scouting. Members are actively engaged in variety of exploring activities of which are developed and supervised by local law enforcement agencies. The program is co-educational and each member works alongside professional and experienced law enforcement personnel.

Post #101: Explorer Post #101 is sponsored by the Arcadia Police Department as a community-based policing program. This highly successful program is designed to educate and involve young men and women in day-to-day police operations. The program also serves to increase interest in law enforcement functions and encourage individuals to seek a rewarding career path in the field of public safety.

As an Explorer, young adults will have the opportunity to assist the Arcadia Police Department in various community events such as parades, health fairs, and concerts. Explorers will assist the Department with tasks related to various operational and administrative functions, and during times of emergency such as wind storms or other natural disasters. Through participation in the Department’s Ride-A-Long Program, individuals will also broaden their knowledge of jobs skills, obtain greater understanding of police work, and gain insight into the daily challenges of police work. In addition, Explorers will be given the opportunity to give of themselves to the community and build lifelong positive attributes.

For questions or more information, contact Detective Ashby, (626) 574-5188

Weekly Tip - Keep Me Wild! (Bears)

The City of Arcadia’s proximity to the foothills increases the opportunity for various wildlife to wander into our neighborhoods and private property. Bears are no strangers to the foothill neighborhoods and the likelihood of bears coming into yards, pools, and trashcans is increased during the warm months like we have been experiencing. Foothill residents should be alert for bears in their neighborhoods. Here are some tips from the California Department of Fish and Game:

Stash Your Food and Trash

Bears and other animals are attracted to anything edible or smelly.

• Store garbage in bear-proof containers, or store garbage in your garage until pick-up.
• Keep food indoors or in airtight and odor-free containers.
• Put away picnic leftovers; clean BBQ grills.
• Keep pet food inside, and bird feeders away.
• Pick up fallen tree fruit as soon as possible, or protect fruit trees with electric fencing.
• Remove cosmetic fragrances and other attractants, including bird feeders and compost piles.

Bears are wild animals and should never be approached.  Make sure to check your yards and closely monitor children and even small animals, even in the "safety" of your own yard.

Our officers will respond when called to a wildlife sighting and our primary goal is to allow the animal to leave the area and return back to the foothills.  Under most conditions, the officers presence, use of vehicles, horns, lights, or stun bag rounds (similar to bean bags), are sufficient to encourage the animal to leave the area.  Our officers are not equipped with tranquilizers and Game Wardens may not be readily available to respond due to large areas of coverage.  If life is threatened, use of deadly force is an option.

Please visit the California Department of Fish and Game "Keep Me Wild" website, or the City of Arcadia's "Living with Wildlife" page for additional information.

Weekly Activity Highlights for September 30 - October 6, 2012

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_9.30.12.pdf

Taking Pride in our Badge

Weekly Tip - End Distracted Driving "Put it Down"

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has launched a campaign to help combat "Distracted Driving." DOT is encouraging Law Enforcement, community groups, schools, and everyone to become involved and spread the word of the dangers associated with distracted driving

"Distracted Driving" is any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing. Using a cell phone without a "hands-free" device and texting are two of the most common examples of distracted driving. However, grooming, changing your radio station or MP3 player, manipulating a GPS device, reading, eating are all other example of common activity that drivers engage in, placing themselves and others in harms way.

California law prohibits use of a cell phone while driving without using a "hands-free" device. There are a few exceptions including in case of an emergency, for emergency service personnel, and for certain commercial purposes. Texting is also prohibited in California. California Vehicle Code sections 23123-23124 cover these violations.

Research on distracted driving reveals some surprising facts:

•Using a cell phone use while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver's reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08 percent. (Source: University of Utah)

•Driving while using a cell phone reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37 percent. (Source: Carnegie Mellon)

•In 2010, 3092 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver and an estimated additional 416,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving a distracted driver. (NHTSA)

•The younger, inexperienced drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes.

•Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. (Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

Please join the campaign and help spread the word, "Put It Down!"

Weekly Activity Highlights for September 23 - 29, 2012

http://www.ci.arcadia.ca.us/docs/weekly_9.23.12.pdf

Greatest Compliments Come from Your Community!

Link to the story at the Mountain View News!