The Official Publication of the San Diego Police Officers Association

Transcription

The Official Publication of the San Diego Police Officers Association
The
Informant
The Official Publication of the San Diego Police Officers Association
Volume XXX, No. 11
November 2010
San Diego Police Officers Association
858.573.1199 (Office)
8388 Vickers Street
858.573.1574 (Fax)
San Diego, CA 92111
www.sdpoa.org
Brian Marvel
President
Tom Bostedt
Director
Jeff Jordon
Vice President
Mike Fender
Director
Woody DuBois
Secretary
Paul Hubka
Director
Committees and Committee Chairs
Legal Committee.....................................Lewis (Chair), Bostedt, Levitt
Political Action Committee.................. DuBois (Chair), Bostedt, Fender
• SCALE/CCLEA/Big 11/PORAC
Retirement..................................................................................... Levitt
Randy Levitt
Treasurer
Rob Lewis
Director
Paul Paxton
Director
Editorial and Advertising
Information
Editor, Emily Cox
858.573.1199 x 220
[email protected]
Editorial Policy
Business & Governance.................... Jordon (Chair), DuBois, Paxton
• Bylaws & Policy
• Administration
• Parliamentarian
The views or opinions expressed in The Informant are
not necessarily the opinions of the San Diego Police Officers Association, the San Diego Police Department or
any official body or agency of the City of San Diego.
Member Relations.................................Bostedt (Chair), Hubka, Lewis
• Member Services
• Member Communication
We encourage article ideas and photographs about or
of interest to our members. Article abstracts, photos,
story ideas, suggestions, letters to the editor, commentaries and information may be submitted in person, by
mail or by email to the editor.
Public Relations................................... Paxton (Chair), Bostedt, Lewis
• Informant
• Website
• Charity
Freedom of expression is assured within the bounds of
good taste and the limits of available space.
Special Events/Scholarship................Hubka (Chair), DuBois, Paxton
Our target audience is law enforcement, specifically
POA members of the San Diego Police Department.
Budget & Finance..................................Levitt (Chair), Jordon, DuBois
Deadline
Labor Management....................Fender (Chair), Lewis, Hubka, Levitt
• FIT / Safety
Litigation (Ad Hoc Committee).......................... Chairs: Marvel/Jordon
2 | The Informant
All copy and advertising must be submitted by the tenth
of the month prior to the anticipated publication month;
e.g. July 10 for the August issue. Content submitted
after that date may be considered for a later issue.
President’s Message
In This Issue
Member Spotlight..................................................4
A.D. Brown Christmas Luncheon..........................4
Drug Abatement Response Team/
Team 7...................................................................5
Chaplain’s Corner..................................................6
Thanksgiving Dinner at the SDPOA......................6
The Crime Files......................................................7
Volunteers Needed for STAR/PAL
Jr. Charger Camps.................................................9
SDPOA Response to SDPD Cuts........................ 10
PAF Halloween Party.......................................... 11
Eighty Oakland Police Officers
Get Pink Slips, More to Come............................ 12
Friday Night Softball Season Ends.................... 13
Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act
Improvements Act of 2010................................ 14
SDPOA Discount Tickets.................................... 16
SDPOA Christmas Party..................................... 16
San Diego Housing Market Update................... 17
PERT Perspective............................................... 18
UC-7..................................................................... 19
RFPA Update....................................................... 20
National Law Enforcement Museum
Breaks Ground................................................... 21
Code 4 Chronicles.............................................. 22
SDPD Officers Escort Burnaby, BC
Fire Captain Through City.................................. 24
Watch the Charger Game at the SDPOA........... 24
Special Thanks to the Over the Hill Gang......... 24
In Remembrance................................................ 25
Stranger than Fiction......................................... 26
On the Road........................................................ 27
At a Glance Calendar......................................... 28
Office Manager’s Report.................................... 29
Classified Ads..................................................... 29
In the next few days, we’ll have final
word on exactly where we can expect
the City’s budget to go – the outcome
of Prop D will determine whether the
Department will have to face significant cuts next fiscal year (or sooner) or
if we will be able to have the stability
that we thought we had attained with
our two year contract.
If you are reading this before November 2, please be sure to vote YES on
Prop D – it will give the City a cushion of revenue that will help
prevent sworn officer cuts. I’ve said it before – no one likes the
idea of higher taxes, but in this case we have already exhausted
other options and new revenue is sorely needed to keep our Department afloat.
Throughout campaign season, Councilmembers DeMaio and Faulconer were often heard saying that there would be no cuts to public safety and the Yes on D campaign was using this as a “scare
tactic,” but the reality is that the Chief had to present a budget to
the Mayor that cuts nearly $16 million and that budget will go to
the City Council. There is nothing left to cut in the Department
– the cuts are very real. While DeMaio and Faulconer say they
won’t cut public safety, if their past practices are any indication of
their future actions, we will very likely be seeing cuts unless Prop
D passes.
If Prop D fails, the POA will work with the Department to mitigate the
impact of the cuts as much as possible and we will have until the
end of June 2011 to work through solutions as best as possible.
In other news, the POA is in the middle of the meet and confer
process over active and retiree health care as well as DROP. The
DROP study is expected to be completed in January 2011 and the
DROP vote, originally scheduled for September, has yet to be rescheduled. We know that these topics are very important to all of
our members and we’ll keep you posted on any developments in
all of these items.
On a final note, the POA board election will be conducted during
the first week of November. I’d like to thank all of the applicants
for their interest in serving the SDPOA membership. All active
members are eligible to vote and you should have received a ballot and the candidate statements at your home in late October. If
you did not receive a ballot, you may stop by the POA office to pick
up a spare ballot and collection envelope. While you’re here, you
may want to check that we have your current address on file.
Be safe,
Board Minutes.................................................... 30
On the Cover: Photo taken by Sergeant Ray Rowe
November 2010 | 3
Member Spotlight:
Sergeant Jason Weeden
Sergeant Jason Weeden started to become a familiar face at
SDPD at an early age and decided that he wanted to follow in
his father’s footsteps by pursuing a law enforcement career.
He was first introduced to many members of his father’s law
enforcement family at SDPOA picnics held at Big Oak Ranch,
where he watched the PD Five play “Celebration.”
When he turned 21, he applied to numerous agencies and
was quickly picked up by the Border Patrol. He spent two
years in Calexico at a time when there wasn’t much of an
FTO program – his training included being handed keys to a
car and night vision goggles. He soon got up to speed and
detained groups of illegal immigrants on his own. Operation
Gatekeeper in San Diego had shifted a significant amount of
traffic to Calexico and it was always busy, as evidenced by one
shift for the record books in which his squad detained a total
of 863 people.
In 1999, Sergeant Weeden transferred to SDPD and took a
place on Southern Division’s Border Crime Suppression Team.
After becoming a SWAT officer and FTO, he transferred to the
Beach Team for a year and then shifted back to Southern. He
then spent a year and a half at Southeastern before bouncing back to Southern after he was promoted to sergeant in
2008. He completed the SWAT academy again to become a
SWAT sergeant and also is an FTO sergeant. He is now the
supervisor of the Border Crime Suppression Team and is
spearheading Southern Division’s portion of the Department
of Homeland Security Stonegarden grant efforts to combat
border crime and address drug, gang and quality of life issues
in border areas.
While at Southeastern Division, Sergeant Weeden developed
the curfew sweep program as a way of fighting juvenile crime.
By involving various community groups and stakeholders in
the curfew sweeps, the effectiveness of the sweeps increased
and Southeastern’s curfew sweep model was adopted department-wide.
One of Sergeant Weeden’s proudest moments on the department came just a few months ago when he arrested Andrew
Barrientos, a suspect who had just shot an officer in Oakland
and was heading to cross the border into Mexico. SDPD was
notified that the suspect was likely heading through San Diego
and cell phone tracking showed his progress, but with a five
minute delay. Knowing that the suspect must be close, Sergeant Weeden was at a stoplight when he looked in his rear
view mirror. He noticed the passenger in the car directly behind him looked incredibly similar to the suspect he was trying
to locate, even though the car did not match the descriptions
provided by the Oakland Police Department. Upon running
the license plates, Sergeant Weeden learned that the car was
registered in Oakland and the suspect was likely a match. He
conducted a stop and held the suspect until back-up arrived.
The suspect was arrested and had a gun loaded with a 30+
round magazine in his waistband. This incident earned him
Officer of the Shift distinction for Southern Division and his
great work in making this arrest was recognized by police departments throughout California.
In his off time, Sergeant Weeden enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife of 15 years and their three kids.
The San Diego Police Historical Association proudly presents the
A.D. Brown Christmas Luncheon
A Tradition Since 1974
Thursday, December 2, 2010  9AM – 2PM
Holy Trinity Church located at Ballard and Redwood in the City of El Cajon.
Open to all active duty, retired and the few friends in between who once served but left us early.
Come by and enjoy old friends and fresh food. To reserve your seat simply fill out the information below and mail it to:
San Diego Police Historical Assoc.  1401 Broadway  MS 734  San Diego, CA 92101  Call 619-726-6151 with any questions
NAME:_______________________________________________________ PHONE:________________________
Number of seats @ $20 each: ___________________________________
Total:__________________________
4 | The Informant
Drug Abatement Response Team/Team 7
At a basic level, the Drug Abatement Response Team
(DART) is a group of three SDPD officers, two clerical
staff members and a sergeant who work with the City
Attorney’s Office and Neighborhood Code Compliance
to assist in rehabilitating properties that have continuous drug activities and serious code violations. On a
larger scale, DART is also known as Team 7 within the
Narcotics Unit. In addition to their DART duties, Team
7 members are responsible for three other major activities: keeping track of 160 medical marijuana dispensaries and representing the San Diego Police Department’s participation in San Diego Drug Court Program
and the newly established Re-Entry Court Program.
DART
The Drug Abatement Response Team (DART) addresses narcotic-related nuisances at commercial and residential properties. Initially, clerical staff assigned to DART receive and process more than 1,000 general narcotic complaints each year
from citizens and alert patrol officers who refer nuisance property cases back to the team. Approximately 30-35% of these
complaints meet the criteria for opening a DART project. They
start by creating a DART file on the location to keep track of
the type of complaint. The file also includes a criminal history
check of the property and tenants. Depending on the type of
complaint and the condition of the property itself, DART team
members may choose to conduct a follow-up investigation involving a “knock and talk” or complete a 4th waiver search at
the location. If further surveillances and complaints suggest
narcotics continue to be sold at the property, DART and Street
Teams will complete an undercover buy and execute a search
warrant on the property.
operating without a business permit and are not zoned. Dispensaries are increasing throughout the City and Prop 215
has law enforcement sitting in a gray area trying to determine
what is enforceable and what is not.
Once the DART team determines who lives at the location, they
send a 30 day compliance letter to the property owner and/or
renter advising them of the complaint and providing them with
recommendations on how they will need to solve the problem.
If the property owners do not respond, a follow-up letter is sent
and the owner or renter will have to meet with the DART team
to be educated on the property owner’s responsibilities for
cleaning up the property. Though the DART team generally
has compliance by this stage, non-compliant cases are sent to
the City Attorney’s office and Neighborhood Code Compliance
for the next level of enforcement under nuisance ordinances.
With the gray area posing a problem to law enforcement, complaints regarding medical marijuana dispensaries are often
dealt with through building code channels. DART team members
randomly inspect medical marijuana dispensaries based off of
complaints from neighbors and nearby businesses or advertisements in local publications. Most of the co-ops are short term
businesses that are trying to make as much money as possible
in a short period of time before getting shut down. Following a
complaint, Notice of Violation (NOV) letters are sent to medical
marijuana dispensaries and a DART member will go to the dispensary with a City Attorney Investigator and Code Enforcement
Officer to check on operations and determine if any changes
have been made to the building without proper permits, such as
false walls, security entrances and ventilation systems.
The DART program helps to get to the root of the problem so
that same complaints are not constantly being made on the
same location.
Medical Marijuana
Prop 215 was passed by California voters in 1996 exempting patients with a physician recommendation and caregivers
who possess or cultivate marijuana from criminal prosecution
regarding marijuana possession. There are currently over 160
medical marijuana dispensaries operating in the City of San
Diego – all of which are technically illegal because they are
The law likely intended “caregivers” to be immediate family
members or healthcare providers; however, dispensaries and
co-ops generally claim to be caregivers in order to stretch the
exemption. Though they are supposed to be non-profit operations, co-op income and expenditures are rarely transparent,
suppliers are difficult to track and co-ops can rake in tens of
thousands of dollars monthly or even weekly.
The Marijuana Task Force convened in October 2009 to create
recommendations on how to regulate the businesses, how to
determine where the business are getting supplied with marijuana, how much clients are being charged and what codes
should be enforced.
Frustration has run high following the refusal to prosecute
certain marijuana possession citations, leaving many officers
wondering what the point of writing a citation is, but officers
should still fully enforce possession (misdemeanor) or possession for sale (felony), particularly if you believe the suspect
may be selling rather than acting as a caregiver (they have
scales, baggies, ledgers and/or large amounts of cash).
Continued on page 15
November 2010 | 5
Chaplain’s Corner
By Herb Smith, SDPD Chaplain
“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the
Lord tests hearts” (Proverbs 17:3).
Ironies abound in this world because down to the very uneasy
interplay of our protons and neutrons, that “strong force” energy that keeps us together is only equal to that which wants
to tear us apart. We are made up of a composite of contradicting elements of which the sciences have only begun to
understand, and the laws of physics mirror the spiritual ions
of energy we bounce between each day. The realities which
govern the material universe are precise and predictable, given enough information. So too are those which govern in the
issues of men’s hearts.
There is a radical element in every human spirit that wants to
break away from the realities of God’s order, and to the extent
we do, we rip apart our lives. We inherently don’t always like
having to live by God’s rules, and in fact without His help, we
fail every time. Yet such it is that but for the strong and forceful principles of God’s moral law upon our hearts, there’s not
much else to keep us from tearing ourselves and each other
apart. We’re our worst enemy at times in destroying our loftiest aspirations and killing our most noble endeavors by venturing upon our own futile speculations, and it’s because of
a quirky quark in the moral fiber of our being that just always
wants to go our own self-interested way. This nature we inherited from Adam’s fall places us in enmity with the way God
arranged us to be in relationship to Him and each other, such
that were it not for the natural consequences of stupid things
I did today, I wouldn’t make much progress at all.
Ergo the axiom: “We learn more from our mistakes than our
successes.” God made reality to be what he ordained, and
when we contravene its principles, we venture into a relational
wilderness without a compass. We were made for Him, and to
reflect Him and His nature to each other. Even
so, what is often represented on my outside
does not always match
up with what is actually
going on inside. What ought to be predictable is incongruous
with what really occurs, and, predictably, I fail.
We turn away from negative aspects of reality because it compels us to do or think about or acknowledge things in our world
we’d rather dismiss or assume were not so. Such matters
cause pain or frustration, embarrassment, make us wait, or
are just an inconvenience upon our own time frame and agenda. We’d much rather conceive a different reality and act as
though its laws are now preeminent, which sometimes works
for a while, until another incongruity presents itself immovable
unless the new reality is yet tweaked again. Our web becomes
quite tangled until our face-book becomes a fail-blog.
God designed creation such that what is real would not be
up to individual interpretation. And natural law teaches us
that one reaps what one sows. Thanksgiving is my favorite
holiday because I can look around and be thankful for God’s
gracious provision in spite of myself. And I can truly be thankful for what He accomplished through the subduing influence
of reality’s consequence. Instead of allowing me to spin off
into an incongruent wasteland of fruitless pursuits, he kept
me tethered to the Truth, and proffered another year’s worth
of course corrections that constrained my quarks, curtailed
further calamity, and helped cultivate a better character. With
that kind of wisdom and faith in God’s grace, plotting a predictably provident path is certainly worth… going after. “Let
integrity and upright-ness preserve me, for I wait upon You”
(Ps.25:21).
Thanksgiving Dinner at the SDPOA
The POA will host a catered Thanksgiving Dinner for all watches on Thursday, November 25 at the POA building.
We will start serving at 11:00 am and continue serving until midnight.
With staffing permitting, the Chief’s office has approved flexibility in Code Seven policies to allow members from
throughout the city to come to the POA office to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal.
SDPOA members are encouraged to bring their immediate family to join them.
Thursday, November 25
11:00 am - midnight
SDPOA Hall
No Cost
6 | The Informant
The Crime Files
By Steve Willard
Often we hear public outcry demanding the execution (or
worse) of convicted sex offenders. The arrest of John Albert
Gardner is among the most recent, however, there are a host
of others. But is such a thing legal? As recently as 2008
the United States Supreme court stated there is a “national
consensus” against executing non-murderers.
Has it always been that way? No.
California death row inmate Caryl Chessman was the last
person in the United States executed for a crime other than
murder and the action brought international attention. Even
though the execution occurred half a century ago, it is still
spoken of in many institutes of higher learning and probably
engendered more anti-capital punishment sentiment than any
other case has, before or since.
January 1948: 27-year old career criminal Caryl Chessman
was arrested near Los Angeles as a suspect in the armed
robbery of a men’s clothing store. The arrest came after a car
chase and shootout.
When officers searched his stolen Ford getaway car they found
a penlight, a. 45-caliber pistol and numerous items that made
them suspect that Chessman might be the “Red Light Bandit,”
a man who had been driving up to couples in parked cars,
flashing a red light to make them think it was a police car, then
robbing them before forcing some of the women to perform
sexual acts.
Despite the fact that Chessman bore little physical resemblance
to descriptions of the attacker, several victims identified him.
The charge sheet ultimately included multiple counts of
robbery, two counts of sexual perversion, and – most
importantly – three counts of violating Section 209 of the
California Penal Code. At the time one subsection of 209 was
called the “Little Lindbergh Law.” Passed in 1933 in response
to the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh’s infant
son, the law stated if kidnapping was done with intent to
commit robbery and if bodily harm could also be proven, the
crime was punishable by death.
Trial began on April 4, 1948, and it couldn’t have been more
colorful. Presiding was Judge Charles W. Fricke, who in the
course of his career, sentenced more people to death than any
other judge in California history. The prosecutor was Deputy
District Attorney J. Miller Leavy – a 16-year veteran of capital
cases with a reputation of outmaneuvering his opponents at
every turn.
When the jury was finally selected it consisted of 11 women
and one man.
Chessman made his first mistake by dismissing his lawyers
and announcing he intended to defend himself.
The cocky, street-smart hoodlum with an overinflated opinion
of his own cleverness then set about vigorously asserting his
innocence, arguing throughout the trial, and later through the
appeals process, that he was the victim of mistaken identity,
or a much larger conspiracy to frame him.
At times Chessman claimed to know who the real culprit was,
but then refused to name him. Chessman further alleged his
confession came only as a result of torture.
The jury didn’t buy it and on May 21, 1948, they convicted
Chessman on 17 counts of robbery, kidnapping and rape.
The jury also determined that one of the kidnapping counts
included bodily harm of the victim – a direct violation of “Little
Lindbergh.” Because the jury did not recommend mercy, the
gas chamber sentence was automatic.
Controversy from the trial began almost immediately. While
“Little Lindbergh” stated any crime involving kidnapping with
bodily harm could be considered a capital offense, two of the
convictions were for dragging 17-year-old girl named Mary
Alice Meza a short distance from her car to demand oral sex
from her. Despite that, Judge Fricke and the appeals courts
ruled it sufficient to qualify as kidnapping.
Then something unusual occurred. The elderly court reporter
died from a coronary thrombosis. Left behind was his 1,800
pages of shorthand testimony. Chessman quickly appealed
his conviction stating that under California law if the court
reporter died before transcribing his notes in a civil case, a
new trial must be held.
On June 25, 1948, Judge Fricke denied the appeal by pointing
out that this was a criminal case, not civil. The judge then
sentenced Chessman to death twice.
In September 1948, responsibility for transcribing the
shorthand notes was given to Stanley Fraser, the uncle of
prosecutor Leavy. Chessman appealed stating that Fraser
was being paid $10,000 for the task, three times the going
rate, and that Fraser had several arrests for drunkenness —
once while actually taking dictation in court.
Chessman argued that the transcription which Fraser provided
was hopelessly biased and inaccurate. That appeal was also
denied and Chessman was sent to San Quentin’s death row.
Chessman spent the next 12 years filing dozens of appeals as
well as writing letters, essays and books. During that time he
successfully avoided eight execution deadlines, some by just
a few hours.
November 2010 | 7
Chessman ultimately wrote four books: Cell 2455, The Kid
Was A Killer, Death Row and Trial by Ordeal. The Kid Was A
Killer was originally seized by San Quentin Warden Teets in
1954 on the theory that it was “prison labor.”
The manuscript was eventually returned and later published
in 1960. In addition to giving him worldwide fame, the
books earned Chessman hundreds of thousands of dollars in
royalties.
As Chessman’s appeals worked their way through the courts,
his books ignited a worldwide movement to spare his life.
California Governor Pat Brown’s offices were flooded with
appeals for clemency from noted authors and intellectuals
from around the world, including Aldous Huxley, Ray Bradbury,
Norman Mailer, Dwight MacDonald, and Robert Frost, and from
public figures such as former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and
evangelist Billy Graham.
In response to the litany of appeals stating the original trial
was improperly conducted and that subsequent appeals were
seriously hampered by incomplete and incorrect transcripts
of the original trial proceedings, the US Supreme Court finally
ordered the State of California to either conduct a full review
of the transcripts or release Chessman.
The review concluded that the transcripts were substantially
accurate and Chessman was scheduled to die in February
1960.
Emergency Equipment Engineering
The Chessman affair put Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown,
an opponent of the death penalty, in a difficult situation.
Brown initially did not intervene in the case, but then issued a
last-minute, 60-day stay of execution on February 19, 1960,
just hours before Chessman’s scheduled execution. Brown
claimed he issued the stay out of concern that the execution
could threaten the safety of President Eisenhower during a
planned visit to South America, where the Chessman case
had inflamed anti-American sentiment.
Governor Brown’s stay of execution, along with Chessman’s
last appeals, ran out in April 1960 and Brown subsequently
declined to grant Chessman executive clemency.
Exhausting a last-minute attempt to file a writ of habeas corpus
with the California Supreme Court, Chessman finally went to
the gas chamber at San Quentin Prison on May 2, 1960.
As the execution began and the chamber was filling with
gas, the telephone rang. The caller was a judge’s secretary
informing the warden of a new stay of execution. The warden
responded, “It’s too late; the execution has begun.” There
was no way to open the door and remove Chessman without
Lawothers.
Office of Dan Zeidman
the fumes killing
The secretary had initially misdialed the telephone number and
this may have made the difference between there being time
to stop the execution and not. The alleged new evidence which
prompted the stay attempt appears in very few accounts.
Dan ZeiDman, esq.
Law Offices Of Dan ZeiDman
260 East Chase Avenue, Suite 201
El Cajon, California 92020
Phone: 619-440-3232 l Fax: 619-440-7864
[email protected]
Nights are getting longer...
Bring your Streamlight in
NOW for a tune-up!
Don't be caught in the dark!
EEEisaStreamlightFactoryServiceCenter
The one-stop cop shop
for all your equipment
and uniform needs.
CODE-3
Industries, Inc.
Serving You Since 1976
8 | The Informant
EmergencyEquipmentEngineering
4304TwainAvenue
SanDiego,CA92120
(619)280-4300(800)854-2183
www.code3-eee.com
Providing legal services to peace officers and their families throughout San Diego County in personal injury, wrongful death, insurance
law and defamation since 1986.
Recipient of the prestigious “Outstanding Trial Lawyer” award by
the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, aka San Diego Trial Lawyers
Association.
Proven trial lawyer for injured law enforcement officers and their
families (sample cases below):
1. $700,000 jury verdict for San Diego deputy sheriff
2. $595,000 jury verdict for National City police sergeant
3. $780,000 settlement for San Diego police officer
4. $350,000 court verdict for defamed San Diego police officer, plus a ruling on the constitutionality of Civil Code §
47.5 – Defamation of a Peace Officer [Loshonkohl v. Kinder
(2003) 109 Cal.App. 4th 510]; $1,115,000.00 in court verdict,
jury verdict, and settlements for SDPD for Dona Loshonkohl
against James Kinder
5. $1,800,000 settlement for family members of police officer
6. $900,000 settlement for San Diego police officer
7. Successful litigation in breach of right to privacy case for 90 law
enforcement households, totaling over 300 family members
8. $1,425,000.00 settlement for San Diego police officer
No Recovery No Attorney Fees
260
Prov
fam
1
2
3
Volunteers Needed for Jr. Charger Camps
The San Diego Chargers and STAR/PAL are looking for volunteers for Volunteers Junior Chargers Training Camps
Needed: Enthusiastic law enforcement officers, non-sworn
police personnel and fire rescue personnel who are willing to
assist STAR/PAL with running youth football camps. These
camps will consist of five different football drill stations, with
each station designed to teach young children the fundamentals of football, goal setting and better fitness practices.
VOLUNTEER DETAILS
• Volunteering meets educational incentive guidelines.
• All camps are on Tuesdays from 4:00-6:00 pm.
• Please arrive at 3:00 pm to assist with camp set-up.
• Chargers
players are
scheduled to attend each camp.
Diamonds
Ltd.
2010 Junior Chargers Training Camps Schedule
November 2
November 9
November 16
November 23
December 7
Encanto Recreation Center
(6508 Wunderlin Ave, San Diego)
Sportsplex USA Santee
(9951 Riverwalk Drive, Santee)
Mission Middle School
(939 East Mission Ave, Escondido)
Jr Seau Sports Complex
(900 Park Plaza Drive, La Mesa)
Lincoln High School
(4777 Imperial Ave, San Diego)
Hosted By STAR/PAL (www.starpal.org)
STAR/PAL brings youth & law enforcement together today...
to build safer communities tomorrow.
To sign up, please contact Officer Edwin Garrette at STAR/
PAL: 619-531-2668 or [email protected].
Diamonds Ltd.
FINE JEWELERS…a name you can trust
Specializing in:
Work done on premises!
Gold, Jewelry, & Estate Buyers
Diamonds
Repairs
Cash paid on the spot!
Gemstones
Redesign
Any quantity, any condition, in strict confidence
(Bonus
paid
for
larger
diamonds)
Manufacturing
Restoration
Custom Design
Stone Setting
Gold & Platinum
Laser Repair/Weld
Appraisals by GIA graduates
Inside Ring Engraving
The Zwibel family has provided
over 30 years of exceptional
service in San Diego
(Not pictured: Ed Zwibel
SDPD #5475 - Eastern Division)
Don’t forget to ask for
your POA discount!
With three generations in both
Jewelry and Law Enforcement
619-442-0671  www.diamondsltd.com
450 Fletcher Parkway, Suite 104  El Cajon, CA 92020
(Across from Parkway Plaza)
November 2010 | 9
SDPOA Response to Proposed SDPD Cuts
Proposed SDPD Cuts Harmful to Public Safety
Closure of two area stations and elimination of 169 sworn positions will result in
longer response times and less effective investigations
San Diego, CA – October 6, 2010 – The San Diego Police Officers Association, Inc. (SDPOA) is extremely concerned for the future
of public safety in San Diego if the proposed cuts announced today by Chief Lansdowne come to fruition.
For a department that is currently staffed at 1993 levels, bringing the budgeted strength down by an additional 169 sworn positions will be detrimental to investigations and the safety of both citizens and officers. Of those 169 positions, 30 detective assignments are slated for elimination. Staffing for patrol will have to be drawn from specialty teams and units, further decreasing the
opportunity for pro-active police work.
Over 100 of the newest San Diego Police Department officers will find their jobs on the chopping block. The shortsighted elimination of these officers does not take into account the over $13.5 million of taxpayer money invested in their training. This significant
investment, along with the investment the City made in its previous recruiting efforts, will have been made in vain.
Policing efforts are spread evenly across the City through nine area stations. This helps in ensuring acceptable response times;
however two area stations – easily representing over one-third of the City’s square mileage and population – have been identified
for closure.
“Chief Lansdowne was given a difficult task of cutting nearly $16 million from a department that has already been cut to the bone,”
said Brian R. Marvel, president of the San Diego Police Officers Association. “Any San Diego business, resident or visitor who believes that these cuts will not affect them is kidding themselves. You cannot close two stations and cut nearly ten percent of our
budgeted strength without knowing that public safety will be compromised.”
Additional proposed cuts include the elimination of numerous non-sworn police department employees. Identified in the cuts
are:
• Eight police code compliance officers – Code compliance officers help to rid our city of establishments connected with criminal activity.
• Six police service officers – Police service officers perform valuable outreach to the community and the few remaining PSOs
are Asian language and cultural experts who allow SDPD to fight crime in otherwise underserved communities.
• Two latent print examiners – Latent print examiners identify criminal suspects and help ensure that detainees are not released if they are matched to wanted persons.
• Six dispatchers – SDPD dispatchers answer over 1.2 million calls for emergency services each year. Fewer dispatchers can
mean longer wait times for emergency calls.
About the San Diego Police Officers Association
The San Diego Police Officers Association (SDPOA) is the only recognized bargaining unit for the over 1,800 members of the San
Diego Police Department. The SDPOA was established in 1912 and incorporated in 1953 to assist San Diego police officers in
issues related to wages, hours and working conditions. The SDPOA also aids members and their families in sickness, distress
and death, and strives to improve social relations and welfare among the members. The San Diego Police Officers Association
members include over 98% of the San Diego Police force and represent all ranks within the department, including the Chief of
Police. Visit www.sdpoa.org.
###
Please realize these are proposed cuts. We still have a long way before June 30th.
10 | The Informant
Third Annual PAF Halloween Party
By Tom Bostedt
The San Diego Police Athletic Federation (SDPAF) hosted its annual Halloween party/fundraiser on Saturday,
October 16. Each year, the SDPAF
chooses a charity to support with this
extremely popular event. The proceeds,
which should total between $2,500
and $3,000, will benefit the hard work
being done at San Diego’s Rady Children’s Hospital.
This year, a sold out crowd of 125 people put on their finest costumes and
headed out to the POA’s Hall of Valor
for a great night of dinner and drinks,
rock and roll music, dancing and great
camaraderie. Prizes were handed out
for the best costumes and raffle tickets
were sold for a variety of cool gifts.
The night’s entertainment was provided
by all SDPD-based rockers. SRT’s Dave
Garcia started the evening playing all
your favorite hits solo on guitar. Dave did
an outstanding job with plenty of backup
singers joining him in the crowd.
Rock and Roll Bands All Liquored Up
and Love Handles were next, each
playing about an hour and a half set
of heart-pounding rock and roll. Both
bands were outstanding and had the
crowd dancing and singing along until
the very end. Both these bands play
regular gigs and if you missed them Saturday, check out their Facebook pages
for updates on upcoming events.
Putting on an event of this size and detail is no easy task. It takes about four
months of planning and a lot of hard
work. I would like to thank the SDPAF
Board members for their dedication in
putting this fundraiser together.
In particular, I would like to thank Board
member Bill Brown and his wife, Christie, for all of their efforts. Bill handles
most of the logistical needs and Christie organized all of the raffle prizes and
set up. Great job guys!!
Prizes for the fundraiser come from a
number of local businesses. Check out
the donor list and show your appreciation
by using their services when you can.
We will continue this event so keep
your eyes open for next year’s flier and
get your tickets early!!
Thanks to the donors & sponsors!
Express Performance Center
Fiber-Tech
Cycle Gear
Pro Kids Golf
Excalibur Cigars
Outback Steakhouse (El Cajon)
Viejas
San Diego Chargers
Off Road Warehouse
Hot Heads Salon
Best Buy (Santee)
Cottonwood Golf Course
Hornblower Cruises
Ace Uniform
Sport’s Authority (La Mesa)
Seau’s The Restaurant
Zoological Society of San Diego
Crest Beverage
Maritime Museum San Diego
Advertising Edge
Riverwalk Golf Course
A & B Cycle
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
McGregor’s Grill & Ale House
Pacific Beach Cruisers
San Diego Brewing Company
Armstrong McCall
San Diego POA
San Diego PAF
NLPOA San Diego Metro Chapter
Pan Pacific Law Enforcement Assoc.
November 2010 | 11
Eighty Oakland Police Officers
Get Pink Slips, More to Come
From American Police Beat magazine
In Oakland, residents are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst after the city recently laid off scores of police officers.
Oakland recently fired 80 police officers, and unless the city and the police union can come to terms sometime soon, another 122
Oakland police officer positions could be eliminated. Police Chief Anthony Batts recently told reporters from the San Francisco
Chronicle that there would be some minor changes in the kinds of calls police have the personnel to respond to.
The Oakland PD will no longer send officers to respond in person to register sex offenders, or for reports of vehicle accidents, grand
theft, identity theft, burglary, embezzlement, vandalism, stray animals and others.
Victims in most non-emergency situations are being directed to file reports over the Internet. Police say the move will help them
better focus on emergencies and violent crime.
In Oakland, a city with the country’s fourth highest crime rate, non-violent reports make up about a quarter of 911 calls, according
to area reports.
The 80 officers laid off constitutes about 10 percent of the police department’s total manpower.
Union and city officials had been in talks to save the jobs by requiring police to contribute 9 percent of their paychecks to pension
funds.
But the police union balked and demanded Oakland ensure that if they agreed, no officers would be laid off for another three
years.
The city could not make such a promise and the stalemate grew. According to the Associated Press, “Police Chief Anthony Batts
said many of the officers laid off were on the front lines last week, trying to control protesters after former Bay Area Rapid Transit
officer Johannes Mehserle was convicted of involuntary manslaughter.”
Layoffs leave the Oakland Police Department with just under 700 officers to enforce laws in a city of nearly 400,000.
It’s Tax Season!
Juan R. Gonzales
SDPD Retired
Specializing in
Law Enforcement Returns
As a 30-year member of the Police
Department, I know what items are
deductible to help you get a larger
tax refund.
1206 Third Avenue
Chula Vista, CA 91911
(619) 420-5464
www.JRGTAX.COM
12 | The Informant
Take time to compare your
insurance coverage.
As a 30-year SDPD Veteran,
I know what an officer needs to
be properly protected.
Call me for a FREE Quote.
I can provide:
Auto, Home and Life Insurance
We offer several discounts,
including a Police Officer Discount.
Get a Million Dollar Life Insurance Policy for
$33.18/month (Based on a 30 yr old, non-smoker)
Call me today!
Juan R. Gonzales
Retired SDPD, Insurance and
Financial Services Agent
1206 Third Avenue
Chula Vista, CA 91911
Bus: (619) 420-5464
License # 0A68887
[email protected]
This document is for informational purposes only. You should consult your
attorney, accountant, or tax advisor for legal or tax advice. FNWL020026
Ad space is available!
Suppor t your
Police Officers
Association
& adver tise
your business!
For more information on
how you can advertise
your business
to Informant
readers, call
858-573-1199
x 220.
Friday Night Softball Season Ends
By Tom Bostedt
Another season of Friday Night GrabAss softball with the San Diego Police
Athletic Federation is in the books. This
summer was the 40th year we have
sponsored the league and the eighth
year we have been on the fields of
MCAS Miramar. This year we fielded 14
teams, eight from SDPD and six from
outside agencies, including Probation,
IRS, P.E.O., S.D. City College Police,
U.S.M.C. Provost Marshall’s Office and
U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
September 17th was championship
night with Northern beating Gangs in
the early league and SWAT edging out
the defending champion I.R.S. team in
the late league. Northern and SWAT
played a great game under the lights
but in the end, Northern Division took
the championship. They win the coveted Gluteus Maximus trophy for their
division and bragging rights for a year.
always looking for people to help out
during the season, especially umpires.
If you would like to help, contact one of
the Directors and let them know.
Looking forward to seeing you all next
season.
Photo credits: Jeff Napier
Here is a list of the PAF Board Members:
Tom Bostedt, Eastern Patrol
Dan Lasher, Eastern Patrol,
Terrance Oh, Gangs
Jason Jarrells, Eastern Patrol
Larry Leiber, Mayor’s Detail
Bill Brown, SRT
Laura Zizzo, Eastern Investigations
Tom Miller, STAR/PAL
Ed Garrette, STAR/PAL
I would like to thank the entire SDPAF
Board for all of its hard work week after
week. Without them, there would be no
season. It takes a lot of work behind
the scenes in order to set up and tear
down fields, provide umpires, shop and
prepare food and drinks, track results
and prepare for the next week. We are
November 2010 | 13
d
Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act
Improvements Act of 2010
Changing qualification requirements to read “during the most
recent 12-month period, has met, at the expense of the individual, the standards for qualification in firearms training for
active law enforcement officers, as determined by the former
agency of the individual, the State in which the individual resides or, if the State has not established such standards, either a law enforcement agency within the State in which the
individual resides or the standards used by a certified firearms
instructor that is qualified to conduct a firearms qualification
test for active duty officers within that State.”
To amend title 18, United States Code, to improve the provisions relating to the carrying of concealed weapons by law
enforcement officers, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled.
This Act may be cited as the “Law Enforcement Officers
Safety Act Improvements Act of 2010.”
AMENDMENTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SAFETY
PROVISIONS OF TITLE 18
“For the purposes of this section, a law enforcement officer of
the Amtrak Police Department, a law enforcement officer of
the Federal Reserve, or a law enforcement or police officer of
the executive branch of the Federal Government qualifies as
an employee of a governmental agency who is authorized by
law to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of, or the incarceration of any person
for, any violation of law, and has statutory powers of arrest.”
Ronald
Hauser, Attorney
AMENDMENTS AFFECTING RETIRED
LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS
Amending “regularly employed as a law enforcement officer
for an aggregate of 15 years or more’’ to ‘‘served as a law enforcement officer for an aggregate of 10 years or more.”
Numbered
Pro Sound/Music For AllOdd
Occasions
MonthsParties
Weddings  Retirement/Birthday
Professional DJ/Gear/Engineer
Indoor/Outdoor Events  Reasonable Rates
Please Call Or Email For Quote
“anything else is just noise”
TMAG SOUND
Phone: 619-540-8202  Fax: 619-589-1900
Email: [email protected]
Law Enforcement Owned & Operated
14 | The Informant
price through your current contract is $113/month
Under the new amendments, qualifications can also be conducted “by a certified firearms instructor that is qualified to
conduct a firearms qualification test for active duty officers
within that State that indicates that the individual has, not less
than 1 year before the date the individual is carrying the concealed firearm, been tested or otherwise found by the State
or a certified firearms instructor that is qualified to conduct a
firearms qualification test for active duty officers within that
State to have met—
“(I) the active duty standards for qualification in firearms
training, as established by the State, to carry a firearm of
the same type as the concealed firearm; or
“(II) if the State has not established such standards,
standards set by any law enforcement agency within that
State to carry a firearm of the same type as the concealed firearm.”
Having passed in identical form in both the House and Senate, this bill now awaits the signature of the President before becoming law.
at Law
May 13, 2010: This bill passed in the Senate by Unanimous Consent.
September 29, 2010: This bill passed in the House of
Representatives by voice vote.
September 30, 2010: Presented to President.
dIVoRCe
BankRuptCy
discount to law enforcement
Ronald
a. HauseR
attorney at law
(619) 206-3811
(619) 741-3961
national City ♦ san diego ♦ la Mesa
DART/Team 7 - Continued from page 5
If you locate an indoor grow operation, the Narcotics Unit
should be called regardless if the resident claims medical
marijuana use.
With Proposition 19 on the November 2 ballot, there will soon
be a little more clarity on the approach that law enforcement
should take. If Prop 19 does pass, Department Policy and
Procedures will be updated to reflect the changes in the new
law and appropriate training will be administered. In addition,
City Council will need to create zoning guidelines and business license procedures for marijuana dispensaries to follow.
Drug Court
One DART officer is assigned to the downtown courthouse and
another DART officer is assigned to the Chula Vista courthouse,
where they each handle approximately 80-90 clients at any
given time. Drug Court is an 18 month drug rehabilitation program to treat non-violent offenders in lieu of incarceration. It is
collaborative effort between the San Diego Superior Court, the
District Attorney’s Office, defense attorneys, social services and
the San Diego Police Department to provide structure for participants who must meet numerous obligations (attend court each
week, stay away from all drugs and alcohol, submit to random
drug tests and attend mandatory counseling sessions) or face
immediate consequences (warrant, arrest and return to jail).
The program has about a 65-70% success rate and many participants see significant positive changes in their lives, from
gaining employment to rekindling relationships with once
alienated family members.
DART officers are involved with every aspect of the clients’
lives, from meeting their family members and conducting
home checks to keeping track of any slip-ups. Drug Court participants are in the Officer Notification System (ONS) so that
drug court officers can be made aware if a client is stopped
and in violation of one of their requirements. Many clients
end up relying on the DART officers for support if they find
themselves falling back into their old ways.
Drug Court was developed over a decade ago by District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and the success of this program became
a model for the new Re-Entry Court program to prevent recidivism among recent parolees.
Are you looking to buy a home in
San Diego County, but just can’t afford it?
T
he San Diego Association of REALTORS ® Ambassadors
Foundation may have the program for you... the Everyday Heroes
Program!
SDAR’s Ambassadors Foundation will provide interest rate buydowns and/or mortgage insurance buy-outs for qualified officers.
The reduced fixed loan rates will allow you to save on your
monthly mortgage payments, providing you and your family a better
quality of life as you become vested in the “American dream” of
homeownership.
Re-Entry Court
Many parolees do not have the resources to re-enter society
after prison release and statistics show that nearly 70 percent of parolees will re-offend within three years of release.
Through a partnership between the San Diego Superior Court,
County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Diego County
Probation Department and San Diego Police Department, ReEntry Court gives participants and opportunity to close the
revolving door to prison. Re-Entry Court is a comprehensive
rehabilitation program that monitors participants while also
teaching life skills and providing interview and employment
advice, medical care and psychological counseling.
Participants will be limited to defendants who have committed
non-violent, non-sexual crimes while on parole, or who violated the terms of their parole. Defendants must plead guilty to
their offenses, but similar to Drug Court, they will be diverted
from incarceration to the Re-Entry Court program.
The program aims to save taxpayer money since it costs between $35,000-50,000 per year to incarcerate a repeat offender (plus an additional $23,000-30,000 for the County to
care for the offender’s children, if needed), but the Re-Entry
Court program is estimated to cost a fraction of that amount at
$5,000-15,000 each year per defendant. The first two years
of the program will be funded through a $1.5 million grant
from the California Emergency Management Agency.
The Re-Entry Court program is scheduled to accept its first client in the first week of November and expects to divert approximately 250 participants to the program in its first two years.
Current Drug Abatement Response Team members include Officer Ruben Hernandez, who will head up the Re-Entry Court effort and Drug Court Officers Andrea Ries and Vernon Peterson.
The DART is under the supervision of Sergeant Phil Terhaar and
is supported by two administrative aides, Lori Labnao and Rena
Blades. DART falls under the Narcotics Unit along with five other Narcotics Street Teams and three narcotics teams that are
based out of the Mid-City, Southern and Central area stations.
The Narcotics Unit operates under the supervision of Assistant
Chief Solis, Captain Swanger and Lieutenant Hutchinson.
(Sources: Special thanks for Sergeant Terhaar for the unit overview)
Cal.
Uniforms
Inc.
3755 Park Blvd. ♦ San Diego, CA 92103 ♦ 619-298-7504
For more information visit
www.ambassadorsfoundation.org
or call (858) 232-9501.
If you missed the grand re-opening,
you still have a chance to get free
engraving on your flashlight or
handcuff with any purchase!
- and -
Take 10% off
of any one item of your choice
November 2010 | 15
090908_GenericAmbassadorAd_3.75x2.5.indd 1
9/9/09 2:36:28 PM
SDPOA Discount Tickets
ATTRACTION
AGE
MEMBER REGULAR
EXPIRES
Limits
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE -ORADULT (10+)
$67.00
$76.00
12/11/2010
8/Member
DISNEYLAND 1 DAY PARK PASS
CHILD (3-9)
$59.00
$68.00
per month
(Black Out Dates Apply)
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE -ORADULT (10+)
$82.00
$101.00
1/3/2011
8/Member
DISNEYLAND 1 DAY HOPPER
CHILD (3-9)
$74.00
$91.00
per month
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE AND
ADULT (10+)
$128.00
$161.00
1/3/2011
8/Member
DISNEYLAND 2 DAY HOPPER*
CHILD (3-9)
$110.00
$146.00
per month
* Second visit MUST be used within 13 calendar days following the first date of use
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE & DISNEYLAND ANNUAL PASSES - Please visit Disneyland.com to determine which
annual pass best fits your needs, then come into the SDPOA to purchase tickets. Credit Cards ONLY!
KNOTT'S BERRY FARM
REGULAR
$27.99
$53.99
12/31/2010
8/age group
JUNIOR (- 48")
$19.99
$23.99
per month
LEGOLAND-GET A SECOND DAY FREE
ALL AGES
$49.00
$67.00
12/31/2010
8/Member
per month
LEGOLAND TRIPLE PLAY – LEGOLAND,
ALL AGES
$60.00
$87.00
12/31/2010
8/Member
SEALIFE AQUARIUM & WATERPARK
per month
MAGIC MOUNTAIN
ADULT
$23.99
$54.99
12/31/2010
8/age group
CHILD (- 48")
$15.00
$29.99
per month
MEDIEVAL TIMES CA
ADULT (13+)
$41.74
$55.95
No
8/age group
CHILD (-12)
$31.45
$37.95
expiration
per month
PIRATE’S DINNER ADVENTURE
ADULT (12+)
$43.50
$56.95
11/30/2010
8/age group
CHILD (-11)
$32.50
$37.95
per month
SAN DIEGO ZOO
ADULT (12+)
$31.00
$37.00
1/6/2011
8/age group
CHILD (3-11)
$22.50
$27.00
per month
SEA WORLD - 2 DAY
ADULT (10+)
$55.00
$69.00
10/1/2011
8/age group
(Black Out Dates Apply)
CHILD (3-9)
$48.00
$59.00
per month
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS – 3 DAY
ALL AGES
$59.00
$69.99
12/31/2010
8/Member
per month
WILD ANIMAL PARK
ADULT (12+)
$31.00
$37.00
1/6/2011
8/age group
CHILD (3-11)
$22.50
$27.00
per month
MOVIE THEATERS
AMC – Restricted
AMC GOLD - Unrestricted
ULTRA STAR
REGAL / EDWARDS / UNITED ARTIST – Restricted
REGAL / EDWARDS / UNITED ARTIST – Unrestricted
MEMBER
$6.25
$7.75
$6.25
$6.75
$7.75
REGULAR
$11.50
$11.50
$11.00
$12.00
$12.00
EXPIRES
No expiration
No expiration
12/31/2013
No expiration
No expiration
Limits
12/Member
per 7 days
Save the Date
You must show POA membership card before purchasing any member tickets - NO EXCEPTIONS!
Please call the POA store to verify ticket availability. All prices are subject to change without notice.
SDPOA
Christmas Party
Saturday,
December 18
Hard Rock Hotel
Gaslamp, San Diego
Tickets: $25 for member and first guest. Additional guests are $75
Tickets will be sold from November 15 - December 10 in the POA Office. Black tie preferred.
Rooms are available at the discounted rate of $109/night for the nights of December 17, 18 and 19
Reserve online at www.hardrockhotelsd.com using the code 1012SDPOA or reserve by phone at 619-702-3000
Be sure to reserve rooms early, the last day to reserve your room is November 18!
16 | The Informant
San Diego Housing Market Update
By Ray Shay
So you want to talk about the current San Diego housing market. Let’s start with a question. Are you in the herd or out of
the herd? It might help to know before we get started. The
residential market is not for the faint of heart. The herd mentality is alive and well – lots of followers. Times are honestly
not good if you are selling your home, unless you are re-investing. Just when it seems homes are stabilizing at one price
point we see a dramatic shift of value of homes in another
price point. Luxury estates over one million dollars are getting
hammered by short sales and foreclosed property sales.
Borrowing money is currently incredibly cheap. Home loans
are available at 4.5% (or less) on 30 year fixed. Combine this
extremely low rate with less competition to purchase homes
and depressed prices and you have a perfect storm. The last
time homes were this affordable to purchase was 39.7 years
ago! That is not a misprint. It is reality.
About a third or half of most realtors businesses (who are still
in business) today are related to short sales. Our company
is no different. The biggest trends Theresa and I have been
seeing is a significant attitude change by sellers. Many clients
who are strategically short selling no longer “feel bad.” They
believe the banks caused this crisis by colluding with appraisers and Wall Street investment funds.
The banks on their end have generally improved their processes to make a short sell much easier and quicker. With so many
of their loan papers being flawed, the banks do not want to go
to foreclosure and face further litigation (i.e. “You improperly
foreclosed on me and I want my home back”). Many banks
want to cut their losses, get help from the feds and move on.
The Obama Administration also has implemented programs to
make a short sale more appealing to the homeowner. With all
this “help” some owners are saying, “why stay and fight?”
First Time Home Buyers
You know who you are. You are the ones who recently bought
a home and let me guess this one… You paid 60% of what the
previous owner bought the home for a few years ago. If you
purchased in San Diego, Escondido or many other cities you
also likely got a grant from the City to help with the down payment. Did you use your VA with no money down and no closing costs? Did you use many of the special loan programs for
medical personnel or teachers? Is that you? Let me reinforce
your quizzical look. You really are brilliant!
Of all the homes currently being sold in the market about 47%
are first time home buyers. The average age of these buyers
is 30 years old and single females make up half of all new buyers. These women are a powerhouse of purchasing. They are
also very smart. Several national experts point to about an
18 month window before there is actually a housing shortage.
The reasons are rather simple. Since January of 2008 our
country essentially reduced our building of homes and condos to the level of building which occurred in 1932, (550,000
homes/condos per year) when there were about 120 million
people in our country. The problem is we now have about 340
million people. That is what we call constricted supply. Where
are all these people going to live?
One of our clients put his condo up for rent last week. He received 29 phone calls in one day! It turned into a bidding war
to see who got the home. Just wait another year or so. The
question you should ask yourself now is do you follow the herd
or do you stick your head up out of the crowd, carefully research the situation and take action? I don’t know about you
but I am saving my pennies to follow a close friend’s advice.
His family lives in a home with about as much square footage
as a Walmart. He recently told me, “Ray, just buy one small,
cash producing, investment property a year. In ten years you
won’t have to worry anymore.” I think he is right. Where did
Theresa put that spare change jar?
Ray Shay is a retired SDPD Lieutenant and co-owner of Shay
and Associates Realtors of REMAX Ranch and Beach.
Your referrals and our terrific staff are
the winning combination. We're #1 in
Home Sales for RE/MAX Associates.
ATeamYouCanTrust
SM
858-449-SELL (7355)
RAY SHAY - DRE Lic# 01354548 • THERESA SHAY - DRE Lic# 01349286
SDPDhomes.com
SM
November 2010 | 17
PERT Perspective: Juveniles with Mental Illness
By Dr. Kathy Rose, PERT Team Leader and Eastern PERT clinician
Dealing with juveniles with mental illness is an area officers
sometimes approach with trepidation – the process may not
seem as straightforward as with an adult, since there are other considerations to take into account when your client is a
juvenile. Recent changes in SDPD policy now allow officers
more options in where they can transport 5150s, including
juveniles.
Where can I take juveniles?
There are a limited number of LPS facilities in the County
which can accommodate juveniles with mental illness: ESU
(“Juvenile CMH”), Aurora Hospital, Mesa Vista Hospital, and
UCSD CAPS (Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Services). It is
always advisable to call the facility first to determine whether
they have bed availability. ESU’s phone number is 619-4216900 (dial 0 for Intake); their address is 730 Medical Center
Court in Chula Vista. Aurora Hospital’s Intake Department can
be reached at: 858-675-4228, and their address is 11878
Avenue of Industry, San Diego; Mesa Vista’s Intake number is
858-836-8434, and their address is 7850 Vista Hill Avenue,
San Diego. UCSD CAPS is accessed through ESU, who must
first grant authorization. This authorization may be done over
the phone, or may require that you transport the client to ESU,
who will then do the transfer to UCSD CAPS. If they are able to
authorize the admission over the phone, you can notify UCSD
CAPS at 619-229-3700; their address is 6535 Alvarado Road,
San Diego.
How do I determine which facility to use?
ESU is utilized primarily for unfunded clients, but will screen
for Kaiser 5150s and UCSD CAPS. Clients with insurance
should be transported to the psychiatric hospital where they
have previously received treatment or where their doctor has
privileges, for continuity of care.
What about active duty military families? Children of active
duty military must go to Balboa Hospital ER. They can be
reached at 619-532-8274; their address is 34800 Bob Wilson
Drive, San Diego.
What if there are medical concerns?
When there are medical issues involved, such as potential overdose, acute intoxication, severe lacerations, or any
medical condition requiring immediate attention, the juvenile
should be transported to a hospital ER by paramedics.
Is parental consent necessary for treatment?
Parental consent is ideal, but not mandatory, if the client
meets 5150 criteria. In the majority of cases, the parents will
be present on scene and can provide you with information
about the client’s treatment history, doctor’s name, and other
pertinent information. If a parent is not present, reaching
them by phone is advisable. If the child meets 5150 criteria,
you are obligated to hospitalize the child, even if the parents
disagree with your decision.
What if the juvenile doesn’t meet 5150 criteria, but the family still needs help?
Parents have the option of contacting their child’s doctor
and transporting the child to a psychiatric hospital themselves. Officers can also offer parents the option of a PERT
evaluation if a unit is available, or advise that a PERT referral will be completed and a clinician will follow-up with
resources.
Dr. Kathy Rose is the PERT Team Leader and Eastern
PERT clinician. Please feel free to email any questions, or
suggestions for future topics to: [email protected]
Schroth & Schroth is licensed to practice in all courts in the states of California and Wyoming.
We offer free consultations, and focus in the following areas of law:
Injury & Death
Transportation Injuries
• Birth Injuries
• Auto Accidents
• Brain Injuries
• Auto Defects
• Catastrophic Injuries
• Bicycle Accidents
• Child Injuries
• Boating Accidents
• Construction Injuries
• Jet Ski Accidents
• Dog Bites
• Motorcycle Accidents
• Personal Injury
• Pedestrian Accidents
• Skiing Injuries
• Train Accidents
• Slip & Fall
• Trucking
• Wrongful Death
18 | The Informant
Consumers & Families
• Breach of Contract
• Business Litigation
• Class Action Consumer Protection
• Construction Defects
• Dangerous Drugs
• Elder Abuse
• Medical Malpractice
• Nursing Home Negligence
• Product Liability
• Swimming Pool/Drowning
• Unfair Debt Collection Practices
The Law Offices of
Schroth & Schroth, LLC
2044 First Ave., Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 233-7521
www.schrothandschroth.net
John L. Madigan
Of Counsel
Professor of Law
Retired Captain - SDPD
Commissioner - SDPD Museum
Board Member - Sheriff’s Museum
Third Page:
• $261.25/month with member
UC-7:
An Anonymous Eater
Highlighting cop-friendly eateries in the City of San Diego that provide a full meal for under or
around $8.00 using a strict 5 badge rating system.
One of the great things about writing this column is that I occasionally stumble on to the sleeper hit, the hidden gem, the
corner shop where you might never stop. Take a walk inside
one of these places and rich flavors suck you into their greedy
clutches, overloading the palate with the joy and wonder of
great food. This week I was happily caught in the web of AChau; a small, low-key, corner shop in Mid-City Division that
produces some of the best sandwiches around.
A-Chau is located at 4644 El Cajon Boulevard (619) 2814066. They take cash only. Parking is limited depending on
the time of day. They are open everyday from 7-6.
A-Chau specializes in Banh Mi, which is a Vietnamese style
sandwich served on a crusty baguette. Most Banh Mi is
served with meat and topped with carrot, cilantro, daikon, cucumbers, green peppers and mayonnaise. Exercise caution
when requesting extra peppers, as these are not polite bell
peppers, but rather small green slices of a mini-inferno that
could melt steel.
Jacob D joined me on this excursion and we absolutely stuffed
ourselves. Our first round consisted of the house specialty,
Banh Mi. I chose the chicken and Jacob D chose the BBQ
pork. The chicken was incredibly juicy and the portion was
more than enough for a healthy sized lunch. The vegetable
toppings were absolutely crisp and fresh. Jacob D’s pork
was my favorite. A-Chau uses some kind of magic spell on
their pork meat because the rich flavors blew me away. We
finished our meal with Vietnamese Iced Coffees, which were
made fresh to order. Our sandwiches were $3.50 each and
the coffees were $2.50 each, bringing our total for a filling
lunch to $13.05.
2011 Fiesta
For round two, we decided to try the rice Vermicelli noodles
with pork and four egg rolls. The buttery pork was countered
by a small crowd of mint, green leaf lettuce and cilantro. This
was an unusual dish and well worth our intrepid spirit. The
pork was rich and juicy, and the vegetables were wonderfully crisp. The delicious egg rolls were stuffed with pork and
carrot, and surprisingly light, not greasy. The Vermicelli was
$6.95 and the egg rolls were .45 each, bringing our total for a
lighter lunch to $9.70.
A-Chau is fast, their food is top quality, and their portions are
generous. I am giving A-Chau 4.5 badges.
I welcome all comments, my e-mail is [email protected]
Drew
Auto Center
Our Goal ... Customers For Life
2010 F150
www.drewauto.com
Fleet Pricing
Huge Inventory
Large Service Department
Complete Parts & Apparel Store
State-of-the-Art Collison repair Center
Finance & Lease Programs
extended warranty & Security Protection
For an appointment, call one of your PoA representatives:
FLeet DePArtment - 619 464-7777
Mike Safford x7729, 25 years
Jerry Miller x7727, 20 years
toll Free 888-373-9367 (888 Drew Ford)
November 2010 | 19
RF&PA Update
By Bill Farrar, President, Retired Fire & Police Association
Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act
Improvements Act
On September 29, 2010 the U.S. House
of Representatives voted to pass S.
1132, the Law Enforcement Officers
Safety Act Improvements Act. This important legislation addresses problems
that have occurred in the implementation of the original Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) of 2004 (HR
218). The Senate passed the bill back
on May 13, 2010.
Chris Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist, stated,
“The security challenges we face as a
country are immense. Our law enforcement has to deal with threats from terrorists, criminals, and other unsavory
elements on a daily basis. These challenges are further complicated by financial cutbacks resulting in furloughed
criminals and laid-off law enforcement
officers. Amending the law to make it
easier for retired law enforcement officers to carry a firearm is a commonsense measure that benefits everyone.”
Among other things S. 1132 would:
• Ensure availability of required training
by allowing a retired officer to meet the
standard of any agency in his state or
•
•
•
•
•
of his own former agency. (Currently
officers have to meet state standards
which not all states prescribe.)
Address departmental liability concerns by allowing training to be conducted by state-qualified private firearm instructors.
Make it clear that LEOSA carry rights
extend to retired officers who served
with one department, but retired
from another.
Reduce the required time in service
to qualify for LEOSA carry rights from
15 years to 10.
Strike language that conditioned retirees’ carry rights on eligibility for
retirement benefits.
Make clear that the law also applies
to all federal officers and officers of
the Amtrak Police Department.
Purchase Of Service Credits
In September, I reported that SDCERS
would be studying their options and receiving input from members about the
Court ruling regarding certain Purchase
of Service Credits. The SDCERS Board
voted 8-0 on October 1 to follow staff’s
recommendation to recalculate certain
PSCs that were applied for during a
2003 “window period.”
Stacy M. King, Esq.*
KING & LEMLEY, LLP
[email protected]
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
Zachary M. Lemley, Esq.
Estate
Planning
starting at
$495
[email protected]
2515 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 110
San Diego, CA 92108
Telephone: (619) 584-4711
Facsimile: (619) 342-0312
Call us for an
appointment
today
Areas of Practice
Personal Injury ~ Wrongful Death ~ Medical Malpractice
Premises Liability ~ Product Liability
Wills & Trusts ~ Business and Real Estate Law
*Stacy King is the wife of Officer Shawn King,
SDPD Northern Division
20 | The Informant
Attorneys licensed to practice
in the State of California
I found it disappointing
that options holding City
officials and various advisors to City
and SDCERS officials accountable were
ignored. Since the SDCERS Board has
decided not to pursue those options
the litigation will begin. Millions of dollars will be spent that could have been
used to resolve this issue. Hundreds of
your fellow retirees, DROP participants
and current employees will suffer endless anxiety while the lawyers get rich.
The Sticking Place
In March, I discussed former SDPD Sergeant Tim Smith’s upcoming sequel to
Cop World, a 1984 book that examined
the Central Division of the San Diego Police Department. Tim’s time table has
been adjusted and instead his novel, The
Sticking Place, will be released in November. In the story, it’s 1978 in “America’s
Finest City” – San Diego, California – and
one rookie cop is learning the hardest
lessons the streets have to teach.
“The Sticking Place” is the first in the
Luke Jones series, which follows one
cop’s career from rookie to retirement.
You can visit Tim’s website at http://
copworld.wordpress.com.
EvErgrEEn
TrEE SpEcialiST
Tree Care
and
Removal
Affordable
Rates
Certified Arborist
#WE-3509-a
Complete Tree Service
Lacing  Stump Grinding
Pruning  Complete Removal
Edward Gross - Owner
619-850-9583 Cell
619-255-3719 Fax
Fully Licensed & Insured
Expert Witness  Contractor’s Lic #731377
National Law Enforcement Museum
Breaks Ground
By Craig W. Floyd, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, NLEOMF
The National Law Enforcement Officers
Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) formally broke
ground on October 14, 2010, to begin
work on the new National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC. The
groundbreaking ceremony took place
at the future site of the Museum in the
400 block of E Street, NW, across the
street from the existing National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial in historic Judiciary Square, the symbolic
seat of the nation’s criminal justice
system. The ceremony marked the official start of construction work on the
Museum, ten years after Congress authorized the project.
United States Attorney General Eric
Holder spoke at the ceremony, highlighting the recognition the Museum will
give to law enforcement officers across
the nation and throughout history. Also
in attendance was U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano, along with hundreds of
other law enforcement, corporate and
government leaders, surviving family
members of officers killed in the line of
duty and citizen supporters.
“Today marks a major milestone for
this important institution,” said Craig
W. Floyd, NLEOMF Chairman and CEO.
“With this groundbreaking, we are taking a historic step in realizing our mission to tell the story of American law enforcement through exhibits, collections,
research and education.”
“We recognize that public safety is a
partnership between law enforcement
and the citizens they serve,” he added.
“This Museum will strengthen that partnership by helping people to better understand and appreciate the value of
policing in America. I am tremendously
grateful for the support and cooperation of so many who have helped to
make this day possible, including the
U.S. Congress, the National Park Service, the DC Government, corporations,
law enforcement officers, and organizations and citizens across this country
who have dug deep into their pockets
to make sure this Museum is built. To-
day we bring our remarkable vision an
important step closer to reality.”
Scheduled to open in late 2013, the
55,000-square-foot, mostly underground institution will be a world-class
experiential Museum with high-tech
interactive exhibitions. The Museum
will include a vast collection of law
enforcement artifacts and dedicated
spaces for research and education.
Visitor experiences will range from assuming the role of a police dispatcher in
the Motorola 911 Emergency Call Center; to making split-second, life-or-death
decisions posed by the use-of-force
judgment simulator; to solving crimes
in the Museum’s Target Forensics Lab.
Other major exhibitions will focus on
the history of law enforcement, corrections, tools of the trade and a fascinating look at a day in the life of an officer.
The “Reel to Real” exhibit will give visitors the opportunity to compare reallife law enforcement with depictions in
movies and on television. The National
Law Enforcement Museum will offer a
wide range of educational programs
for school-age children, families, adults
and law enforcement professionals.
In the Museum’s Hall of Remembrance,
visitors will learn the inspirational stories of the nearly 19,000 fallen heroes
whose names are engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. A changing exhibition gallery sponsored by DuPont will focus on topical
issues and delve deeper into some of
the milestone moments of law enforcement’s past.
One of the most comprehensive collections of law enforcement artifacts found
anywhere in the world will be used by the
Museum for its exhibitions, educational
programs and research activities. The
Museum’s collection already comprises
more than 14,000 objects, including
a sheriff’s writ from 1703, the earliest
object in the collection; artifacts associated with infamous crimes, such as the
Lindbergh baby kidnapping case, and
infamous criminals such as gangster Al
Capone; handcuffs, nightsticks and other tools of the trade dating back to the
1850s; and pop culture items, such as
the RoboCop movie costume and one of
Jack Bauer’s sweatshirts from the television show, “24.”
The Museum has also been designated
as the official repository for oral history
transcripts from members of the Society of Former Special Agents of the
FBI and, earlier this year, the Museum
acquired the J. Edgar Hoover estate,
which includes thousands of personal
and professional objects belonging to
the legendary director of the FBI. The
Museum will feature material from the
Memorial Fund’s files on the nearly
19,000 federal, state and local law enforcement officers in the United States
who have died in the line of duty since
the first recorded death in 1792.
Funds for the construction and development of the Museum, which was
authorized by a public law enacted in
2000 and authored by U.S. Senator Ben
Nighthorse Campbell, a former deputy
sheriff, are being raised privately by the
Memorial Fund. The cost of the Museum
is approximately $80 million. To date,
law enforcement organizations, corporations, foundations and individuals from
across the country have donated over
$40 million toward that goal. The District of Columbia Government has also
been a strong supporter of the project,
authorizing up to $60 million in industrial revenue bonds to help with financing,
and providing a 20-year sales tax credit
for the Museum worth up to $10 million.
The mission of the National Law Enforcement Museum is to tell the story
of American law enforcement through
exhibits, collections, research and education. The Museum seeks to build
mutual respect and foster cooperation
between the public and the law enforcement profession in an effort to create a
safer society and to uphold the democratic ideals of the U.S. Constitution.
For more information, visit
www.LawEnforcementMuseum.org.
November 2010 | 21
Code 4 Chronicles
Presented by the Law Offices of Dan Zeidman
Southeastern and K-9 Officers are commended for their
restraint, tactics and teamwork that resulted in a peaceful
end to a potential deadly encounter.
On September 11, 2010 officers were dispatched on a report
that Markeith Davis had a baseball bat and was strangling
his sister after attacking his mother. Officers Eric McCoole,
Randall Mills, Miguel Garcia, Jose Mercado, Nicole Campbell
and Sergeant James Chiles responded.
Communications updated information as it became available.
Officers were told that Davis kept a handgun under his bed.
His mother told Communications that Davis was a gang
member. Sergeant Chiles requested a K-9 unit.
As officers neared the location, Communications advised that
Davis had moved to his bedroom. Several additional officers
including Sergeant Allan Butchart responded to assist.
Sergeant Chiles and Officers McCoole, Mills, Mercado and
Campbell were the first to arrive on scene. Davis’ mother
told Communications that her daughter and the suspect
were coming outside. As arriving units were parking, a single
gunshot was heard followed by four to five rapid shots in
succession.
Believing that an active shooter scenario was taking
place, Sergeant Chiles decided to address the situation
immediately to avoid injury or a potential hostage incident.
Sergeant Butchart began assigning officers to certain tasks.
A perimeter was set to contain Davis. Sergeant Chiles and
Officers Carlos Garcia and Mercado were armed with AR15s
and confronted the suspect.
Sergeant Chiles gave Davis numerous orders to drop what
he had in his hands. Davis had a 40 oz. bottle of Budweiser
in his right hand. His body was positioned such that officers
were unable to see what was in his left
hand. Sergeant Chiles continued to
give Davis orders to drop what was in
his hands and he refused.
Sergeant Butchart had Officer Lorenzo
Ruiz retrieve the bean-bag shotgun and he took over as the
contact officer. He continued giving the suspect commands
to drop what he had in his hands and lie down or he would
be shot. The commands were loud and clear. Officers on the
other side of the perimeter said they could hear Officer Ruiz’s
commands. The suspect continued to disobey the orders.
Davis demanded that officers shoot him. He still would
not reveal what he had in his left hand. While Officer Ruiz
continued to give commands, Sergeant Butchart assigned
officers to an arrest team and added another less-than-lethal
force option (Taser).
K-9 Officer Rick Widner and his partner, Matese, arrived
on scene to assist with the apprehension of the suspect.
Once the arrest team was in place and all resources were
available, officers began to approach Davis. At this point, he
began complying with orders to get on the ground. Officers
Campbell and Jonathan Bamba took the suspect into custody
without further incident.
Once the exterior was secured officers went inside to check
the welfare of the residents. More firearms, including
a shotgun, were found in the suspect’s bedroom. A .357
Magnum was recovered from the mailbox, which was only a
few feet from where the suspect was standing when officers
first engaged him. A records check revealed the weapon
used by Davis was reported stolen on January 5, 2009.
Davis was transported to County Jail and booked for assault
with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, battery, drunk in
public, discharging a firearm within city limits and possession
of stolen property.
Code 4 Chronicles is a monthly segment of The Informant. It is edited by Debbie and Bill Farrar ([email protected] or [email protected]) Send
items for the C4C to Debbie by e-mail or in writing to MS 790. Please include your name & phone number.
STOP, DROP
& ROLL!!
Everybody’s talking about it,
but, what does it mean to YOU?
Make the best days of your life
your retirement years!
Our professionals at Focus Investment Advisors
will analyze, strategize and execute a plan that will
offer you a more secure retirement.
To find out what your options are before you roll,
call or email for more information:
(760) 230-1880 ext: 100
[email protected]
Securities offered through Girard Securities, Inc. A registered Broker-Dealer. Member FINRA/SiPC.
Girard Securities, Inc. is not affiliated with Focus Investment Advisors.
22 | The Informant
and Powerwashing, Inc.
Jay Jacob / Owner
SDPD Northern Division
Specializing In:
Interior/Exterior  Residential/Commericial
Power Washing  Acoustical Ceiling Removal
Stucco Repair  Drywall Repair
760-789-0525
Cell: 760-445-5445
1672 Main Street, Suite E 435 Ramona, California 92065
November 2010 | 23
SDPD Officers Escort Burnaby, BC
Fire Captain Through City
Burnaby Fire Department Captain Rudy Pospisil completed the
final leg of his 3 Countries, 3 Cancers Bike Ride through San
Diego. He started his journey on September 5, 2010 in Vancouver, BC, rode down the Pacific Coast through Washington,
Oregon, and California. He finished on Saturday, October 9,
through San Diego and into Mexico.
Pictured (left to right): Woody DuBois, Jay Graves, Jim Johnson, Burnaby Fire Captain Rudy Pospisil, Tom Jacques and
Bruce Byrd.
Along the way, Rudy, a 10-year cancer survivor, was supported
by law enforcement and fire departments in an effort to raise
money for pancreatic, prostate and breast cancer research.
On Saturday, October 9, 2010 at 10:00 A.M., a group of off-duty San Diego Police officers joined Rudy Pospisil at the northern edge of the City of San Diego near Torrey Pines to ride
with him on the last leg of his journey. The officers escorted
Rudy to the Border taking side streets, bike paths and thoroughfares. The ride ended near the pedestrian gate at the
International Border.
The San Diego Police Department Motor Unit provided an
escort at various stages throughout the route.
Special Thanks to the Over the Hill Gang!
The Over the Hill Gang was originally created in 1973 and
has close to 200 members. During Mother’s Day weekend,
the Club hosts one of the largest and longest local shows in
San Diego County called the “STREAK.” Their 37th year of
the STREAK Car Show was held at Campland on the Bay in
San Diego, California.
With approximately 400 vehicles, 200 campsites and an
estimated 8,000 plus attendees and spectators present at
the two day event, this year’s STREAK raised a grand total of
$7,000 to donate to the San Diego Police Officers Association’s Widows & Orphans Fund.
Thank you to the Over the Hill Gang for your generous donation, it is much appreciated!
Watch the Charger Game at the SDPOA
Chargers vs. Houston Texans
Sunday, November 7
Doors open at 9:30 am * Game starts at 10:00 am
Beer, Soda, Hot Dogs and Burgers!
The SDPOA received a donation of five large-screen TVs from SONY electronics and it is time to test them out!
24 | The Informant
In Remembrance
Thomas A. Keays
End of Watch:
20 November 1937
Fifteen minutes after pulling a body
from beneath a streetcar, Sgt. Keays
died of a heart attack.
Yosemite M/C Run Reunion
A group of retired officers are looking for anyone who went
on the annual Yosemite motorcycle trip in the 1980s. A
reunion trip is planned for April 29 - May 1, 2011. We will
be meeting up with the Oakland P.D. crew for a weekend of
reminiscing and camaraderie in Arnold, California, in the
mountains near Yosemite. A motorcycle is not required
to attend, but many of us will be riding up. Contact Randy
Hill (SDPD Ret.) at [email protected] or Brad Bickel (NCPD
Ret.) at [email protected] for details.
Archie C. Buggs
End of Watch:
4 November 1978
Officer Buggs was shot and killed
during a routine traffic stop of two
suspects under the influence of PCP.
Michael J. Bushman
End of Watch:
25 November 1963
Officer Bushman died after his car left
the road in a single-vehicle accident.
Agent Bill Boye passed away unexpectedly over the summer and his funeral services were held on September
16 at Fort Rosecrans with a reception following at the
SDPOA Hall. He will be missed. Pictured with him in
2007 are Jon Cherski, Steve Holliday and Brian Keaton
The POA Store has mugs,
t-shirts, polos,
sweatshirts, bathrobes,
hats and glasses.
Come see what is new!
Visit the POA Store
for all
San Diego Police
goods & gifts!
The POA Store
is located at
the SDPOA office
8388 Vickers Street
San Diego 92111
November 2010 | 25
Stranger than Fiction
A North Carolina man is second-guessing his decision to try
robbing an unsuspecting female convenience store clerk – or
at the very least his decision to set the gun down. The man
Bayasked
Park for
Realty
and When the clerk
walked into the store and
change.
Financial
- Jon
asked him what he wanted,
change
forKern
a dollar or for a five,
etc., the man showed her a gun and simply said that he wanted “all of it.” The clerk threw money at him and let him start
digging in the cash register. With too much to grab at, the suspect set his gun down on the counter. The clerk quickly picked
up the gun and the suspect, realizing his mistake, took off
running. He ran away so fast that ran straight out of his shoe
– seriously, police later found a shoe near the front door.
appropriately charged with domestic battery after her striking,
scratching and kicking episode.
Most people who are fed up with noise might politely ask the
person to keep it down – or call the police as a last resort.
No way, says a 67-year-old Croatian retiree. Well he didn’t
so much say no way. He went fairly “medieval” as they say.
Chamber pot and all, he threw a bucket of, um, stuff out his
window on to a group of guests enjoying dinner at a restaurant
Do notcharge
below his flat in Croatia. He received a misdemeanor
allow
a resfor this incident and a second charge for walking into the
foreclosure
taurant with a large wooden plank.
to ruin your
Another alert store clerk prevented a robbery creDit
& Bay PaRK Financial
An Australian woman who believed she was
home alone was terrified to hear someone
at the Long Island Dunkin’ Donuts – this
taking a shower in her house. No, it’s not
time not by stealing his gun, but by spraya leftover Halloween ghost story – just a
ing him with water. The suspect, wearFull
Brokerage
drunk neighbor who was so many sheets
to
ingService
a “Scream” mask,
barged in through
Jon Kern Realtor ®
SaleS:
the wind that he thought heHome
was in his
own
a back door after closing and demanded
Retired
Represent
or buyerThe clerk, who was in the middle SDPD
home. The man decided to•take
a showerseller money.
of
• Residential
- Investment
to sober up, but the woman called police. When
police ar- - Commerical
washing the
donut trays, turned the high-powered
rived, they found the man, fully dressed again,
theas an alternative
kitchen faucet
the suspect. The suspect ran away never
• sitting
Short on
sale
to on
foreclosure
woman’s porch. He ended up apologizing to •
herCall
andbefore
the po-you make
to bewhat
seencould
again.be a costly mistake
lice repeatedly. Hey, at least he’s a nice drunk.FInanCIng:
He was taken
into protective custody to sleep it off.
Cincinnati police received an easy arrest call when a pros• new home purchases
titute caused a slight panic at an area motel. The woman
• Re-financeexistingloans
You would think that a woman wouldn’t be quite so surprised
called and said that there were two hostages being held at
• Restructure loansgunpoint.
to avoid In
surrender
of your property because
Dept. of Real
when her husband didn’t listen to her request the first time
reality, she was just upsetCa
herestate
cus•
ask
about
a
“no
Cost
loan”
on
home
purchase
DRe #10483034
around… A 33-year-old Florida woman called her husband to
tomer was refusing to pay
her. Two women
were arrested
tell him that she was home along and had drunk all the vodka
on prostitution charges and one of them also faces an addiso he needed to bring home vodka. Her husband did not bring
tional charge for making a phony police report. Both women
any vodka home and the woman was none too happy with him.
also had other outstanding warrants for unrelated charges,
Domestic violence is no laughing matter though and she was
like assault and child endangerment.
Office: 858-832-1939
Ad space is available!
Suppor t your
Police Officers
Association
& adver tise
your business!
For more information on
how you can advertise
your business
to Informant
readers, call
858-573-1199
x 220.
26 | The Informant
Cell: 619-994-5447
Do not allow a
foreclosure to ruin
your creDit
& Bay PaRK Financial
Office: 858-832-1939
Cell: 619-994-5447
Full Service Brokerage
Jon Kern Realtor ®
Home SaleS:
SDPD Retired
• Represent seller or buyer
• Residential - Commerical - Investment
• Short sale as an alternative to foreclosure
• Call before you make what could be a costly mistake
FInanCIng:
• new home purchases
• Re-financeexistingloans
• Restructure loans to avoid surrender of your property Ca Dept. of Real estate
• ask about a “no Cost loan” on home purchase
DRe #10483034
On the Road...
Sponsored by
Officer Kelly Besker of Central Division stopped by
Duke’s Canoe Club with his Informant while on a trip
to Kauai.
Retired Det. Sgt. Ed Becker and his wife, Connie, went
to Vancouver, Canada for the first week of the 2010
Olympics. Here they are at BC Place with Sgt. Margaret
Campbell of the Edmonton (Alberta) Police Department.
Sergeant James Kistner brought a copy of The
Informant to the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island,
Bahamas.
Officer Ray Clark celebrated his 25th wedding
anniversary with a trip to the Great Pyramids of Giza,
in Cairo, Egypt, and brought his Informant along for
the ride.
If you’ve recently taken your copy of The Informant on the road with you, please share your pictures!
If your picture is featured, the member who sends in the photo will receive a pair of movie tickets, as well as our appreciation!
Active and retired SDPOA members should send submissions to Emily via email at [email protected].
November 2010 | 27
Sunday
An at-a-glance listing of SDPOA,
law enforcement and local events
Tuesday
Wednesday
November
Friday
Dates to Remember
Thursday
Saturday
6
Monday
5
4
13
3
12
20
2
11
SDPOA Office Closed
in Observance of
Veteran’s Day
19
1
10
DATE CHANGE DUE TO
VETERAN’S DAY:
SDPOA Board Meeting
8:30 am
SDPOA Board Room
18
9
17
RFPA Board
Meeting
SD Firefighters
Credit Union
16
8
14
15
SDPOA
Christmas Party
Tickets On Sale
Today
SDPOA Office
27
24
26
23
SDPOA Office Closed
22
SDPOA Office Closed
21
29
30
25
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Dinner
at the POA
for all Watches
11:00 am - midnight
28
7
Charger Game
Viewing Party
at the SDPOA
HAll of Valor
10:00 am
28 | The Informant
POA Office Manager’s Report
Reminder:
The next
POA
Board Meeting
is scheduled for
Wednesday,
November 10
8:30 am
POA Board Room
If you have a specific topic you
would like to address with the
board, please call the POA office by
Thursday, November 4, to be added
to the agenda. If you’d like to sit
in and listen to the discussion, but
do not have a specific topic, please
feel free to drop in.
There are quite a few ways to get involved in some fun SDPOA events coming up in the next
several weeks – something for everyone between football, food and parties! First up, we’ll
be having another Charger game viewing party for the November 7 away game. The game
starts at 10:00 am and the POA hall will be open with all of our TVs going, so come by to root
on the Chargers as they take on Houston.
The POA will host a Thanksgiving dinner for all watches again this year and the Chief’s office has granted flexibility in Code-7 to allow officers to come from all over the City to the POA,
staffing permitting. Food will be served from 11:00 am until midnight, so we’d love to have
you over for dinner! See page six for more info.
As many of you already know, the POA Christmas Party will be on Saturday, December 18
at the Hard Rock Hotel. Tickets will be on sale at the POA office from November 15 until
December 10. Come by to buy your tickets early – we’re expecting a huge crowd this year!
For those of you who haven’t seen the announcement yet, the November board meeting
will be held on Wednesday, November 10 instead of the usual second Thursday of the month
date. This is to accommodate the Veteran’s Day holiday and we’d also like to advise everyone that the POA office will be closed on Thursday, November 10.
On a final note, I can’t say THANK YOU enough to retired Sergeant Ralph Garcia and the
Over the Hill Gang for their HUGE $7,000 donation to the SDPOA Widows & Orphans Fund.
They donated the proceeds from the Streak Car Show and we greatly appreciate it!
Be safe!


Khristina L. Smith

Classified Ads



Looking for police patches and badges from California agencies, including current and older patched, specialized units, tabs, badge
patches, etc. I have a large collection to trade from or will purchase. Let’s get together for coffee and do some trading. You may
contact Dan Weiss at [email protected]. Dan is California Law Enforcement Historical Society Member #33



Vacation Rentals 


North Shore, O’ahu, Hawaii – Sit up in bed each morning and see the blue Pacific! There’s a 4 bedroom (K/Q/Q/2 Twin), 3.5 bath
Hawaiian home away from home waiting for your visit! Steps from the ocean, “Ka’a’asa Liona” has a full kitchen, outdoor gas BBQ,
sunroom with full ocean view, 52” flat screen TV, two car garage, A/C, new pillowtop beds, laundry room, linens, beach towels –
everything you’ll need to relax & enjoy your well-deserved Hawaiian vacation! Sleeps 8. Rent by the day. Special law enforcement
rate! Call Lynne or Jim Tucker, SDPD retired at 858.967.5257 – Website: www.kaaasaliona.com
Rosarito Beach, Mexico – just steps from the beach, beautiful ocean view with spectacular sunsets. Gate guarded, located at
K38, a world-renowned surfing spot and only 20 miles from the border. Outside firepit and sundeck, living room, family room both
with fireplaces. Two bedrooms, sleeps eight, two bathrooms. Enjoy the clean skies and stars at night, smell the ocean air and
listen to the waves. Reasonable rates, come relax and enjoy! Call Sandy Redding at 619-444-9174.
Big Bear Lake – Beautiful two-story mountain cabin. Secluded in pine trees with view. Fireplace, sundeck, stained glass windows,
beautifully furnished. Sleeps 9 people comfortably. Nearby boating, fishing, swimming, water skiing, parasailing, jet skiing, wind
surfing, golfing, horseback riding, hunting, hiking, snow skiing (winter). Or simply just get away and relax. Visit Big Bear’s Zoo,
take an exciting ride on the Alpine Slide, or unwind and take a dip in Pan Hot Springs (Big Bear’s own natural hot springs mineral
pool). Experience the crisp, clean, pine-scented mountain air and leave your cares behind. Rent for the weekend, week or month.
Reasonable rates. Call Sandy Redding 619-444-9174.
Coconut Coast in Kapaa, Kauai – One bedroom condo with full kitchen in the Planation Hale, a 160-unit, 9-acre complex run by the
Best Western Hotels as week-to-week vacation rentals (www.plantation.hale.com). Special law enforcement rate (active and retired
police, firefighters and friends in San Diego County) $95 per night – as space is available – first come first served. Regularly from
$165 to $205 per day, depending on the time of year and condo. To book, call Elsie and use “code law,” at 1-800-775-4253. Sleeps
4 adults and 2 children, with daily maid service. Any problems, call Jack Freitas, SDPD retired.
Lake Havasu City, Arizona – New vacation home in the heart of Lake Havasu City. The home has three bedrooms and two baths with
an additional detached guesthouse furnished as a second master suite, making it perfect for two couples plus kids/guests. Amenities
include full granite kitchen, in-ground pool and Jacuzzi, fireplace, 50” TV & entertainment center, BBQ, and lots of off-street parking. The
home is 5 minutes from all attractions including London Bridge and the lake, golf, desert sports, and shopping! Available by the day or
get the week discount. Great law enforcement rates. Call J.K. Hudgins, CIU 619-247-6978, or Chuck Arnold, ICAC 619-890-8527.
Lake Tahoe – A great vacation home on the west shore, located in the very quiet and private Rubicon area, just north of Emerald
Bay. Come enjoy the lake with its fishing, boating, skiing, sightseeing, etc. The home includes beautiful forest views, large outdoor decks, two fireplaces, a two-car garage, 6 nearby ski resorts, and all just one block from your own private beach and pier.
The home is a 4/3, newly remodeled and furnished in a tasteful mountain theme. This house will sleep 10-12 in comfort! Deep
discounts for fellow law enforcement officers. Available by the day or week. Call for photos and maps: J.K. Hudgins, CIU 619-2476978, or Chuck Arnold, ICAC 619-890-8527.
Havasu – Vacation rental, 3 bedroom / 2 bath, 1 king and 2 queen beds. Near downtown and the launch ramp. $100/night + $100
non-refundable cleaning deposit. 928-680-7289 home / 928-208-2483 cell. For photos, email [email protected].
November 2010 | 29
SDPOA
Board
Minutes
September 9, 2010
0830 hours
Directors present: Marvel (excused from 0845- 1145), Fender, Paxton, Bostedt, Hubka, Lewis, Levitt (arrived 1015 hrs.), Jordon, DuBois
Directors excused:
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: C. Morrison,
S. McMillan, S. Rose, M. Springer, L. Maggi, M. Sullivan, T. O’Daniel. E. Herbert
OTHERS PRESENT: A. Cates, A. Springer, S. Lehan, J. Olen, J. Clem, B. Nemec,
T. Degelder, B. Farrar, C. Hogquist, R.
Pinckard, B. Fields, K. Smith (recorder)
OPENING OBSERVANCES: President
Marvel called the meeting to order at
0830 hours and led all present in the
Pledge of Allegiance. There was a moment of silence for the Officers killed in
the line of duty in the past. There were
10 officers killed in the line of duty Nationwide since the August Board Meeting. There were 5 San Diego Police officer killed in the month of September.
Henry Goodrich (9/7/40), Kimberly
Tonahill (9/14/84), Timothy Ruopp
(9/16/84), Ronald Davis (9/17/91),
Robert McPherson (9/30/29).
NON-AGENDA MEMBER COMMENTS:
No Report.
MEMBER PRESENTATIONS:
• Stephanie Rose requested the POA’s
support of $500 for her to participate in a half marathon to support
cancer. Moved to Charity.
• Mark Hanten requested to POA donate t-shirts for the security volunteers for the Susan G. Komen Walk.
Moved to Charity.
PRESENTATIONS:
• Bostedt gave a presentation to the
first Honorary SDPOA Member to
Dispatcher Alisha Cates. Cates donated her kidney to Member Mike
Springer’s wife, Anne.
• Jill Olen with the San Diego Police
Foundation gave an update on the
Foundation and stated there will be
changes in how the Foundation will
be run. They plan on mending fences with organizations that have been
treated poorly in the past.
• Herb Smith requested the POA donate money for new Chaplain shirts.
Moved to Charity.
• Kathleen Hoot requested the POA
make a donation for her participation in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day
30 | The Informant
Walk. Moved to Charity.
• Dan McAllister gave an update on
legislation regarding Roth 457 plans
for public safety workers.
• Terry Degelder and Bill Nemec gave
an overview of starting a private business with a government agency partnership to GPS monitor sex offenders. Degelder and Nemec requested
the POA support the program by writing a letter of endorsement. Discussion occurred.
• Bill Farrar and Charlie Hogquist requested information regarding the
change to the Associate Membership.
• Officer Chavez thanked the Board
for the donation towards their unit
refrigerator.
PAC
Status report:
• SCALE- No report. Had meeting on
Board Meeting Day.
• CCLEA- Fender spoke about the recent
meeting; updated regarding the various Association issues that were addressed, including L.A.’s budget crisis.
• Big 11 – Presentation of Big 11 letterhead.
• PORAC – DuBois reported on the November conference.
• Prop D - DuBois updated on the recent meeting.
• DuBois updated on candidates the
SDPOA has supported this year.
PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE
Charity:
• Request for POA to sponsor the
SDDSA Star 6 Foundation Golf Tournament. Declined.
• Request for POA to sponsor the
CNOA 2nd Annual Fallen Officers
Golf Tournament. M/S Hubka/
DuBois for $400. Unanimous. 8-0-1.
Marvel excused.
• Request for POA to sponsor a member’s participation in a half marathon
to support Crohn’s and colitis disease. M/S Bostedt/Lewis for $200.
Unanimous. 8-0-1. Marvel excused.
• Request for POA to sponsor four members and one retired officer’s wife in
the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast
Cancer Walk. M/S Levitt/Hubka to
split $2,500 equally amongst those
who have already made the request,
and any other members who make
the request by October 14th. Unanimous. 8-0-1. Marvel excused.
• Request for POA to donate t-shirts
for the security volunteers for the
Susan G. Komen Walk. Tabled.
• Request for POA to donate money for
new chaplain shirts. Tabled.
• Request for POA to sponsor the Crime
Stoppers Light the Night event. M/S
Jordon/DuBois for $750. Unanimous. 8-0-1. Marvel excused.
Informant:
• The Unit Spotlight will be the DART
and the Member spotlight will be Jason Weeden for the November issue.
Website: No report
RETIREMENT
• Mark Sullivan gave an update on SDCERS activities. His presentation included discussion of ongoing issues
with PSC’s and DROP. Discussion
occurred. Closed session
MEMBER RELATIONS
Member Services:
• There was a member request for a
two consecutive day use of the POA
Hall.
• Discussion occurred regarding the
design of the Hall of Valor. M/S
Marvel/Hubka for the mural without
“Sony” on it. Unanimous. 9-0.
LABOR/MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Status Report:
• Kanaski announced the dates for
the Captain interviews.
• Kanaski discussed budget issues.
• Kanaski talked about a couple pursuit rated vehicles.
• Discussion occurred regarding HIPPA violations.
Safety: No report
LEGAL
• No report
LITIGATION COMMITTEE – Brian Marvel
/ Jeff Jordon, Co-Chairs
• No report
SPECIAL EVENTS / SCHOLARSHIP
COMMITTEE
Status report:
• Hubka gave an update on the recent
POA picnic.
BUDGET-FINANCE
Status report:
• M/S Jordon/Hubka to accept the
Treasurer’s report. Unanimous. 8-01. Absent for vote: Lewis.
BUSINESS AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Administrative: SDCPOA will have their
Christmas party at the POA Hall
By-Laws: No Report
Minutes: M/S Levitt/Hubka to accept
the August 2010 Board Meeting Minutes
with no corrections. Unanimous. 9-0.
MILESTONE REPORT
No Report
OLD BUSINESS
• Hubka updated the Board regarding
the Hall of Valor painting.
• Bostedt gave an update regarding
the Valor awards.
• Levitt updated regarding agency fees
San Diego Police Officers Association Staff
Non-Members
8388 Vickers Street
858.573.1199 (Office)
858.573.1574 (Fax)
San Diego, CA 92111
Alonzo Alexander, Jr. Michael A. Moller
Bryon J. Barmer
Jose Oliveras
www.sdpoa.org
Kerry J. Bauman
Shannon P. Palenschat
Michael W. Brindell
Heather Petty
Mark Bua
Michael Power
Christina D. Burhans Kenneth E. Rawls, Sr.
Martha G. Sainz
Fenella Custer
Thomas R. Gardenhire Ryan P. Schultz
Nicolas Gonzales
Thomas T. Slater
Scott Greenwood
Steven Southerland
Eric B. Hays
Anthony Spagnolo
Henry B. Ingram
Todd N. Turner
James E. MacKay
Robert Wells
Khristina Smith
James Nemec
Emily Cox
R. Shane Martin
Donald Williams, Jr.
Office Manager
Accounts
Communications Coordinator
Mark M. Zdunich
David J. McAnnally
Exec. Assistant to the Board
Administrator
Editor, The Informant
Vito A. Messineo
If you know any of these non-members, the
Board asks that you inquire if they would be
willing to join or re-join the Association. We
welcome all San Diego police officers and hope
that they would want to be a part of theLaw
Asso-Offices of Scott O’Mara
ciation, showing solidarity in improving working
Attn: William
conditions for San Diego police officers. If a
Fax: 619-744-0835
non-member has questions regarding the benefits of membership, please direct them to contact any of the POA board members.
Brenna James
Deborah Flores
Candice Walsh
NEW BUSINESS
Special Events Planner
Receptionist/ Admin. Asst.
Store Clerk
No Report
ADJOURNMENT at 1602 hours.
Are you
READY
TO RETIRE?
Whether you plan to play golf, travel the world, or spend
more time with your family, determining your retirement
needs is the first step in defining how the assets you’ve
worked hard to build, keep working for you.
Planning for your retirement can be a daunting task.
If you’re nearing retirement, we can work with you to
evaluate your needs and develop a sound strategy that
seeks to achieve your goals and provide peace of mind.
Contact our office today for more information or to
schedule a consultation. Experienced with direct rollover
options for DROP and 401k plans.
Securities offered through LPL Financial Member FINRA/SIPC
Christine L. Dellacato
Registered Principal,
Branch Manager
8356 Allison Avenue, Suite C
La Mesa, CA 91942
619.697.8792
www.lpl.com/christine.dellacato
We know what
Law Enforcement
Officers Need.
Automobile & Motorcycle Accidents
Bodily Injury  Workers’ Compensation  Death Claims
Retirement Law  On & Off Duty
Our Outstanding History of Success
For Our Clients Includes:
$63,000,000 verdict for medical malpractice
$6,000,000 recovery for a workplace injury involving
negligent operation of a forklift
$3,700,000 verdict for a propane explosion
$3,500,000 recovery for a motor vechicle accident
$3,250,000 recovery for a fire aboard a ship
$3,200,000 recovery for a motor vechicle accident
$2,800,000 recovery for a fall from a skylight in an unsafe
work environment
$2,750,000 recovery for a motor vehicle accident
We have also been successful in litigation regarding a police officer’s
right to have uninsured/underinsured coverage extended to his
work as a motor officer.
1-800-LAW-1199 or 1-800-CHP-1222
www.LAW1199.com
The Law Offices of
Scott A. O’Mara
O’Mara & Padilla
San Diego  Del Mar  Riverside & Orange Counties
Making a false or fraudulent workers’ compensation claim is a felony subject to up to five years in prison, or a fine
of up to $50,000, or double the value of the fraud, whichever is greater, or by both imprisonment and fine.
November 2010 | 31
The Informant
San Diego Police Officers Association
8388 Vickers Street
San Diego, CA 92111-2109
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
San Diego, CA
PERMIT No. 1144
Change Service Requested
The San Diego Police Officers Association Thanks Our Generous Sponsors of The Informant
The San Diego Police Officers Association is
looking for Corporate Sponsors for
The Informant.
Professional
towing services
throughout
San Diego County
www.RoadOneSanDiego.com
Corporate sponsors will have their logo
featured on the back cover of The Informant
as a part of the sponsorship package.
Interested parties should contact Emily Cox:
858-573-1199 x220 - or - [email protected]
Don’t Forget to Vote - November 2
SDPOA Ballot Recommendations
SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL
Council Member, District 6 - Howard Wayne
Council Member, District 8 - Felipe Hueso
STATE ASSEMBLY
State Assembly, District 78 - Marty Block
State Assembly, District 79 - Ben Hueso
SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Supervisor, District 4 - Ron Roberts
LOCAL PROPOSITIONS
Proposition B. Amends City Charter to Add Good Cause
Requirement for Certain Terminations Or Suspensions
of Deputy City Attorneys YES
Proposition D. If Financial Reform Conditions Are Met,
Authorizes Temporary One-Half Cent Sales Tax YES
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE
Superior Court Judge; Office 20 - Richard R. Monroy