The Official Publication of the San Diego Police Officers

The
Informant
The Official Publication of the San Diego Police Officers Association
Volume XXVIII
May 2008
San Diego Police Officers Association
858.573.1199 (Office)
8388 Vickers Street
858.573.1574 (Fax)
San Diego, CA 92111
www.sdpoa.org
Bill Nemec
President
Paul Hubka
Board Member
Tom Bostedt
Vice President
Jeff Jordon
Board Member
Tom Rhodes
Secretary
Brian Marvel
Board Member
Rob Lewis
Treasurer
Paul Paxton
Board Member
Mark Sullivan
Board Member
Committees and
Committee Chairs
Editorial and Advertising
Information
By-Laws/Policy........................................... Paxton/Lewis/Marvel
Editor, Emily Cox
858.573.1199 x 220
[email protected]
Budget/Finance..........................................Lewis/Jordon/Marvel
Family Health....................................................... Bostedt/Jordon
FIT/Safety...............................................................Hubka/Paxton
Informant....................................................Hubka/Lewis/Rhodes
Labor Management.................................. Lewis/Paxton/Sullivan
Legal Grievance........................................ Rhodes/Lewis/Bostedt
Member Services.................................................. Bostedt/Jordon
SCALE.....................................................Rhodes/Marvel/Sullivan
CCLEA.....................................................Rhodes/Marvel/Sullivan
Retirement...........................................................Rhodes/Sullivan
Political Action............................Lewis/Paxton/Jordon/Sullivan
Public Relations...........................Lewis/Paxton/Jordon/Sullivan
Member-Public Communications......... Bostedt/Paxton/Marvel/
Jordon
Charity....................................................................Hubka/Marvel
Special Events/Scholarship........................Bostedt/Hubka/Lewis
Parliamentarian.....................................................Rhodes/Paxton
2 | The Informant
Editorial Policy
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.
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.
Freedom of expression is assured within the bounds
of good taste and the limits of available space.
Our target audience is law enforcement, specifically
POA members of the San Diego Police Department.
Deadline
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
Article 2 of the 2003 MOU launched discussions between
the City, Chief’s Office and your POA toward creating the
ranks of POIII and Detective. It’s been a long road and, after
lengthy meet-and-confer discussions, the Civil Service Commission finally affirmed and granted to the Police Department the POIII and Detective ranks on April 3, 2008.
Many people deserve credit for the accomplishment.
First, Detective Mitch Wallace while serving as a POA Director, conducted exhaustive research into the rank structures
and he took the lead during the ‘03 contract negotiations to
get the language into the MOU.
Next, Chiefs Lansdowne, Maheu, and Ramirez deserve
credit for their contribution to the discussion over the new
positions. From the start, each Chief Officer demonstrated
their unwavering commitment and support to establishing
POIII and Detective.
Paul Cooper, Legal Advisor to Chief Lansdowne, contributed his legal expertise to the discussion and was instrumental in drafting the job descriptions for each rank. He also
assisted in putting together the presentation to the Civil Service Commission.
Labor Relations and Human Resource Officers Judy von
Kalinowski and Tanya Tomlinson, Assistant Personnel Director Pat Nunez, and Associate Personnel Analyst Darrin
Schwab all contributed their expertise and commitment to
the ranks.
Board members, Detective Paul Paxton and Officers Tom
Rhodes, Jeff Jordon and former POA Vice President, Detective Sergeant Steve McMillan worked many hours coordinating meetings and assembling draft language for our MOU
and Civil Service Commission
When April 3rd arrived, all of the aforementioned, with the
exception of Detective Wallace, were present at the Civil Service hearing. The vote came quickly to affirm the Detective
rank. However, when it came time to discuss POIII, rank one
commissioner in particular took exception to three issues.
First, the minimum qualification of twelve years experience – the commissioner and
a City Personnel representative thought the twelve year
minimum experience qualification was excessive and
pointed out the minimum
qualification for Sergeant
was four years. The commissioner further indicated
the minimum experience
qualifications for the ranks of
Lieutenant and Captain. The
concern being a Sergeant, Lieutenant, or Captain may have
fewer years experience than a minimally qualified POIII.
Second - the commissioner wrongly believed POIII was
to be awarded to everyone with a minimum experience
qualification of twelve years.
Third – the commissioner believed the Agent rank would
continue and POIII would be a new rank. The commissioners quite appropriately asked why approve two ranks
in which the officers would be doing the same job? The
answer is the Agent rank will be allowed to end with the
departure of the last officer holding the rank.
Though a number of people participated in the presentation, in the end the most convincing arguments in favor of
establishing Detective and POIII came from Chief Lansdowne and Executive Assistant Chief Ramirez.
The Civil Service Commission voted unanimously to approve the ranks. What remains are the meet-and-confer
discussions between the Chief’s Office, City Officials and
the POA. Thank you everyone who participated in making
this happen and congratulations to Detective Mitch Wallace who started the ball rolling.
Be safe, and with profound respect,
In This Issue
Member Spotlight..............................................................4
Air Support Unit................................................................5
Chaplain’s Corner..............................................................6
The Crime Files..................................................................7
POA Endorsements............................................................8
Cigar Mixer III....................................................................9
On Donning and Doffing...............................................10
Inside SDPD Outreach Program
Earns High Marks............................................................11
Blood Drive Success!.......................................................12
The Importance of Using POA
Employee Representatives.............................................13
Upcoming Events.............................................................14
TV Cops.............................................................................15
SDPOA Discount Ticket Info........................................16
Negotiations and Contracts............................................17
Resources & Recruits through the Cadet Program....20
RF&PA Update.................................................................22
Maintain a Diversified Portfolio Even in
Turbulent Times...............................................................23
National Police Week......................................................24
Legends Behind the Badge.............................................25
Stranger than Fiction.......................................................26
On the Road......................................................................27
At a Glance Calendar......................................................28
Board Minutes..................................................................30
May 2008 | 3
Member Spotlight:
Captain
Tony McElroy
It may be difficult to find someone who enjoys being a San
Diego police officer more than Captain Tony McElroy, especially now that he is back at Southeastern, in the area where
he grew up and the station where he began his law enforcement career as a patrol officer.
After getting his start as a patrol officer, Captain McElroy
worked with S.W.A.T, Vice, Narcotics and the Gang Unit.
Following a four and a half year stint working undercover in
Narcotics, McElroy switched over to the Juvenile Investigations Unit at Eastern before becoming a sergeant at Southern, where he was able to fully take advantage of his minor in
Spanish and the language immersion courses he completed
in Mexico.
Under the guidance of Dave Bejerano at Southern, McElroy
learned the importance of community involvement and neighborhood policing, using bicycle patrols to increase visibility
and start relationships with the people he served. He also was
Special Assistant to the Chief for community relations under
Chief Sanders and then under Chief Bejerano. Following his
service with the Chief’s office, McElroy became a lieutenant
in the watch commander’s office before going to Northern as
service area lieutenant. He then returned to S.W.A.T as executive officer before becoming commanding officer.
Back at Southeastern, McElroy still credits involvement with
the community as the key to success. He organizes lunch
with kids at their schools and oversees a youth advisory
board comprised of 15 kids from Morse High School (his
alma mater), Lincoln High School and the School of Creative
and Performing Arts. Through this board, kids are given an
open forum to communicate their concerns to police and
have an opportunity to talk about the issues that are important to them. In return, the students act as liaisons among
their peers, relaying information from the police to their
friends and family.
“The part of being a police officer that gives me the most joy is
working with the community. We are changing the stigma of police by working with people in the area,” said Captain McElroy.
He gave the example of when a young person sees an officer
that they recognize due to the officer’s school or community
involvement, the child is likely to wave or say hello, giving an
indication that the child recognizes that officer as a positive
influence in his or her community. The positive feeling is
carried over to the parents and other community members
when they see that the adults in the area can be comfortable
and trusting of someone who already has their child’s trust
and respect.
McElroy credits working with Teddy Weston, as one of the
first teams of black officers, as the time in which he learned
how to talk to people in the most constructive way possible
and learned the importance of using the spirit of the law versus the letter of the law. He noted that always treating the
public with respect and dignity makes a significant difference in how the public reacts to the police, causing people to
be more receptive to police doing their job.
A good sense of humor helps keep the job fun – McElroy
mentioned that there were many times when he and Teddy
Weston would be singing Temptations songs in the car while
they were taking someone in the backseat to the station.
“I’ve always had fun doing my job. I’ve been really lucky in
working for wonderful people and have had wonderful people work for me. There has never been a day when I haven’t
wanted to come to work because I love what I am doing,”
said Captain McElroy, right after he mentioned that the San
Diego Police Department is unquestionably the best law enforcement agency in the country.
Congratulations to the Peace Officers of the Year
Carlsbad Police Department - Alonso DeVelasco  Chula Vista Police Department - Dave Beatty Coronado Police Department
- Maverick Campbell District Attorney’s Office - Chris Sjodin El Cajon Police Department - Paul Winslow  Escondido
Police Department - Mike Martinez Harbor Police Department - Magda Fernandez La Mesa Police Department - Andrew
Golembiewski National City Police Department - Graham Young Oceanside Police Department - Jeffrey Novak San
Diego Unified Schools Police Department - Carlos Vargas San Diego Police Department - Dannie Bihum San Diego County
Sheriff Department - Keith Griggs San Diego State University Police Department - Michael J. Johnson University of
California, San Diego Police Department - Dan Cook United States Border Patrol - Alexander R. Djokich
4 | The Informant
“From Drug Dealing to Policing”
It sounds more like a made-for-TV movie than the story of
the Air Support Unit, but that is exactly the case for the Air
Support Unit’s two early helicopters.
fueling. The helicopters are capable of keeping pace with a
motorcycle moving at speeds up to 140 miles per hour, as
proved by a recent pursuit.
In the 1980s, a major drug dealer was arrested in San Diego.
It was determined that he had purchased two helicopters using money procured from drug deals and used the helicopters to facilitate ongoing drug deals. Following the confiscation of the helicopters, they were, as Sergeant Woods said,
painted black and white and plastered with San Diego Police
Department lettering.
If the helicopters are already on patrol when a call comes in,
the response time is only a matter of the distance to the call.
However, if the helicopter is not yet in the air, a checklist
of 60 steps must be completed before lifting off the ground.
The unit’s current average for completing these steps from
the time of the call to being in the air is just seven minutes.
Though the Air Support Unit (also known
as ABLE, AirBorne Law
Enforcement)
actually started in the 1970s
when a couple of detectives who had pilot
licenses
occasionally
rented planes to follow
and track the movements of mobsters in
the area, the confiscated and re-painted 1967 and 1974 Bell
Jet Rangers were the first helicopters in continuous use for
the San Diego Police Department. Two new helicopters purchased in 1993 completed the Air Support Unit’s fleet with two
fixed wing Cessna planes. One airplane was purchased with
asset forfeiture funds and the other was donated to the unit as
a gift from the founder of the Dixieline Lumber Company.
Up until its retirement and replacement, the 1967 Bell Jet
Ranger was the oldest police helicopter in operation in the
United States, and likely the world. This statistic helped
sway the San Diego City Council to authorize the purchase of
four new A-Star helicopters in 2007.
The Air Support Unit currently has nine pilots and three tactical flight officers (TFO). The unit is led by two sergeants
and a lieutenant, with the fleet supported by two full-time
helicopter mechanics. The helicopter pilots are all police
officers who earned their commercial pilot’s license before
being selected as Air Support Unit pilots. Tactical flight officers are responsible for surveillance and tracking suspects
when in pursuits. They monitor up to 12 different radio frequencies simultaneously and respond to the calls that will
benefit most from having air support. The tactical flight officer position is a three year assignment and is the pathway
to becoming a helicopter pilot.
“The top priority and number one mission of Air Support is
the safety of ground officers,” said Sergeant Bill Woods. “We
keep track of what is happening below to keep the ground
officers informed and help them decide how to respond depending on the situation. In pursuits, we can let officers
know the suspect’s movements and prevent the officers from
putting themselves in danger.”
The technology on the new helicopters has vastly improved
over the years, allowing the unit to work calls at higher altitudes and have flight lengths of about two hours before re-
The most notable new technology is the improved FLIR (forward looking infrared), used to create thermal imaging allowing the helicopter’s TFO to track suspects from the air. In the
dead of night, the view from above was previously hindered
by the inability to see the activity below, requiring the use of
a huge spotlight. With the FLIR, thermal images are a dead
giveaway of a suspect’s location and actions. The undercarriages of cars and suspects running on foot glow on an otherwise dark screen. Firearms that are still warm from being held
close to the body or recently fired may be seen when thrown
over a fence and potentially located if thrown from a vehicle.
The FLIR does not cast a spotlight onto a fleeing suspect. Instead, it has an infrared laser designator working in conjunction with the FLIR that points to where the FLIR is directed.
The laser can be seen with night vision monoculars, which can
help with apprehending a suspect by surprise when the officer
knows the suspect’s exact location. Canine officers working at
night are equipped with the monoculars.
In 2007, the San Diego Police Department’s Air Support
Unit videotaped over 270 events, compared with other major enforcement agencies that videotape only a handful of
times per year. The videos are an invaluable resource for
prosecution of criminal cases and training purposes.
An eye in the sky is a tremendous benefit to law enforcement
– everyone seems to be glad that those early helicopters were
able to turn their lives around from their drug dealing pasts
and start off the SDPD air fleet.
Left: Pilot/Officer Josh
Burkhardt, Sergeant Bill
Woods and TFO Elias
Rodriguez stand in front
of a helicopter after
finishing a patrol flight.
Below:
Officer
Kevin
Means and Officer Paul
Connelly prepare for a
patrol flight.
Not Pictured from the
Air Support Unit: Lt.
Carey Brooks; Sgt. Jerry
Hara;
Pilots/Officers
Don Borinski, Phil Cady,
Robert Daun, Todd Jager, Rich Parrella and
Blair Stephens; Tactical
Flight Officers Blaine
Ferguson and Tristan Gonzalez; Helicopter Mechanics Vincent
Cendejas and Ricardo Lemus
May 2008 | 5
Chaplain’s Corner
By Herb Smith, SDPD Chaplain
“If anyone comes to Me,
and does not hate his own
father and mother and wife
and children and brothers
and sisters, yes, and even
his own life, he cannot be
My follower. Whoever does
not carry his own cross and
come after Me cannot be My
follower” (Luke 14:26-27).
“Hate is such a strong word,” as the saying goes.
But Jesus didn’t mince words. He forcefully said
what He meant with piercing intent, and left no
wiggle room to misunderstand. Hard sayings
and hard truths to make a hard choice. Though
what He said was difficult to hear, it was also impossible to deny. He didn’t have to explain Himself, and the response was all or nothing. Thus we
navigate from sin to sincerity, from brokenness to
wholeness, from fear to faith, from hatred to love.
But to get there we must go from death to life;
what Jesus intended from the beginning.
Jesus spoke as one having authority. Genesis
says that in the beginning, the earth was formless and void, with a deep darkness over all.
Then God’s Spirit hovered over the surface, and
it was He who said “Let there be light” and “Let
there be… life.” He later also said “Let there be…
judgment,” and a cataclysmic world-wide flood
occurred that brought about destruction, and
fundamental change. Words from Jesus are always powerful and never come back void. As was
the earth without Him, devoid of His grace we
are purposeless, void, and full of deep darkness.
Then God’s Spirit begins to move over us, and His
Light and Life infuses us with understanding and
order. His words either bring ruin or make all
things new.
The Word became flesh, according to John’s gospel, and was full of Grace and Truth. In Him was
Life, and such was the Light of men. And what
brought and kept Him here was Love. God’s
Love is not the opposite of hate, but its eclipse,
even as light erases the dark. To find our ultimate satisfaction, security and/or significance in
any one or thing other than Him eventually incorporates an empty darkness. But loving others
and stewarding possessions with a transformed
heart touches them with His Spirit and rightly
marshals His resources. There’s really no other
way I can truly love without loving Him. As the
saying goes, “Know God, Know Love. No God,
No Love.” Love is such a strong Word… “God is
Love” (I John 4:8).
6 | The Informant
17th Annual Law Enforcement/
Emergency Personnel Prayer Breakfast
High Fives for all who joined in with this year’s prayer
breakfast. Produced and hosted by Horizon Fellowship
and Christian Law Enforcement Fellowship, over 650 officers, deputies, agents and firefighters enjoyed an excellent morning of good food (cooked and served up by our
own beloved Ret. Sgt. Ray Albright and crew), delightful
social interaction, great interagency contact, laughs from
the stage, touching moments of program and a message
from a speaker who held all present literally spellbound.
Integrity, patriotism, faithfulness, professional excellence
and spiritual hope and vitality were all themes touched on
throughout the morning. Music was provided by a combined interagency law enforcement quartet led by Gary
Hassen, as was the PD, SO and Fire Color Guard.
At the start of the program, San Diego’s venerable patriarch
Bill Kolender was honored for his nearly 50 years of law enforcement leadership in our county, and for the outstanding
work he has done to establish and encourage the work and
department integration of chaplaincy programs.
Other program presenters of Scripture readings and
prayers included Undersheriff Bill Gore, SO Commander
Glenn Revell, SDPD Lt. John Leas, and Fire/Harbor Police
Chaplain Mickey Stonier. MC was SO Chaplain Program
Exec. Director Carey Norman.
The Speaker was Lt. Col. David Grossman, US Army
Ranger Ret., who gave a riveting 50 minute message on
the growth of violent crime in our world, what is behind it,
what to expect from it, and how we all as the warriors God
has appointed to interdict it must step up to deal with it.
There was some humor in his message, but it was 98%
dead on and dead serious. Most of the time you could hear
a pin drop as we all considered the times we live in, and
why we’re here. There are three kinds of people… sheep
(good, honest, well meaning people, but vulnerable to victimization), wolves (who live to prey on them), and sheepdogs (society’s warriors who live to defend the sheep).
Dave recounted with almost sickening frankness the tragedies of our times, and how we as warriors must be trained
and prepared in every way to do our job. He also spoke of
the One Who gives the sheepdog the understanding, direction and strength to do the job of protecting the sheep, the
Chief Shepherd Himself, Who sacrificed Himself to give us
the hope we need to press on and be found faithful.
The Col. received a long standing ovation, and stayed after to sign books and talk to folks. The program was concluded with a touching benediction by P.D. chaplain Russ
Locke (Western Div.), and all joined in to sing, led my the
L.E. Quartet, all three verses of America The Beautiful. It
was a beautiful morning indeed. CD’s will be available of
the message by calling the Horizon Fellowship Bookstore
at (858) 277-4991. Try not to miss this next year…
See the photos on page 18
The Crime Files
By Steve Willard
In a continuation of the article started in
last month’s issue, the next former lawman to ascend to the White House may
very well be one of the most memorable
presidents in our nation’s history.
Theodore Roosevelt was a weak, asthmatic child who grew up to be one of the
most robust and ambitious U.S. presidents ever. Born on October 27, 1857
into a wealthy American family of Dutch
descent, Roosevelt was related to former
President Martin Van Buren and was the cousin of
future president Franklin D.
Roosevelt. His father was a
merchant and banker. His
mother was a descendant of
Robert III, King of the Scots.
As a young boy, Roosevelt
worked hard to improve
his health through vigorous
exercise of both mind and
body. By age nine, “TR” was
running a zoological museum he put together after seeing a dead seal at a market. To deal with bullies, the scrawny boy
took up boxing lessons, a hobby he would
continue almost to the day he died.
A voracious reader with a photographic
memory, Theodore Roosevelt eventually
went on to Harvard where he graduated
among the top of his class.
By 1884, it seemed TR had it all. At age
23, he had already become the youngest state representative in the history
of New York. Once in office, TR made
news by exposing the corrupt relationship between a New York Supreme
Court Justice and railroad magnate Jay
Gould. With his whirlwind enthusiasm
and calculating mind, TR was easily reelected in 1882 and 1883, eventually being elected the youngest Speaker of the
Assembly in the history of New York.
Then tragedy struck. After the joyful
birth of his daughter Alice, on February 12th, his wife was diagnosed with
Bright’s disease and died two days later,
on Valentine’s Day. Later that afternoon, TR’s mother, Martha died of ty-
phoid fever. TR was inconsolable and
wrote in his journal, “the light has gone
out of my life.”
TR packed his things and headed west,
to the Dakota Territory. He wasn’t exactly welcome. TR quickly picked up the
moniker “four eyes” and “tenderfoot.”
He proved his bravery in a saloon shortly
after riding into town. TR came in looking for coffee. One of the thugs in the
back of the bar took an instant dislike to
him and made it known the
bar was for whisky only.
At first, TR simply ignored
him, but when the thug
pulled two pistols he had
to be dealt with. TR decked
him. Then he pulled him
outside and beat the man
to a pulp.
Later, TR was sworn in as a
deputy sheriff. One of the
highlights of his career was
when he led a posse of men after outlaw
Mike Finnegan and his gang of thieves
who stole a boat. The chase lasted two
weeks and covered 300 miles, but TR
eventually caught his man.
Between travels around the country,
TR continued on as a deputy sheriff until permanently returning east in 1886.
From there his political career went
straight up. Nine years later, TR was the
police commissioner of New York City
and he quickly set about cleaning house.
Within months a number of corrupt officers were fired, the world’s first police
academy was established and a merit
system of promotions was in place.
TR left the police department in 1897 to
become secretary of the United States
Navy but even that was short lived. In
February 1898, the US was headed to
war with Spain and TR was headed to
the Army as a lieutenant colonel. In
July, TR was in Cuba where he led the
charge up San Juan Hill. One hundred years later, President Bill Clinton
awarded TR’s descendants the nation’s
highest honor, the Congressional Medal
of Honor.
Three years after the charge, TR had
served as the governor of New York, vice
president, and upon the September 14,
1901, assassination of William McKinley, President of the United States.
His list of stunning accomplishments
was not even close to done. By the time
TR left the presidency in 1909, he established the National Park Service, laid the
foundation for the construction of the
Panama Canal, broke up huge corporate
monopolies through anti-trust regulation and won the Nobel Peace Prize.
TR continued his life as a private citizen making speeches around the US. In
October 1912, TR was shot in the head
by someone in the audience. The bullet smashed through his eye glasses and
lodged in his skull. TR refused medical
treatment and told the crowd “the bullet
is in me now, so that I cannot make a
very long speech but I will try my best.”
By the end of the First World War TR’s
health was failing him. He had lost his
favorite son Quentin Roosevelt a year earlier when his plane was shot down by Germans in the air over France. Some say he
never recovered from the broken heart.
His last day was January 16, 1919. TR told
his manservant to “please turn out the
light.” He was found dead the next morning. The official cause of death was listed
as a pulmonary embolism brought on by
the combined effects of inflammatory
rheumatism and recurrent malaria. When
the news reached Washington, D.C., Vice
President, Thomas Marshall, was reputed
to have said, “Death had to take him sleeping, for if Roosevelt had been awake, there
would have been a fight.”
Authors note: In keeping with a family
tradition, TR would be proud to know
his son; Brigadier General Theodore
Roosevelt Jr. was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his role in the
invasion of Normandy June 6, 1944.
The awards make the Roosevelt’s part of
a very elite class of Americans where a
father and son duo have been awarded
our nations highest honor.
May 2008 | 7
SDPOA Endorses.....
The San Diego Police Officers Association has endorsed the following candidates in their respective elections. As election
day comes closer, the POA may announce additional endorsements prior to the June primary, however, endorsements for
San Diego City Attorney and San Diego Mayor will not be announced until after the primary election, if at all. In the meantime, you can learn more about the candidates who have received the POA’s stamp of approval below.
Auday Arabo
78th Assembly District
Paul Cooper
Superior Court Judge
Greg Cox
County Supervisor, Dist. 1
As chairman of the San Endorsed by both San As Chairman of the
Diego
County
Crime Diego Police and Fire, Board of Supervisors,
Commission,
Auday Arabo
Greg Cox Golf
oversees
a
Rancho Bernardo
3 bedroom
with Magnificent
course
Paul Cooper
is law Panoramic
has earned the praise of enforcement’s
regional
government
$680,000 Call meclear
for details!
law enforcement and the choice for Superior Court recognized as one of
gratitude of crime victims Judge. For the past 15 the best managed urban
and small business leaders.
years Paul Cooper has counties in the nation.
Arabo served as a worked on police related Public safety is his top
Legislative Correspondent
issues as a prosecutor, priority. He helped
in Washington D.C for
launch our region’s
a Member of Congress San Diego Police Legal Reverse
911
and
before
becoming
a Advisor, and as Counsel AlertSanDiego
mass
to
Chief
of
Police
William
criminal prosecutor for
notification
systems,
the San Diego County Lansdowne developing which
were
widely
the
experience
necessary
District Attorney’s Office.
credited
for
saving
Throughout his career, to be an excellent judge. lives during the 2007
Arabo has remained Prior to acting as top legal Firestorm.
He
has
committed
to
the advisor for the Chief of fought identity theft,
community through his Police, Paul prosecuted protected our children
involvement with the hundreds of criminals from sexual predators
City of San Diego Small as head prosecutor for and developed a regional
WILLIS
ALLEN
REAL
Business
Advisory
Board,
theESTATE
Domestic Violence strategy to fight gang
Community
YouthReal&Estate.
Real Integrity.
Child Abuse Unit. violence. Greg Cox is
Athletic Center, Since
State 1914.
of Cooper
successfully a steadfast supporter
California EDD Small argued for police officer
of law enforcement,
Business Advisory Board
privacy rights before and is a major sponsor
DIRECT
619.733.0222
and as President and
the California Supreme of the regional Law
CEO of
the Neighborhood858.756.2444
OFFICE
Court.
Enforcement Memorial.
Market Association.
Marti Emerald
City Council, Dist. 7
Veteran 10News Troubleshooter Marti Emerald
has a record of more than
views!
two decades of fighting
crooks, scams and fraud
in San Diego. Thousands
of taxpayers have benefited from her persistent
pursuit of people who
prey on San Diegans.
Marti Emerald’s professional honors are equaled
by her many community
service awards including
the U.S. Attorney’s Award
for Outstanding Service
to Victims of Crime and
the District Attorney’s
Association Awards for
Outstanding Reporting
on Consumer Fraud.
Emerald has established
a record as a strong communicator and administrator and will be an outstanding representative
on the San Diego City
Council.
Todd Gloria
City Council, Dist. 3
A native San Diegan,
Todd Gloria blends community activism with government experience. As
the District Director for
Congresswoman Susan
A. Davis, he is responsible for defense, veterans, housing, and budget
issues. He represents
Congresswoman Davis
in the Mid City area and
is a resident panelist on
the Mid City Prostitution
Impact Panel, working to
deter criminal activity in
City Heights.
As a Council member,
Todd will fight to bring
back community relations officers, tailor crime
prevention efforts to
neighborhoods, ensure
that police resources are
allocated where crime is
highest and continue the
recovery process in our
Police Department
WILLIS ALLEN REAL ESTATE
Note: The information provided was collected from the candidates websites and/or campaigns
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8 | The Informant
For more information
on how you can advertise
your business in front of
San Diego police officers,
family and friends,
call 858-573-1199 x220.
Cigar Mixer III
CONTACT:
When: Friday, May 16, 2008 (Payday!!!!)
Time: 1730 hours
Where: SDPD Home Avenue Pistol Range
Cost: $15.00 per person. (Includes
dinner,
Alpine TenderCare
Preschool
o Centers
Ed LaValle (619) 922-2849
Brian Marvel (858) 722-2968
Reggie Frank (619) 405-0781
Steve Willard (619) 531-2302
adult beverages and soft beverages)
Advanced ticket purchase recommended
Raffles, Music and Prizes
Proceeds benefit SDPHA & SDPOA
Widows and Orphans Fund
D A C
Alpine TenderCare
Preschool
Our Goal ... Customers For Life
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Fleet Pricing
Huge Inventory
Large Service Department
Complete Parts & Apparel Store 2008 Edge
State-of-the-Art Collison Repair Center
Finance & Lease Programs
Extended Warranty & Security Protection
2008 F150
For an appointment,
call one of your POA representatives:
FLEET DEPARTMENT
619 464-7777
Mike Safford x7729
24 years
Jerry Miller x7727
19 years
Toll Free 888-373-9367
(888 Drew Ford)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and 2 Snacks
prepared by Onsite Cook
Diapers, Wipes and Formula provided
s
ount
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with
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Infant, Toddler, Preschool and
School-Age Programs
Law Enforcement Owned
Open until 10:00 pm
2710 Alpine Blvd. Apline, CA 91901
619.659.5701
www.aplinetendercare.com
May 2008 | 9
On Donning and Doffing
American Police Beat
February 2008
by Mark Nichols
In a massive ruling for the nation’s police officers, a court in
San Francisco has ruled that a police uniform is not just a set
of clothes, but an emblem of authority that conveys “special
powers and deference in our society.” And that means the
officer should be paid for the time needed to put it on and
take it off, according to U.S. District Judge Marilyn Hall
Patel.
Judge Patel ruled in favor of police in San Leandro who sued
for about a half-hour per day of paid “donning and doffing”
time, either as part of their shifts or as premium pay.
The ruling “ensures that officers get a fair day’s pay for a
fair day’s work,” Alison Berry Wilkinson, a lawyer for the
officers, told Bob Egelko of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Dlouhy Doors
Kathy Mount, attorney for the city of San Leandro, said Patel
left room for the city to argue that the process takes so little
time that it shouldn’t be compensated. Mount said the city
would argue that putting on and taking off uniforms and
mandatory protective gear takes only ten minutes.
San Leandro officers have estimated that they need 25 to 35
minutes a day to get their gear on and off.
U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled last August in
a similar case that police in Richmond, California did not
have to be paid for time spent putting on and removing their
Emergency Equipment Engineering
uniforms, but that they might be entitled to compensation
for time needed to attach safety equipment such as guns,
holsters, handcuffs and helmets.
Breyer said police must be paid if they have to put on that
equipment at the station.
Putting on and taking off a uniform is not “integral and
indispensable” to police work, the standard established by
the Supreme Court in compensation cases, Breyer said.
But in her recent ruling in the San Leandro case, Patel said
she disagreed with Breyer. A police uniform, along with
safety gear, makes up an officer’s survival suit, she said. It
deters crime by letting everyone know the officer holds a law
enforcement job, and it includes the equipment needed to
catch criminals like badges, guns, night sticks and helmets,
she said.
In making her decision, Patel cited past rulings that require
employers to pay workers for the time they need to put on
protective clothing in a battery plant and a silicon chip factory.
The suit was filed by Greg Lemmon, president of the San
Leandro Police Officers Association, on behalf of the 54
patrol officers in the department.
Wilkinson said all police departments specify the type of
uniform officers must wear and the equipment they need
to carry, but very few pay for their time. Berkeley sets aside
20 minutes of each shift for uniform-related compensation,
she said, and the California Highway Patrol pays uniformed
officers a 3.5 percent premium.
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10 | The Informant
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Inside SDPD
Outreach Program Earns High Marks
San Diego Police Foundation
The ever-popular interactive Inside SDPD: Use of Force
program drew a record 70 participants on March 8 and
earned outstanding reviews thanks to SDPD officers.
Hosted by the San Diego Police Foundation and the San
Diego Police Department, the multi-faceted behind-thescenes program provides citizens an opportunity to test their
law enforcement mettle in a variety of scenarios.
Chief Lansdowne opened the program welcoming guests and
remarking how pleased he was to see so many citizens give up
a Saturday morning to learn more about law enforcement.
canine bite-suit demonstration and explained how police
dogs are a “resource multiplier.”
SDPD’s four-legged tools may
garner the most affection,
but the 4-wheeled scenarios
really connected.
Most guests were not aware
that traffic stops are some
of the most dangerous law
enforcement interactions.
And we had an over-the-top
actor helping make it real
in Officer Sandi Lehan, who
partnered with Donelson
at one of the vehicle stops
bringing amazing energy to
each scenario. (We may need
to switch her to decaf next
time.)
Sgt. Phil Martz directs “Marco”
toward Officer Howard Spetter
in the bite suit to demonstrate
the usefulness of K9 units
Photo credit Kirby Yau
With participants in a black and white “armed” with toy
guns, and cops having a great time playing out their worstnightmare citizens, officers Bob van Wulven, Brian Jackson
and Tom Wood brought their own special talents and insights
to the educational experience.
Mounted Enforcement Unit Officer Renee Ruff and Officer Deana De
Los Reyes address the crowd at the March 8 Inside SDPD event
Photo credit Kirby Yau
Television reporters and photo journalists were there for the
full day’s activities, creating about 20 minutes of TV coverage
that aired Saturday morning, evening and Sunday morning.
Eager to learn from “America’s Finest” were guests from all
walks of life, including representatives from the San Diego
Urban League, Price Charities and Notre Dame Alumni.
Their law enforcement education started with Sgt. Shaun
Donelson’s serious “Use of Force 101” presentation, which
covered force options peppered with just enough humor
and personal experiences to set the stage for the hands-on
activities to follow.
Mounted Enforcement Unit Officers Renee Ruff and Deana
De Los Reyes then treated participants to a crowd control
demonstration and described the types of incidents to which
the unit responds.
During subsequent breakout rotations, Sgt. Phil Martz and
Officers Larry Triplett and Howard Spetter coordinated a
“I’d be scared to death to pull over and walk up to a car at
night,” said one guest.
The vehicle stop scenarios, with MEU added in, provided a
unique opportunity for guests to make split-second use-offorce decisions. And they agreed it was an eye opener!
Out of the sun, the Fire Arms Training Simulator further
enhanced the experience providing guests the opportunity to
face the most dramatic lethal-force decisions. The situational
dramas on the life-sized screen gave people a taste of what
law enforcement officers face each day and how important
and tough it is to respond with appropriate force.
Many thanks to tech-savvy Officer Tom Underwood
and Detective Jim Troussel for making this memorable
experience possible!
Inside SDPD attendees overwhelmingly rated the program
“outstanding” on their evaluation forms.
If you would like to participate in or invite your family
and friends to the next Inside SDPD on July 12, please call
858-453-5060, e-mail [email protected]. Or
visit www.sdpolicefoundation.org.
May 2008 | 11
Thank you to everyone who made the SDPOA Blood Drive a success!
The San Diego Blood Bank set up at least 6 donor
beds and numerous waiting area chairs in the
SDPOA Hall - most of which were filled throughout
the day! We had over 80 donors come through our
doors to help make a difference in life. In addition
to our many generous donors, we also had the
pleasure of having the Santagata family joining
us. Wilson Santagata was the featured patient at
this blood drive as he was diagnosed with leukemia
in December 2005. He is currently in remission,
but will undergo
chemotherapy for
one more year. The
Santagata
family
is pictured to the
left: Scott Santagata
(SDPD Northeastern
Diamonds Ltd. Division), Mellissa
Santagata
(SDPD
Communications),
Wilson, Jordan and
Lucas.
Officer Chris Wilson from
Southeastern recruited his
daughter, Kaylee, to join him in
donating blood
The SDPOA Hall was filled with donors
within an hour of opening the doors
Captain Miguel Rosario,
Lieutenant Tom Orden and Sergeant
Ruben Martinez from Northeastern
filled out their paper work as they
waited to make their donations
Officer Rich Schaaf took some time
to make a donation while Mellissa
Santagata made a donation from the
cot behind him while her husband,
Scott, and son, Lucas, looked on
Diamonds Ltd.
Fine Jewelers
30 years in San Diego
with three generations
in both Jewelry and Law
Enforcement makes
Diamonds Ltd.
a name you can trust.
 Diamonds
 Gemstones
 Custom Design
 Manufacture
 Repair
 Appraisals
POA Members will NEVER pay sales tax in our store.
Loose Diamonds Excepted
“I’ve helped you in the field...
now let me help you with your
jewelry needs.”
Ed Zwibel
SDPD #5475 * Western Division
Gemologist * Appraiser
We are located across from Parkway Plaza mall at the intersection of Fletcher Parkway and Pioneer Way
450 Fletcher Parkway, Suite 104
12 | The Informant
El Cajon, CA 92020
619.442.0671
The Importance OF USING
POA EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES
By Bradley M. Fields
Bobbitt, Pinckard & Fields, APC
While the law guarantees an officer who is subject to an administrative investigation the right to choose virtually anyone to serve as the officer’s representative, not all “reps” are
created equal. When subject to such an investigation, POA
members should choose a representative from the POA Legal Defense plan (“LDP”) “rep” program instead of a nonPOA representative.
If any supervisor asks you questions about a particular act
or omission that might lead to discipline, they are statutorily
and contractually obligated to allow you the right to representation. Specifically, if such questions are asked, you have
the right to inquire whether your statements could be used
against you in any criminal or administrative proceeding. If
the supervisor cannot guarantee that your statements will
not be used against you, you have the right to representation and should contact Bobbitt, Pinckard & Fields, APC,
the POA’S LDP attorneys, at 858-467-1199 for representation. Such rights clearly apply when you are “formally” interviewed and may also apply when being informally questioned in the hallway, in the field, or anywhere else.
The $64,000 question is what type of representative you
choose to assist you. The Public Safety Officers Procedural
Bill of Rights Act (the “Act”) allows virtually anyone to be
designated as your representative for an administrative interview. Specifically, the Act states as follows regarding an
officer under investigation and subject to an interrogation:
“[T]hat officer, at his or her request, shall have the right to
be represented by a representative of his or her choice who
may be present at all times during the interrogation. The
representative shall not be a person subject to the same investigation. The representative shall not be required to disclose, nor be subject to any punitive action for refusing to
disclose, any information received from the officer under investigation for noncriminal matters.” Utilizing the services
of a POA employee representative provides you with three
distinct advantages.
First, using a POA employee representative means that your
representative is up-to-date with the most recent legislative
changes, judicial decisions, and departmental practices pertaining to administrative investigations. POA employee representatives are trained by the attorneys that manage and
operate the POA’S LDP. In fact, all POA employee representatives participated in a full day of training in mid-March.
Through regular training, we ensure the quality, training,
and experience of POA employee representatives. Other
representatives may be untrained and not aware of recent
changes affecting the administrative representation of officers.
Second, using a POA employee representative provides you
with a representative who has around-the-clock access to a
POA LDP attorney, if one is needed either to answer questions of the employee representative or to more actively assist in the representation of an officer. Other representatives
may have no attorney access in your time of need.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Act, itself, provides no confidentiality for criminal matters. This means
that a non-POA representative could be compelled to incriminate you if the matter over which the representative
provided you representation results in a criminal investigation. Conversely, a POA employee representative works under the direction and control of attorneys. As such, when a
subject officer contacts our office for representation and is
assigned to a POA employee representative for representation, there are additional attorney-client confidentiality protections that may apply to insulate POA employee representatives from being compelled to incriminate you.
In short, there are many reasons to use the services of a POA
employee representative. If you have any questions about
the POA’s employee representative program, please feel to
contact me at [email protected].
Ad space is available!
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
Support your SDPOA
& advertise your business
For more information on how
you can advertise your business
to Informant readers,
call 858-573-1199 x220.
Cell: 760-445-5445
1672 Main Street, Suite E 435 Ramona, California 92065
May 2008 | 13
Upcoming Events
Officer Down
Memorial Motorcycle Rally
In Memory of Deputy Jeff Mitchell
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department
EOW 10/27/06
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Hosted by the Palomar College Police Academy
Check-in 8:00 am
Ride starts 9:00 am
Lunch begins 12:00 pm
184 Santar Place, San Marcos, CA
$25.00 per rider/ $30.00 for two-up
Scenic Ride  Awesome Raffle Prizes  BBQ Lunch  Music
Memorial Ride Pin for all participants
100 % of the proceeds go to the fund for Jake Mitchell
(Deputy Mitchell’s son)
More information is available at
www.myspace.com/officerdownmcr
Or contact Officer Damian Jackson
(Escondido PD/Palomar Police Academy)
[email protected] or 760-801-2693
Last year’s event drew more than 1,000 participants
17th Annual
San Diego County
Peace Officers
Memorial Run
Saturday, May 17
9:00 am
The run is being held in conjunction with Peace
Officers Memorial Week. The run is not a race,
but a run to honor those peace officers who have
died on duty.
FREE MASSAGES
for SDPOA Members!!!
Experience the therapeutic value of
massage therapy, at absolutely no cost!
In completing her certification process as a Holistic Health
Practitioner, Barbie Smith (Borinski) will be providing
FREE Relaxation Massages to SDPOA members during
the months of May & June.
One hour massage sessions will be made available at the
POA building on a first come – first serve basis. Members
wishing to take advantage of this opportunity need only
schedule their block of time on Barbie’s web site, during
the offered times and dates for POA members.
The times will be 1800–2200 on Mondays &
Wednesdays, and 0900-1500 on Saturdays.
Available dates: May 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 19, 21, 28
& June 2, 4, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, 25, 28.
Further detailed information will be provided after an appointment is scheduled. This offer is limited to members
only. One session per member, please. Reservations can
be made and additional general information can be found at
www.barbies-bodywork.com
Presents The Third Annual
“Cops and Rodders”
Car Show and Shine
Saturday June 21st, 2008
Registration from 8:00am to 9:00am
4000 Oregon Street/North Park Recreation Center, San Diego
Trophies, Prizes, Music, and family Fun
We accept all years, makes, models, of Autos, Trucks, Motorcycles, and Military, Police, Fire and EMS vehicles!
All Proceeds benefit the:
The 2.5 mile run will start at Cannon Park, located
at the corner of Carlsbad Blvd (Hwy. 101) and
Cannon Road in Carlsbad. The run is for all levels
and the pace will be moderated to keep all of the
runners together. There is no cost to participate.
Please call Sergeant Chris Boyd (760-931-2204) or
Paula Melikian (760-931-2209) at the Carlsbad Police
Department if you have questions.
We look forward to running with you!
Sponsored by Carlsbad Police Department
14 | The Informant
For more information call Ed LaValle (619) 922-2849 or
Rick Carlson (619) 990-6197
nd
TV Cops:
Some Good,
Some Bad,
Some Ugly
Lieutenant Columbo
Columbo
• Columbo drove a battered 1959 Peugeot 403 Cabriolet convertible.
Columbo was extremely proud that it was a rare (if unpopular) automobile, even telling one murderer that his car is one of only three
in the country. He later wrecked the car at least four times
• Columbo has a tendency to get airsick and seasick. He doesn’t
know how to swim, but he will row a boat. He is doesn’t have a
strong stomach for hospitals or autopsies and becomes uncomfortable when having
to look at photographs of ‘messy’ murders. He’s also afraid of heights to the point
where he once said “to tell you the truth, I don’t even like being this tall.”
• Wears a shabby raincoat most of the time
• Generally finishes his interrogations by leaving the room, but then turning back to
ask “just one more thing”
Played by Peter Falk
Detective Ed Green
Law & Order
• Became Det.
Det. Robert Goren
Lennie BrisLaw & Order: Criminal Intent
coe’s partner
• Badge number is 4376
in 1999
• Detective for the Major Case Squad in the NYPD
• In 2005,
• Grew up in Brooklyn
Green was
• After college, Goren served in the Criminal Investigation Division
shot in the
of the U.S. Army.
line of duty,
•
Det. Goren spent four years in the Narcotics Division where he was responsible for
and was hospitalized for a
three sting operations that resulted in 27 arrests and 27 convictions
few weeks
•
He has an acute sense of smell
• He has an affinity for punk
•
Goren has the habit of cocking his head at odd angles during interrogations. His
rock, particularly Elvis Cos“side talking” method distracts and unnerves his interviewees
tello and enjoys taking trips
•
He once ordered veal parmesan five nights in a row at Sal’s Restaurant. The waitress
to Atlantic City
commented on his love for the dish and he replied that he really just liked the way
• He tends to wear expensive
that she wrote it down. As a server passed by, she pulled the order from his tray and
Rolex watches
served him immediately
• Det. Green speaks many lanPlayed
by Vincent D’Onofrio
guages - Spanish, some Russian (“Enough to pick up a Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson
date”), and a little French.
The Closer
• When not on the beat, he • Johnson leads the Priority Homicide Division of the Los Angeles PD
can occasionally be found
• Starting her law enforcement career with seven years at the CIA,
in a New York City subway
she then did a four year stint with the Washington D.C. Police Decar, singing about wanting
partment and a three and a half year stint with the Atlanta Police
to start a restaurant in Santa
Department before moving to LAPD
at Law
Fe (Jesse L. Martin played Ronald
• She Hauser,
inheritedAttorney
her cat from
a murder victim whose case she solved.
the role of Tom in both the
Johnson calls the cat “Kitty,” but refers to her with male pronouns
Broadway and movie verbecause she originally thought that the cat was male until it gave birth to kittens
sions of Rent)
• Her favorite drink is a “big glass of Merlot”
Played by Jesse L. Martin
Played by Kyra Sedgwick
Pro Sound/Music For All Occasions
Weddings  Retirement/Birthday Parties
Professional DJ/Gear/Engineer
Indoor/Outdoor Events  Reasonable Rates
Please Call Or Email For
Odd Quote
Numbered
“anything else is just
noise”
Months
TMAG SOUND
Phone: 619-540-8202  Fax: 619-589-1900
Email: [email protected]
Law Enforcement Owned & Operated
BANKRUPTCY
RONALD
A. HAUSER
Attorney at Law
(619) 206-3811
(619) 741-3961
National City ♦ San Diego ♦ La Mesa
May 2008 | 15
price through your current contract is $113/month
SDPOA Discount Tickets
ATTRACTION
AGE
MEMBER
REGULAR
EXPIRES
Limits
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE -ORADULT (10+)
$61.00
$66.00
12/11/2008
8/Member
DISNEYLAND 1 DAY PARK PASS
CHILD (3-9)
$53.00
$56.00
per month
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE -ORADULT (10+)
$66.00
$91.00
12/11/2008
8/Member
DISNEYLAND 1 DAY HOPPER
CHILD (3-9)
$58.00
$81.00
per month
CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE -ORADULT (10+)
$64.00
$66.00
5/22/2008
8/Member
DISNEYLAND 2FER*
CHILD (3-9)
$54.00
$56.00
per month
* Second visit MUST be used within 30 calendar days following the first date of usage (no park hopping)
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
ADULT (12+)
$24.99
$43.00
3/31/2009
8/age group
CHILD (3-11)
$17.99
$19.99
per month
LEGOLAND-BUY 1 DAY, SECOND
ADULT (13+)
$41.00
$59.00
1/31/2009
8/age group
DAY $1
CHILD (3-12)
$41.00
$47.00
per month
MAGIC MOUNTAIN
ADULT
$24.99
$59.99
12/31/2008
8/age group
CHILD (-48")
$15.00
$29.99
per month
MEDIEVAL TIMES CA
ADULT (13+)
$39.65
$52.65
No expiration
8/age group
CHILD (-12)
$30.40
$35.40
per month
PIRATE'S DINNER ADVENTURE
ADULT (12+)
$45.50
$54.73
11/30/2008
8/age group
CHILD (3-11)
$31.00
$36.57
per month
SAN DIEGO ZOO
ADULT (12+)
$28.00
$34.00
3/31/2009
8/age group
CHILD (3-11)
$19.50
$24.00
per month
SEA WORLD - 2 DAY*
ADULT (10+)
$44.50
$57.00
6/1/2008
8/age group
*Black Out Dates Apply
CHILD (3-9)
$39.00
$47.00
per month
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS-1 DAY
ADULT
$49.00
$64.00
6/30/2008
8/age group
CHILD (- 48")
$49.00
$54.00
per month
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS: BUY A DAYALL AGES
$64.00
$89.00
1/31/2009
8/age group
GET A YEAR PASS*
per month
*Black Out Dates Apply
WILD ANIMAL PARK
ADULT (12+)
$28.00
$34.00
3/31/2009
8/age group
CHILD (3-11)
$19.50
$24.00
per month
MOVIE THEATERS
AMC
PACIFIC
ULTRA STAR
REGAL / EDWARDS /
UNITED ARTIST
MEMBER
$6.25
$6.25
$5.75
$6.25
REGULAR
$10.00
$9.50
$9.50
$10.00
EXPIRES
No expiration
No expiration
12/31/2010
No expiration
Limits
12/Member per
7 days
You must show POA membership card before purchasing any member tickets - NO EXCEPTIONS!
Please call Alexis at the POA store to verify tickets are available.
All tickets prices are subject to change without notice.
Irish Officers Visit Sunny San Diego in Honor of St. Patty’s Day
While many of their fellow countrymen were enjoying a pint in the cloud-covered Emerald Isle, a group of prison
officers from Mountjoy Prison in Dublin visited San Diego for our annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Mountjoy
Prison originally opened in 1850 and is the oldest prison facility in Ireland. Pictured with POA directors Mark
Sullivan, Tom Rhodes and Bill Nemec is Paul Brennan, leader of the group. The prison officers were very well
received by the fans along the parade route.
16 | The Informant
San Diego Police Officers Association
and the City of San Diego Reach Contract Agreement
Following a few months of negotiations, the San Diego Police Officers Association and the City of San Diego reached a tentative agreement on Tuesday, April 8. Officers had the opportunity to attend one of five membership meetings on Wednesday,
April 9.
An overview of the tentative
agreement is as follows:
• 3% pay increase on July 1, 2008
• 3% pay increase on December 27,
2008
• No changes to the current DROP
program. The city plans to go to
court to obtain a decision regarding the validity of DROP as a “vested” benefit; the POA will oppose
any changes and defend the validity of the program
The Board of Directors sits around
the negotiation table with representatives from the city
Squad cars and police motorcycles
lined the streets coming into the POA
building
A standing-room only crowd filled
the POA Hall to hear about the
tentative agreement
POA Vice President Tom Bostedt
presented the agreement to POA
members
• Health & dental benefits can be
selected from Kaiser, Sharp or
HealthNet - 100% covered for single, sliding scale for couples, families and single-parent families
Full details on the tentative agreement
are available at the POA office or from
one of the POA board members.
An Award-Winning Team
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858-449-SELL
7 3 5 5
[email protected]
May 2008 | 17
17th Annual
Prayer
Breakfast
There was a wonderful
turnout for the 17th Annual
Law Enforcement and
Emergency Personnel
Prayer Breakfast, including
over 650 attendees.
Lt. Col. David Grossman
(pictured left) addressed
the early morning crowd.
* * * Im portant Notice***
Following the dispute between whether POA members are represented by Greg Peterson or attorneys
from Jackson DeMarco Tidus and Peckenpaugh,
Judge Brooks ruled on April 14, 2008 that
each individual POA plaintiff must submit
an attorney election form within thirty days
designating which attorney will represent
them in litigation.
The POA Board held membership meetings and sent
out information to update members on the issue.
If you have not done so already, please send
in your completed form immediately.
Please note that the POA Board has selected attorneys from Jackson DeMarco Tidus and Peckenpaugh to represent the POA as individuals and as
an organization.
ce of Dan Zeidman
Please contact the POA if you have any questions
or if you need a replacement attorney designation
form. You assistance in resolving this matter is
greatly appreciated.
DAN ZEIDMAN, ESQ.
LAW OFFICES OF DAN ZEIDMAN
260 East Chase Avenue, Suite 201  El Cajon, California 92020
Phone: 619-440-3232  Fax: 619-440-7864
[email protected]
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]
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.
No Recovery No Attorney Fees
18 | The Informant
May 2008 | 19
Resources and Recruits through the Cadet Program
The path to a career with the San Diego
Police Department can be extremely
varied within the force. But for some,
a career as a San Diego police officer
starts early – even as a teenager. Each
year 50 to 60 young San Diegans ages
16-20 participate in the San Diego Police Cadet Program to get
a feel for what law enforcement entails.
Sergeant Jim Filley of
Southeastern
Division
Investigations has led the
Cadet Program for over 27
years and currently serves
as the Administrative Advisor. He is joined by Cadet-turned-Officer Robert
Filley as the Recruiting
Advisor and Detective Pat Lenhart who
serves as the Field Operations Advisor.
The Cadet Program is also supported
by four associate advisors, Officers Jeff
Ruckle, Steve Waldheim, Mike Ramsay
and Eric Seiter. The four associate advisors are all former cadets.
These hard-working officers give generously from their own time to ensure
that the cadets are properly trained
and can turn to the officers as positive
adult role models. Each of the advisors
receives eight hours of overtime compensation per month in return for their
participation at the two Cadet meetings
held on the first and third Monday of
the month. Any additional time spent
with cadets, including participation
in the necessary training academies,
is of their own volition and given out
of their commitment to the success of
the program. Advisors supervise and
coordinate ride-alongs, attend community events with cadets, and are responsible for creating and implementing programs to recruit new cadets and
encourage eligible cadets to remain in
the program.
“I have had the privilege of administering this program for many years. It has
provided me with the opportunity to
mentor, train and prepare young people for a very rewarding career in law
20 | The Informant
enforcement,” said Sergeant Jim Filley.
“I strongly believe that a graduate of
this program is fully prepared to embrace the responsibility and challenge
of enforcing the law as a police officer
in our community.”
The overarching goals of the program
are “to provide opportunities for San
Diego’s diversified youth to learn about
law enforcement as a career, and to
develop individual potential” and “to
provide an eligible pool of police applicants for employment with the San Diego Police Department.” Based on the
number of cadets who have gone on to
wonderful careers, including over 300
who have become San Diego police officers, the program’s success is evident.
Though the Cadet Program is voluntary
and non-enforcement, cadets receive
substantial training and the experience
is invaluable to a young person deciding if law enforcement will be their career path.
“I always had an interest in law enforcement and when I found out about
the program from a family member,
I thought it was a great opportunity
to see what police officers really do,”
said Officer Mike Ramsay. “It was an
eye-opening experience to get the police training and go on ride-alongs. I
stayed with the program which made it
easy for me to decide law enforcement
was the career choice for me.”
In 2007, cadets performed 30 minor
decoy and shoulder tap operations in
which the cadets walked into a store
under the supervision of detectives and
attempted to buy alcohol or asked another person to purchase alcohol for
them after they identified themselves
as being under 21 years old.
Cadets also represent the San Diego
Police Department at recruiting events
and staffed over 50 community
events last year, supporting the
department’s Special Events
Unit staff and, in some cases,
working in place of the Special
Events Unit if the unit was unavailable. The officer advisors
supervise all cadet activities, but
cadet participation and staffing
at these events comes at no cost
to the department.
Police cadets logged a total of
over 2000 volunteer hours and
went on over 300 police ride-alongs in
2007.
By participating in the Cadet Program,
students have the opportunity to gain
life experiences that will build their
leadership skills, self-esteem, maturity
and integrity while in an environment
that fosters positive peer support within their squads.
Students interested in becoming a cadet must first complete the recruitment
process and then the Cadet Academy.
Cadet recruitment meetings are held
monthly where prospective cadets have
an opportunity to learn more about the
program and complete a written exam
covering reading comprehension, spelling and direction. After recruits pass
the test, they must pass a background
investigation and are then interviewed
by a police sergeant and two current
cadets.
Once thirty cadets are accepted into the
program, a Cadet Academy is formed.
The Cadet Academy lasts for six sessions
on Monday evenings and Saturdays
where seminars cover a wide range of
topics relevant to law enforcement, including CPR, Criminal Law, Arrest Procedures, Search and Seizures, Ethics, Report Writing and Field Training. Cadets
test their physical fitness as they take on
Superior
Mortgate,
Corp.
the challenges of the S.W.A.T.
obstacle
course, like carrying a 180-pound dummy and jumping over eight foot fences.
As a part of the Advanced Cadet Training Academy, cadets may refine their
skills and gain an introduction in to
real-life situations in the controlled environment of “Duffy Town,” a simulated
town complete with victims, thieves and
bystanders played by police officers. Cadets must also attend meetings on the
first and third Monday of each month to
remain active in the program. At these
meetings, cadets receive the training
they need as a cadet and potential future
officer with classes focusing on vehicle
pursuits, gang profiling, radio procedures, K-9 and interview techniques, to
name a few.
Throughout the San Diego Police Cadet
Program’s 40-year history, the program
has enjoyed immense success and cadet participants have been commended
throughout the Department, city and
state. As a recruiting tool, the program
led to the hire of six former cadets into
full-time positions in 2007 and an additional five cadets are currently in the
application process for positions in the
San Diego Police Department. One former cadet, Melinda McArthur, recently
graduated from the 74th regional academy on April 9, 2008. (Officer McArthur is pictured below as she receives
her badge from Chief Lansdowne)
As a program that benefits the community and the department, the value is
impossible to quantify.
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May 2008 | 21
RF&PA Update
By John Hartman, Secretary, and Bill Farrar, Vice President, Retired Fire & Police Association
From John - As you
learned in the April issue,
Dave Crow has decided to
enjoy his retirement. After
more than 20 years serving
retirees as a CERS Retirement Board
Director and in many offices he held
on the RF&PA Board, he and his wife
Billie, spent a significant amount of
time working for and always trying to
improve the benefits for retirees. We
thank you for your dedication. Dave
decided to pass this article about the
various social meetings and events
involving the retirees to me. Since I
am the Secretary for the RFPA and
because I maintain contact with a
large percentage of retirees, I was
deemed to be the likely candidate.
I normally only make the Ernie
Trumper Mountain Breakfast that is
usually held at Cully’s (Mark Vattimo)
Restaurant in Poway. This breakfast
is on the last Wednesday of the month.
I had to attend a meeting and only
stopped in at the March breakfast long
enough to make sure Ernie showed
up. I briefly observed that Al Coburn
was there with DZ Moore and his wife
Mary. DZ always calls me on a phone
that was destroyed in the fire and
wants to know why I don’t call him
back. Because I wasn’t able to stay, I
don’t have the names of everyone that
attended. I know Vern Bowman was
there and I expressed our condolences
for Marilyn Graham-Bowman, wife of
Vern’s brother and former SDPD officer,
who had just died of a heart attack.
There are other social gatherings in and
around San Diego. I think they still have
a meeting in Oregon, Bert Dosier was
handling that event. There is another
breakfast meeting in Claremont. There
is also a luncheon at the Bali Hai and
normally Carl Falco attends both the
mountain breakfast and this luncheon.
If you have any regular breakfast or
lunch gatherings, please send me an
email at [email protected] to
include the information in this article.
Ernie Trumper, his wife, Barbara, my
wife, Cathy, and I went to the Santa
Ysabel Casino on a Friday night for
dinner. It was very nice and cozy but
I didn’t realize I had to take an oxygen
tank plus an overnight bag. It’s out
there but a very nice and comfortable
(if that’s the right word) for a casino.
My wife actually won some money.
Not enough to cover the gas to get
there and back but it helped. This is
a nice casino
because
the food was
Hill Tile
Company
good and reasonable along with live
entertainment. No, Ernie did not dance
on the table.
On a sad note, JP Murray, one of my
classmates of the 50th Academy passed
away. JP and his family had moved to
Las Vegas where he became Director of
Security for the Sands Hotel.
The RF&PA has General Meetings
4 times a year with the most recent
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
(The store is to the right after entering the building)
22 | The Informant
General Meeting held at the Pistol
Range in April. The next meeting will
be in July. If you are retired and not
a member, please go to our website
www.retiredfp.com and fill out the
online application. If you are an active
police officer and are in DROP, you are
eligible to join the RF&PA.
From Bill - SDCERS trustee David
Hall visited the RF&PA directors
meeting April 3 and the quarterly
luncheon April 14 at the pistol range.
(Did you notice the new tables and
chairs donated by your RF&PA?) He
is a retired PD Captain and represents
all City retirees. He stated that he is
in the learning stages of a number of
issues. He is committed to looking out
for retirees’ interests, without being
an activist, while conforming to his
responsibilities as a guardian of the
assets of the retirement system.
The April 14 lunch also included
presentations by City Attorney
candidate Jan Goldsmith and City
Council candidate (retired firefighter)
George George. George is running
against Carl DeMaio in District Five.
We are grateful that George has
stepped up and we need to support him
financially and with your vote.
I’m sorry to report the passing of
former SDPD Deputy Chief Ed DeBolt.
Fast Eddie hired me in 1972. The next
meeting of the RF&PA board is May 1.
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Mind Your Money:
Maintain a Diversified Portfolio Even In Turbulent Times
While it is always important to maintain a diversified portfolio, it is especially vital to remain diversified during volatile market conditions. As an
investor, you should be careful not to
get caught up in any panic selling and
should maintain your focus on longterm goals. This point is especially key
if you have already built a well-diversified portfolio. If you are concerned
about any particular securities, it may
be better to discuss these with your financial advisor before cashing out.
These are typically stocks of companies that provide necessities like food,
utilities, pharmaceuticals, toiletries or
other consumer products with a short
shelf life. The theory is that consumers will continue to buy necessities like
food and address their medical needs
regardless of economic conditions. As a
result, companies that sell these types
of products should not be as negatively
affected by a slowing economy as companies that produce more discretionary
types of products.
Although no one can be certain about
how the market will react long term, history shows that cataclysmic events that
prompted short-term market losses later led to a more stable investing climate
across all industry sectors. But still keep
in mind that past results are not indicative of what will happen in the future.
It also is important to remember that even
in good times the value of stocks and bonds
go up as well as down. When the market is
experiencing more volatile movements,
gains and losses can seem enormous. It is
important to keep your long-term strategy
in mind when experiencing these changes
and realize that they can balance themselves out over time.
The more your portfolio is diversified,
the less chance you have of one security
or investment having a detrimental effect on your entire investment strategy.
Bonds, stocks and cash are the three
major asset classes. Analyzing your investment objectives and tolerance for
risk with your financial consultant will
help determine the right mix of these
asset classes for your situation. Within
these asset classes, you can diversify
further by owning stocks in different
industries and countries; purchasing
different types of bonds and different
types of short-term cash instruments.
Defensive stocks typically outperform
in a slowing economy or recession.
Unfortunately many investors associate a weak or volatile period in the
economy as being the same as a weak
time in the stock market, a perception
that is not always correct. Not all market declines lead to a recession.
The truth is that the United States economy is cyclical, meaning that it moves
through stages of growth and decline,
varying in duration. A mistake made
by many investors is that they buy and
sell securities based on fluctuations in
the economic data currently being reported rather than anticipating what
the economy will look like in six to 12
months (based on a variety of factors
including leading economic indicators)
and making their investment decisions
based on that outlook.
Most successful investors take a long-term
view — at least three to five years — rather
than expecting stellar returns overnight
or panicking when the value of their securities declines. A long-term diversified
investment strategy based on your investment goals and risk tolerance can create
a winning approach for you regardless of
whether the economy is booming or experiencing a brief downturn.
You should talk with your financial advisor about what the best combination
of investments is to accomplish your
long-term goals.
This article was provided by Wachovia Securities, LLC. Member SIPC, a
registered broker-dealer and a separate nonbank affiliate of Wachovia
Corporation.
The Syrios Financial Group
of Wachovia Securities, LLC.
Gregory A. Syrios, CFP® CIMA
Financial Advisor,
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Benedict Taravella, AAMS
Financial Advisor
Please call us at our toll-free number
888-729-0264 with any questions or concerns.
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Syrios Financial Group hosted their Client Appreciation Luncheon in the POA Hall on Thursday, April 10. Greg Syrios and Benedict Taravella expressed their appreciation for POA
members’ business and offered a few words of financial advice during lunch
May 2008 | 23
National Police Week – May 11-17
May 15 is National Peace Officers Memorial Day, a day to recognize officers injured or killed in the line of duty. The week in
which May 15 falls has been known as National Police Week since October 1, 1962, the day when President John F. Kennedy
signed Public Law 87-8726. In 1994, the 103rd Congress amended the resolution as part of the Violent Crime Control and
Law Enforcement Act and President Bill Clinton signed Public Law 103-322. The amendment directs all government building to fly the United States flag at half-staff on May 15
The Joint Resolution of the 87th Congress as amended by the 103rd Congress states:
Whereas the police officers of America have worked devotedly and selflessly in behalf of the people of this
Nation, regardless of the peril or hazard to themselves; and
Whereas these officers have safeguarded the lives and property of their fellow Americans; and
Whereas by the enforcement of our laws, these same officers have given our country internal freedom from
fear of the violence and civil disorder that is presently affecting other nations;
Whereas these men and women by their patriotic service and their dedicated efforts have earned the gratitude of the Republic:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is authorized and requested to issue proclamations (1) designating May 15 of
each year as Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of the Federal, State, and municipal officers who have
been killed or disabled in the line of duty, (2) directing the officials of the Government to display at half-staff
the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on such day, as provided by section 3(m) of the
Act of June 22, 1942 (Chapter 435; 56 Stat. 377; 36 U.S.C. 175), (3) designating in each year the calendar
week during which such May 15 occurs as Police Week, in recognition of the service given by the men and
women who, night and day, stand guard in our midst to protect us through enforcement of our laws, and
(4) inviting the governments of the States and communities and the people of the United States to observe
such day and week with appropriate ceremonies and activities, including the display at half-staff of the flag
of the United States.
24 | The Informant
★ BEHIND
5TH ANNUAL
THE BADGE ★
THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2008
THE US GRANT HOTEL
PRESENTING THE FOLLOWING AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE:
Emery E. Campbell
Medal for Valor
Frank W. Northern
Award of Achievement
Keno Wilson
Medal of Merit
And Various
Community Awards
Honorary Chair, William Lansdowne, Chief of Police would like to invite
you
attend
theand
5th Annual, Legends Behind the Badge Gala and celebrate
BaytoPark
Realty
the 119th Anniversary of the San Diego Police Department.
FinancialSDPOA
- Jon Members
Kern can purchase tickets at zero percent payroll deduction.
Commander Level Sponsor, San Diego Police Officers Association
The San Diego Police Historical Association was formed to preserve the tradition of the San Diego Police Department
through the San Diego Police Museum and the Old Police Headquarters at 801 W. Market Street, with the National
Register of Historic Places. This event benefits the San Diego Police Historical Association and the San Diego Police
Museum, which preserves the history of San Diego’s finest and bravest police offers for generations to come.
Sponsorships and Tables are Available
Please Call 619-233-5008 or Email: [email protected]
same location
since 1975
2075 Morena Blvd.
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• Restructure loans to avoid surrender of your property
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SDPD Retired
May 2008 | 25
Stranger than Fiction
Honestly, we couldn’t make it up if we tried...
It would be a good rule of thumb that when the police call, don’t
ask them for drugs. When a pair of police officers recently pulled
over a suspected stolen car in Louisiana,
they called the registered owner, leaving a
message that she should return their call.
By the time that the car owner called back,
the officers deemed that the car was not
stolen and allowed the car borrower/driver to leave. While the
incident would normally end there, they had a new situation on
their hands when the car owner later returned their call thinking that rather than being law enforcement agents, they were law
breakers in the form of crack cocaine dealers. The prospective
drug buyer said that she would like to buy $150 worth of crack
and then agreed to meet the officers. Upon the meeting, the drug
buyer/car owner and her fiancé were arrested on charges of conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and the officers did not supply the drugs – double burn.
A clue left behind at a crime scene is usually a fingerprint or tread mark, but in the case of these two separate incidents, clueless criminals left behind major details. One convenience store robber figured that to kill
time until all of the customers left the store, he would
fill out an application for a job. After the customers left,
the robber showed a knife, robbed the store and tried to
make a getaway. He didn’t get too far once police called
the phone number that the man had left on the application, reaching the robber’s uncle. He didn’t get the job,
but he was arrested on armed robbery
charges.
In the second example, a Michigan
woman filled out an application for a
bank account as she waited to reach the counter. Once
there, she pulled out a handgun and demanded money
from the teller. The robber apparently panicked and
left the bank without any loot. She also left without
A South Carolina man made a pit stop at a sherher application and photo identification, which police
iff’s office to demand the return of nearly $2,000 confiscated
used to track her down and arrest her on an attempted
from him during a previous drug arrest. His demands were not
armed robbery charge.
well-received and he was asked to leave. Little did he know that
officers had noticed him getting into a car that matched the de- When breaking into a store that sells spy equipment,
scription of a vehicle that had been reported stolen earlier that a couple of robbers didn’t anticipate that they
day. With their interest piqued, another officer pulled the man may be spied upon. Taking a pick from any of
over and told him to turn the car off. The man complied, but only the store’s 17 surveillance cameras, the busiafter he jammed a screwdriver in the ignition – that was the only ness owners were able to produce numerway to turn it off as the car’s key switch was missing. The man ous images of the robbing duo breaking
was arrested and charged with possession of a stolen automobile, into the front door with a crowbar and
driving under suspension and a tag violation. It is unlikely that filling a trash can with approximately
his original demands were met on his second trip back to the sta- $10,000 worth of spy equipment.
tion that day.
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26 | The Informant
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On the Road...
Shoes, socks, shirts, sunscreen - check! Passport - check! Informant - check! This month’s On the Road winners brought
international acclaim to The Informant as they showed it off to officers, tourists and locals while on their international adventures. Thanks for taking us on the road with you!
Sergeant Dave Keesling brought his copy of
The Informant with him when he stopped
to take his picture with a police patrol car in
Bratislava, Slovakia last year.
Sergeant Andra Brown from Operational
Effectiveness (Research, Analysis and Planning)
took a European tour with Dave Root last
year. She tracked down a few London police
officers and took a picture with her copy of The
Informant by the Thames River near the British
Parliament. Their other stops included Rome,
Athens, Pompeii and the summit of Mount
Vesuvius.
Retired Assistant Chief George Saldamando
and Joe Howie from Southeastern travelled
to South America recently.
Amid the
madness of the Carnival Winners Parade
in Rio de Janiero, they paused to take a
picture with their copies of The Informant.
Well done on bringing copies from January/
February 2008 and 1998!
If you’ve recently taken your copy of The Informant on the road with you, please share your pictures!
Send your submission to the editor via email at [email protected].
May 2008 | 27
Sunday
*
25
18
*
11
4
5
12
19
26
*
*
Tuesday
*
Wednesday
14
7
Law Enforcement
Memorial
Balboa Park
Organ Pavilion

May
2
Peace Officer
of the Year
Awards Banquet
Marriott La Jolla
6:00 pm
Friday
Dates to Remember
Thursday
1
9
16
Cigar Mixer III
SDPD Home Ave
Pistol Range
5:30 pm
8
15
Legends
Behind the Badge
Dinner
US Grant Hotel
*

Saturday
*
*
17
10
3
Officer Down
Motorcycle Rally
Palomar College
Police Academy

*
24
*
23
31
*
22
30
*
21
29
*
28
* National Police Week *

6
27
20
13
An at-a-glance listing of SDPOA,
law enforcement and local events
Monday
*



*
= FREE
Massages for
POA Members see page 14 for
details


28 | The Informant
In Memory of Edwin Charles DeBolt
Former Assistant Chief of Police
June 16, 1921 - April 9, 2008
Ed DeBolt, former Assistant Chief of Police for the San Diego Police Department, passed away
peacefully in his sleep Wednesday morning, April 9, 2008. He was 86 years old and had been
battling the adverse effects of two strokes suffered seven years ago.
Born in Newton, IA in 1921, Ed’s family moved to Mankato, MN, where he graduated from
Mankato High School and attended Teachers College. He moved to San Diego in 1939, where
he was employed by Bekins Moving Company. He met and later married Shirley N. Brown, his
lifelong soul mate, and celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary in June 2007.
At age 21, Ed was hired by the San Diego Police Department, where he served for 33 years until retiring as Assistant Chief of
Police (then second in command) under Chief O.J. Roed.
During WW II, Ed DeBolt served two years in the Army, attaining the rank of Technician 5 as a military policeman in the
Criminal Investigation Department until his honorable discharge in 1945.
Besides his police work, Ed founded San Diego Van & Storage Company, developing it into the largest moving company in
San Diego and the original Mayflower agent in the county.
He was a past president of the Hillcrest Lions Club, a 32nd Degree Mason, a Peace Officers Shriner, a member of the Cabinet
of Mayflower Transit, and past president of the San Diego Chapter of the California Moving and Storage Association.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley N. DeBolt; son, Richard DeBolt; daughter, Elaine McFarland; sisters, Maxine McGill and
Maebelle Ellies and brother Max DeBolt;. He also is survived by four grandchildren, Damon Hein, Dee Hein, Matt McFarland, Heather Dunaway and two great-grandchildren, three year old great-grandson E.C. Dunaway, and 18 month old greatgranddaughter, Paige Joyce McFarland.
A most wonderful man in every respect, his passing leaves a great void in our lives.
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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
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Vacation Rentals 
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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 Gordon or 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,” as 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 619-247-6978, 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].
May 2008 | 29
SDPOA
Board
Minutes
BY-LAWS/POLICY:
0845 hours
Directors present: Nemec, Hubka,
Marvel, Sullivan, Jordon (excused
1550 hours), Bostedt, Paxton (Excused
at 0920 hours, returned at 1100 hours.
Excused at 1522), Rhodes, Lewis.
President Nemec called the meeting to
order at 0845 hours and Dick Castle led
all present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
There were 8 officers killed in the line of
duty Nationwide for March. There were
3 San Diego Police officers killed in the
month of March. Harry Kay (3/11/57),
Joseph Lee (3/19/21), Thomas Riggs
(3/31/85).
J.
OTHERS PRESENT: D. Castle, S.
Willard, A. Ordway, C. Gallagher, V.
Vasquez, M. Mercurio, S. Francis, E.
Cox, K. Smith (recorder)
MEMBER PRESENTATIONS:
Steve Willard approached the Board
and requested the POA sponsor the
Historical Association’s Legends Behind the Badge event on May 15, 2008
for $2,500. Moved to Charity.
John Minto approached the Board and
requested POA sponsor him to participate in the American Cancer Society’s
Relay for Life. Minto requested $1,000.
Moved to Charity.
Jerry Hara approached the Board and
requested the POA make a donation
of$1,014 to purchase much needed Color Guard equipment. Moved to Charity.
PRESENTATIONS:
Angela Ordway and Mike Mercurio approached the Board regarding expanding the Every Day Heroes program and
to request the POA sponsor the Every
Day Heroes Golf Tournament. Moved
to Charity.
MINUTES: M/S Bostedt/Nemec to approve the February 2008 minutes with
(1) correction. Unanimous. 9-0.
30 | The Informant
BUDGET-FINANCE: No report.
ADMINISTRATIVE: Nemec updated
the Board on the tree trimming.
March 13, 2008
MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Minto, B. Dare, J. Hara, B. Long
TREASURER/FINANCIAL: M/S Bostedt/Marvel to accept the Treasurer’s
Report for February 2008.The POA
audit was completed and it came back
clean with no discrepancies. Unanimous. 7-0. Jordon, Paxton excused.
• This item will be updated and located on the Milestone Report.
• Discussion occurred regarding the
Director’s clothing allowance and
looking into updating the amount.
M/S Rhodes/Bostedt to clarify current clothing allowance policy from
$400 per Director per 3 year term
to $200 per year per Director. Unused reimbursement money as of
December 31, of the calendar year
will not carry over to another year.
Unanimous. 9-0.
FAMILY HEALTH: No report.
• Kruger will make effort to have Bob
Wickers available to brief Board on
POA PR campaign.
• Scott Peters approached the Board
and requested POA’s endorsement
for City Attorney. Peters gave an
overview of his background. Discussion occurred.
• Steve Francis along with Vince
Vasquez and Charles Gallagher
approached the Board regarding Francis’ candidacy for Mayor.
Francis gave an overview of his
background. Discussion occurred.
PR: No report.
Member/Public Communications:
No report.
CHARITY: (16 requests) Paxton, Jordon excused from all Charity voting
• Request for POA to sponsor the
Historical Association’s Legends
Behind the Badge event on May 15,
2008 for $2,500. M/S Bostedt/Marvel for $2,500. Unanimous. 7-0.
SAFETY: Paxton discussed the issue
of alarm systems and security of take
home cars not working at times. Discussion occurred. Chief Long will follow up on this issue.
• Request for POA to sponsor a
INFORMANT: Emily Cox gave an overview of the newest edition of the newly
formatted Informant. Discussion occurred. The Board agreed the new format is very professionally done and
reader-friendly.
• Request for POA to make a dona-
LABOR/MANAGEMENT:
member in the American Cancer
Society’s Relay for Life at $1,000.
M/S Jordon/Marvel for $1,000.
Unanimous. 7-0.
tion of $1,014 to purchase much
needed Color Guard equipment.
M/S Rhodes/Bostedt for $1,014.
Unanimous. 7-0.
• Request for POA to sponsor the Ev-
• Chief Long updated Rhodes regard-
ery Day Heroes Golf Tournament.
M/S Lewis/Marvel for $1,500. (tshirt sponsorship) Unanimous. 7-0.
• Chief Long agreed to postpone the
• Request for POA to sponsor the Co-
ing the time-off/staffing issue.
Labor/Management meeting until
Negotiations are over.
LEGAL/GRIEVANCE: No report.
MEMBERS SERVICES: There was (1)
members assistance request.
PORAC: Nemec visited with PORAC officials and updated them on the POA’s
current position.
SCALE/CCLEA/BIG 11: No report.
POLITICAL ACTION:
• Janay Kruger briefed the Board on
new City lobbying ordinance.
• If necessary, the Ethics Commis-
sion personnel will be brought in
to brief Board.
rona POA’s 1st Annual Golf Tournament. Declined.
• Request for POA to sponsor the
S.D. City Firefighters 10th Annual
Golf Tournament. Declined.
• Request for POA to sponsor the
Sexual Assault Response Team
(S.A.R.T.) in their 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament. Declined.
• Request for POA to sponsor the San
Diego County Crime Stoppers 2008
Enough is Enough Luncheon. M/S
Jordon/Lewis for $1,000. Unanimous. 7-0.
• Request for POA to sponsor Star/
Pal’s 8th Annual Celebrity Waiter
Luncheon. M/S Jordon/Lewis for
$1,000. Unanimous. 7-0.
• Request for POA to sponsor the
Correctional Peace Officers Foundation, Inc. 21st Annual Survivors
Golf Tournament. Declined.
• Request for POA to sponsor MADD’s
17th Annual Designated Driver Golf
Classic. M/S Jordon/Rhodes for
$1,000. Unanimous. 7-0.
• Request for POA to sponsor the
George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s
Family Centers, Inc. Gala on April
5th, 2008. Declined.
• Request for POA to sponsor the
Cesar E. Chavez Commemorative
Breakfast. Declined.
RETIREMENT: Sullivan gave a brief update on Rule 15. Discussion occurred.
SPECIAL EVENTS/SCHOLARSHIP:
No report.
SUGGESTIONS & AWARDS:
No report.
OLD BUSINESS: No report.
NEW BUSINESS:
• Marvel brought up the discussion
of selling uniforms in the POA
store. Discussion occurred. A study
was done and it was not feasible to
sell uniforms in the store.
• Request for POA to sponsor the
National City “Christmas in July,
2008” golf tournament. Declined.
LPL Financial
• Request for POA to sponsor The Na• Marvel discussed purchasing a POA
Scott O’Mara
tional Conflict Resolution Center’s
Peacemaker Awards. Declined.
• Request for POA to sponsor the
Palomar College Police Academy’s
Class 16 Officer Down Memorial
Golf Tournament in memory of
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Mitchell. M/S Hubka/Rhodes for $700. Unanimous. 7-0.
logo flag for the POA building.
• Marvel requested POA have an of-
ficial Historian. The POA will look
into finding someone to take on the
responsibility.
• Discussion occurred regarding the
ratemycop.com website.
M/S Hubka/Marvel to adjourn at 1651.
hours.
Save the Date!
Narcotics Task Force
35th Anniversary
Golf Tournament
& Dinner
October 10, 2008
Golf Tournament
Doubletree Golf Resort
14455 Penasquitos Drive, San Diego
7:00 am check-in
8:00 am tee time - four man scramble
$60.00 per golfer (includes continental breakfast and bag lunch)
Dinner
San Diego Police Department Range
4008 Federal Boulevard, San Diego
5:00 pm hors d’oeuvres
6:00 pm dinner
$20.00 per person
Please email [email protected] to
receive announcements and updates
regarding the upcoming event
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May 2008 | 31
L aw E n f o r c e m e n t M e m o r i a l
W e d n e s d ay, M ay 7, 2 0 0 8
12 : 0 0 p m
B a l b o a Pa r k O r g a n Pav i l i o n
This year, the 24th annual Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Ceremony will be held
at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park on May 7, 2008 at 12:00 p.m. It is a time for all to
come and pay their respects to our fallen law enforcement brothers and sisters.
Sadly, San Diego County Law Enforcement lost two United States Border Patrol officers this year. Agents Jarod Dittman and Eric Cabral both died in the line of duty during different interactions. Agent Dittman leaves behind his wife and daughter. Agent
Cabral, a San Diego native, is survived by his parents and sisters.
Next year, the ceremony moves to the County Administration on Pacific Highway where the new San Diego County
Regional Law Enforcement Memorial “Wall of Light” will
be permanently enshrined. The “Wall of Light” is a memorial for those slain, the names of all officers killed in the
line of duty regardless of their agency will be engraved,
and a tribute for surviving officers throughout the county
of San Diego.
The San Diego County Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation encourages everyone in the community to attend
the memorial. A time of compunction, a time for celebration, for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
The Informant
San Diego Police Officers Association
8388 Vickers Street
San Diego, CA 92111-2109
Change Service Requested
The
San Diego
Police Officers
Association
is looking for
Corporate Sponsors
for The Informant.
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
[email protected]
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
San Diego, CA
PERMIT No. 1144