The department held a citizen’s academy graduation on Wednesday Nov. 18 at 6:30 pm.

There were 20 citizens who graduated from the 11 week program. The academy is designed to provide citizens with an understanding of the police department’s operations. Students will learn from police department personnel who are experts in the areas of S.W.A.T., narcotics, major crimes, patrol operations, traffic laws, criminal law, crime scene investigation, and other related fields.

Students will also be scheduled for a ride-along during the academy. Students gain an overall knowledge of the Costa Mesa Police Department, how it’s organized, how it serves the community, and who the people are who respond when citizens call.

The Fire and Rescue Department held a special swearing-in ceremony on Friday Oct. 30 at the City Council Chambers to honor both the promotion of three new fire captains and a division chief as well as the memory of those who perished in the Sept.11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Steve Airey, Fred McDowell and Taylor Voss received their badges at the event. Airey and McDowell are newly promoted captains and Voss was promoted last August. In addition, recently promoted Division Chief Jason Pyle also received his badge.

“With this promotion, we are moving three veteran firefighters with decades of experience to the helm of our company office cadre,” Fire and Rescue Chief Dan Stefano said. “I look forward to their contributions to the fire service and the Costa Mesa community for years to come.”

Airey began his career with the Costa Mesa Fire Department in September, 2003 and as a firefighter/paramedic. In 2013, he managed a project to activate the department’s first Paramedic Assessment Unit and he’s spent 16 years as a seasonal beach lifeguard with the City of Coronado. He’s a graduate of the Santa Ana College Fire Academy and he has a Bachelor’s Degree in kinesiology from San Diego State University.

A longtime musician, McDowell joined the Costa Mesa Fire Department Honor Guard as a volunteer bugler in 1995 and was later hired as a firefighter in 1998 and promoted to fire engineer in 2002. He is a graduate of the Santa Ana College Fire Academy. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in education and music from Cal State University Fullerton, and he has continued his volunteer role with the Honor Guard for 20 years.

Voss is a third-generation firefighter who joined the Costa Mesa Fire Department in 2003. He has been the department’s EMS Committee Chair and has been a key member on the Rescue Ambulance Committee, among many other departmental contributions. Further, Taylor brings over three years of experience, training, and leadership from his respected military service as a member of the United States Navy. He is a graduate of the Santa Ana College Basic Fire Academy and is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree from Kaplan University.

In addition to the captain and division chief promotions, the fire department announced that Daniel Cooper and Clint Brown have officially begun their employment with the Fire Department as paramedics. The pair will first complete the Orange County Paramedic accreditation process and then begin an intensive, two-week orientation academy before being placed into their respective shift assignments.

Cooper is a graduate of El Camino College’s Basic Fire Academy and the Paramedic Training Institute. He has recent experience working as a firefighter/paramedic for the Sierra Madre Fire Department, in addition to experience working as a reserve firefighter for the Culver City Fire Department and as an ambulance operator for the Long Beach and Hermosa Beach Fire Departments. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, Los Angeles.

Brown is a graduate of San Pasqual’s Basic Fire Academy and the National College of Technical Instruction’s Paramedic Program. Most recently, he worked as a paramedic in Riverside County, as an EMT with Care Ambulance, and previously served as a reserve firefighter for the Fountain Valley Fire Department.

Coinciding with the swearing in ceremony was a display of the 9-11 Rescue Remembrance Project at City Hall. The firetruck was one of several Rescue units that were called into service when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. Every member of that rescue firetruck team perished in the World Trade Center attacks. The Rescue truck has been visiting Southern California fire agencies throughout the summer and will leave Costa Mesa Friday as it goes on tour throughout the nation.

On Saturday, Oct. 31, the Costa Mesa Police Department hosted a “Substation for a Day” on Shalimar Drive. The goal of the event was to reach out to the local community, and make them aware of services that are offered.

The department partnered with Mika CDC, who took care of notifying all the local residents. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., residents were able to come out and greet the officers and explorers, and since it was Halloween, all children in costume received a bagful of candy.

Crime prevention information was available, including child safety ID kits and trick or treat safety information.

Recreation leaders were there with large games for the kids, and several of the police officers on hand played with the kids. Several adults came out and met with officers, offering some information on criminal activity in the area.

This gave the adults an opportunity to meet with officers in a non-threatening environment. In addition, 34 bicycles were licensed. This type of event is designed to bring the community and law enforcement together, and encourage a partnership to keep neighborhoods safe.

Costa Mesa Fire Chief Dan Stefano announced that Fire Capt. Jason Pyle has been promoted to fire division chief, giving him oversight over the department operations and placing him into a vital role with the Command Staff.

“This promotion comes at a very important time for our organization,” Chief Stefano said. “I look forward to the contributions and support Jason will bring in his new role to lead and carry out the duties and responsibilities that define his new position.”

Pyle has held department leadership positions in community relations, California Incident Command Certification System administration, records management, negotiations, mapping and training program management.

He is grateful for the opportunity this new role will provide.

“It is a great honor to have been chosen for this new leadership role,” Pyle said. “I have so much admiration for the team that we have assembled here in Costa Mesa, and I vow to work together with them to ensure our department remains at the forefront of fire and rescue operations.”

Pyle is a 19-year veteran of the fire service, beginning his career as a reserve with the Anaheim Fire Department in 1997. After holding roles with Los Alamitos, Menlo Park and Fullerton fire agencies, he joined the Costa Mesa fire service in 2003.

Pyle has a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from UC Irvine and an associate degree from Santa Ana College. He is also a Certified Battalion Chief and currently serves as the Orange County associate director for the California Fire Chiefs Training Officers Section. He holds several other distinctions and honors.

Pyle will begin his new role on Monday Oct. 19 and he will be based out of the Fire Department Administration offices on the fifth floor of City Hall. His official swearing in ceremony will take place on Friday Oct. 30 in City Council Chambers.

When Deputy Fire Chief Fred Seguin graduated in 1978 from Canyon High, the fire service wasn’t exactly a burning desire for him as a career choice.

Instead, he was moving up the ranks of the grocery business, where he first started as a box boy.

“I was working 40 to 50 hours a week,” he said. “I was young, living at home and the money was good.”

But while he was there, he attended Santa Ana College and took an introduction to fire science course that sparked a lifelong career move that after 30 years is drawing to a close as he plans to retire from the Costa Mesa Fire and Rescue Department on Oct. 14.

“It seems like a long time but it also seems like yesterday when I was sleeping outside of agencies to apply for one job,” said Seguin, who landed his post in Costa Mesa in 1985.

Firefighters are used to moving up the ladders quickly, and Seguin did just that, promoting to fire engineer in 1989 and fire captain in 1997. He became battalion chief in 2011 and ran the department for a short time in between fire chiefs until Chief Dan Stefano came aboard in October of 2013.

“It’s been a memorable career,” Seguin said. “When I wrote my retirement letter it was tough. I am walking away from a career that is so rewarding but so difficult to explain to people. To walk away from something you cherish so much is hard.”

So why do it?

Seguin said to stay on the job and not allow someone else the opportunity to put in 30 years into a career that is so rewarding would be selfish.

“I am happy, but I am not selfish,” he said.

While on the job he’s met movie stars and congressmen, helped with security for President Obama’s visit to fairgrounds, and one of his best memories was meeting Dodger announcer Vin Scully.

He’s especially proud that his fellow firefighters appreciate his work.

“Being selected by my peers to be firefighter of the year not once but twice, that is amazing,” he said.

During Seguin’s career, the department grew from four stations to six over a 30-year span.

The big thing, Seguin said, is the fire service in general has changed. Instead of having two small paramedic units citywide, there are paramedic units at five of the city’s six stations.

And while fires are sporadic and not as large a focus as the past, they still happen and the department now must combat fires from a different perspective.

“Firefighting has truly evolved into an art, it’s a specialty,” he said.

For proof, he pointed to photo on his wall of an old, simple-looking firetruck with very few amenities.

“Fires were that easy back then,” he said. “Now our rigs are so big because we carry so much on them.”

Three Costa Mesa police officers were center stage on Wednesday as the department and community welcomed newly promoted Capt. Bryan Glass, Lt. Joyce LaPointe and Sgt. Dan Miles in a moving and upbeat swearing-in ceremony at the City Council Chambers.

“We have three excellent leaders here with us today, and I am honored to have them here with us,” said Police Chief Rob Sharpnack, who thanked the officers’ families for their support. “This experience galvanizes the team and we stand together to support a common cause. I encourage you all to stay hungry and committed to that cause.”

Glass, a 20-year veteran, splits the captain duties with Capt. Mark Manley. He will be charged with overseeing the Support Services Division, which consists of Investigative Services Bureau, the Special Investigation Unit, Gangs, Crime Scene Investigation, Records and Evidence bureau, Telecommunications, emergency management, jail operations and SWAT.

“I’m very fortunate to be given the opportunity and privilege to serve the department, the city and the community in this new position and over the last 20 years, he said. “I’ve had a blessed career.”

Capt. Glass, who has been acting captain since Chief Sharpnack was promoted, said he is very heartened at the direction the department is going.

“Today reminds me of when I first got hired because of all the new officers coming into the organization,” he said.  We have a steady flow of sworn and professional staff coming into the department brining in new life and energy and opportunity. It’s a good sign for the department.”

Cpt. Glass was born and raised in northern California. He spent five years serving in the U.S. Marine Corp before being hired by Costa Mesa Police Department in October of 1995. He then graduated from the Orange County Sheriff Academy in 1996 and began work as a police officer in March of that year.

As an officer, Cpt. Glass has had the opportunity to work a variety of assignments throughout the department. In November 2005, Cpt. Glass promoted to the rank of sergeant and was assigned to Patrol Services until being selected as the Chief’s Adjutant and Department Press Information Officer. In January 2010, Cpt. Glass promoted to the rank of lieutenant and was assigned as the Field Operations Administration Lieutenant.

Cpt. Glass has a Bachelors of Art in Social Science from Chapman University, a Master of Science in Emergency Services Administration and a Master of Public Administration through California State University Long Beach. He is also a POST Command College graduate of Class #53.

LaPointe, who is the department’s first female lieutenant, worked in patrol, as a field training, bike patrol, traffic and tactical flight officer and as a defensive tactics instructor. In 2006, she earned her private helicopter license.

As a sergeant, she managed patrol teams, the Field Officers Training Program, jail operations, emergency management, and Force Tactics training. She is also is the recipient of the Mothers against Drunk Drivers Century Award and a Life Saving Merit award.  She was born in Mt. View, California and graduated from Southbay Christian High School in 1986. She attended Vanguard University on an athletic scholarship for basketball and softball and she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in kinesiology.

Sgt. Miles has spent almost 17 years as a Costa Mesa police officer. After being hired by the Costa Mesa Police Department, he attended the Goldenwest Police Academy He worked three years in patrol, seven years as a motor officer, and seven years in the Special Investigations Unit. During those assignments, Sgt. Miles worked on the Major Accident Investigation Team, did five tours on the DUI Enforcement team and was a field training officer.

He also spent time as an undercover officer and for two years was assigned to a DEA Task Force, where he handled over $60 million in seized US Currency.

He grew up in Covina, California, where his father, Dave Miles, was a police officer, with the Covina Police Department. Dan graduated from Walnut High School in 1992. He attended both University of Iowa and UC Santa Barbara, the later where he was captain of the swim team until he was injured. He later transferred to Mt. San Antonio College, where he played water polo and obtained an associate’s degree. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.