On Thursday Aug. 11, Costa Mesa Fire Chief Dan Stefano and Chief Rob Sharpnack participated in the Motor Home Madness Demolition Derby at the 2016 Orange County Fair.

The pair were also joined by Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis. The money raised at the event goes to fund breast cancer awareness.

The first to enter the race was Chief Sharpnack.

Just after 8 p.m. Sharpnack, No. 44 (our department’s designated number) entered the arena in a painted black and white RV, with the words police and SWAT painted on the sides and with police lights mounted on the top.

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As the crowd cheered and began to get excited No. 51 Chief Stefano entered. Making his way around the arena, Stefano entered in a red and gold RV with flashing lights making a few laps round before parking on the opposite side of Sharpnack.

Before the event began all participants exited their RV’s and ran around the arena waving their arms and getting the crowd pumped up. Stefano ran around with two fire extinguishers, which set the crowd off.

Unfortunately, Sharpnack and Stefano got knocked out the first half, but it was an exciting event that offered a fun and light-hearted vibe drew in thousands of spectators.

As part of the department’s Community Oriented Policing efforts, Costa Mesa officers are expanding a new foot patrol unit that has been having success with eliminating loitering and other issues associated with homeless and transients on 19th Street and the Westside.

Now officers are taking those successes to the Eastside and walking the beat along 17th Street between Newport Boulevard and Santa Ana Avenue.

One recent Friday, officers, Slawek Luczkiewicz, June Jeong, Katrina Cover and Sgt. Bang Le walked through local shopping centers and strip malls, ensuring that transients were not loitering or sleeping there.

“We never have done a full scale foot patrol in the city,” Chief Rob Sharpnack said. “It goes to the heart of Community Oriented Policing. The officers are excited about it and we will look for ways to make it more effective.”

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The new foot patrol dovetails with other community policing efforts such as the bike patrol, where officers are using creative ways to be more visible and get out of the patrol cars. And the 19^th Street and 17^th Street corridors are great places for the patrols in particular because of the density of businesses and residents.

The idea sprang forward as Chief Sharpnack was brainstorming with his command staff about ways to improve the police department’s community approach.

Lt. Joyce LaPointe was the main advocate for the foot patrols, Sharpnack said.

The officers are making a lot of progress, LaPointe said. What started out as an idea to help businesses in the community has expanded to also helping the homeless and letting them know where they can and can’t be. And the response from the community, businesses and officers has been largely positive.

“Overall I’ve been getting a lot of good feedback from officers,” LaPointe said. “It has brought back that old traditional feeling of being a cop and being in the community. I’ve been really pleased with the response.”

Chief Sharpnack said he’s heard the same positive feedback from his officers.

“What I’m hearing is the officers think it’s another opportunity for them to get out and interact with members of the public,” Chief Sharpnack said. “They develop a bond with residents and business owners.”

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckus told a Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce breakfast crowd that state laws that make it harder for law enforcement to put criminals in jail are bad news for communities where crime is now on the rise and he warned that similar laws could be passed in November.

Speaking to chamber members gathered at the Costa Mesa Country Club, Rackauckus decried the passage of AB 109, which allows early release of those convicted of so-called victimless crimes and Proposition 47, a statewide measure that reclassified a whole list of felonies to misdemeanors.

“It’s a big problem and it’s a growing problem,” Rackauckus said of the spike in the number of offenders who are either back on the street or getting slaps on the wrists for burglary and robbery. “Crime is on the increase.”

The district attorney said tougher laws passed in the 1990s, like the Three Strikes law that sent criminals to jail for life after three major offenses, had brought the crime rate down to historic lows. But he said the latest measures are making it harder for law enforcement to do its job and reversing those years of progress.

“The Three Strikes law was great and put a lot of career criminals in prison,” he said. “It was part of a national wave to reduce crime.”

Rackauckus told the crowd that in 2015 his staff of 800 prosecutors and investigators reviewed 70,000 cases. Of those cases, 58,000 charges were filed with a 92% felony conviction rate. 

He also said he has worked with other DAs to get a measure on the ballot, Proposition 66, that would make the death penalty more efficient.

But he warned of a competing measure, Proposition 62, that would eliminate the death penalty and Propositon 57, which if passed would make parole hearings easier to get for those behind bars.

That measure would potentially make 35,000 to 45,000 criminals eligible for parole. 

Costa Mesa Police Officer Lance Healey was the recipient of June’s CEO Leadership Award.

Our video team spent some time with Healey, who helps run the Police Department’s highly successful Pre-Academy, to get an idea of what his workday is like. Click on the video below for more:

Police Chief Rob Sharpnack praised yet another “bright spot” in the department’s rebuilding efforts as he introduced two promising new officers and one new reserve officer in a swearing-in and badge-pinning ceremony Monday morning July 11.

The two officers were much-coveted lateral hires, bringing in valuable experience and leadership to a growing police department.

Kristofer Moore comes to Costa Mesa via the San Bernardino Sheriff Department and Denny Bak moved from the Fullerton Police Department. In addition, the chief announced the addition of Reserve Officer Cory Estes, who comes by way of the Los Angeles Police Department, where he is currently a field training officer.

Chief Sharpnack said he was especially proud of the new, young and enthusiastic talent that makes up a big portion of the Costa Mesa police force and the success of the department’s training programs.

“Throughout the county, a number of executives and law enforcement leaders have talked about the excellence and energy this agency has shown,” Sharpnack said, referring to the department’s success in enforcing high-profile criminal cases. “We are at the tip of the spear when it comes to technology and advanced training.”

City CEO Tom Hatch, Mayor Steve Mensinger and Councilwoman Katrina Foley also attended the ceremony and personally welcomed the new officers aboard.

“There are a lot of people here who have worked hard to make this a great organization,” Hatch told the officers. “We are the best police department in Orange County.”

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Bak grew up in Laguna Beach and attended UCI, where he graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He attended the Rio Hondo Police Academy in 2008 and was hired by the Irivine Police Department in 2009. In 2010, he was recognized as Auto Theft Officer of the Year. In 2011 and 2012, Bak earned MADD awards for DUI enforcement along with the MADD Hero Award in 2012.

In 2013, Bak joined the Fullerton Police Department, serving as a patrol officer and field training officer. He is also Drug Recognition Expert and Firearms Instructor and helps prepare new recruits for the police academy. Bak also earned MADD awards there as well in 2013 and 2015.

Moore has been with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department since 2014 and attended the department’s basic academy, where he graduated top of the class. He was assigned to the custodial environment at West Valley Detention Center. Over the past two years, Moore has been exposed to a variety of custody assignments and training opportunities.

A state champion and All American swimmer in high school and college, Moore served as an ocean lifeguard for the city of San Clemente from 2006 to 2014, where he was awarded both the Unsung Hero and the Lifeguard of the Year awards.

Estes was hired by the Los Angeles Police Department in 2008 and attended that department’s basic academy. Over the past several years, Estes has been assigned to the Hollywood Division, West Traffic, and Harbor Division. He has worked collaterally in plain clothes-undercover, bike patrol and special enforcement assignments. Currently, he serves as a Field Training Officer in the Harbor Division.

Estes grew up in Long Beach and attended UCI, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and social behavior.

After having badges pinned on them by family members, the three officers were sworn in by Costa Mesa City Clerk Brenda Green. See video below:

City CEO Tom Hatch presented Costa Mesa Police Officer Lance Healey with the June CEO Leadership Award at the monthly meet and greet on Thursday June 23.

Healey joined the Costa Mesa Police Department in 2005 after a lengthy and distinguished 20-year career in the Marine Corps, where he held the titles of Team Leader, Platoon Sergeant, Platoon Commander and Chief Instructor at Camp Pendleton’s Scout Sniper Basic Course.

Officer Healey currently serves as the Sniper Team Leader for the department’s SWAT team and is responsible for the section’s monthly training. His involvement in the Training Bureau includes serving as a Firearms Instructor, development and execution of the new 16 hour POST-mandated firearms course, and development and administration of the Pre-Academy, as the Lead Instructor, preparing recruits from multiple agencies for the Sheriff’s Academy.  Lance is instrumental in ensuring the success of our Academy recruits.

He also hopes to reestablish Costa Mesa’s K9 program and develop a new standard of excellence to ensure the program’s long-term success.

In addition, Hatch honored seven newly hired employees, namely McKenna Ewing from the CEO’s Office, Victoria Chavez, Ana Cordova, Rohan Ronvelia and Quinn Harter from Parks and Community Services and Kevin Suy and June Jeong from the Police Department. Jeong, the newest police recruit, graduated top of the class from the Orange County Sheriff’s Academy.

Also honored was Bart Mejia from Public Services who was recently promoted to City Engineer.

Costa Mesa detectives have made two arrests for the vandalism to the police vehicles that took place Thursday April 28 at the Donald Trump campaign rally at the Pacific Amphitheater at the OC Fair and Event Center and have compiled an image of the suspect they believe damaged a police car that night.

Both of the arrestees were juveniles and Costa Mesa residents.

Click here to read a bulletin regarding the outstanding suspect.

The Trump event was under the jurisdiction of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

The Costa Mesa Police Department assisted and was primarily tasked with handling traffic control on the outlying streets surrounding the fairgrounds. Based on news sources approximately 31,000 attended the rally.

After the event ended, event attendees and protesters flooded the intersections along Fair Drive from Fairview Road to Newport Boulevard.

The Costa Mesa Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff Department responded and requested mutual aid assistance from surrounding law enforcement agencies to manage the large crowds leaving the fairgrounds.

The crowd’s participation elevated to the level of civil unrest with incidents of vandalism and assaults occurring.

The Costa Mesa Police Department has proactively investigated the criminal incidents to identify and hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions. The incidents investigated by the CMPD are:

• Vandalisms – Four vandalism incidents were taken and/or reported by the CMPD. One incident consisted of the vandalism to six CMPD marked patrol vehicles. The other three vandalisms were to motorists who reported damage to their vehicles. There were no investigative leads for those other three incidents.

• Assaults – Two assault incidents were reported to the CMPD. One incident involved a CMPD officer being hit in the helmet with a rock and the second was of a citizen being hit in the head with a fist. Both assault cases are still being investigated.

In addition to the above investigations, an additional assault incident and a reckless driving incident is being handled by the OCSD. These investigations are ongoing.

The Costa Mesa Police Department continues to vigorously pursue investigative leads to identify and hold the responsible parties accountable for their involvement in the activities which occurred after the Trump rally in Costa Mesa. We will pursue all means to ensure that we recover full restitution for the cost of the city’s damaged property.

Individuals with information and/or who can assist with identifying the outstanding vandalism suspect are asked to contact Detective Peters at 714.754.5198.

By Robert N. Sharpnack
Chief of Police 

For many Californians, the term “Honor Roll” conjures up images of academic excellence and the proud feelings associated with seeing your name included on a prestigious list.

For those of us in law enforcement, the “Honor Roll” is not a list on which we want to find our names.  Although this list also gives rise to feelings of pride, it is the list of California peace officers killed in the line of duty.

So far in 2016, 33 names of officers who lost their lives throughout the United States were added to the national Honor Roll.

Each year, the California Peace Officers’ Memorial Foundation holds a ceremony to honor the men and women in law enforcement who have made the ultimate sacrifice and joined the list that year. The numbers vary from year to year, but since 2001, the names of 159 California Police Officers have been added to the Peace Officers’ Memorial Monument in Capitol Park in Sacramento and are included in the Honor Roll on the Foundation’s website.

Those names are also included in the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC and are joined by thousands of others. These brave men and women are honored each year in our nation’s capital during National Police Week that runs from May 15 to Saturday May 21.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, on average, one law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in the United States every 61 hours. Since the first known line-of-duty death in 1791, more than 20,000 U.S. law enforcement officers have made the ultimate sacrifice.

In remembrance, we honor the sacrifice of two of our fallen family members: James D. “Dave” Ketchum and John W. “Mike” Libolt, who through noble commitment to duty, made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our community.

Both officers were killed on March 10, 1987 when their helicopter collided with a Newport Beach copter while pursuing a suspect in a stolen car. Ketchum and Libolt were both 15-year veterans and became the first Costa Mesa police officers killed in the line of duty in the department’s history

The good work that we do day in and day out does not frequently end up in the paper. It is not considered news because it is what we chose to do – protect and serve our respective communities.

None of us wants to be included on the “Honor Roll” for our service, but recognize that the Honor Roll is there to remind us that each year, there are those of us who will make the ultimate sacrifice in service to our communities.

The risk of this sacrifice keeps many from entering the law enforcement profession. Those of us who chose law enforcement start each day with a desire to serve and protect our communities by putting the safety of others before our own. We are husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters. We are coaches, counselors, mediators and mentors.

We dedicate ourselves to fighting crime and drugs to create a safe community for those we serve. We help at-risk youth in schools, parents in crisis and connect the homeless and mentally ill with services. We show up when you call 911 to help you in a time need or an emergency.

We do these things with the understanding that it’s part of our job and we proud to serve our community.

On a related note, we are proud of records specialist Tina Foster’s brother, Niagara County Sheriff’s Deputy Joe Tortorella, who received a Medal of Valor award this week from President Obama.

Below are links about the award and the actual incident. His heroic actions truly made the difference that day.

http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/deputy-tortorella-receives-medal-of-valor-from-president-obama/196825976

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/wheatfield/acting-on-his-instincts-a-sheriffs-deputy-prevented-a-tragedy-20150504

We are fortunate to work in a community where the overwhelming majority of our population trusts and supports what we do. This support is earned by your tireless efforts to protect our citizens, enforce our laws, and keep our community safe in accordance with the core values of Teamwork, Integrity, Professionalism, and Service.

The men and women of our Department care deeply for Costa Mesa and demonstrate that care through various community engagement efforts – many of which are done on our own time.

We also strive to decrease crime and ensure a high quality of life through proactive and intelligence based policing strategies. We are grateful to serve a community that supports its Police Department and to not have to struggle with the challenges that plague many other cities.

I encourage members of the community to show that support during National Police Week by shining a blue light to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community and to show our local heroes how much they are supported by those they serve.

The 20-plus members of Costa Mesa’s Telecommunications Bureau received some special recognition this week as city, police and fire officials celebrated the National Public Safety Communicators Week that runs through April 16.

The week, sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and celebrated annually, honors the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the world’s citizens, according to a statement on the association’s website.

City CEO office staff, including CEO Tom Hatch, was one of several departments to provide food, deserts and beverages to the team as a way to honor and thank them for the work they do.

On Wednesday April 13, Hatch and others visited the bureau, located just behind City Hall, and met with members of the telecom team and got a demonstration of their duties.

“They provide quality customer service to residents by continually and quickly helping to solve problems for the community,” Hatch said.

CEO Tom Hatch and telecom Supervisor Sandra Marquez

The communications officers who work in the bureau take in more than 100 calls a day and put in 12 and sometimes 18-hour shifts taking calls from accident victims, suicidal, belligerent and despondent callers or victims of fire or crime.

“How often do you have to take a call from someone who is having perhaps the worst experience in their life,” said Costa Mesa Police Lt. Keith Davis, who supervises the Telecommunications Bureau. “They do it every single day.”

Davis noted the bureau is only one of two in the county that manages all dispatch duties for a single city.  The telecom team handles both emergency and non-emergency calls for police, fire, animal control maintenance and water services. They provide members of the public with directions on how to respond to medical emergencies.

Davis, who has supervised the crew for a little more than a year, said he’s learned a lot about just what they do.

“I think they are extremely deserving of the recognition,” he said. “This is an opportunity to tell them that we do appreciate them and there are a lot of people dropping by and recognizing them. It makes them feel they are not unnoticed. They are real excited.”

Davis pointed out that the dispatchers and call takers end up being spokespeople for the city. How a member of the public is treated can really change perceptions.

“It helps to have talented people,” he said. “I thought I knew a little bit about dispatch. I had no idea about the scope of their responsibilities. Doing what they do on a daily basis, especially being short staffed, is even more admirable.”

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On Monday April 4, Costa Mesa Police Department leadership attended the Class No. 219 graduation ceremonies at the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy to welcome two new officers to the department.

“We want to extend a big welcome to new officers Candyce McMorris and Jason Santos,” Police Chief Rob Sharpnack said. “We are thrilled to have them join our team, and we look forward to these individuals making big contributions to the department and the community for years to come.”

Graduates McMorris and Santos both received awards for their academy achievements.

McMorris was presented with the Outstanding Practical Application Skills Award and Santos received the Outstanding Physical Training Award.

The officers are part of a major recruitment effort led by the department that has seen approximately 40 new officers hired over the course of two years and more on the way.

“This is further proof that we are a department on the rise,” Chief Sharpnack said. “Costa Mesa is a prime destination for the best and brightest officers in the county and we are proud of that hard-earned reputation.”

At the monthly Meet and Greet ceremony, City CEO Tom Hatch awarded CMPD Crime Scene Investigation Supervisor Kimberlee Guluzian with the Leadership Award for March.

Prior to coming to Costa Mesa in 2013, Guluzian began her career in law enforcement working in the jails for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as a Forensic Specialist where she worked 10 years processing crime scenes.

Guluzian has been recognized for her leadership, initiative, positive attitude, and willingness to take responsibility for ensuring sound crime scene investigative services are provided to the Police Department and the City of Costa Mesa.

CSI Supervisor Guluzian is known for routinely responding in the field to handle calls for service or coming in after hours for major incidents when CSI is not available. These incidents have ranged from basic theft scenes to active homicide investigations. As a supervisor, she has also addressed several operational challenges to ensure the CSI Unit remains effective.

In addition to her primary responsibilities, Guluzian instructs for the Field Evidence Technician and Crime Scene Investigator courses, the CMPD Citizens’ and Teen Academies, and for new Costa Mesa officers during patrol school. She also regularly participates in other department related activities like the annual Baker to Vegas relay and OCSD academy graduations to name a few.

Guluzian’s forensic expertise and skills have not been limited to law enforcement. For eight seasons, she provided her expertise as a crime scene technical advisor for the hit TV show Dexter and worked on the Oscar Pistorius case as a technical expert for the TV program Carte Blanche.

In addition, the Leadership Award, six newly hired employees were welcomed to City Hall at the event.

There was plenty of praise and awards to go around as several members of the Costa Mesa Police Department received top honors in the company of their family, colleagues and top city leaders at the annual Employee Recognition Breakfast held Tuesday morning March 22 at The Crossing Church.

“Today’s award recipients all share a common thread,” Chief Rob Sharpnack said. “They are servant leaders, passionately driven toward their duty and responsibility to improve the community. They are driven by a sense of what is right and good. They are the difference makers in our organization and the community.”

The event, emceed by Sgt. Clint Dieball, recognized Volunteer of the Year George Villazuela; Explorers of the Year Celia Quijivix and Kimberly Velasquez; Civilian of the Year Community Service Specialist Jessica Peters; Civilian Supervisor of the Year Administrator Sandra Lozano; Sworn Supervisor of the Year Sgt. Stephanie Selinske and Officer of the Year Lance Healey.

After winning the award, Officer Healey took to the stage and gave a rousing speech to his fellow police department colleagues.

“My entire adult life I’ve been part of an organization that is bigger than myself,” said Officer Healey, who is a military veteran and a key trainer in the department’s pre-academy program. “We are a department that is on the way up. I can see it. And I’m proud to have been a part of that.”

To read more about the award winners click here.

In addition to the staff members honored, the department named Mika Community Development Corp. as the Community Partner of the Year and paid tribute to all the newly hired and promoted personnel.

Dieball commended others who didn’t receive awards but deserved special recognition, including Officer Kha Bao, who made 108 DUI arrests while on patrol, Tony Reitz, who recovered 88 stolen vehicles at a value of $866,000,  Officer Blake Clements was nominated for the Trauma Intervention Program award in 2015 for compassionate handling of an elder abuse case and veteran Lt. Keith Davis, who recently stepped down from the SWAT team after 24 years.

Also, in a new twist, Chief Sharpnack singled out the Wozniak murder trial as the Case of the Year and honored the detectives and investigators who went “above and beyond” on what he called “one of the most complex cases in the history of the Costa Mesa Police Department.”

Sharpnack said while the police department is in a rebuilding phase today, the recruitment efforts are strong and he is working hard on a new five-year strategic plan that will outline the mission, vision and goals of the department.

“We have been galvanized as a team,” the chief said. “The future for the Costa Mesa Police Department is bright. We will solidify our position as the top of Orange County law enforcement agencies. I am truly honored to serve alongside members of the CMPD and the city organization as a whole.”