Sacramento County Sheriff's Department

Airport Traffic Safety Tips for Holiday Travelers

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:45:17 GMT

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department’s Airport Division is gearing up for the upcoming holiday travel season. The Sheriff’s Department and Sacramento County Airport System have increased security measures and staffing at Sacramento International Airport to help minimize inconveniences to our holiday travelers.

During peak hours, watch for traffic cones, electronic signs, uniformed deputies and other airport personnel providing extra traffic controls. Our goal is to assist drivers in safely making their way through the airport. The airport has a construction project – The Big Build - underway at this time so pay close attention to your surroundings while driving.

Remember driving while operating a hand held cellular telephone is illegal and dangerous for the driver and pedestrians using the walkways to enter the parking structures.

Holiday Travel Tips:

Before leaving home, check your airline’s web site for luggage restrictions and to ensure the flight is not delayed for any reason.
Pack valuables, electronic equipment, including MP3 players, laptop computers, cameras and other small electronics in your carry-on luggage.

Allow enough time to go through the TSA security checkpoint (90 minutes of in-terminal time). Collect all valuables (wallets, keys, purses, cell phones, and luggage) prior to leaving the security checkpoint area.

When picking up passengers, time your arrival at the curb approximately 15 minutes after the flight lands. Your passengers need time to get their bags and to be waiting on the curb. The free Cell Phone lot is a perfect place to wait until you can confirm that your party has collected luggage and is ready for pick up.

If your party needs assistance with luggage, park in one of the hourly parking lots and proceed to baggage claim to offer assistance. Parking and waiting at the terminal curbs are prohibited.

Follow the posted speed limit and obey all traffic patterns when approaching or departing from the terminals.

When within five miles of the airport, tune your radio to 530 AM to hear current parking information including pricing and parking availability.

When parking, always hide valuables and lock the vehicle.

Never park or wait along roadways or in front of the terminals. For more information, links to airlines, security regulations and more, visit www.sacairports.org

Sergeant Tim Curran,
Sheriff's Spokesman

Rancho Cordova Enforcing Seat Belts During Holidays

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:48:33 GMT

Click It or Ticket Campaign Aims For Safe Thanksgiving

The Rancho Cordova Police Department in an effort to help bring everyone home safe for the holidays, will be aggressively enforcing the state’s seat belt and child safety seat laws during a Click It or Ticket mobilization, taking place November 17-30. The campaign relies on heavy enforcement and public education as a means to help reduce deaths and injuries on California’s roadways. California currently has a seat belt use rate at 95.7 percent.

“The Click It or Ticket campaign has shown that Californians have gotten the message that seat belts work,” said Police Chief Reuben Meeks. “But hundreds still are dying every year because they didn’t buckle up. Our officers will not accept excuses or give warnings. It really is Click It or Ticket.”

California has a primary seat belt law which requires that every passenger in the car, including the driver, is required to wear a seat belt at all times. If stopped and found to be in violation, law enforcement will issue citations without warning. Tickets for first seat belt violations start at $132 for adults and $426 for children under age 16, depending on the county.

“While we are very happy with actually surpassing 95 percent usage, that still means that more than a million people are in real danger in the event of a crash,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). “It takes just two seconds to reduce your chances of dying in a crash by half.”

Teens and nighttime car occupants lag behind others as far as buckling up is concerned. Officer will be concentrating even more on ensuring they are properly restrained. More than 280 law enforcement agencies statewide will be participating in this year’s Click It or Ticket mobilization.

Funding for officer overtime to support California’s Click It or Ticket campaign was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Sergeant Tim Curran,
Spokesman
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department/
Rancho Cordova Police Department

Friday The 13th Unlucky For Two Bank Robbers

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:11:54 GMT

On November 13, 2009, at 11:51 a.m., a Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputy who was driving through a Gold River shopping center was waved down by a citizen and told the bank at 11200 Gold Express Way was being robbed. As the deputy approached the bank, she saw the suspect leave the bank and get into an awaiting getaway car. The deputy pursued the suspect vehicle through Gold River until it reached a dead end on Buckeye Hill Court. One suspect, identified as Jason Brown (27), was quickly taken into custody on Buckeye Hill Court. The second suspect fled on-foot through the neighborhood.

A perimeter was quickly established with the assistance of officers from the Rancho Cordova Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. The Sacramento Police Department’s helicopter also assisted by providing an “eye in the sky.”

At 12:11 p.m. a Sheriff’s deputy and his K-9 partner tracked the second suspect to a home in the 11300 block of Tunnel Hill Way. The suspect had entered the home and threatened the homeowner. The suspect did not harm the homeowner and attempted to flee when he was spotted by deputies. The suspect, identified as Timothy Morris (38), was taken into custody outside the home without further incident.

Money and other items of evidence taken in the bank robbery were recovered. The two suspects were transported to the Sheriff’s Centralized Investigation Division to be interviewed by detectives. After they are interviewed, they will be booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail and face the possible charges of robbery, burglary, and false imprisonment.

Sergeant Tim Curran,
Sheriff's Spokesman

Amnesty Offered To Work Project Scofflaws

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:28:20 GMT

In order to keep those who did not complete their Work Project sentence out of jail during the holiday season, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department has developed an amnesty program. Amnesty is being offered to those individuals who did not complete their Work Project sentence and therefore, have had a warrant issued for their arrest. The amnesty period will extend from Monday, November 16, 2009, until Friday, December 18, 20009. The program has been developed for those who want to return to Work Project to finish their court ordered commitment instead of risking the possibility of spending the holidays in jail, away from their families.

To take advantage of the amnesty program, individuals must report to the Work Project office at 700 North 5th Street, Sacramento from November 16 until December 18, 2009, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Eligible individuals may have their application fee waived and/or make payment arrangements. Those who do not return to make arrangements to complete their commitments are subject to immediate arrest and incarceration.

For more information about the amnesty program, interested parties may contact the Sheriff’s Work Project at (916) 874-1402, 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Sergeant Tim Curran,
Sheriff's Spokesman

Ranch Cordova Police Launch Program to Combat DUI Dealth and Injuries

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:28:58 GMT

The Rancho Cordova Police Department has been awarded a new traffic safety grant for a year-long anti-DUI program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways. New enforcement measures to combat impaired driving are coming as a result of a recent $117,000 grant awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety to Rancho Cordova. The Rancho Cordova Police Department is dedicated to keeping the streets of Rancho Cordova safe through both enforcement and education.

The special DUI Enforcement and Awareness grant is to assist in efforts to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol and other drug related collisions. The grant activities will specifically target impaired driving offenders as well as educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving. This will be done through the use of DUI/driver’s license checkpoints, warrant searches and stakeouts for repeat DUI offenders, saturation patrols, and court stings targeting DUI offenders with suspended or revoked driver licenses who get behind the wheel after leaving court.

Drunk driving is one of America’s deadliest crimes. In 2008, over 11,700 people died in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher.

“Last year in California 1,029 died in alcohol impaired crashes, a 9 percent reduction in deaths from 2007,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety. “This grant will help keep that trend going by getting drunk drivers off the roadways of Rancho Cordova, making it safer for everyone.”

Funding for the grant comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Sergeant Tim Curran,
Spokesman
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department/
Rancho Cordova Police Department

Deputy Larry Canfield Memorial to be Dedicated at Crash Site

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:28:03 GMT

What:	Dedication of deputy Larry Canfield Memorial
Where:	Coloma Road and Sierra Madre Court, Rancho Cordova
When:	November 12, 2009 - 9:30 a.m.

A memorial honoring Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department deputy Larry Canfield will be dedicated on the one-year anniversary of his death. Canfield was killed on November 12, 2008, in a vehicle collision while he was in pursuit of a speeding motorist on his police motorcycle in the City of Rancho Cordova. The memorial was built by Larry’s family and friends near the site of the collision. Michelle Canfield, Larry’s wife, said, “I thought of building a memorial at the crash site about nine months ago. I want people to remember the wonderful man we all lost. When people see the memorial I want them to remember Larry, but I also want them to remember to always be careful and drive safely.”

Michelle credited several people for helping put the memorial together: deputy Mark Campbell for working with Capital Sheet Metal for the metal deputy star and lettering; deputy Mark Baxter for working with the property owner and the city building department for the proper permits; Paul Marshall with Civtel Engineering for the design and plans; W.C. Sanders Construction for much of the construction materials and labor; and Silverado Building Supplies for the exterior brick.

Both the public and members of the media are invited to attend the dedication. Parking will be at the St. John Vianney Church, 10499 Coloma Road, Rancho Cordova.

Sergeant Tim Curran,
Sheriff's Spokesman

Vandalism at local Synagogue

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:38:17 GMT

On November 10, 2009, at 10:38 a.m., Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the report of a vandalism which had occurred at the Congregation Beth Shalom, which is located at 4746 El Camino Avenue. The deputies arrived and found a swastika and the words “kristallnacht still lives” spray painted on windows and “SS” spray painted on the building. Deputies also discovered bushes in front of the synagogue, beneath the Congregation Beth Shalom sign, had been set on fire.

Deputies quickly categorized the vandalism as a hate crime and requested assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sheriff’s Bias Crimes Unit and the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District.

The FBI has assumed the lead role in the investigation and believe the crime occurred sometime during the early morning hours of November 10th, shortly after 1:00 a.m. Synagogue surveillance cameras captured the image of the suspect who they believe is a male dressed in dark clothing. No further description of the suspect could be gleaned from the video and the video is not being released at this time.

Anyone with information about this hate crime is urged to call the Federal Bureau of Investigation at (916) 481-9110 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP; or send a text message tip by texting to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter SACTIP followed by the tip information. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Sergeant Tim Curran,
Sheriff's Spokesman

Sheriff's Service Center Relocated to McClellan Air Park

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:06:00 GMT

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department’s Northwest Area Service Center recently moved from its Watt Avenue and U Street location to McClellan Park. The service center’s new address is 2345 Dean Street, Modular A, McClellan, CA 95652. The phone number is (916) 646-1006. Business hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Northwest Area Service Center is staffed with a Sheriff’s Department Office Manger and Crime Prevention Specialist and supported by a dedicated staff of volunteers who serve the communities of Rio Linda, Elverta, Antelope, North Highlands, and Foothill Farms.

The service center staff is available to: take crime reports (limited to crimes that are non-violent in nature and not in-progress), fingerprint job and volunteer applicants, provide public safety education and crime prevention tips. A Crime Prevention Specialist is also available to help community residents and business owners organize Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch programs.

All community members and business owners are invited to visit the new Northwest Area Service Center to introduce themselves to, or reacquaint themselves with, the friendly staff and take advantage of the services available. For more information call Northwest Area Service Center Office Manager Kristen Smith at (916) 646-1006.

Sergeant Tim Curran,
Sheriff's Spokesman

New Digital Red Light Camera Systems To Be Activated At Two Intersections In Sacramento

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:46:26 GMT

The Sacramento Metropolitan Red Light Photo Enforcement Detail has placed new digital red light photo enforcement camera systems at two intersections in Sacramento. The first is in the county of Sacramento at Florin Road and Franklin Boulevard. The second is in the city of Sacramento at El Camino Avenue and Evergreen Street.

The new camera systems are currently being tested and are scheduled to go “live” on Saturday, October 31, 2009. For a period of thirty days, red light violators will be mailed a warning notice. On November 30, 2009, red light violators will begin to receive actual citations by mail from these intersections. When a citation is issued and received by the violator through the mail, they will be referred to a website where they can review the still and/or video images of their violation. The violator will be able to clearly see where their vehicle is in relationship to the intersection’s limit line, and the green, yellow and red lights. The fine is currently $426 for red light running violations.

Increased traffic safety is the number one priority of the City/County Metropolitan Red Light Photo Enforcement Program. There has been as much as a 76% reduction in red-light related crashes at the photo enforced intersections in the city and county since the implementation of the program. Furthermore, there has been a 28% reduction in red-light running related crashes at all signal-controlled intersections in the city and county of Sacramento.

Sergeant Tim Curran,
Sheriff's Spokesman

Sheriff’s Santa Claus Project

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:16:22 GMT

Since its inception in 1995, the Sheriff’s Santa Claus Project has expanded beyond Kaiser Hospitals to include Angel Tree, W.E.A.V.E. and Gifts from the Heart. In 2008, the Santa Claus Project delivered gifts/stockings to over 350 children and 34 adults.

Santa Mike now visits the homes of families with children diagnosed with a terminal illness and families with special needs, as determined by the staff of Kaiser Hospital and the Sheriff’s Department’s Child Abuse Bureau. Kaiser recognized that Santa’s hospital visits had such a positive impact on the children that it was important for Santa to visit these terminally ill children in their homes. Santa Mike graciously took on this task, with the support of the Sheriff’s Department and Kaiser Hospitals, and relying on his own resources and donations from the Sheriff’s Department and County employees, local stores and the Sacramento community.

The Sheriff’s Santa Claus Project now operates on a year-round basis. However, the project does something extra special for local families with children receiving oncology treatments during the Christmas season. Santa and his elves personally visit with every child they encounter at Kaiser Hospital. They deliver stockings stuffed full of goodies during the week of Christmas and Santa visits emergency rooms and other areas of the hospital where children are admitted.

Sheriff’s Deputies use donated funds to purchase gifts from local stores and they gather toys donated by the Sheriff’s Toy Project. Deputies meet the week before Christmas, at Santa Mike’s home, to wrap donated toys and gifts. The gifts are then placed into Christmas stockings, hand-made from the Sheriff’s Toy Project.

The week before Christmas, Santa Mike delivers toys, clothing, and Christmas stockings. He is accompanied by Mrs. Claus, several elves, and many Sheriff’s Deputies as they deliver special “wish list” items to the children and the parents. In each home they take photographs for the family with Santa and his elves.

Santa and his elves will be delivering Christmas toys starting on December 1, 2009, and finishing December 31, 2009. For more information about, or to make a donation to, the Sheriff’s Santa Claus Project, please contact project coordinator Detective Michael Wright at (916) 874-5848.

Sergeant Tim Curran,
Sheriff's Spokesman