Police & Fire Games Medal Winners

The APOA sponsored four of our members in the recent 2009 Western States Police & Fire Games held in Santa Clarita. Each year, thousands of Police Officers and Firefighters from the region gather in the host city to participate in the games. From Angling to Wrestling, there were in excess of 50 categories of games, with individual and team sports offered. Our four APOA members each brought home a medal in one of the categories that they participated in;

• Officer Katie Ferrari, Silver Medal - Triathlon
• Sergeant Jeremy Lachenmyer, Silver Medal - 100 Yard Breaststroke
• Sergeant Tom Le Veque, Bronze Medal - Bowling
• Officer Ernie Lopez, Silver Medal - Boxing

Thanks for representing the APOA and congratulations to Katie, Jeremy, Tom and Ernie.

Good Samaritan Foils Theft

Shortly before 1:00 PM yesterday, two male Hispanic teens tried to make off with a purse that they had just stolen from a nail salon in the 700 block of South First Avenue. A good Samaritan who was driving by, saw the pair fleeing with the purse and drove after them. The pair dropped the purse shortly thereafter and the good Samaritan recovered it, bringing the purse and all its' contents back to the nail salon. Apparently, the pair had entered the salon making a brief inquiry and then left. One of the young men ran back into the shop and grabbed the purse from next to the victim, fleeing out the front.

Good reminder for customers and businesses to be alert and proactive with their belongings when out and about. If you are out shopping, eating at a restaurant, or in this case, getting nails done, keep your purse, briefcase, laptop or other items close at hand and in view. If you can, keep them in a spot that does not allow for an easy "grab and run." HERE are some applicable tips in a recent Tuesday Tip.

No Fireworks in Arcadia

The 4th of July is quickly approaching. A reminder that ALL fireworks, even Safe & Sane, are prohibited in the City of Arcadia. Discharge and POSSESSION of fireworks is illegal in Arcadia.

Joint Commercial Checkpoint with CHP, Irwindale PD & APD on Peck Rd south of Live Oak.

American Cancer Society Relay for Life Arcadia 2009

This weekend, June 27th and 28th, a team of employees from the Public Works Services Department and a team from the Arcadia Firefighter’s Association will participate in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Arcadia 2009. This is a fun-filled, overnight event that empowers everyone to help fight cancer by raising money and awareness to support the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving mission. It will be held at the Santa Anita Race Track starting at 11:00 AM on Saturday and ending at 11:00 AM on Sunday. This year’s event in Arcadia will be in memory of Charles Gilb, past Mayor and highly respected Arcadia resident.

If you would like to learn more about this event, or participate with us by making a donation to the American Cancer Society, just click on one of the links below. You can make an on-line donation from either one of the team pages, or if you would like to mail in a donation, click on any team member’s personal page and there will be a link at the bottom of the page for a donation form that you can mail in or give to the team member.

Public Works Services Department (Team name - Life Lovers)

The Arcadia Firefighter’s Association

Tuesday Tip - Lights and Sirens; aka "Code-3"

It has been a while since we ran a tip on the topic of what to do when driving and you encounter an emergency vehicle rolling with lights and sirens, or in police/fire lingo, "Code-3." Move to the Right for Sirens and Lights is a saying that is recognized throughout the industry and the best advice anyone can give. When you see an emergency vehicle approaching from behind you, or coming in the opposite direction, pull safely toward the right curb. Don't panic. Don't simply come to a stop in the middle of the lane, move to the right. If the emergency vehicle is approaching from a cross street or intersection, do stop and allow them to cross. Refer to the link above for some additional tips.

This topic came up again through a question posted in a "Just Ask" reply. Rolling "Code-3" is a high liability area for Law Enforcement and every agency has policies that govern emergency driving. In basic terms, our Officers roll "Code-3" to incidents that are life threatening or of an emergency nature. Those calls can range from serious medical calls, injury collisions, "help" calls from another Officer, violent crimes in progress, and other calls that either an Officer deems necessary. Our Watch Commanders and Field Supervisors monitor all calls where personnel are responding "Code-3" and use discretion in determining if the emergency response is required. Every call is different. Our personnel take into account such factors like the nature of the call, the severity of the call, proximity and response time, what resources are required etc.

So, when you see a police unit, an ambulance, paramedics, a fire engine, a forestry truck, or any emergency vehicle that is rolling "Code-3", please Move to the Right for Sirens and Lights!

Not Your Everyday Attempt Robbery Arrest

Officers rolled on report of an attempt robbery that had just occurred on Saturday afternoon, at about 1:55 PM, in the 500 block of Fairview Avenue. When the dust settled, they found that the arrestee had arranged for an adult escort to "perform" at the arrestee's residence. The arrestee was not satisfied with the performance, demanded his money back from the bouncer and allegedly threatened the bouncer with a knife, ultimately landing the 60ish year old Arcadia resident in jail. It will be interesting to see if the performer was licensed...