Unexpected Morning DUI

A female driver was arrested for DUI shortly after 9:00 AM this morning after another driver called in her impaired driving. Officers found the vehicle and driver in the area of Foothill and Don Ricardo. She was found to be DUI and arrested. Preliminary tests showed her blood alcohol content at over 3 x the legal limit. This is an arrest you normally expect to find in the middle of the night; not mid morning.

Please...do not drink and drive. Report drunk drivers, call 9-1-1.

Law Enforcement and Social Media

Law Enforcement, in general, is slowly entering the world of social media. I read an interesting article from Christa Miller on Cops 2.0 recently, titled Experts: Branding opportunities in disguise. The article, and the Cops 2.0 website, explores the use of social media formats and the Internet by police agencies and individual officers as well. "To be sure, this idea is outside the bounds of traditional law enforcement hierarchies. Tightly controlled information has been—and still is, to some extent—crucial to the overall mission of preserving peace and public safety."

The article points out that use of social media by Law Enforcement is an opportunity to reach out to the public in a far different way than traditional means. "Tightly controlled information" and the Public Information Officer (PIO) are not being replaced by the use of social media. The use of social media by police is an additional tool at our disposal and is of value. Take a look at the article and the Cops 2.0 website for additional information on the topic and some great examples of how Law Enforcement in putting this concept to use.

Tuesday Tip - Avoid Heat Related Illness

Having attended outdoor training and PT on a fair number of occasions, I have heard the phrase, "stay hydrated," from countless instructors. With the weather hitting the 90's this week, that type of advice is warranted. The CDC offers many hot weather tips for avoiding heat related problems. Their best advice is prevention...take a look at the CDC link HERE for helping to prevent heat related illness. Additional tips can be found on the Red Cross website HERE.

If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, dial 9-1-1 and seek medical aid immediately.

"Arcadia's Best" Posts ALPR Video

This video was put together by Arcadia's Best after a ride-a-long with Officer Justin St. Pierre of APD. It focuses on use of the Automated License Plate Reader which four of our units are equipped with. The ALPR is a great piece of equipment and scans countless vehicle plates automatically. See our post on the ALPR system HERE.

Officer Louis Pompei Memorial Golf Tournament

The APOA was a proud sponsor in the 2009 Officer Louis Pompei Memorial Golf Tournament held today at the Via Verde Country Club in San Dimas. Louis was a Glendora Police Officer who was killed while attempting to stop an armed robbery at a San Dimas market while he was off-duty on June 9, 1995. Louis or Louie, as many of us knew him, was a great friend and co-worker and is missed by many. The tournament is held annually in his memory and much of the proceeds go to the California Peace Officers Memorial Fund. Sergeant Tom Le Veque(L), Detectives Dan Crowther(C) and Phil Pierce(R), along with Crime Analyst Mike Daleo represented APOA at the event.

Tuesday Tip - Projected Loads in Vehicle

Summer is upon us and many folks will be out buying lengths of 2'x4', PVC pipe, shelving, trim, and other long items that we need for projects. Sometimes there is a problem with just how long the items are and how much our vehicle can accommodate. The are many laws in the California Vehicle Code that pertain to size, weight and load. These sections apply to all vehicles and not just commercial vehicles and trucks. Here are a few examples of sections that cover violations that we commonly see on the roadway;

• CVC 24604 - Rear Load or Projection Excess 4' Requires Flag or Red Lights. Any load that extends beyond 4' from the rear of the vehicle, measured from the taillights, needs a 12"x12" red flag during the daytime and 2 red lights during darkness.
• CVC 35111 - Passenger Vehicles, No Load May Project Beyond the Line of the Fender on Left Side and No More Than 6" from Right Fender. The picture above depicts a common scenario with items sticking out of the passenger window. In this case, the items were about 2' from the passenger side of the car and would be considered unlawful.
• CVC 35406/35410 - Limit Front and Rear Projections. 3' to front from front bumper and 2/3 wheelbase limit to rear.
• Click HERE for sections regarding covering loads such as sand and gravel.

Use the links to read specific language from the CVC to be clear on these laws. Measure the space available in your vehicle before you make a purchase. Ask a friend to provide a truck or other transportation if needed. Most home centers offer either delivery or truck rental at their shops as well. These sections are in place for all of our safety. Please pay attention to your load lengths and avoid creating a hazard and possibly a citation.

Interesting Responses to Blog Post

One of the latest posts on the Philosophical Cop Police Blog is titled, "What's Wrong With Cops These Days?" The post has generated about 20 responses to date and gives you a little insight into public perception and belief on the topic. You will find some positive responses as well as some responses that target specific areas of Law Enforcement and use of force.

Overall, I am pleased with the development of Law Enforcement over the last two decades. Education and training requirements have been raised, accountability on both an individual and department level is more evident, and I think that more departments interact with the communities that they serve today, more than in decades past.

Laws will be laws; they are just massaged over time to suit technology, trends, need and other factors. The individual officer plays a key role in positive change and effectiveness in any department. Like other police departments, we look for the best people we can and provide them with excellent training and guidance, striving to put competent, thinking, police officers on the street. The training never ends and time plus experience add to how the individual officer grows in their career.

Take a look at the comments and see what you think...