Volume 3, Issue 4 | April 5, 2024 | |
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On March 14, Deputy Chief Joyce LaPointe was one among three honored by State Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris as Woman of the Year.
The sixth annual Women of the Year celebration helps shine the light on Orange County women who deserve recognition for their extraordinary contributions and leadership.
LaPointe began her 27-year career in 1997 as a police officer and then promoted up the ranks to sergeant, lieutenant, captain and now deputy police chief. LaPointe is known in the department as a leader, calm and confident, collaborative and supportive. She is dedicated and serves not only her community, but her team. She embodies the department’s mission and values and is a true role model for us all.
"This award is not just a celebration of my achievements, but a recognition of the collective strength and determination of women in law enforcement," said Deputy Chief Joyce LaPointe. "I am grateful for this honor, and I dedicate it to every woman who has blazed a trail before me and to every woman who will follow in our footsteps. Together, we will continue to make a difference and build a safer, more inclusive community for all."
Congratulations, Deputy Chief LaPointe, on this well-deserved honor.
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DC LaPointe part of leadership panel
On March 28, in honor of National Women's History Month, Deputy Chief LaPointe was part of a 4-person panel for an employee lunch and learn event titled, "Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion."
With City Manager Lori Ann Farrell Harrison as moderator, each panelist was asked a question from the audience about leadership in their field. The well-attended event included other panelists including Assistant City Manager Gallardo-Daly, Deputy City Manager Reyes, and Finance Director Molina.
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Congratulations, Baker to Vegas Team! | |
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On March 23 and into the weekend, the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) participated in Baker to Vegas, an annual relay foot race for law enforcement. The course begins 25 miles north of Baker, CA, and continues for 120 miles, with the finish line inside the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The runners cover the 120 miles in 20 separate legs from 10.7 miles to 3.2 miles in length.
This law enforcement relay race, which is 39 years old, just keeps growing. This year, approximately 258 teams participated.
The CMPD Baker to Vegas Team included 24 runners, 22 support staff, and a crew of MESAC volunteers. The Costa Mesa Police Association supports the Baker to Vegas Team financially as well as donors, businesses, and volunteers from the community. In 2022, CMPD finished 78th overall. In 2023, the team placed 59th overall. This year, the team placed 52nd overall and 3rd out of 17 teams in their competitive category. They completed the race in 15 hours and 45 minutes, the best finish in the history of the CMPD B2V team!
Congratulations to the team and a big thank you to the support staff, the volunteers, and the officers that covered shifts during Baker to Vegas.
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Orange County Sheriff’s Academy Class #258
Memorial Run and Graduation
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On March 27, several members of CMPD participated in the Fallen Officers Memorial Run in honor of Undersheriff Robert Squires with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
On March 28, Officer Gabrielle Getz and Officer Max Wirtzer graduated from the basic academy after 26 weeks of intensive instruction. The new officers were part of Class 258 of the Orange County Sheriff Regional Training Academy, one of the most challenging academies in the nation.
Welcome back to CMPD as officers! Both were previously Police Service Aides and Getz was also a Community Services Specialist. We are excited to have you back at the PD! Good luck on your Field Training!
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Russell Taylor, Animal Control Officer
Russell was raised in Phelan, CA, and graduated from Serrano High School. He was previously employed by the Riverside County Department of Animal Services as an Animal Control Officer and Animal Services Representative. Prior to that, Russell was a professional wrestler with the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in Stamford, Connecticut.
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Delcie Hynes, Emergency Services Manager
Delcie was raised in Lake Forest and graduated from El Toro High School. She has earned an associate degree in general studies from Saddleback College, a bachelor’s degree in justice studies from Arizona State University, and a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Maryland. Delcie was previously employed as an Emergency Manager at the Orange County Social Services Agency, an Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at Gardena PD, an Administrative Manager and Research Analyst at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and as a Crime and Intelligence Analysis Intern at the Tempe PD in Arizona.
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Physical Agility Test and Interviews
On March 16, 14 applicants participated in the Physical Agility Test (PAT). Applicants who want to become officers must successfully meet or exceed the physical fitness standards to continue in the hiring process. Those who passed went on to the oral panel. From this process, three candidates are currently in the background process. The next round of testing will take place on April 20.
Job Fair
On March 16, Investigator Melendez, and Officers Tu and Lippincott represented CMPD at the Camp Pendleton job and career fair.
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On the evening of March 7, the Costa Mesa Police Department’s South Coast Plaza Unit partnered with Special Olympics of South California for Tip-A-Cop, a fundraising event with all tips collected by officers directly going to support the Special Olympics athletes.
Chief Ron Lawrence, Deputy Chief Joyce LaPointe and both Captains Jason Chamness and Bryan Wadkins came to support the event while officers served as hosts and waiters at the South Coast Plaza Claim Jumper Restaurant. Guests placed their orders with our officers who explained they were working for extra tips to raise funds and awareness for the Special Olympics athletes in the community. It was a fun and busy night for everyone.
Congratulations to Sgt. Josh Kuo, Officer Geren Anders, and Officer Laura Davis for bringing back Tip-A-Cop after a hiatus. The team appreciates everyone that participated and staffed the event.
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Attempted Vehicle Theft Arrest | |
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On March 12, at approximately 2:30 a.m., officers responded to the 2900 block of Harbor Boulevard regarding suspicious circumstances. An off-site video monitoring company called to report that there were several suspicious males walking between trucks on the property. Officer Hagan located a man as he exited the property onto the sidewalk and detained him.
The man was in possession of a variety of illegal tools specifically used to steal vehicles. Officer Carboni located a truck on the lot with the rear window smashed and a key programming cable connected to the OBD sensor under the dash. The man, from Los Angeles County, was subsequently arrested.
Great arrest by our AMs officers before the suspect could get away.
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On March 14, an especially windy day, the Community Policing Unit found an encampment on the Joann bike trail while on bike patrol. Before it could grow any bigger, officers offered resources, issued six cites, and arrested two individuals, one for drug paraphernalia and the other for a bench warrant. The encampment was then removed.
When officers contact individuals experiencing homelessness they first offer resources, which are either accepted or refused.
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Copper Wire Theft Arrests | |
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In February, detectives investigated several recent copper wire thefts from local schools. They developed a lead on a vehicle associated with the suspects which led to the arrest of two individuals, an arrest warrant for an outstanding female suspect, and leads on other possible accomplices.
On March 27, Fairview Park maintenance employees discovered about 900 feet of heavy gauge copper wire had been stolen from the in-ground electrical access boxes, which was reported to us. Through further investigation, detectives identified two men, one of them was connected to the woman who had a warrant out for her arrest from the February copper wire thefts.
On March 28, detectives located the suspects. Yanet Erica Guerrero-Garcia, 29, Guillermo Urrutia Gil, 35, Hugo Albert Salmeron, 37, were taken into custody and booked on copper wire thefts associated to Fairview Park and nearby schools.
Detectives recovered approximately 220 pounds of cleaned copper wire stolen from Fairview Park. Great work by our team on the arrests and the recovery of the stolen copper wire.
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On March 20, CMPD took a report of a missing piece of art from Orange Coast College. The screen print is from internationally famous artist, Andy Warhol, which generated media attention. Detectives Michael Luu and Chris Jones were part of the ABC7 b-roll as they visited the Orange Coast College campus as part of the investigation. | |
SIU Narcotics Investigation | |
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On March 8, the Special Investigations Unit collaborated with the Anaheim Police Department, and HSI-Orange County on a narcotics investigation that ended in arrests in a neighboring county and the federal seizure of approximately $800,000 in cash.
A CHP K9 also helped in the arrests. This is law enforcement striking where it hurts most - the criminal’s pockets.
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On March 5, the Costa Mesa Police Department School Resource Officers Kathleen Sapida, Isaiah Ashby, and Shane Dean visited elementary schools and read to students for Read Across America.
Lt. David Casarez also visited a local school and read to a class of second graders and then Pre-K.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” -Dr. Seuss
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DUI and Driver's License Checkpoint | |
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On March 8, the Traffic Safety Bureau held a DUI and Driver's License checkpoint on 17th Street and Westminster Avenue. A total of 510 vehicles passed through this checkpoint including a doughnut truck!
A total of 213 drivers were contacted and yielded 18 field evaluations for impairment, six DUI arrests, 10 citations issued for driver’s license related violations, and 12 vehicles were impounded.
CMPD is committed to reducing injuries and fatalities on the road due to impairment. Help us keep the streets safe for everyone, don't drive under the influence and obey all traffic laws. Funding for this checkpoint is provided to CMPD by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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New Motors: Bruno & Richie
By: Sgt. Nick Wilson
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In March, Officer Daniel Bruno and Officer Matt Richie wrapped up motor training at Anaheim PD.
Big congratulations to Officer Bruno and Officer Richie for completing their rigorous 4-week Motor Academy training! They’re now officially certified to ride solo to keep our community safe. Join us in applauding their commitment and dedication!
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Extra Patrols on St. Patrick's Day
On Sunday, March 17, the Traffic Safety Bureau (TSB) had additional officers on patrol looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest times on our nation’s roads. In 2020, more than 11,000 people in the U.S. died in drunk-driving crashes.
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Citizen's Academy Has Begun | |
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On March 27, the Crime Prevention Unit kicked off the Spring 2024 Citizens Academy!
The first class included a welcome from Chief Ron Lawrence, an overview of CMPD by Deputy Chief Joyce LaPointe, presentations by Training & Recruitment, and Jail Operations which included a tour of the jail.
Citizen's Academy is a 10-week program that will run from March 27 to May 29. There are 24 participants learning about Patrol Operations, Dispatch, Investigations and Specialty Units, CSI, K9s, SWAT, Traffic Safety, the Explorer Program, and Recruitment among other law enforcement topics. Participants will also go on a ride-along with an officer and will participate in interactive exercises including dusting for fingerprints with CSI personnel and a Response to Resistance exercise, where students will have to respond to a "public threat" simulated incident in a controlled environment. This exercise will lead to some great conversations and a better understanding of what it takes to be a police officer.
Citizens Academy is a great way for the community to meet their local police officers and professional staff, as well as learn more about the police department and how it is comprised of different Units working together to protect and serve their community.
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Car Seat Safety Check
On Saturday, March 9, the Costa Mesa Police Department partnered with CHP – Santa Ana and a representative from Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris’ office to host a free child car seat safety check in the Costa Mesa City Hall parking lot.
CMPD appreciates its partners and the caregivers who came out to get the car seats of their most precious cargo checked.
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March 10 marked the 36-year anniversary of the line of duty deaths of CMPD Senior Officer Dave Ketchum and Senior Officer Mike Libolt, then both 39 and 15-year veterans of the department and EAGLE II pilots.
On the night of March 10, 1987, at 10:20 p.m., Ketchum and Libolt were flying a helicopter in pursuit of a stolen vehicle suspect. They had a civilian ride-along with them who also lost his life that night when they collided with another police helicopter from Newport Beach and crashed beside Bonita Canyon Road, east of MacArthur.
They will never be forgotten. Today, and every day, we honor the ultimate sacrifice made by Ketchum and Libolt.
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On March 20, Chief Ron Lawrence, along with OC Supervisor Katrina Foley, and Orange Coast College staff were invited by the OCC Association of Students to talk to students about fentanyl awareness and resources, and how law enforcement is combating the dangers of illicit fentanyl.
This town hall, put on by the students for the students, with assistance from Supervisor Foley, was a great platform to talk about the dangers of illicit drugs and overdose prevention.
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Welcome to spring, and congratulations to our Costa Mesa Baker-to-Vegas relay running team! What an incredible placement at third place out of 17 teams in our category, and 52nd place out of 258 teams total. The runners, support team, MESAC volunteers and supporting friends and family came together to deliver the best B2V year yet! Special thank you to those who worked shifts to allow our team the opportunity to compete; without your support, our team would not have been able to bring home their mugs. I could not be more proud of the entire team, including those who covered shifts, and I want to particularly congratulate our team captains: Sergeants Guenther & Chartier, as well as Officer Haney. Their leadership shined and inspired our runners to greatness.
We are in the Mid-Year budget cycle, and while this year is referred to as a “flat budget year,” which means little growth opportunities but also no loss/cuts, the Police Department is hopefully going to be successful at securing a few professional staff positions and upgrades. These positions are namely in our Animal Services Unit, as well as our Property & Evidence Unit. We were also successful at securing funds for a few Capital Improvement Projects, including new paint and carpet for the main police facility, and a remodel of the 911 Communications Center. We also heard some good ideas from personnel, during briefings, about upgrading the WSS and have been working to secure additional funding, so more to come on that project.
Watch for a Chief Chatter video soon to answer a few questions that came in from staff.
If you have any comments or a question that you would like me to answer in the next Chief Chatter, you can submit here:
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