| San Diego County Sheriff - November 2015 |
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Welcome to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Newsletter
Recently, we lost a dear and cherished member of our Sheriff's Department family. Sheriff William Kolender passed away on October 6th. Not only did he change the face of law enforcement in San Diego County as Sheriff and Police Chief, but he was a close friend and mentor of mine.
The Sheriff's Department sends our condolences to Sheriff Kolender's family. His legacy and spirit will never be forgotten.
The holiday season is fast approaching and the Sheriff's Department will be busy making sure you and your family are safe.
One way you can help us is by getting to know the deputies that patrol your communities. We have several Coffee with the Community events coming up where you can let us know how to better serve you. I hope you can join us.
Thanksgiving is a time for family and appreciation for the blessings we have all been given. It's also a time when some people will get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol.
Deputies will be conducting additional DUI patrols during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. If you see an impaired driver, call 9-1-1 immediately. Be responsible - don't drink and drive!
On behalf of the entire Sheriff's Department, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!
Stay safe,
Bill Gore, Sheriff
San Diego County
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Remembering Sheriff William Kolender
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The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is saddened to announce the passing of Sheriff Bill Kolender. He died on October 6th after a long and valiant battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
Sheriff Kolender was elected the 28th Sheriff of San Diego County in 1994. He would go on to be re-elected in 1998, 2002 and 2006.
Before becoming Sheriff, Kolender had already established himself as a local law enforcement legend. He joined the San Diego Police Department in 1956 as a patrol officer. In 1975, he was appointed San Diego Police chief and served as the city's top cop for 13 years. Kolender has left behind a legacy that serves as the benchmark for all law enforcement in San Diego County and the nation.
To watch a tribute to Sheriff Kolender, click on the above video. You can also watch it by following us on VIMEO.
If you would like to honor the memory of William Kolender, his family encourages donations to the following organizations in his memory:
If you have a loved one who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease or any other developmental disability, sign them up for the
Take Me Home Program.
In the event an at-risk person who is registered gets lost or wanders away, deputies can obtain important information such as photographs, physical descriptions and emergency contacts from the
Take Me Home Program database.
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The Sheriff's East Mesa Re-entry Facility is giving convicted criminals a chance to experience life on the other side of the bars.
It's called the Civics Program, a partnership between the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and County Parks and Recreation which started in July 2014. The goal is to help inmates develop skills and work habits needed to secure honest employment after their release.
Click on the above video to learn how the Civics Program is changing lives. You can also watch the video by following the Sheriff's Department on
VIMEO.
14 inmate workers are divided into two work crews and perform tasks such as landscaping, cleaning county parks, trails, canals or ditches, clearing vegetation, creating fire buffer zones, as well as trimming or cutting hazardous trees.
To be eligible for the program, inmates must be housed at the East Mesa Jail and have six months or less left in their sentences. They can't be convicted of violent or sexual crimes. While outside, a deputy is on site and watches the inmates at all times.
An instructor from Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College teaches inmates basic horticultural and landscaping skills. Inmates graduate with a certificate of participation.
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| Attempted Kidnapping - Encinitas
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Take a good look at this sketch of one of two men who tried to kidnap a 17-year-old girl in Encinitas. It shows the man the victim says was driving the pickup truck that was involved in the incident.
It happened just before noon on October 22nd at the intersection of Melba and Nardo Roads as the student was walking to the San Dieguito High School Academy (SDA).
The student told deputies two men in a pickup truck drove up next to her and tried to drag her into the truck. She was able to break free and run home.
She describes the driver as a Hispanic man in his 40s wearing a plaid shirt and a faded blue baseball cap. The passenger is described as a Hispanic man in his 40s with shaggy hair.
The vehicle is described as a white pickup truck similar to a Ford Ranger.
Anyone with information about this attempted kidnapping is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to a felony arrest.
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Take a good look at the sketch of this man. He is wanted for annoying a child by following two students walking home from Santana High School in Santee in his pickup truck.
Two separate incidents were reported to a Santee Sheriff's Station School Resource Deputy on September 25th. Both incidents happened around 3:00 p.m. on September 21st and September 24th.
In the first incident, the teen girl told deputies she was followed while walking on Mast Boulevard. In the second, a student was followed while walking on North Magnolia Avenue. Both students went home and told their parents.
The teen girls describe the man as being in his late 20s, possibly Hispanic or Native American with a dark complexion. They also say the man was clean-shaven and wearing a baseball hat and a dark colored t-shirt.
The man's vehicle is described as a white 2000 Chevy pickup truck with a toolbox in the bed.
Anyone with information on the identity and location of the suspect is asked to call the
Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at
(888) 580-8477.. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered to anyone with information that leads to a felony arrest in this case.
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Claim Stolen Property - North County
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The San Marcos Sheriff's Station is working to return stolen items in a string of storage unit thefts in the North County.
Between December 2014 and August 2015, 40 to 50 storage units were targeted in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, San Marcos, Escondido and Vista. Two people have been arrested and charged in these thefts.
Many of the stolen items have already been returned to their owners. Photos of those items that cannot be traced back to their owners have been posted on:
www.sdsheriff.net/storage. The items include artwork, china, clothing, collectibles, electronics, furniture, household goods, jewelry, toys and tools.
If any of the items you see on the website belong to you, note the photo number and complete the contact form on the right side of the screen. A deputy will then reach out to you.
To claim the item or items, bring a stolen property or theft report from any law enforcement agency. In the absence of a stolen property report, show a photo, proof of insurance, receipt or information such as a serial number to prove the items belong to you.
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Every month, the Sheriff's Department works with the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force (FTF) and Crime Stoppers to find and arrest people wanted for committing crimes.
Be on the lookout for 26-year-old Christina Renee Garcia. She is wanted for numerous charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and burglary.
Garcia stands 5'3" tall and weighs 220 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She is known to hang out in the East County area of San Diego County.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Garcia is urged to call
Crime Stoppers
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You can remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Call
(888) 580-8477
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The Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) says Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time of the year.
With more people on the road, Sheriff's Deputies will be out in force during the long Thanksgiving weekend to stop drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
To watch a video on the high price and dangers of drinking and driving, click on the above video. You can also watch it by following the Sheriff's Department on
VIMEO.
The Sheriff's Department has received help with our mission to keep impaired drivers off our roads. The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has awarded the Sheriff's Department a grant worth more than $500,000 that will fund a year's worth of special operations and campaigns designed to stop DUI drivers. That includes checkpoints, patrols, warrant sweeps and traffic enforcement.
If you're driving anywhere this Thanksgiving weekend, don't forget to buckle your seat belt. Many car crash injuries and deaths could be prevented with the simple click of a seat belt. Buckle Up America - Every Trip, Every Time!
If you are caught drinking and driving, you will go to jail. Remember ... Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving!
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Put a Star in Your Future
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The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is hiring. Click on the video above to see the varied careers you can have with our agency. You can also watch the video on
VIMEO.
Recruitment for sworn positions opens during the first business day of each month.
If you have questions about the hiring process, you can chat with a Sheriff's recruiter on:
Tuesday, December 1
10:00 a.m. to noon
 @SDSheriff
Just type your questions on our Twitter page and a recruiter is available to explain the application process to you.
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Veterans Day Holiday
San Diego County Sheriff's Department Stations, Substations and Headquarters will be closed for a federal holiday:
Wednesday, November 11
(Veterans Day)
All detention facilities will remain open. The closure to the public of business offices will not impact deputies in the field or employees scheduled or on-call.
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Thanksgiving Holiday
San Diego County Sheriff's Department Stations, Substations and Headquarters will be closed on:
Thursday, November 26
(Thanksgiving Holiday)
Friday, November 27
(County Holiday)
All detention facilities will remain open. The closure to the public of business offices will not impact deputies in the field or employees scheduled or on-call.
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WANTED
Identity Theft Suspects - East County
Take a good look at this surveillance photo of a man and a woman wanted in connection with a car burglary and the use of stolen credit cards at several businesses in the East County.
For a bigger image, follow us on  .
The car burglary happened sometime between 5:00 p.m. on September 23rd and 7:30 a.m. on September 24th. The suspects broke into a car that was parked in the driveway of a home in the 10200 block of Rio Camino in Lakeside.
The suspects later used stolen credit cards to make purchases at Target, Wal-Mart, and other businesses in El Cajon, unincorporated El Cajon and Alpine.
The suspects may be driving a white Chevrolet Monte Carlo or similar style car.
Suspect #1 is described as a Caucasian male in his early to mid-20s with short dirty-blond hair. He is tall with a thin muscular build.
Suspect #2 is described as a Caucasian female in her mid to late-20s. She has shoulder length brown hair with a medium build.
If you recognize these suspects, call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
You can remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.
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WANTED
Shoplifting Suspect - Encinitas
Take a good look at this surveillance photos of a woman wanted in connection with two shoplifting cases at the Target store in Encinitas.
For a bigger image, follow us on .
It happened at the Target store located at 1010 N. El Camino Real on January 25th and August 20th of this year.
In the first incident, the suspect stole a Dyson Motorhead Stick vacuum. In the second incident, she stole clothing and another Dyson Motorhead Stick vacuum. The total loss is estimated at about $1,000.
The suspect is described as an Asian adult female approximately 30 years in age. She was last seen wearing black sunglasses on top of her head, a white tank top, blue shorts and black sandals.
Anyone with information on the identity or location of the suspect is asked to call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at
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Coffee With The Community
Community outreach is a top priority for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
Members of the community should feel comfortable bringing problems related to safety and security to our staff.
You're invited to join us at the following Coffee with the Community events:
Thursday, November 5
7:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Rancho San Diego County Library,
Community Room
11555 Via Rancho San Diego
Wednesday, November 18
8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Valley Center Library
29200 Cole Grade Road,
Valley Center
Coffee with the Community gives the public a chance to chat with deputies in a casual setting and exchange ideas and concerns over a free cup of coffee.
Come out and make a positive difference in your community. For tips on how to stay safe, visit:
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Pancake Breakfast - Santee
The Santee Sheriff's Station and the Santee Fire Department are teaming up for the Santee Pancake Breakfast.
Join us on:
Saturday, November 7
7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Santee Fire Station #5
9130 Carlton Oaks Drive
(Corner of Carlton Oaks Drive and Fanita Parkway) For a flyer, click here
The entire family can enjoy a delicious breakfast cooked up by deputies and firefighters. The menu includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and juice.
While enjoying breakfast, the public can spend time and get to know their deputies and firefighters.
Breakfast is $5. Money raised from this year's event will benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
For more information, call the Santee Sheriff's Station at (619) 956-4000. |
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Teddy Bear Drive
Help brighten the holidays for a sick child at Rady Children's Hospital.
Join the Sheriff's Department for the San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive.
Join us on:
Tuesday, November 10
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Chick-fil-A Sports Arena
3570 Sports Arena Boulevard
Chick-fil-A Santee
9418 Mission Gorge Road
Chick-fil-A San Marcos
587 Grand Avenue
Bring a NEW, huggable teddy bear or stuffed animal (with tags attached) and receive a FREE Chick-fil-A meal.
Meet members of the Sheriff's specialized units, check out Sheriff's vehicles and other cool displays.
All teddy bears will be delivered to young patients in December.
Help us make this year's Teddy Bear Drive a huge success!
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Reading Day With
North Coastal Sheriff's Station
Reading is an important part of a child's life. It teaches them everything from their A-B-C's to incredible stories filled with fun and wonder.
The North Coastal Sheriff's Station invites children to stop by a local book store every fourth Saturday of the month for a special "Reading Day" event.
A deputy will read to the children and teach them how fun and important reading is.
Join us on:
Saturday, November 28
11:00 a.m. to noon
Barnes & Noble
1040 N. El Camino Real Drive,
Encinitas
Simon the Sheriff's Safety Bloodhound also loves reading to kids. To read all about Simon's safety tips for kids and see his special videos, visit:
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Blankets of Love
For a child in a frightening situation, the kindness and generosity of an adult can make all the difference in the world.
Detectives in the Sheriff's Child Abuse Unit are making young victims feel better thanks to a group of volunteers and their adorable handmade blankets.
For the past six years, these volunteers have made the Beanie Blankets (blankets with Beanie Babies stuffed animals attached to them) and donated them to the Sheriff's Department.
Detectives then give them as gifts to children they encounter during their investigations.
Recently, Sheriff Gore personally met with the volunteers to thank them for their contributions.
"We are a very blessed group of women who enjoy showing our gratitude with projects that make others happy," says volunteer Sandy Small. "It is a joyous feeling to be able to help those in need."
The Sheriff's Department would like to thank Sandy Small, Lynne O'Byrne, Pam Geiger, Lorraine Morehead, Arlene Bardin, Debbie-Lynne Barker and Patti Mattison for their generosity and making a difference in our community.
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