San Diego County Sheriff - July 2013
San Diego County Sheriff
Welcome to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Newsletter   

 

The warm weather is upon us. Summer allows for an opportunity to refresh, relax and have some fun in the sun.

 

As your Sheriff, your family's safety is my number one priority. We have operations to keep drunk drivers off the roads and arrest those responsible for hosting underage drinking parties.

 

This edition of our e-newsletter is also packed with crime prevention tips so that you and your family can have a safe and happy summer.

 

Remember, summer safety starts with you.

  

Sincerely,

 

Bill Gore, Sheriff

San Diego County

Have a Safe Fourth of July

Possessing and using fireworks is illegal in San Diego County  
The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is reminding San Diegans it's illegal to possess and use fireworks in the county. It's also illegal to make homemade fireworks or explosives. If found guilty, you could be fined up to $50,000 and sent to prison or jail for up to one year.
  
Fireworks can cause burns, lacerations, amputations and blindness. Sparklers can burn at a temperature hot enough to melt gold. Leave the fireworks to the professionals. For more fireworks safety tips, click here.
  
Vista is the only Sheriff's jurisdiction with road closures on the Fourth of July between 8:00 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.  
  • Vale Terrace Drive between E. Vista Way and Vale Terrace Place
  • Williamston Street between E. Vista Way and Vale Terrace Drive
  • Ponderosa Drive at Vale Terrace Drive 
  • Alta Vista Drive  at Vale Terrace Place
  • Vale Terrace Place between Alta Vista Drive and Vale Terrace Drive  

Red, White and Busted

     Don't Drink and Drive this Fourth of July

San Diegans can count on a countywide push to get

drunk drivers off the road for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is stepping up its "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Campaign to stop impaired drivers and save lives on our roadways.

  

The crackdown, in partnership with the county's AVOID the 15 Task Force - named for the number of law enforcement agencies involved, will run from Wednesday, July 3rd  through Sunday, July 7th. Deputies and officers will conduct saturation patrols and DUI checkpoints.

  
  
Sober Ride Options:

It's Just Not Worth It

    

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is committed to keeping drivers safe on our roads. A public safety message is now playing in local movie theaters to warn the public of the dangers and legal costs of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. The video message will air through November. The public safety message will also be featured in the Sheriff's Start Smart classes for new teen drivers.
  
To watch the video, follow us on View our videos on YouTube or scan this QR Code with your smart phone.
A Public Safety Message from Sheriff's Bill Gore 
Don't Run Around, Stay Found
Don't Run Around, Stay Found Program  
From amusement parks to the great outdoors, families will be going to destinations across the country for a summer vacation. In the blink of an eye, children can wander off and get lost. Keep your children safe on vacation with a Sheriff's

Don't Run Around, Stay Found program. You can bring your kids to a free presentation on:  

 

Wednesday, July 10

10:30 a.m.

Alpine Library

2130 Arnold Way, Alpine

Print a flyer

 

Don't Run Around, Stay Found features Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) K-9 Team Leader Pam Medhurst, "Simon" the bloodhound puppet and SAR beagles. Using humor, they bring an important message about what a child should do if he or she gets lost to help rescuers find them quickly and how to avoid getting lost in the first place. There is also a demonstration of a mock search and a meet-and-greet with the beagles. The class aims to introduce children to a serious topic while at the same time reducing their fear of the unknown.  See you there! 

Wanted Fugitive

Ramiro Espinoza is a Wanted Fugitive. Call 888-580-8477 for a reward 

The Sheriff's Department is working with the Fugitive Task Force (FTF) and Crime Stoppers to find and arrest Ramiro Espinoza. 
 
Espinoza has a $1,000,000 arrest warrant for attempted murder, domestic violence, felony assault, as well as a felon in possession of a weapon. He is known to frequent the South Bay area of the county.  Espinoza has a tattoo that says "San Diego" on his stomach. He also has a tattoo picture of Jesus with a thorn crown on his back.  If you see Espinoza, do not approach him. He should be considered armed and dangerous.
 
Anyone with information about Espinoza can call the Crime Stoppers tip line at (888) 580-8477. You can remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. To print a wanted bulletin, click here. For bigger photos of Espinoza and his tattoos, follow us on Like us on Facebook.

See You at the County Fair  

 

Roll the dice at the Sheriff's Department booth at the San Diego County Fair. You can still visit us at the Infield Pavilion near Kiddieland until July Fourth.
 
The fair's theme this year is "Game On!" The Sheriff's Department booth features a giant board game about personal and home safety showcasing various units, as well as stations and substations of the Sheriff's Department.  Players get a free "slide puzzle" featuring the Sheriff's Department Star.
  
Click on the image above to watch all the fun or follow us on View our videos on YouTube
Issue: 29 
Sheriff Bill Gore
In This Issue
Fourth of July Safety
Red, White and Busted
It's Just Not Worth It
Don't Run Around, Stay Found
Wanted Fugitive
See You at the County Fair
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Internet Safety   
   
Internet Safety       
Young people generally have more free time to spend online once school is out. We encourage parents to take this opportunity to have a discussion about Internet Safety. There are 624,000 child pornography users nationwide. These predators pose as "friends" offering to meet with your children. Talk to your kids about online safety. You can watch our Internet Safety Videos for teens and parents by following us on
 View our videos on YouTube

 

Summer Safety

FREE VACATION CHECKS 

     

  Summer Safety Tips
  
Summer. It means sunshine, outdoor plays and barbecues.  It's also a time to be informed about safety and crime prevention.  It can be easy to forget to close a door or window, but if they are left open it creates an opportunity for a burglar. Criminals focus on easy targets; make it difficult for them to choose you.
  • Always lock your doors and windows  
  • Report suspicious activity to the Sheriff's Department non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200
  • Don't broadcast your vacation plans on social media
  • Sign up for a FREE vacation check so Sheriff's Senior Volunteer Patrol (SVP) members can keep an eye on your home. Visit www.sdsheriff.net. To watch a news story on how the program works, follow us on View our videos on YouTube.  

An informed community is a safe community. You can sign up for alerts to find out crime trends in your neighborhood. Visit crimemapping.com.  For a step by step guide on how you can sign up for alerts, follow us on View our videos on YouTube.

Sign up for crime alerts in your neighborhood  

Social Host Ordinances

   
Sheriff's Social Host Web Page      

This summer and all year, adults should monitor and secure alcohol at home to help prevent underage drinking. It is illegal to provide alcohol and host underage drinking parties in San Diego County. Sheriff's Deputies are cracking down. You will be arrested and booked in jail.

A Social Host is anyone who knowingly hosts underage drinking parties on property they own, lease or otherwise control. The Social Host ordinance assigns responsibility to those who knew or should have known an underage drinking party was occurring on their property. Violators face up to $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail or both. You can also be billed for law enforcement services and held liable for injuries sustained by third parties.

You can report underage drinking parties to the Sheriff's Department 24 hours per day. Call our non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200. Teens who learn about a party on social media can also call the Crime Stoppers Students Speaking Out Tip Line at (888) 580-8477.  You could be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward.

Let's make it a safe summer. Don't serve alcohol to teens. It's unsafe, it's illegal and it's irresponsible. Start a conversation with your teens by visiting our website.
Claim Lost or Stolen Bicycles
 
 Claim lost or stolen bicycles at the Santee Sheriff's Station 
If you've had your bicycle lost or stolen in Santee or Lakeside in the last six months, call the Santee Sheriff's Station. Please provide some form of proof; a picture of a the bike, a receipt, identifying marks, or a good description of the bike in order to claim it. For bicycle safety tips, click here.
  
 Santee Sheriff's Station  
8811 Cuyamaca Street, Santee
Call (619) 956-4071
Annual Report
  
 Sheriff's Department Annual Report 2012 
Take a look back at the accomplishments of the Sheriff's Department in 2012. To read the annual report, click here or the photo above. Please note, this file is large (6MB) and requires Adobe Acrobat or Reader to view the report.  

   Stay Safe San Diego    

  Jan Caldwell, Public Affairs Director

Melissa Aquino, Public Affairs/Media Relations
San Diego County Sheriff's Department 

"Keeping the peace since 1850"