San Diego County Sheriff - December 2014

Welcome to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Newsletter

I want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a wonderful holiday season. I speak for everyone in the Sheriff's Department when I say we take incredible pride in keeping San Diego County safe and making a difference in people's lives.

Throughout this month, our Holiday Watch crime-fighting initiative will be targeting criminals looking to take advantage of you and your family. In this newsletter, learn about Holiday Watch events where you can meet Sheriff's Deputies and volunteers in your communities, including shopping centers and other high-traffic areas. Be sure to stop by and say hello.

Deputies will also be busy keeping drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs off San Diego's roadways. Anyone caught driving drunk will be arrested and taken to jail. Do the responsible thing and don't drink and drive.

If you're going out of town for the holidays, take advantage of our FREE vacation check service. Members of our Sheriff's Senior Volunteer Patrol will go to your home and perform a security inspection while you're away. More importantly, this will keep would-be criminals away from your property.

Open your heart and donate a brand new teddy bear (or stuffed animal). Every teddy bear you bring to a Sheriff's Station or Substation will be given to a young patient at Rady Children's Hospital this holiday season.

Enjoy this month's e-newsletter and find out about many events that you can take part in and make a positive difference in your community.

Stay safe,

Bill Gore, Sheriff

San Diego County

Holiday Watch

The Sheriff's Department Holiday Watch program is now underway to keep you and your family safe during this busy shopping and traveling season.

This crime-fighting initiative consists of enforcement and education. Expect more patrols in your neighborhood, malls, parking lots and other hot spots for criminals. Sheriff's SKYWATCH will also be deployed at parking lots to spot suspicious activity. Deputies will also conduct undercover operations to check on parolees and probationers.

Check out our Holiday Watch events in your area and get safety tips from our Crime Prevention Specialists:

November 28 through January 3

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Horse, Bicycle and Volunteer Patrols

Kmart, Albertsons, Stater Bros. and other businesses

along Main Street between Pala and 6th Streets, Ramona

December 1 through December 24

Various hours

Deputy and Senior Volunteer Patrols

4S Ranch Commons Town Center

10550 Craftsman Way

4S Ranch Village Center

16625 Dove Canyon Road

December 6

10:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Free Steering Wheel Locks for cars reported most stolen in 2013

Veterans Park

1075 8th Street, Imperial Beach

December 8

8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Command Post, extra patrol and Crime Prevention Display

at Walmart

732 Center Drive, San Marcos

December 19

6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Command Post and Crime Prevention Display

at Krikorian Theaters at Vista Village

25 Main Street, Vista

December 19, 20 and 21

11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Sheriff's SKYWATCH and Crime Prevention Display

at Walmart

1550 Leucadia Boulevard, Encinitas

Click on the video above to watch highlights from a Holiday Watch operation by the Imperial Beach Sheriff's Substation or you can follow us on Vimeo.

For a complete list of Holiday Watch events in your community, click here.

If you see something suspicious, say something! Call the Sheriff's Department's non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.

Holiday DUI Enforcement

The holidays are here. The Sheriff's Department wants to remind everyone to be responsible by not drinking and driving.

Click on the video above to see the high price of driving under the influence. You can also watch the video on our Vimeo Channel.

Throughout December, Sheriff's Deputies will be conducting several checkpoints across San Diego County looking for drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

DUI checkpoints are scheduled on the following dates:

Saturday, December 13

Poway

Friday, December 19

Imperial Beach and Santee

Saturday, December 20

Santee

There will also be additional patrols during the holidays season targeting impaired drivers. If you are caught driving under the influence, you will be arrested. Remember: DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER!

If you're driving anywhere this holiday season, don't forget to buckle your seat belt. Click on the video above to see the importance of putting on 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!

Know your responsibility as a "Social Host." A Social Host is anyone who knowingly hosts underage drinking parties on property they own, lease or otherwise control. If you are caught providing alcohol to a minor, you will go to jail. Learn more about the Social Host rules by clicking here.

Chat With A Recruiter

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:

Friday, January 2nd

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.

Are you ready to put a star in your future? Join the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Visit www.joinsdsheriff.net

or email recruit@sdsheriff.org.

Sexually Violent Predator Hearing

If you live in the East County, the California Department of State Hospitals (DSH) has recommended the placement of a Sexually Violent Predator at 45612 Old Highway 80 in Jacumba Hot Springs.

Gary Snavely was convicted of molesting two girls between the ages of 8 and 9 in the 80s. He served three years in prison, but returned behind bars after violating the conditions of his parole. He was also convicted of failing to register as a sex offender while living in San Diego in the 90s.

A public forum regarding the proposed placement will be held before it is finalized by the court. Comments will be accepted during a hearing on:

Friday, December 19th

9:00 a.m.

Department 54, San Diego Superior Court

220 West Broadway, San Diego

While the proposed placement location falls within the jurisdiction of the Pine Valley Sheriff's Station, the Sheriff's Department or SAFE (Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement) Task Force are NOT responsible for the selection of the proposed site. That selection is the sole responsibility of DSH and the San Diego Superior Court.

The nearest schools to the proposed placement location are Jacumba Elementary School and Clover Flats Elementary School.

To get alerts when a sex offender moves in or out of your neighborhood, register your email address at: www.sandiegocountysexoffenders.com.

Wanted Fugitive

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 Timothy Sean Sullivan. He is wanted on charges of punching someone and leaving the scene, as well as leading deputies on a car chase.

Sullivan has been known to frequent the Poway and Ramona areas of San Diego County.

Anyone with information on Sullivan's whereabouts is urged to call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. You could be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

To learn more about wanted fugitives in San Diego County, visit www.sdsheriff.net/wanted.

Veterans Jail Module Expanded

The Veterans Moving Forward program is expanding. A second housing unit for veterans was recently opened at the Vista Jail.

Click on the video above to see the success of the program and the positive impact on inmates. You can also watch the video by following us on Vimeo.

The new housing unit has 32 new beds, in addition to the 32 beds the first housing unit opened with in November 2013. The units are just like military barracks with "brothers" who can relate to each other. Correctional counselors and deputies are veterans themselves.

On average, nearly 300 veterans are in San Diego County Jails. Many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and other mental health issues.

The Veterans Moving Forward program features re-entry programs or classes that address the needs of veterans such as substance abuse or behavior management. Veterans Affairs, correctional counselors, probation staff and community-based organizations provide the programs.

Since opening the first jail dormitory for military veterans last year, only one of the 69 released participants has been arrested for a new offense.

Stay Safe San Diego.

Issue: 46

In This Issue

Holiday Watch

Holiday DUI Enforcement

Chat with a Recruiter

Wanted Fugitive

Veterans Jail Module Expanded

Solana Beach Bank Robbery

The Encinitas Sheriff's Station wants your help in identifying and finding a man wanted in connection with a bank robbery in Solana Beach.

It happened at a Chase Bank branch in the 600 block of Lomas Santa Fe Drive on November 25th just after 2:00 p.m. A man walked into the bank, approached a bank teller and displayed a gun. The robber demanded large bills. No one was hurt.

As you can see from the surveillance photo above, the suspect was wearing a fake beard, Santa hat, and sunglasses. He was wearing jeans, a long sleeved shirt and a fanny pack around his waist.

To see more surveillance photos, click here

If you recognize this man, call the Sheriff's non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.

You can remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Call Crime Stoppers at

(888) 580-8477.

Who Murdered David Paz?

The Sheriff's Homicide Detail wants your help in solving the murder of a 34-year old David Paz (Zeidenberg) more than 20 years ago.

On April 22, 1994, a man driving along Interstate 8 in Alpine noticed a fire burning just south of the freeway near Arnold Way.

The witness got off the freeway and saw a vehicle driving away from the fire. He also saw what he believed to be a mannequin burning on the road.

When the fire was put out, firefighters discovered the remains of a man.

The victim's identity remained a mystery until 2006 when the human remains were determined to belong to David Paz (Zeidenberg). The Medical Examiner says he died from gunshot wounds.

If you have any information on the murder of David Paz (Zeidenberg) , call the Sheriff's Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321.

You can remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

Call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.

Help solve other murders and learn more about our cold case files.

Vacation Checks

The holiday season is one of the busiest travel times of the year. If you are going away, the Sheriff's Department offers FREE vacation checks.

Click on the video above to learn more about this valuable service. You can also watch the video on our Vimeo Channel.

The Sheriff's Senior Volunteer Patrol keeps a watchful eye on people's homes during their out-of-town travels.

Senior Volunteer Patrol members perform security inspections outside your home Monday through Friday. They will check if your doors, windows and garage are locked, among other things.

If they see something suspicious, they will call for the assistance of a deputy.

Upon your return, you will get a welcome home letter listing the dates your home was checked and observations made during the vacation check visits.

If you live in the jurisdiction of the Sheriff's Department, you can fill out a vacation check request form online and submit it to your nearest Sheriff's Station or Substation.

To download the form, visit:

www.sdsheriff.net. For a vacation check flyer, click here.

Donate A Teddy Bear

Help brighten the holidays for a sick child at Rady Children's Hospital.

The Sheriff's Department is co-hosting the San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive.

Bring a NEW, huggable teddy bear or stuffed animal (with tags attached) to any Sheriff's Station, Substation or County Courthouse through Monday, December 8th.

Every teddy bear will be delivered to young patients at Rady Children's Hospital just in time for the holidays.

For a list of drop-off locations, visit:

www.sdsheriff.net/patrol

www.sdsheriff.net/courts.

Coffee With The Community

Community Outreach is a top priority of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Members of the community should feel comfortable bringing problems related to safety and security as well as deputy-community relations to our staff.

Join us for the following Coffee With The Community events on:

Friday, December 12th

9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Country Junction Deli, Meeting Room
29115 Valley Center Road, Valley Center

For flyer, click here

Thursday, December 18th
8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Cali Comfort
8910 Troy Street, Spring Valley

For flyer, click here

Coffee With The Community gives the public a chance to chat with members of the Sheriff's Department, including Crime Prevention and the Senior Volunteer Patrol, in a casual setting to exchange ideas and concerns over a free cup of coffee.

Join us and help make a positive difference in our community.

Pancake Breakfast
Santee & San Marcos

Enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast served up by members of the Sheriff's Department.

Bring your appetite and join us on:

Saturday, December 6th
7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Santee Fire Station #5
9130 Carlton Oaks Drive, Santee

For flyer, click here

Tuesday, December 9th

6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

San Marcos Civic Center,

Community Hall

3 Civic Center Drive, San Marcos

For flyer, click here

Proceeds from the Santee Pancake Breakfast will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Money raised by the San Marcos Pancake Breakfast will benefit the Boys & Girls Club.

Bring the entire family and enjoy a yummy breakfast and help out a great cause at the same time.

RESPECT Program

Deputies at the San Marcos Sheriff's Station are working to steer children away from the influence of gangs through the RESPECT program.

RESPECT stands for:
R - responsibility
E - ethics
S - strength
P - perseverance
E - education
C - courage
T - trustworthiness

The eight-week program is held at the Boys and Girls Club in partnership with community groups. It's about building character and uniting communities.

Recently, 12 students from grades 8 to 12 graduated from the program.

To read more about the RESPECT program, click here.

If you are parent or teacher and would like to learn more about this program, call the San Marcos Sheriff's Station at (760) 510-5200 and ask for Sergeant Mark Haynesworth.

Mother Goose Parade

Thousands lined up along the streets of El Cajon the weekend before Thanksgiving for the return of a holiday tradition: the Mother Goose Parade.

The Sheriff's Department was proud to be a part of the Mother Goose Parade.

Click on the video above to see highlights from the parade or follow us on Vimeo.

Volunteers with the Sheriff's Volunteer Mounted Patrol, Search and Rescue, Explorers (teen volunteers), as well as deputies from various stations/substations, Traffic Services and Special Enforcement Detail or SED/SWAT took part in the parade.

The horses for Sheriff Gore and Undersheriff Prendergast were courtesy of our amazing and dedicated volunteers.

To volunteer with the Sheriff's Department, visit: www.sdsheriff.net/volunteers.

Holiday Closures

San Diego County Sheriff's Department Stations, Substations and Headquarters will be closed for the following federal holidays:

Thursday, December 25th
Christmas

Thursday, January 1st

New Year's 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.

Jan Caldwell, Media Relations Director

Melissa Aquino, Media Relations

Sammy Castanon, Media Relations

San Diego County Sheriff's Department

"Keeping the peace since 1850"