San Diego County Sheriff - February 2014

Welcome to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Newsletter

February is an exciting time for us with the opening of a new station in East County. This project is about keeping our neighborhoods safe and ensuring our deputies have the tools they need to do their jobs. For the community, this means faster response times during emergencies. I hope you can make it to the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station.

As we grow, I want to encourage anyone interested in joining our department to apply during our open recruitment period.

February is also a month for the heart. This e-newsletter features articles to keep your loved ones safe. From a fun webpage for young children to learn about stranger danger to teaching your teens about the consequences of underage drinking and raising awareness on domestic violence in dating relationships.

I also want to warn you about a phone scam involving people posing as members of this department.

Don't forget to be a team player on Super Bowl Sunday. Be a winner, don't drink and drive.

Stay safe,

Bill Gore, Sheriff

San Diego County

Rancho San Diego Station Opening

Sheriff Bill Gore is pleased to announce the opening of the new Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station in the East County. You are cordially invited to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony on:

Monday, February 10th

11:00 a.m.

11486 Campo Road, Rancho San Diego

(619) 337-2000

For a flyer click here

Parking and free shuttle to and from the station is available at the Skyline Wesleyan Church located at 11330 Campo Road. Sheriff's Senior Volunteer Patrol (SVPs) will be on site to give directions. Light refreshments will be served and members of the community will get a tour of the station after the ribbon cutting.

The new $17.5 million station will serve the communities of Rancho San Diego, Spring Valley, La Presa, Jamul, Casa de Oro, Mount Helix, and unincorporated areas within La Mesa and El Cajon.

Open Recruitment

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is hiring. Recruitment for sworn positions will open for ten days in February. It means you can apply on-line for the position and register to take the written exam. The application process is often suspended to process all those that have come in.

Open Recruitment

Monday, February 3rd - Wednesday, February 12th

www.joinsdsheriff.net

(858) 974-2000

Email: recruit@sdsheriff.org

Applicants will be required to complete a comprehensive background investigation. While the department welcomes all applicants, there is currently a specific need to hire female deputies. The first phase of the new San Diego County Women's Detention and Re-entry Facility is expected to be completed this summer.

Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk

Drunk driving is unsportsman-like conduct. Make sure you have a game plan to prevent drunk driving during this year's Super Bowl Sunday.

A study from the Automobile Club of Southern California shows drunk driving crashes in California are higher on Super Bowl Sunday compared to any other Sunday in January or February.

Sheriff's Deputies will be stepping up patrols to sack drunk drivers on Sunday, February 2nd from 3:00 p.m. through 5:00 a.m. the next day.

If you're hosting a party at your home, be aware of the county's Social Host rules. Remember, hosting an underage drinking party is unsafe, illegal and irresponsible.

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 Anonymous Tip Line at (888) 580-8477.

Don't be a party to underage drinking. Start a conversation with your teens by visiting our website.

Simon Says....

His name is Simon. He visits libraries and schools to share a safety message: Don't Run Around, Stay Found. Now, children and those young at heart can continue to stay in touch with Simon the Safety Bloodhound Puppet through his new webpage. Start exploring with Simon at www.sdsheriff.net/simon . The webpage has safety videos, as well as a story and activity book that you can download for free. You could even ask Simon a question and you never know; it could be his next safety video.

Simon and his partner, Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) K-9 Team Leader Pam Medhurst, started giving Don't Run Around, Stay Found presentations 12 years ago. Using humor, they give advice about what a child should if he or she gets lost. It's a free service for schools and libraries within the jurisdiction of the Sheriff's Department.

The Sheriff's Search and Rescue is an all-volunteer unit. Together they perform wilderness and urban rescues, as well as search for missing and at-risk persons. Teams are available 24 hours per day to respond to local, state and federal agency requests. To learn more on how you can volunteer, click here.

You can also watch Simon's safety videos by following us on

Scam Alert

Beware; phone scammers have recently been posing as members of the Sheriff's Department.

The criminals call the victims and identify themselves as Sheriff's Deputies or representing the Sheriff's Department. The victims are told they have outstanding warrants. Callers claim they will clear the arrest warrant or cancel a pending court appearance if the potential victim sends money by a certain time. Victims are also told the Sheriff's Department will have a local police officer come to their home and arrest them if they don't send money. If you receive a solicitation for money based on this scenario, it's a scam.

Impersonating a Sheriff's Deputy is a violation of state law. No deputy or employee of the Sheriff's Department will ever contact members of the public by telephone to demand money or any other form of payment. If you get this type of call, hang up.

People with outstanding warrants are encouraged to turn themselves in Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at any one of the Sheriff's Court Facilities. For more information click here.

For more resources on how to protect yourself from scams, visit our Financial Crimes page. You can also watch our Scam Alert videos by following us on .

Are you a victim or witness?

The Sheriff's Homicide Division is asking for the

public's help in identifying additional victims or witnesses

in connection with a string of attacks in Spring Valley.

On January 14th, a man was found lying in the intersection of Gillespie Drive and Frederick Street with his head bleeding. The victim was taken to a hospital treated and released, but was later found unconscious in the 9000 block of Jamacha Road. He was taken to a hospital where he died.

The investigation into this attack led to the discovery of two more incidents in the area where two other victims were struck in the head with a skateboard. Two teenagers have since been identified and arrested in connection with the attacks.

Homicide Detectives believe there may be additional victims and/or witnesses to these crimes. If anyone has recently been a victim or witnessed an assault or robbery on Gillespie Drive, Sweetwater Road, Jamacha Road or surrounding areas, call the Sheriff's Homicide Division at (858) 974-2321. After hours, call our non-emergency line at (858) 565-5200.

Issue: 36

In This Issue

New Station Opening

Open Recruitment

Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk

Scam Alert

Call for Victims & Witnesses

www.sdsheriff.net

Poway Sprint Store Robbery

Click on the image above to watch the surveillance video and see if you recognize the man who robbed a Sprint store in Poway. The robbery happened in the 13000 block of Poway Road last month. The robber walked into the store, pointed a gun at two employees and demanded cell phones. He then forced the employees into a restroom and ran out of the store.

The suspect was wearing a mask covering his face, but witnesses describe him as a black man in his 30s or 40s. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with a red trim.

Anyone with information about this robbery is urged to call Crime Stoppers. You can remain anonymous and be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Call (888) 580-8477.

You can also watch the surveillance video on our

Channel.

Chat with a Recruiter

If you are looking to apply for a job with the Sheriff's Department, but have questions about the hiring process you can chat with a recruiter.

Monday, February 3rd

10:00 a.m. to noon

facebook.com/sdsheriff

@SDSheriff

Just type your questions on our Facebook and Twitter pages 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.

National Teen Dating Violence

and Awareness Month

One in ten teens said they have been hit or physically hurt by a boyfriend or a girlfriend at least once. And nearly half of all teens in relationships say they know friends who have been verbally abused (Source: Centers for Disease Control 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey)

Dating violence can happen to any teen in a romantic, dating or sexual relationship. Before the violence starts, a teen may experience controlling behavior and demands from their partner.

February is National Teen Dating and Violence Awareness Month. Dating violence can be prevented. Talk to your teens about the importance of healthy and respectful relationships.

Remember, you have a right to be safe and no one has the right to hit, threaten or abuse you. Get more information about domestic violence resources on our website.

Finish Chelsea's Run

Chelsea King was an avid cross country runner who lived in Poway. She went missing on February 25, 2010 after going for a run at Lake Hodges. Chelsea was the victim of a sex offender and the Sheriff's Department was in charge of the massive search for the teen and the case investigation.

Join the Sheriff's Department Team next month to Finish Chelsea's Run. Proceeds from the run will be used by the Chelsea Light Foundation to help support and eliminate harm to children by sexual predators through community activism, legislative reform and education.

Saturday, March 1st

7:30 a.m.

Balboa Park

Click here to register

Love Your Heart

Blood Pressure Screenings

This Valentine's Day, feel good about yourself by taking care of your heart. Join Sheriff's Deputies from the San Marcos Sheriff's Station and Lemon Grove Sheriff's Substation for the Love Your Heart

blood pressure screenings. This service is FREE and is in partnership with County Health. See you there!

Friday, February 14th

10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

San Marcos Sheriff's Station

182 Santar Place, San Marcos

Friday, February 14th

9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Union Bank

3285 Lemon Grove Avenue,

Lemon Grove

Cold Case File

Gregorio Cruz

26 to 27 years old

Victim

On August 12, 1986, Gregorio Cruz was visiting a friend at his apartment in the 400 block of 2nd Street in Encinitas. Cruz stepped outside just before 8:00 p.m. and was seen speaking to a Hispanic man. The man shot Cruz several times. A witness to the shooting was also shot in the back, but survived the injury.

The witness described the suspect as a Hispanic man between 30 and 39 years old, 5'3" tall with black hair and a "paunchy stomach."

Anyone with information about this case, is urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Division at

(858) 974-2321.

You can also call the Crime Stoppers Anonymous Tip Line at

(888) 580-8477.

You could be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

Cruz is just one of many murder victims waiting for justice. Visit our Cold Case page to learn more.

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"