HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1995 0405 CC REG ITEM 08LFROM:
DATE:
ITCH 18,x...
CITY OF MOORPARK
AGENDA REPORT
The Honorable City Council
Christine Adams, Director of Community Sery
March 27, 1995 (Meeting of April 5, 1995)
" -WAN, CALTC Z'.' "
Cou 11 Mee 111-1 j
SUBJECT: Consider Resolution Authorizing Staff to Apply for
Older Americans Act Grant Funds
The Senior Center Coordinator -s funded through a matching
grant provided by the Ventura (founty Area Agency on Aging,
utilizing Older Americans Act ,rant Funds (Title III). This
current year, the City has beer, , i gr<<ntee for $10, 000, but
this is a one year grant.
The City may apply for these grant funds again, for 1995 -96;
however, the City will not tuLomatically be given
consideration for Older Americans Act funds for next year.
The category governing our project is Highly competitive, and
funding is determined based on 'he pr:--)posed project as well
as the available funds from VCAAL.
A total
of $13,500 is availat)ie for
programs to provide
services within a senior center
which
would establish,
augment,
or enhance service to
'ounty
residents ages 60 and
over.
As in the past, this
would
�)e a matching grant,
whereby
the City would fund the
and benefit package of
the Senior
Center Coordinator -1
vF, +-hE
grant award amount.
For 1995 -96, the salary and be nef _- I;ackage for the Senior
Center Coordinator is projecte,, tc be $39,813.00. The City
General Fund would fund $26,31 )[) if staff is successful in
obtaining the grant funding. T};c 1:-ant Is for one year only.
Completed applications are due n Monday, April 24, 1995. As
part of the application process, r.he City Council must adopt
a resolution which acknowledc,s -he grant parameters and
purpose, including agreement r. un-" 1'01% of the cost for the
position in subsequent years.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution `�s i" regarding the 1995 -96 Older
Americans Act (Title III) Gr_cit Funds for Senior Center
Service.
00060
L
4
r -1 L
J
C
0
Larry Carpenter
Sheriff /Chief of Police
Moorpark Police Department
1994 A.46 NUAL REPORT
�'APBJ'OU!'CB �0
t //B COOIMUDI�f'.�"
Dear Reader,
As I reflect on the past year, I find myself feeling a sense of both accomplishment and gratitude.
Again, Moorpark received recognition for providing a safe environment for us to raise our families and
operate our businesses. Our community's low crime rate has received national recognition. Your city
council and police department play a significant role in this accomplishment, as do the law abiding
citizens who choose to actively role model society's values.
Crime rates are an important tool to measure our success. Perhaps more importantly though, is the
perception of the crime problem by our citizens. Most Moorpark residents feel safe and secure living in
their neighborhoods. We will continue enforcing a zero - tolerance policy towards gangs and drugs and
will not ignore "minor" crimes that are reported.
Our goals from a criminal standpoint this past year were to continue our aggressive street level enforce-
ment towards both gangs and narcotics violators. I firmly believe this enforcement posture plays a
significant role in reducing both violent and property crimes. From the community interaction stand-
point, it was exciting to see the grand opening of the Moorpark Police Department Resource Center. In
this time of limited resources, Moorpark deputies depend on citizen volunteers to provide some of the
traditional police services. A Moorpark deputy said it best, "Why not call it the Resource Center? We
want to be a resource to the community." These dedicated citizens donate their time and energy on a
daily basis to serve the community they live in.
We have critical challenges facing us; rising emergency response times along with a significant increase
in emergency demands for service, increased narcotic arrest rates, increased gang contacts and docu-
mented violations of probation all place a drain on limited resources. We will continue to work closely
with city government and the community to explore all avenues available to ensure that we maintain our
high level of service
In the "Looking Back" section of this report, you will find significant impacts and changes that have
occurred this past year. One that deserves mention is Lieutenant Geoff Dean's reassignment. Geoff
moved on to a new administrative assignment in the Detention Services Division last May. We thank
Geoff for his many accomplishments and dedication to Moorpark.
Having been assigned to the Moorpark Police Department for close to five years has given me some
perspective of what we, as your police department, have accomplished. I am reminded daily of how
fortunate we are as a community to have well trained and dedicated deputies patrolling our streets.
Many of our deputies are involved, on their own time, in various community groups or special events.
Ranging from teaching at the high school to participating in the Country Days events or the Boys and
Girls Club, these individuals are an integral part of this community. These men and women truly make
a difference and are "a resource to the community."
On behalf of Sheriff Larry Carpenter, myself, and the deputies and volunteers who provide service to
the Moorpark community, we thank you for your support and the opportunity to serve you.
Together as a community,
24 /?N.4AQ,
Marry Rouse, Lieutenant
March 15, 1995
14 resource M Ike evmmuNif y! "
M
I
I
0
i
K
I
Overview
The Ventura County Sheriff's Department provides law enforcement services to the City of Moorpark on a
contract basis. Sheriff Larry Carpenter is the Chief of Police, with operational control of the contract under the
leadership of Lt. Marty Rouse. Administrative officers and patrol personnel work out of the East County Police
Services Division, led by Chief Deputy Robert Brooks. This Division provides law enforcement services to the
residents of Moorpark, Thousand Oaks and the unincorporated areas of eastern Ventura County. Commander
Bruce McDowell is the administrative officer overseeing deputies in Moorpark and the unincorporated areas.
East County Police Services Mission Statement
We are committed to safeguard the lives and property of residents of Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and unincorpo-
rated eastern Ventura County and respond to public concerns in a manner which promotes neighborhoods free
from the fear of crime
Strategy
Our strategy for accomplishing this mission is to preserve the peace, prevent crime, facilitate problem solving
partnerships, enforce laws, apprehend offenders, provide secure and humane detention for persons lawfully
entrusted to our care and display empathy and respect for the dignity of all individuals.
Personnel
1994 was a year of change for the Moorpark Police Department's personnel. At the start of the year, Marty
Rouse was the Investigations Unit supervisor. In the spring, he was promoted to Lieutenant and then assigned
to Moorpark as the Police Services Manager. In addition, many of our deputies promoted to Senior Deputy and
were transferred out. Some even returned to Moorpark in their new rank. The new deputies taking an assign-
ment to work here bring a real sense of excitement as they join the Moorpark Team! Our thanks to everyone
who worked in Moorpark in 1994.
Police Services Manager:
Lt. Marty Rouse
Police Services Supervisor:
Sgt. Keith Parks
Investigations Unit Supervisor-
Sgt. Wm. T. Hughes
Community Services Officer:
Sr. Dep. Ed Tumbleson
Traffic Officer .
Dep. Bud McCracken
Motorcycle Officer:
Dep. George Fitzgerald
Detectives:
Sr. Dep. Dave Lea
Dep. Larry Bull
Patrol Senior Deputies:
Sr. Dep. Ron Nelson
Patrol Deputies:
Dep. Mike Baker
Dep. John Brockus
Dep. Allen Devers
Dep. Jerardo Gomez
Dep. Eric Hatlee
Traffic Detail Cadets:
Debbie Runkle
Management Assistant:
Diane McCrossen
City of Moorpark
Mayor.•
Paul Lawrason
Councilmembers:
Patrick Hunter
Bernardo Perez
City Manager:
Steve Kuem
Deputy City Manager.-
Richard Harc
Sr. Dep. Don Aguilar
Dep. Jody Keller -Smith
Dep. Jose Lopez
Dep. Albert Miramontes
Dep. Jose Rivera
Dep. Brian Roberts
Juan Ponce
Scott Montgomery
John Wozniak
2
Introducing the Moorpark Police Department Team ...
Left to right: (Adjacent to sign) Mgmt. Assistant Diane Mc Gi-ossen and Lt. Marty Rouse.
(First row) Sgt. Wm. T Hughes, Dep. Bud McCracken, Dep Jody Keller- Smith, Cadet Debbie
Runkle and Sr. Dep. Ron Nelson. (.Second row) Dep Allen Devers, Dep. Brian Roberts, Dep. Eric
Hatlee and Sgt. Keith Parks. (Back rows) Dep. Jose Rivera Sr Dep. Ed Tumbleson, Dep. John
Brockus, Dep. Jerardo Gomez, Dep. Albert Miramontes, Del lose Lopez, Sr. Dep. Dave Lea and
Sr. Dep. Don Aguilar. (On motorcycle) Dep. George Fitz�,.c mld
Management Team
Lt. Marty Rouse (center)
Sgt. Keith Parks (left)
Sgt. Wm. T. Hughes (right)
",A resource {o Ike commseKily!"
Your Patrol Deputies
PPatrol deputies are the primary service providers and Police Department resource involved with the
on a daily basis. They are on duty 24 hours per day, seven days a week. They will respond to virtually any type
of request, by dealing with the situation or by referring the citizen to the most appropriate public or private
A assistance. Deputies take reports, initiate criminal investigations, make arrests, enforce traffic laws, investigate
traffic accidents and prevent crime through routine and directed patrol.
T The patrol officers are the basic component of "Problem Oriented Policing." As such, deputies are given the
authority to work with the community to identify specific problems which cause crime or that may foster the
perception that crime is increasing. We embrace this philosophy and involve all of our staff in it. For example,
patrol deputies know city and school district staff and are encouraged to work with them on mutual concerns.
R This might involve a deputy calling Public Works to have graffiti quickly removed. Or it could involve a traffic
officer working with a school principal to improve the traffic flow in and out of the school parking lot during
the peak driving times. In other words, deputies are not here just to take reports, make arrests and write tickets.
0 They are an integral part of the community and they strive to use their imagination to make Moorpark one of
the nation's safest communities.
Patrol Operations
There are 12 deputies assigned to Moorpark as patrol officers. They staff two 24 -hour a day patrol cars and two
56 -hour per week overlap cars The city is divided into two "beats,' allows for the deputies to be
assigned to a specific area. Deputies can then gain a better understanding of their patrol responsibility area,
becoming personally acquainted with residents and business people in their beat. They are more aware of local
crime trends and are able to take responsibility for improving the "safety climate" within their beats. This type
S of policing is generally referred to as "Community Oriented Policing." The patrol deputy, in order to be a true
resource for the community, must understand the community and the needs of those who live or work there.
Pj Patrol Beat Configuration
Geographically, each of the two patrol beats is responsible for half of the city. The western and southern beat
R (2A) includes the Peach Hill, Mountain Meadows and Buttercreek neighborhoods. It also extends to the
downtown area west of Moorpark Avenue and south of L,os Angeles Avenue. The central and eastern beat (213)
covers the remainder of the city, including most of downtown, Campus Park and the Moorpark college neigh-
borhoods. The 2C patrol car overlaps the two main beats, serving as a backup or replacement car, when the
V beat deputy is busy on another call. The 2C car is oil duty iR hours each day, during the busiest times of the
day.
I Beats are further broken down into "reporting districts.' Reponing districts were originally formed out of
Federal census zones These are physical locations that may include an entire community, such as the Peach
Bill residential neighborhoods or a light industrial area, like that off of Commerce and Poindexter Avenues.
Reporting districts are defined by the type of neighborhood or the separation of that neighborhood from areas
C with differing land uses. For example, the residential blocks in the downtown area between Moorpark Avenue,
Spring Road, Los Angeles Avenue and the train tracks are completely surrounded by commercial zones. For
that reason, the neighborhood is identified as a single reporting district. There are 16 reporting districts within
Ethe cite. This number will grog as development occurs and land use changes.
By tracking crime within reporting districts, we are able to look for trends within the reported crimes. Since
many criminals repeat a specific style of criminal act over and over in the same neighborhoods, we can use
S information from specific reporting districts to identik possible acts committed by a known suspect. We are
also able to focus our patrol deployment to these distnc(s �Nith a clearer picture of what is happening in them.
This also allows us to identify those areas in town that have the highest incidence of crime. Our community
services officer is also able to direct tiffs neighborhood ;)r busincs; match programs to the people who need it
when they need it
4
(Above) Dep. Don Aguilar is congratulated by Sheriff Larry Carpenter after being presented the Officer of the Year
award from the Rotary Club of Moorpark. (Below left) Community volunteers in front of the Resource Center.
(Below right) Dep. George Fitzgerald.
°14 Peldkrce Ile Me COmmumily!
c
0
x
U
N
T
Y
S
8
B
V
I
C
E
S
Your Community Services
Officer
Senior Deputy Ed Tumbleson is the
Community Services Officer for the
Moorpark Police Department. He serves
as a resource to the community in a
number of ways. These include present-
ing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education
(DARE) curriculum to all of the fifth
grade students in the Moorpark Unified
School District; coordination of the city
wide Neighborhood Watch Program; and
review of all new development plans to
identify ways to reduce crime before
projects are built in the city.
Sr. Dep. Tumbleson spends 20 hours a
week on community services programs
and 20 hours a week as the DARE officer.
Neighborhood Watch
"Neighbors Helping Neighbors " contin-
ues to be our motto for Neighborhood
Watch. In 1994, the community services
officer worked with the City Manager's
office to help create a Disaster Assistance
Response Team (DART) made up of
residents who were members of the local
neighborhood watch groups and who were
interested in additional ways to be a
resource to their neighbors. The DART
team members were trained to go to the
aid of the community in the event of a
disaster. This can be vital especially in
case of a widespread event, such as last
year's Northridge earthquake. If emer-
gency services are delayed in reaching
hard -hit neighborhoods, DART team
members may be able to organize their
neighborhoods into self sufficient en-
claves until help arrives. DART team
members have also learned how to teach
their neighbors to prepare for a disaster,
such as stockpiling supplies and earth-
quake- proofing their houses.
In 1994 we welcomed six new neighbor-
hoods to Neighborhood Watch, including
portions of the large Le Club apartment
:omplex. We currently have 19 neighbor -
Soods participating in Neighborhood
Watch, with over 200 families.
Communication and education are important
ways to reduce the opportunities for crime to
occur. The Community Services Officer
communicates with residents through both a
monthly newsletter and a new Crime Alert
information phone line. "The Liaison"
newsletter recaps reported crimes and their
y locations by specific community. Neighbor-
hood Watch members are able to understand
what is happening in their own neighbor-
hoods. They are also able to talk to neigh-
bors to make them aware that we must all be
part of the team to reduce the incidence of
crime Crime preNention tips and other information about the
police department are also included in the newsletters. The Crime
Alert phone line is a means for residents to call and hear a
recording that explains significant criminal events that have
recently occurred in their neighborhood. It is hoped that people
who may have witnessed a situation that they did not know was a
crime, will find out about it from Crime Alert and then give that
information to the police department.
Drug Abuse Resistance Education
As a certified DARE instructor, Sr. Dep. Tumbleson is part of a
collaborative effort among educators, students, parents and the
community to reduce the incidence of substance abuse and other
destructive behavior by our children. He spends two semesters
each school Near teaching DARE to every fifth grade student in
Moorpark. The emphasis in the classroom is to help students
recogm/c the many direct and subtle pressures that influence
them to experiment with alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants,
of other drugs or to engage in violent behavior.
Sr. Dep. Tumbleson and friends
Cl
A new lesson was included this year that teaches our
children about the criminal activities that gangs are
involved in and explores the destructive effect that gangs
have on young lives and our community. To offset the
often glamorous image of the gang life -style portrayed in
the media, DARE teaches our children to recognize the
personal and societal consequences that are the realitv
with gangs.
At the conclusion of their semester - length DARE pro-
gram, each of the over 600 fifth graders in our schools
write a personal essay to say why being drug free is
important to them and to make their commitment to lead
a drug and violence free life. Along with other school
based prevention and early intervention programs, DARE
is a comprehensive substance abuse program that meets
the goals of the federal Drug -Free Schools and Communi-
ties Act.
Sr. Dep. Tumbleson, in partnership with Sandy Brown of
the Moorpark Business Service Center, designed collect-
ible milk caps (POGS) that helped to spread the message
of DARE to our children. These POGS, printed with the
help of donations from the public, are very popular with
the kids in our community. POGS were handed out to
children by patrol deputies as a positive reinforcement to
safe behaviors. When an officer has a contact with a
child who is wearing a helmet when riding a bicycle, he
or she would give the child a milk cap to reward them for
being safe. The program became instantly popular and
kids were always approaching the deputies to ask for
POGS. This goes a long way in helping the kids to knoA
the deputies as friends.
Funding
The Community Services Officer position is funded by the
City of Moorpark and the Moorpark Unified School
District's D.A.T.E. program. The Parent, Teacher,
Student Associations (PTSA) at both Flory and Arroyo
West Schools, where DARE is taught, provide additional
funding. Community donations from local businesses and
service organizations are used to purchase items for the
children who participate in the program.
Other Programs
Throughout the year, the Community Services Officer
provides a number of specialized programs for different
groups. "These range from taking Officer McGruff, the
Crime Dog, to speak with preschool children to present-
ing a program on business protection to local store owners
and employees. Sr. Dep. Tumbleson is also a "special
friend" who visits with the children at the Moorpark Boys
and Girls Club throughout the year. He is also available
to work with individual home owners to identify ways to
protect their homes.
Crime Prevention Through Design
An important way to reduce the opportunity for crime to
occur is to study plans for new residential, commercial
and public development within the community to identify
ways to "harden the target." Sr. Dep. Tumbleson might
recommend landscaping that makes it difficult for thieves
or vandals to approach a structure or he might list
materials that will better withstand vandalism or misuse.
The intent is to reduce the opportunity for crime to occur
or to reduce the impact on a structure or its users caused
by crime. He also looks at the projected traffic flow
patterns of roadways with the understanding of a traffic
officer who will have to ensure public safety by recom-
mending changes that might improve traffic patterns or
rethice speeds.
In November 1994, Sr. Dep. Tumbleson completed the 40
hour Environmental Design class, sponsored by
California's Peace Officers Standards and Training
(POST). This course is a supplement to the basic Crime
Prevention training and it provides the student with an
understanding of the design process and how to look at
plans from a law enforcement and public safety perspec-
tive With the potential for growth and development
throughout the city, it is necessary for the police depart-
ment to partnership with city planners and private
developers to create neighborhoods that enhance public
and traffic safety In this process, the Police Department
gain serves as a "resource to the community."
"A resouree {d the G1mmkKlfy!"
N
V
E
S
T
f�
0
u
�1
N
S
Overview
The Investigations Unit is responsible for handling
the vast majority of criminal investigations in the city
These include all felony property crimes, such as
burglaries, thefts and forgeries as well as domestic
abuse cases. The team is also responsible for com-
pleting investigations on misdemeanor crimes.
Felony crimes against the person, such as homicides.
sex offenses and robberies are handled the Major
Crimes Details within the Sheriffs Department.
Because of their understanding of local criminals.
Moorpark detectives frequently assist in these
investigations as well.
All reports of crimes or suspicious activities in
Moorpark are reviewed by the Investigations Unn
supervisor, who then assigns them to a detective for
follow -up. Every effort is made to ensure that a
majority of these cases are investigated, depending
upon the leads, the type of crime and the workload of
the investigators. Some cases that have no apparent
investigative leads are followed -up with a phone call
to the victim from either a detective or a volunteer at
the Resource Center. This is done to let the victim,
know that we take their reports seriously, even if u;
have little chance of solving the case, and to find o it
if they have become aware of information that mis;lit
help to solve the case
To serve as a resource to the community, the Invest -
gations Unit prides itself on its "Team Concept'
approach to community oriented policing. Detectives
work closely with probation officers. school office; ;
and, especially, the patrol officers in Moorpark
Your Investigators
Through information sharing and coordination of
resources, problem areas can be identified in order to
both solve crime and proactively prevent criminal
events from happening. For patrol deputies, detec-
tives have conducted training in narcotics
symptomatology and investigation and have encour-
aged aggressive enforcement of those who use or
distribute drugs. Often, narcotic abusers commit
Property crimes to support their drug habits. Their
arrest and subsequent monitoring by court and
probation officials can have a significant impact on
our property crime rates.
One example of this coordinated approach, or
"problem oriented policing," was seen in the
investigation of several residents who were selling
narcotics and receiving stolen property from one
house in the city. By working closely with probation
and patrol officers, detectives were able to solve a
number of serious property crimes and conduct
timely searches and recovery of stolen property.
Patrol deputies were kept aware of what was occur-
ring at the house and they were able to initiate
additional investigations that resulted in more
arrests and the recovery of over $45,000 in stolen
property.
We know that the successful approach to solving and
preventing crime mandates that the criminal justice
system join with the public to get the job done. The
Investigations Unit is a vital part of that team and it
tiN ill continue to take the lead to help Moorpark
rem;iin one of the country's safest communities.
Our Investigations Unit is comprised of Sergeant William T. (Terry) Hughes, who serves as the Unit supervi-
sor, Sr. Deputy Dave Lea and Deputy Larry Bull Detective Lea, who has worked in Moorpark since incorpo-
ration in 1983, is responsible for investigating the felon} property crimes, forgeries and domestic abuse cases.
Det. Bull covers the misdemeanors, missing persons reports, runaway juveniles and traffic accident hit and
run investigations. The misdemeanor investigator position is a one -year rotational assignment that serves as a
career enhancement for patrol deputies. At the conclusion of this assignment, the deputy returns to patrol
with additional skills to better serve the comnuinnl�
The Moorpark detectives are committed to helping the patrol deputies not only with their day to day opera -
[ions, but by teaching them how to enhance their ou n skills in investigating crime. Our patrol deputies learn
about the investigative tools and sources of information used by the detectives by spending several days each
✓ear working directly with a detective. In most lax% enforcement agencies, patrol deputies do not remain
nvolved in a case after the arrest has been made and their reports have been completed. Sgt. Hughes and his
nvestigators show the deputies how to prepare a case for presentation to the District Attorney's Office to seek
I filing. The patrol officers then take a case, complete the investigation and prepare the "packet" and then file
he case themselves "f hey get a first hand look at NN hat the District Attorney requires for a successful prosecu-
ion. The skills that they learn help them to do an �,v en better job back on the streets.
8
Analysis
1994 was the first complete year that the Investigations Unit operated with an in -house supervisor. The position was
approved by the City Council in August 1993. The objectives were to provide supervision of the detail and to ad-
equately respond to more cases that required investigation. It was our intent that the detective supervisor identify more
cases for follow -up and to reduce the number of pending cases that historically were not followed up. By doing so,
more cases could be fully investigated, resulting in an arrest or other form of closure. Other closures would include a
determination that no crime occurred or that the victim desired that we not follow up on the report.
The workload indicators data shown below indicate that we are meeting these goals. Even though there was only a 7%
rise in reported cases requiring• follow -up in 1994, the detective sergeant increased the cases to be investigated by 35%
and reduced the total pending cases by 15 %. In other words, we were able to place a greater emphasis on the investiga-
tion of all cases, including the cases that do not have good suspect information. We believe that we can.prevent larger
criminal events from taking place if we can deal with them before they grow in scope.
The most important result of the formation of the Investigations Unit supervisor position is that we were able to
successfully close 133 more cases in 1994, an increase of 40 %. We believe that 1994 served as an important test of the
Investigations Unit. The unit met the challenge and proved that they are a tremendous resource to the community!
Investigation's Workload Indicators
All crime reports and reports of
suspicious activity are reviewed daily
by Sgt. Hughes, who decides if the
case will be actively investigated. He
bases his decision on the facts pre-
sented in the report or if the report
matches reports of possibly related
offenses. Reports that will be imme-
diately investigated are assigned to a
detective, or they may be handled by
Sgt. Hughes if necessary.
Reports that require immediate
handling by an investigator are called
"Follow- ups." Investigators must
actively pursue leads in an effort to
close these cases. These also include
cases where a suspect has been
arrested and the case must be pre-
pared for presentation to the District
Attorney's Office.
Cases that have little information
which would indicate a suspect are
called "Penders." These are followed
up if information is later obtained that
might point out a possible suspect.
Later follow -up with victims, for
more information, is the key to
closing these cases.
"Closures" are those cases that have
been solved, either by arrest or other
means.
1992 1993 1994
Total Cases:
843
779
831
(7 %increase in 1994)
FollOW -ups:
381
339
457
(35% increase in 1994)
Penders:
462
440
374
(15% decrease in 1994)
Closures:
298
130
463
(40% increase in 1994)
600
500
acu
300
2N
100
Cases per year (1992, 1993, 1994)
F*.f 'enders Clashes
The first bar in each category represents 1992 data, the
second is for 1993, and the last is 1994's.
"A resource {o eke communify!"
T
n
F
F
r,
�_i�
E
0
Y
C
E
S
Overview
Traffic services is a vital._ part of municipal police
services. Protecting motorists, pedestrians, cyclists
and others who use the local streets, sidewalks and
bike lanes is accomplished through a number of
means. These may include the design, construction
and renovation of roadways, the preparation, installa-
tion and updating of traffic control devices, and the
enhancement of traffic safety through enforcement
and public awareness programs. The Police Depart-
ment plays an important role in each of these areas.
In the design stage for new private and public
developments, plans are reviewed from the perspec-
tive of a traffic officer. For example, the California
Vehicle Code has certain legal requirements allowing
the use of radar to enforce the posted speed limits.
Improper roadway design can limit the use of this
effective tool to control excessive speeds. It is a
better use of scarce public funds to ensure that the
roads are designed and built correctly from a traffic
safety perspective. For existing roadways, traffic
officers are able to recognize hazards or changing
conditions that will become hazards and then make
recommendations for change. This may be some-
thing as simple as re- striping the roadway to the
installation of a regulatory sign. Even though law
enforcement officers are not typically trained in
design, they look at roads and traffic patterns from a
unique viewpoint that can provide valuable insight to
assist the public, decrease the accident rate anci1
reduce the potential for liability claims.
Certainly the most visible aspect of law enforcement
traffic services is the enforcement of traffic laws.
Through both high visibility and violator enforce-
ment, the accident rate can be reduced. Deputies
enforce unsafe driving violations and hazardous
mechanical problems. They also enforce the rules of
the road on bicyclists and pedestrians. The actions of
deputies may occur in response to complaints from
citizens about specific types of violations or they maN
be the result of routine patrol or directed patrol
Public traffic safety programs are another key aspect.
of our traffic services agenda. These may be formal
prepared presentations given to public groups, such
as school classes or homeowner associations. Whery
a deputy stops someone to warn them about a minor
violation, the traffic safety presentation takes on an
informal approach. All of the deputies may all be
called upon to make traffic safety presentations
Overall, the goal of our tra$c services program is to
enhance the safety of all of the users of roadway s
within the city. This is another way that we serve :i�
a "resource to the community."
Commercial
Enforcement
With two state highways traversing
the city, the monitoring of commer-
cial vehicles is a priority of city
officials. State Route 118 is a
major east -west route that is
impacted by heavy commercial
vehicle traffic avoiding the steep Conejo Grade and
the C1HP scales and inspection station on the parallel
State Route 101. State Route 23 is a north -south
route that passes through town as a two lane road.
With the desire to ensure that commercial drivers
Obey traffic laws as they pass through the city on the
surface (non - freeway) streets that are state highways,
the city has funded a special team of deputies to stop
commercial trucks for violations and to then inspect
them for mechanical violations that are hazardous to
the public.
Sr. Dep. Ed Tumbleson and Deputies Jose Lopez and
Albert Miramontes comprise the Commercial Vehicle
Enforcement detail for the city. Dep. Miramontes
completed the extensive two week CUP training
program during the summer. Inspecting trucks is a
collateral assignment that takes place in addition to
their regular duties. These deputies are equipped
with special inspection tools and a portable scales to
check trucks for overweight violations. Trucks that
exceed weight limits can cause costly damage to city
streets.
After a truck has been stopped, a detailed inspection
can be conducted. This safety inspection looks at the
condition and operating function of the brakes,
lights, coupling devices, frame structure, wheels,
tires and the load placement and weight. Deputies
also check the operator's license to guarantee that he
is permitted to operate that type of vehicle. They also
study the driver's log book to make sure that he has
taken enough breaks on the trip. In some cases it is
necessary to inspect the driver for being under the
influence. During one of our inspections this year we
arrested a driver for being under the influence of
narcotics and for being in possession of a controlled
substance_
11'a truck is found to have a hazardous mechanical
violation, the inspecting deputy can take the truck out
of service until it is repaired. They may also prohibit
drivers who have not had enough rest from continu-
ing their trip until they have rested. Citations can be
issued to the owners of the vehicles for mechanical
.,iolations and the drivers can be cited for moving
10
Traffic Summary
1994 was a year of change for the traffic flow, enforcement of traffic laws and parking regulations in the City of
Moorpark. Changes in each of these areas are reflected in the year end totals of accidents and citations. The overall
accident rate rose slightly and fewer citations were issued in 1994. The number of parking tickets, issued by deputies
and civilian cadets, rose sharply.
We wrote fewer citations in 1994 because many of our more heavily travelled streets were not authorized for radar
enforcement. California law requires that streets which have been rebuilt or have not been surveyed within 5 years to
be resurveyed. The survey identifies the maximum speed that 85% of the motorists drive at or below. The State
Legislature has decided that 85% of all drivers will drive at a speed which they consider to be safe, taking into account
all of the factors such as roadway design, type and amount of traffic, obvious hazards and other conditions. In order to
use radar on most streets (other than 25 MPH residential streets or to enforce the maximum speed limit of 55 MPH),
the posted speed limit must be within 5 MPH of the street's 85th percentile speed. This law prevents cities from
creating speed traps in order to raise revenue. A survey was conducted during the summer and the new posted speed
limits were recommended to the City Council in order to bring the streets into compliance. After the speed limits were
changed, radar enforcement could begin. Prior to the adoption of the speed survey, it was often difficult to enforce the
speed limits by pacing vehicles. As a result, the total number of citations dropped in 1994.
The accident rate in Moorpark increased slightly in 1994. A number of streets were changed, which resulted in
increased usage and higher average speeds. Together, they resulted in more accidents. As speed enforcement increases
in 1995 and as motorists become more familiar with the new street designs, the accident rate should lower.
Another factor that affected our traffic services in 1994 was the implementation of a local ordinance designed to
prevent parking on all city streets during specified time periods to allow the unhindered operation of street sweepers.
As a result.of enforcing this ordinance, the total number of parking citations rose 113% in 1994.
Parking citations are generally issued by cadets, who are part time employees. The cadets monitor public streets for all
parking violations, including the time limited parking in the residential neighborhoods adjacent to Moorpark College,
the street sweeping violations and other sign violations. They also patrol public and commercial parking lots for fire
lane and disabled persons parking space violations.
Traffic Accident Statistics
ACOVENT
1993
—
1992
SUNN4IARY'
1994
1993
1992
Total Non -Injury
81
Accidents'
149(+15%)
130
138
Total Injury
Accidents`
78(-13%)
90
Total Persons
Injured'
127(+21%)
100
220
111
Total Accidents '
227(+3%)
210
* Includes State Route 118 statistics
Parking citations
1994 2537 +65%
1993 1540
1992 1345
State Route
Accident
Summary
Injury Accide
Non- Injury
Occident
Total Accidei
118
1994
1993
—
1992
nts
19(-62%)
51
30
49(-40%)
81
60
Its
68(-48%)
132
90
Enforcement Statistics
Moving violations / mechanical citations
1994 3643 -16%
1993 4328
1992 5441
"A resource to the cdmmunily!"
T
N
E
0
E
S
El
U
M
c
S
Resource Center
One of the most significant events to occur for the
Moorpark Police Department in 1994 was the
creation of a Resource Center in downtown Moor-
park. By establishing a small office at the intersec-
tion of Moorpark Avenue and High Street, we were
able to bring a vital law enforcement presence to the
residents, shoppers and business people in the heart
of the community. The Resource Center opened
October 1st, with a dedication ceremony held during
the annual Moorpark Country Days celebration.
Inspired from a proposal made by the city council,
the idea for a police storefront took off when Charles
Abbott, who contracts with the city to provide
building and safety engineering services, offered to
allow the police department to use a front room in
their office for free. Abbott's leased offices, in a
former bank building owned by the city, was
completely remodeled. The city then purchased some
furniture and equipment to make the Resource
Center operational.
Lt. Rouse, Sr. Dep. Tumbleson and Deputy Jody
Keller -Smith then embarked on a quest to find local
residents who would be willing to share their time as
volunteer staff for the Resource Center. 21 residents
quickly signed up and their training into the opera-
tions of the police department began. The volunteers
were trained to be able to respond to general ques-
tions likely to be asked by people who would come
into the Resource Center. The volunteers also
learned how to take fingerprints, making us able tc
provide the only local resource for residents to ha-%,a
their prints taken for licensing requirements.
A white "uniform" shirt, with the city seal and
"Police Department Resource Center" emblazoned
across the front, was then designed. The volunteers
purchased their own shirts, which they wear while
working their shifts at the center.
With subsequent training by Dep. Allen Devers, a
number of volunteers have learned how to take .
certain police reports. These reports range from
minor crime reports to lost and found property
reports. By having volunteers taking these reports.
we are able to save significant patrol duty time,
which can better be used for calls that require a
sworn police officer.
In order to establish a team spirit and efficient
avenue of communication between police department
staff and the volunteers, Kathy LeClair was chosen
as the lead volunteer for the Resource Center. Kathy
is a special person who brings a tremendous level of
energy and talents to the police department. Even
though she is a resident of Thousand Oaks, Kathy has
adopted this ,program as her way of serving the
community. We are very fortunate to have her, and all
of the volunteers, serve as a "resource to the commu-
nity."
Resource Center Volunteers
Presenting those citizens who assist the police
department as a "resource to the community:"
Jean Atzei
Lori Barondess
Jonas Casas
Marie Corning
Judi Daufeldt
Leona Grossman
Frank Judah
Karl Kesler
Jane Lavallee
Kathy LeClair
Jackie Lipka
Judie Loncaric
Holly Lorenz
Cathy Lousen
Sue Nordman
Juan Sanchez -Chew
Claudia Sarmiento
Robert Silver
Alan Wunderlich
Operations
The Resource Center, located at 18 W High Street, is
open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 AM until
5 00 PM. It is staffed by one or two volunteers at a
time Volunteers are able to provide the following
services
Fingerprinting for licensing purposes
Take minor police reports
Call in a deputy to handle a citizen request at the
counter,
Present crime prevention information
Loan out engraving tools to local residents
Answer questions or direct people to the appropri-
ate public agency
12
Adelante
The Moorpark Police Department recognized the need for a unique traffic safety program directed towards recent
immigrants from Mexico and Central America who were now driving on Moorpark's streets. Because of differing laws
and social behaviors between California and their home countries, and due to language barriers, we decided that an
educational program conducted by patrol deputies in Spanish would be a viable method of improving the -safety of these
drivers, their passengers and other motorists. Late in 1993, we received a grant from the California Highway Patrol to
train deputies on how to conduct traffic safety classes in Spanish. The grant also funded the purchase of child safety
seats and bicycle helmets for these families who could not afford them. The bulk of the program, named "Adelante"
(Spanish for "moving forward "), was conducted in 1994
Sr. Dep. Jerry Hernandez started the Adelante program. After he promoted to sergeant early in the year, Deputies
Albert Miramontes and Jerardo Gomez took over. Working closely with the local Catholic Charities program, they
conducted public meetings with the targeted audiences. In these talks, the deputies stress the importance of wearing
seat belts and of placing children in approved child seats. They also explained that the public and law enforcement
have a zero tolerance for drunk driving. Other important issues such as proper licensing and insurance were discussed
as well.
The Adelante deputies used a variety of presentation methods to reach the audience. Radio spots on Spanish language
stations were recorded and played as part of the stations' public broadcast commitment. T- shirts, pencils and stickers
bearing the Adelante logo were given out to participants and their children during the meetings at public information
booths set up during community-wide events. Using a decorated classic truck as a float, Dep. Miramontes recruited
several young students to ride along and cheer on the Adelante message as they drove down the annual Country Days
parade route.
Adelante has provided a unique opportunity for deputies to not only educate on traffic safety, but to interact with a
segment of our community that typically has little understanding of law enforcement. The deputies were able to
explain how and when to call a police officer and what authority that officer has. Adelante served to improve our
relationship with this part of the public as well as improve community traffic safety.
The formal Adelante program ended in 1994, but
we were granted an extension to continue opera-
tions under the CHP grant into early 1995. After
the grant is concluded, we will continue this viable
program by having the participating deputies
make their presentations as collateral assignments
to their regular patrol functions. This will allow
them to continue to serve as a resource to this
segment of our community and to serve as a
channel of communication between many of the
downtown Moorpark residents and the police
department.
The Adelante program enhances our citywide
traffic safety and community services programs by
bringing the message of public safety to a part of
our community that typically is underserved by
law enforcement.
Adelante Statistics
Total presentations made: 14
Total persons attending: 800
Child seats given: 20
Child bicycle helmets given: 20
G CuT R EA Cy A
Q
�j
"ELANTE
2;A t�
'9 QP
cOGNrY SHERIPVS��
Cl� 40f
MOOrpariz
"A resource fo the communify!"
CRIME RATE
CCrime rates are important tools to measure our performance, both
1� as a police department and as a community.
Perhaps a more important measure is the perception of the crime problem by our citizens. We have continued
R our pro - active approach of crime prevention programs and education along with enforcement. Our goals this
past year were to continue taking a zero - tolerance approach towards gangs along with targeting street level
narcotics users. The Police Department, as always, served as a resource to those agencies and organizations
who promote intervention programs for youth at risk.
IPart I crimes are those which are more serious in nature and Part II crimes are the less serious offenses.
e ses.
PART I CRIMES
I During 1994 in the City of Moorpark there were 531 Part I reported crimes (see adjacent page). This repre-
sents a rate of 19.23 crimes per 1000 population, which is the lowest rate of all of all the Sheriffs contract
cities.
Regarding violent Part 1 crimes, we experienced a slight increase in homicides (1 to 2), rapes (3 to 5) and
robberies (12 to 13). There was a significant drop of over 25% in aggravated assaults. Aggravated assault
includes all assaults on a person that would constitute a felony. This is partly attributed to the reduction in
gang violence we have experienced this past year Moorpark experienced an overall 13.6% reduction in
violent crime.
S Of serious ro crimes, p perty es, burglary continues to be the leading Part I crime within the city. On a positive
note, residential burglary was reduced over 13% and commercial burglary over 21 %. Of concern is the 88%
T increase in vehicle burglaries (46 to 88). This is partly attributed not only to narcotics users taking advantage
of a crime of opportunity, but also to other individuals who desire to obtain money illegally in a quick man-
ner. In more than one instance where individuals were arrested for vehicle burglaries, additional burglaries
were cleared after the fact. One example was an arrest of two local adults who had recently burglarized a
A vehicle in the Campus Park neighborhood just prior to Christmas. After interviewing the suspects, Moor-
park detectives cleared 14 other vehicle burglaries
TPART II CRIMES
Moorpark reflected a 7.4% decrease in reported Part II crimes. Arrests for driving under the influence and
I reports of vandalism reflected the largest decreases (38% and 31% respectively). It appears more citizens are
designating a sober individual to drive. Graffiti offenses, both gang and tagger related, continue to decline.
Simple assaults, in contrast to aggravated assaults, increased over 35% (1/3 of these reported as domestic
violence related). As a result of our increased effort to target narcotics related offenses, there were over 45%
S more arrests of people for being under the influence of narcotics. A good portion of these arrests were of
those who claim some type of gang affiliation.
T
1994 Highlights for all Sheriffs Jurisdictions Combined
I 1.
1994 represents the lowest overall crime rate in 22 years
2. Nearly 2 out of every 10 charges filed by deputies were narcotics related
C 3. Charges brought against juveniles for violent crimes increased 6.4%
4. Deputy initiated public contacts are up 14%
5. 7 out of 10 violent crimes are Aggravated Assault
6. Charges brought against juveniles for violent acts have increased over 440% since 1988
S 7. Deputies are dealing with more serious offender, every year
14
Part I Crimes
ACTUAL NUMBERS RATE PER 1000 OF POPULATION
How Are Crimes Counted?
The Department utilizes the Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR). In this method, only crimes reported to the
police are counted. The UCR provides a uniform method of classifying and reporting selected criminal offenses on a
national as well as statewide basis. Not all crimes are counted nationwide. In order to maintain consistency across
jurisdictional boundaries, government agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Bureau of
Crime Statistics, have collected selected offenses from all law enforcement agencies. These crimes are specifically
defined and were selected because of their seriousness and frequency of occurrence.
Part I crimes are divided into two sections: violent and property. Violent crimes include homicide, rape, robbery and
aggravated assault. Property crimes include burglary, thefts. and arson. Other crimes fall into a category called Part II
crimes.
The % Change column represents the change in figures fron 1993 to 1994, adjusted for the change in Moorpark's
population.
"A rerource fd the coaununily!"
1993
1994
1993
1994
% Change
HOMICIDE
1
2
0.04
0.07
96.7
RAPE
3
5
0.11
0.18
63.9
ROBBERY
12
13
0.44
0.47
6.5
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
50
38
1.84
1.38
-25.3
TOTAL VIOLENT
66
58
2.43
2.1
-13.6
RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY
112
99
4.13
3.59
-13.1
COMMERCIAL BURGLARY
51
41
1.88
1.48
-21
VEHICLE BURGLARY
46
88
1.69
3.19
88.1
GRAND THEFT
61
52
2.25
4.83
1.88
5.32
-16.2
10.3
PETTY THEFT
1 31
147
AUTO THEFT
44
43
1.62
1.56
-3.9
ARSON
8
0.29
0.11
-63.1
TOTAL PROPERTY
453
473
16.69
17.13
2.7
19.12
19.23
0.6
TOTAL PART 1 519
531
How Are Crimes Counted?
The Department utilizes the Uniform Crime Reporting Program (UCR). In this method, only crimes reported to the
police are counted. The UCR provides a uniform method of classifying and reporting selected criminal offenses on a
national as well as statewide basis. Not all crimes are counted nationwide. In order to maintain consistency across
jurisdictional boundaries, government agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Bureau of
Crime Statistics, have collected selected offenses from all law enforcement agencies. These crimes are specifically
defined and were selected because of their seriousness and frequency of occurrence.
Part I crimes are divided into two sections: violent and property. Violent crimes include homicide, rape, robbery and
aggravated assault. Property crimes include burglary, thefts. and arson. Other crimes fall into a category called Part II
crimes.
The % Change column represents the change in figures fron 1993 to 1994, adjusted for the change in Moorpark's
population.
"A rerource fd the coaununily!"
Emergency Demand for Deputy
Deputy Demand is a means of counting the number of specific incidents where a citizen requests that an
officer respond. They range from emergency calls to requests for public service. Typically, emergency calls
require two or more deputies to respond, while report calls necessitate only one. We obviously place a higher
priority on emergency calls and deputies are dispatched to them regardless of other calls that have been
pending. Demand does not include officer initiated activity, such as traffic citations, investigative stops,
O special enforcement, or public relations contacts.
Total Demand in 1994 decreased slightly, after having risen 4% from 1992. Demand was 7597 in 1992, 7878
Rin 1993 and 7626 in 1994 (down 3.2 %).
However, emergency Demand has risen dramatically. We experienced a 65% rise in this category of calls,
from 296 to 484. This may be attributable to several factors, one of which would be a reclassification by
nj Sheriffs Dispatch of all domestic disturbance calls to the emergency category. The other factor might also be
�l the increased public sensitivity to domestic violence as a result of increased media scrutiny and, specifically,
the O.J. Simpson case publicity. For the entire Sheriffs Department, Demand for domestic incidents grew
from 12% to 56% of the total emergency Demand.
Because emergency calls necessitate at least two deputies to respond, and take longer to resolve (average
range is 55.7 to 69.2 minutes each), other pending calls typically wait a longer period for a deputy to arrive.
SWe also look at the Demand for deputies from the perspective of how long it will generally take a deputy to
arrive at the scene of an emergency call after the dispatch center has been notified. We study that by looking
at the range of time it takes to respond to 95% of the calls. After establishing that range, we can say that in
T 95% of all emergency calls, a deputy will arrive within that specified range. In 2.5% of the cases, the deputy
will arrive before the range and 2.5% will have a deputy arrive after the range.
A 1994 Emergency response range 5.7 to 7.1 minutes
1993 Emergency response range 4.2 to 7.4 minutes
It appears that we are taking a slightly longer period of time to respond to emergency calls. This is in
T proportion to the increased numbers of emergency Demand calls, which require more deputies to handle and
which take up more deputy time to resolve.
IDomestic Violence
As mentioned above, we have experienced an increased Demand to handle domestic violence incidents in
S 1994. Demand includes both domestic violence crimes and domestic incidents. Incidents are those situations
where a domestic argument may have occurred, or it may have been perceived as having occurred. Domestic
incidents are not crimes. Domestic violence crimes are situations where a spousal battery has occurred.
TSpousal battery is a felony. The crime defines those situations where a spouse, cohabitating partner or co-
parent is injured as the result of an intentional assault by their partner. When deputies respond to domestic
calls and they find an injured party, regardless of the degree of the injury, they must arrest.
IIn many domestic incidents, a spouse is assaulted but not injured. these cases are misdemeanors and require
that the victim place the offending spouse under citizen's arrest
With the increased public awareness of domestic violence, it may be that victims are more likely to report the
crime to law enforcement. Additionally, victims of simple assault may be more willing to request prosecution
and will make a citizen's arrest as a means to prevent future incidents that could then result in serious injury.
SIt is important to note that both homicides in Moorpark in 1094 were domestic violence cases.
Domestic Incidents 1994 65 1993 33
Domestic Crimes 1994 58 1993 39
16
Our Response to Gangs
The Moorpark Police Department has made a commitment to the community to proactively deal with gang members
and their criminal behavior. We have a "zero tolerance" for criminal behavior and we will arrest gang members
whenever we have the probable cause to do so. We also work closely with probation officials to monitor gang members
and to ensure that they comply with the court ordered terms and conditions of their probation. Deputies document any
probation violations and forward the reports to the probation officers who then present them to the Court to show how a
gang member is intentionally disregarding the Court's orders
The key factor in having an effective gang intervention program is the patrol detail. Street deputies in Moorpark know
who the gang members are and they know the individual probation terms for each of the gang members. We have
selected several experienced deputies to mentor the newer deputies in order to teach them how to deal with gang
incidents and gang members. These "mentor" deputies comprise our Gang Detail. Sr. Dep. Ron Nelson heads up the
detail. Deputies Jose Lopez, Allen Devers and Jerry Gomez assist him. Among all of the officers in Moorpark, Dep.
Devers made the most contacts with gang members in 1994. Dep. Lopez was instrumental in preparing an easy to use
chart listing specific probation terms of each of the gang members. Cadets Juan Ponce and Debbie Runkle assisted the
gang detail by tracking all of our statistics. In 1994 we had a significant increase in the monitoring of gang members
and a reduction in gang incidents.
1994 Gang Data
Substance Abuse Enforcement
Gang Incidents are crimes committed by
gang members (acting as a gang), reported
gang graffiti and incidents (such as distur-
bances) where no crime occurred, but the
deputy felt it was significant enough to
document.
Gang contacts are the individual contacts of
gang members, either through the completion
of a Field Interview (FI) card or by documen-
tation in an official report.
Violations of Probation reports are written
documents that identify how a gang member
on probation violated their probation, even if
no criminal offense occurred.
We recognize the benefits of maintaining a proactive approach in policing in order to reduce criminal activity within
the community. Experience has shown that there is a direct correlation between substance abuse and crime. With this
in mind, we have made every effort to ensure that our patrol officers are given the training and tools that will enable
them to investigate people who are using narcotics. Our emphasis on narcotics enforcement has resulted in a signifi-
cant increase in arrests. Since many of our property type crimes are the result of substance abuse, this means that our
deputies are addressing the root causes of crime, and are not .just treating the symptoms.
The role of law enforcement is to prevent crime and to investigate those who commit crimes. As just one part of the
criminal justice system, we work to enhance public safety. People who are arrested for narcotic abuse are referred to the
court system, which then can make a decision to incarcerate or to assist in rehabilitation. In this manner, we believe
that we can not only aid in public safety, but we may be helping people to move onto the road to recovery.
1993 1994
Under the influence arrests: 93 125 (50% increase)
Possession and sales arrests: ,7 49 (32% increase)
"A resource to the community!"
GANG
VOID
GANG
GANG
INCIDENTS
REPORTS
CONTACTS
ARRESTS
1994
57
155
1139
269
( -29 %)
( +26 %)
( +36 %)
(-52 %)
1993
80
115
836
177
1992
193
205
509
N/A
Substance Abuse Enforcement
Gang Incidents are crimes committed by
gang members (acting as a gang), reported
gang graffiti and incidents (such as distur-
bances) where no crime occurred, but the
deputy felt it was significant enough to
document.
Gang contacts are the individual contacts of
gang members, either through the completion
of a Field Interview (FI) card or by documen-
tation in an official report.
Violations of Probation reports are written
documents that identify how a gang member
on probation violated their probation, even if
no criminal offense occurred.
We recognize the benefits of maintaining a proactive approach in policing in order to reduce criminal activity within
the community. Experience has shown that there is a direct correlation between substance abuse and crime. With this
in mind, we have made every effort to ensure that our patrol officers are given the training and tools that will enable
them to investigate people who are using narcotics. Our emphasis on narcotics enforcement has resulted in a signifi-
cant increase in arrests. Since many of our property type crimes are the result of substance abuse, this means that our
deputies are addressing the root causes of crime, and are not .just treating the symptoms.
The role of law enforcement is to prevent crime and to investigate those who commit crimes. As just one part of the
criminal justice system, we work to enhance public safety. People who are arrested for narcotic abuse are referred to the
court system, which then can make a decision to incarcerate or to assist in rehabilitation. In this manner, we believe
that we can not only aid in public safety, but we may be helping people to move onto the road to recovery.
1993 1994
Under the influence arrests: 93 125 (50% increase)
Possession and sales arrests: ,7 49 (32% increase)
"A resource to the community!"
L
0
0
K
I
N
G
B
A
C
K
January
Sr. Dep. Tumbleson and several
Explorer cadets spend a Saturday
at Mountain Meadow School
fingerprinting kids for their
parents' records. 150 youngsters
are printed and 100 bicycles are
engraved with a parent's driver's
license number.
February
Our second Emergency Medical
Technician training class begins.
Five deputies and three municipal
employees participate. Pruner
Health Services provides the
instructors at no charge to the City
as part of their community
outreach program.
Three Moorpark residents
participate in the Citizen Acad-
emy, sponsored by the Thousand
Oaks Police Department and East
County Police Services Division.
This program gives interested
residents an in -depth look at how
the Sheriffs Department operates.
Participants tour most of the
Sheriff Department facilities as
well as ride -a -long with patrol
deputies.
March
The Neighborhood Watch Crime
Alert phone line is activated for
the first time. The Community
Services Officer records a short
message regarding significant
criminal activity or crime trends
in various parts of the city.
Residents can call in and select
that part of the community that
they are interested in hearing
about. Crime Alert encourages
residents to become more aware of
what is happening in their
neighborhoods so that we can all
"Take a bite out of Crime "
April
The EMT class graduates. Each of
the Moorpark deputies and munici-
pal employees are provided with an
emergency medical kit that con-
tains the equipment they were
trained to use to help save lives.
Deputies Craig Smith, Kent Adlof
and Ron Nelson are promoted to
Senior Deputy and transferred to
their new assignments in the
Detention Services Division.
Dep. Don Aguilar was selected as
the 1994 Officer of the Year for the
Moorpark Police Department. He
was recognized by Sheriff Larry
Carpenter at a ceremony hosted by
the Rotary Club of Moorpark. Dep.
Aguilar was given the award
because of his outstanding work,
especially when dealing with gang
members. This award also coin-
cided with his promotion to Senior
Deputy. (See photo on facing page)
May
Marty Rouse is promoted to
Lieutenant and remains in Moor-
park. Lt. Geoff Dean moves on to a
new administrative job in the
Detention Services Division.
Deputy Larry Bull is selected as our
misdemeanor detective.
June
Sgt. Wm. T. (Terry) Hughes is
brought on board as the Detective
Sergeant. This is Terry's second
assignment in Moorpark, having
served as the Administrative
Sergeant 8 years ago
Sgt. Parks borrows the Camarillo
PD radar display trailer for a tnal
run on Moorpark streets. The
trailer provides a large visual notice
to passing motorists of their speed.
Drivers can then compare their
speed with the attached speed limit
sign. This is a positive means to
remind motorists to slow down and
drive safely. The trailer is a
success, resulting in a number of
residents calling in to recommend
that Moorpark purchase their own
trailer.
Lt. Rouse begins intensive plan-
ning for the opening of a "store-
front" police office in the down-
town area.
August
We receive the Moorpark milk
caps (FOGS) and begin distribut-
ing them to local children. Our
POGS are the first ever used in the
Sheriffs Department. They are an
immediate hit with the youngsters
and the deputies who pass them
out.
Dep. Albert Miramontes is selected
as our newest commercial vehicle
enforcement officer and heads out
for two weeks of training with the
CHP.
September
Sr. Dep. Tumbleson and Dep. Jody
Keller -Smith begin training the 17
citizen volunteers who will staff
the new downtown Resource
Center when it opens in October.
October
The grand opening for the Re-
source Center was a success. Held
in conjunction with Moorpark
Country Days, the opening was
well attended. Many residents
dropped by during the day to check
out the facility. A number even
signed up to help out as volunteers
for the Resource Center.
18
The Country Days parade and street
faire on High Street was well -run and
we had no problems. The commu-
nity enjoyed a great parade and a
pleasant afternoon visiting under the
pepper trees on High Street.
Lt. Rouse joins with Thousand Oaks
to prepare a grant request to seek
state funding of a deputy to enforce
Alcoholic Beverage Control laws.
The officer would both educate local
business owners and conduct stings
to ensure that minors are not able to
purchase alcohol.
The Roamin' Relics car club held
their annual car show in Moorpark
this year. Almost 300 cars and
trucks, along with commercial
vendors, spread out along the entire
length of High Street. The police
department established a site and
traffic plan for the event, ensuring
the best use of downtown streets.
The event was very popular, attract-
ing participants and spectators from
throughout Southern California. The
beauty of High Street was a real
enhancement to the event and the
club plans to repeat it next year in
Moorpark.
December
Moorpark's new radar display trailer
arrived. It will be outfitted with a
sign that invites residents to call us
to request that the trailer be used on
streets that they are concerned about
the speeds of passing vehicles. The
trailer will be ready for daily use in
January 1995.
Moorpark deputies helped to identify
several needy families in town who
would be candidates to receive a visit
from "Santa," delivering food and
toys just before Christmas. This is a
long running program that deputies
and staff from throughout the
Sheriffs Department organize to
bring some joy to others during the
holidays.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank all of the personnel who worked in the Moorpark
Police Department in 1994 for being part of "The Team!"
In addition to the people listed on page 2, the following individuals worked
here during the %ear
Sr. Dep Kent Adlof
Cadet Jeff Brooks
Sr Dep Tim Cowgill
Lt Geoff Dean
CLU student Richard Elias
Sgt. Jern Hernandez
Sr. Dep Steve Lengyel
CL,U student Gloria Sanchez
Sr. Dep C raig Smith
Dep. Randy Watkins
Dep. Gregg Willson
We would also like to thank the following people for their help in preparing
the Annual Repot
Vern C'o( K Research and Analysis Manager for the
Ventura County Sheriffs Department
Stack tinot� Sheriffs Department Statistician
Glenn (,iossnian Technical Reserve Deputy and
photographer
This report was designed and written by Sgt. Keith Parks.
"14 resource lo 1he community!"