Thursday, September 30, 2010

14-year-old Girl Fondled While Walking Her Dog

Press Release dated September 30, 2010

During the afternoon hours of Sunday, September 26, a 14-year old Los Alamitos girl was approached by an unidentified male who fondled her buttocks. The victim was walking her dog in the Greenbrook neighborhood near the intersection of Humboldt Street and Myra Avenue when the adult male suspect, wearing jogging attire, approached the victim from behind and grabbed her buttocks.

Read entire Press Release here.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Ready America for those with Pets



Ready.gov produced these videos to help Americans prepare for emergencies.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Weekly Crime Summary

A new Weekly Crime Summary is available for September 12 to September 18.

The most recent Weekly Crime Summaries will be listed on the homepage of our website, http://www.losalamitospolice.org/.

You can find older Weekly Crime Summaries in our COP Team area here.

Be Safe. Be Prepared.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Ready America for Older Americans



Ready.gov produced these instructional videos to help Americans prepare for emergencies.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Weekly Crime Summary

A new Weekly Crime Summary is available for September 5 to September 11.

The most recent Weekly Crime Summaries will be listed on the homepage of our website, www.LosAlamitosPolice.org.

You can find older Weekly Crime Summaries in our COP Team area here.

Be Safe. Be Prepared

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Reserve Officer Recognized for 24 Years of Service

Reserve Police Officer Mike Quesada has provided dedicated professional service to the Los Alamitos Police Department for the past 24 years. Joining the Department in 1986, Mike could always be counted on to exhibit tireless enthusiasm for helping the citizens of Los Alamitos. Maintaining a stellar attendance record, he would often report for duty after having completed a full day at his regular job. Mike was commended several times throughout the years for his patience, empathy, and understanding of people who found themselves dealing with unfortunate circumstances. For several years Mike assisted with community events such as, Race on the Base and the St. Hedwig’s Autumnfest.

Mike was honored as the Los Alamitos Police Department Reserve Officer of the Year in 1992 and 1999, and was a member of a tri-city police task force assigned to track down and bring to justice persons with outstanding arrest warrants. Over the years, Reserve Officer Quesada developed a passion for taking impaired drivers off the streets of Los Alamitos. Taking advantage of training opportunities and applying what he learned, Mike could often be heard on the police radio stopping suspected impaired drivers throughout the night on his patrol shifts. Although Mike has submitted his resignation and will be leaving the Department, it is his friendly disposition and can do attitude that will be forever linked to his legacy and missed the most.

Weekly Crime Summary

A new Weekly Crime Summary is available for August 29 to September 4.

The most recent Weekly Crime Summaries will be listed on the homepage of our website, www.LosAlamitosPolice.org.

You can find older Weekly Crime Summaries in our COP Team area here.

Be Safe. Be Prepared

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Ready America for those with Special Needs



Ready.gov produced these instructional videos to help Americans prepare for emergencies.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Ready America Instructional Video



Ready.gov produced these instructional videos to help Americans prepare for emergencies.

National Preparedness Month

September is National Preparedness Month

National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security sponsors national Preparedness Month 2007. The goal of the month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action.


Ready America
Ready.gov
Los Alamitos Police Department Emergency Preparation Resources

Prescription Drug Take-Back Day; September 25th

DEA Heads First-Ever Nationwide Prescription Drug Take-Back Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Drug Enforcement Administration and government, community, public health and law enforcement partners today announced a nationwide prescription drug “Take-Back” initiative that seeks to prevent increased pill abuse and theft. DEA will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at sites nationwide on Saturday, September 25th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Many Americans are not aware that medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at alarming rates, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicine, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away – both potential safety and health hazards.

“Today we are launching a first-ever National Prescription Drug Take-Back campaign that will provide a safe way for Americans to dispose of their unwanted prescription drugs,” said Michele M. Leonhart, Acting Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. “This effort symbolizes DEA’s commitment to halting the disturbing rise in addiction caused by their misuse and abuse. Working together with our state and local partners, the medical community, anti-drug coalitions, and a concerned public, we will eliminate a major source of abused prescription drugs, and reduce the hazard they pose to our families and communities in a safe, legal, and environmentally sound way.”

“With this National Prescription Drug Take-Back campaign, we are aggressively reaching out to individuals to encourage them to rid their households of unused prescription drugs that pose a safety hazard and can contribute to prescription drug abuse,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General Gary G. Grindler. “The Department of Justice is committed to doing everything we can to make our communities safer, and this initiative represents a new front in our efforts.”

“Prescription drug abuse is the Nation’s fastest-growing drug problem, and take-back events like this one are an indispensable tool for reducing the threat that the diversion and abuse of these drugs pose to public health,” said Director of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske. “The Federal/state/and local collaboration represented in this initiative is key in our national efforts to reduce pharmaceutical drug diversion and abuse.”

Collection sites in every local community can be found by going to www.dea.gov. This site will be continuously updated with new take-back locations. Other participants in this initiative include the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy; the Partnership for a Drug-Free America; the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Association of Attorneys General; the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; the Federation of State Medical Boards; and the National District Attorneys Association.

Date: August 19, 2010
Contact: DEA Public Affairs
Number: 202-307-7977

Monday, September 6, 2010

Wildlife and Coyote Resources

Wildlife and people often come into contact where there is shrinking habitat and continued development. The following links provide additional information for managing these conflicts.

Wildlife Watch: What does it mean?
California Department of Fish and Game: Keep me Wild

CERT Training in October

WHAT IS A CERT?

A CERT is a group of responsible, trained individuals who have come together to form a skilled group of Disaster Service Workers. The CERT Program can be used in neighborhoods, businesses, and schools. The CERT members realize that in the event of a major disaster they will have to rely on their neighbors and themselves to handle emergencies until professional help arrives.

October Class Information
West County CERT

Crime Prevention Resources

The Los Alamitos Police Department continues to add crime prevention resources to our website. The links below offer information on preventing residential burglaries and becoming a victim of a scam.

Home Security Handbook
Home Security Checklist
Types of Fraud

Weekly Crime Summary

A new Weekly Crime Summary is available for August 22 to August 28.

The most recent Weekly Crime Summaries will be listed on the homepage of our website, www.LosAlamitosPolice.org.

You can find older Weekly Crime Summaries in our COP Team area here.

Be Safe. Be Prepared

Thursday, September 2, 2010

"Disaster Preparedness Month" - Proclamation by California Governor

September 2010, "Disaster Preparedness Month" - Proclamation by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger


Californians Urged to Take Action Now to be Disaster Prepared

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed September 2010 as Disaster Preparedness Month in California and urged all Californians to take action now to prepare their families and communities for disasters.

“It is vital that citizens take the proper steps to prepare for a disaster,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “When Californians take important precautions such as making sure our homes are fire-ready or equipped to handle earthquakes, we can all be more prepared for the real harm a disaster can bring.”

Many Californians have taken initial steps toward earthquake preparedness, but more than 60 percent of Californians have not done enough to make their homes safer and guard their personal finances in preparation for an inevitable, large-scale earthquake, according to a recent California Earthquake Preparedness Survey. Fewer than 20 percent have participated in neighborhood disaster planning or have received specific disaster trainings and fewer than 50 percent have participated in disaster trainings at work.

“Understanding your level of risk is important, but action is required to save lives and property,” said California Emergency Management Agency Secretary Matthew Bettenhausen. “Every Californian should be prepared to be self sufficient for at least 72 hours after a major disaster. Every Californian is an essential member of our state’s emergency response team. By taking a few simple steps now, each of us can make sure we are better prepared for the next emergency or disaster.”

The California Emergency Management Agency and CaliforniaVolunteers provide the following 10 disaster preparedness tips:

1. Identify Your Risk — What are the hazards where you live or work? Find out what natural or human caused disasters pose a risk for you. Do you live near a flood plain, an earthquake fault, or in a high fire danger area? Are you prepared for an unexpected human-made disaster that can strike any time? Does your neighborhood or community have a disaster plan?
2. Create a Family Disaster Plan — Your family needs a plan that tells everyone: where to meet if you have to evacuate; who you’ve identified as an out-of-state family contact; how to get emergency information in your community; and how to take care of your family pets. The plan should include your children's school policies for emergencies and how you will reconnect in case of disaster. Also create an "I'm OK" contact list on your cell phone so you can quickly send updates via text or social media website and make calls to let your family know you are safe and where you are located. Keep contact numbers and emails of family member on electronic devices up to date. You can also register your family's emergency contact information with the National Next of Kin Registry.
3. Practice Your Family Disaster Plan — After you have sat down with your family and written your plan, practice it. Start by having family members meet at a designated spot outside your home, as you would after a fire or after the shaking stops. Know how to respond in the event of any disaster and whether to stay put indoors or whether to evacuate your neighborhood by car. If your family needs to evacuate, know the proper evacuation procedures and routes as determined by your local emergency services office.
4. Build a Disaster Kit for Your Home and Car — In order to be self-sufficient until help arrives, you need to have a disaster supply kit. Have at least a three-day supply of food and water for all family members.
5. Prepare Your Children — Talk to your kids about risks and what your family will do if disaster strikes.
6. Keep in Mind Those with Special Needs — Prepare for those with unique needs such as small children, seniors or individuals with disabilities.
7. Learn CPR and First Aid — Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross today and get trained on basic first aid and CPR. Your training could save the life of a loved one or neighbor following a disaster.
8. Secure Your Space in Your Home and the Workplace — You must secure the contents of your home or office to reduce hazards, especially during shaking from an earthquake or from an explosion.
9. Understand Post 9/11 Risks — Disaster preparedness must account for man-made disasters as well as natural ones. Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.
10. Get Involved and Volunteer — Donate blood, join a local Community Emergency Response Team, educate your neighbor or volunteer with your localAmericanRedCross.

“We recently launched the CaliforniaVolunteers Disaster Corps to coordinate trained disaster volunteers statewide,” said Secretary of Service and Volunteering, Karen Baker. “We urge Californians to volunteer for local disaster preparedness efforts now before a disaster occurs. Trained disaster volunteers are a huge asset in helping neighbors and the community.”

A variety of free online disaster preparedness resources such as a customized family plan, personalized children’s book and disaster preparedness tips are available online at http://www.californiavolunteers.org/familyplan/. Additional disaster preparedness resources are available at http://www.calema.ca.gov/.