Message From The Chief - June 2006

[Chief Ron Levine]

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FOOTHILL-DeANZA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT
"MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF"
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J U N E 2006

Greetings from the men and women of the Foothill-DeAnza
Community College District Police Department. The following
is the monthly update for June 2006. We hope you find the
information useful.

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CHIEF'S MESSAGE - "Summer Safety"

School's out, pools are open and people across the country
are looking for fun ways to cool down as summer temperatures
heat up. As you head to the beach, to the pool, or to the
mountains for a camping vacation, I encourage you and your
family to keep safety in mind!

WATER SAFETY

The Red Cross is brimming with water safety tips to keep your
family safe this summer. The most basic: Learn to swim! Take
some lessons at your local pool. The best thing anyone can
do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim.
And always swim with a buddy; never swim alone.

- Swim in supervised areas only.
- Obey all rules and posted signs.
- Don't mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol impairs
your judgement, balance, and coordination, affects
your swimming and diving skills, and reduces your
body's ability to stay warm.
- Pay attention to local weather conditions and
forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication
of bad weather.

More tips can be found at;
http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/healthtips/safetywater.html

BOATING SAFETY

Whether you're the captain of a schooner or a passenger
on a skiboat, following safety guidelines ensures your
safety and that of other seafarers.

- Be weather wise:
Sudden wind shifts, lightning flashes and choppy
water all can mean a storm is brewing. Bring a
portable radio to check weather reports.
- Bring extra gear you may need:
A flashlight, extra batteries, matches, a map of
where you are, flares, sun tan lotion, first aid
kit, extra sunglasses. Put those that need to be
protected in a watertight pouch or a container
that floats.
- Tell someone where you're going, who is with you,
and how long you'll be away.
- Then check your boat, equipment, boat balance,
engine and fuel supply before leaving.

SUN SAFETY

Summer means fun in the sun! But be safe ­ don't let a heat-
related illness ruin your day. Always drink plenty of water
and take frequent breaks when working or playing in the hot
weather.

HIKING AND CAMPING SAFETY

Many families will head to our national parks and forests
this summer to enjoy the great outdoors. But if you're not
prepared to rough it in the woods, hiking or camping can be
a rough experience. The best way to help guarantee a good
time for all is to plan ahead carefully and follow
commonsense safety precautions.

Take care, stay safe and thank you for your support of
the Foothill-DeAnza CCD Police Department!

Chief Ron Levine

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SPOTLIGHT - "What to do if you are stopped by the Police"

Keeping the Lines of Communications Open - 5 steps to
follow if you are stopped by a police officer:

1. Move to the right shoulder and stop your vehicle
as far out of the lane of traffic as possible.
Make sure your turn signal is on, and motion to
the officer you are going to comply.

2. STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE! Turn on the interior light
if it is at night. Good lighting assists good
communications. Relax and remain in your vehicle.
If you leave the vehicle, you subject yourself
and the officer to the danger of traffic.

3. Keep your hands in view, preferably on the
steering wheel. Wait for the officer to request
your license, registration and proof of insurance.

4. Police officers are trained to ask for identification
first, and provide an explanation second. First,
provide the documentation and then give the officer
a chance to explain to you the reason you were
stopped. Providing your documentation will simplify
and speed the process.

*** REMEMBER *** Most often the officer is in uniform
with a nametag displayed. You have the advantage
of knowing with whom you are dealing with. Extend
the courtesy by providing the requested identification
without argument.

5. If you do not agree with the citation, or the officer's
demeanor at the scene, you will have an opportunity to
voice your concerns in the proper forum. All persons
have the right to dispute their citation before a judge
and the officer will explain the process to you. Every
police department has an internal affairs systems in
place to investigate citizen complaints.

If you follow these five easy steps, your encounter with the
police should be less stressful; for both you and the officer.
Police officers do not know who you are when they pull you
over; you could just be a college student, a mom on the
way to pick up her child from soccer, or you could be a
violent individual who just drove away from committing a
serious crime - the officer doesn't know. The steps above
will help ease the process and get you back on your way
in the shortest amount of time.

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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL - Dispatcher Ernestine Quesada

Ernestine's voice is often the first one people hear when
calling the Police Department. Earnestine is our Day Shift
Dispatcher and works from 7 AM until 3 PM, Monday through
Friday. She has been with the District for approximately
three and half years as a full-time employee. Prior to
joining the FHDA family, she worked for the San Jose/
Evergreen Community College District Police Department
for eight years, also as a Dispatcher.

A San Jose native, Ernestine attended St. Mary's School,
San Jose High and San Jose and Evergreen Colleges. She
is a few units shy of an A.A. degree in Administration
of Justice.

When asked what brought her to Foothill-DeAnza, Ernestine
related that, "Chief Ed Dunn was the Chief of Police at
San Jose/Evergreen College Police for many years and retired.
He then became the Chief of Police at Foothill. I contacted
Chief Dunn and he informed me there was a need for a Police
Dispatcher (at Foothill)...The position of Police Dispatcher
was created and I became the first Classified Police
Dispatcher for the Foothill-DeAnza District." She also
said, "I enjoy working at the PD and also enjoy the family
atmosphere within the college community."

Ernestine lives in San Jose and is the second to the oldest
of six children; she has three sisters and two brothers.
She has two sons and two grandchildren. Her hobbies are
spending time with her family and friends, taking long
walks with her three dachshund dogs and going to watch
the Sharks play hockey at the "Tank" with her fiance'.

Ernestine can be reached at (650)949-7313 or;
quesadae...@fhda.edu

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Q & A - "New Parking Decals"

Q: How come the new 2006/2007 parking decals aren't for
the individual colleges anymore?
- Anonymous Foothill Staff Member

A: It is a cost saving measure primarily. It also clears
up any confusion if the decals can be used on either
campus. With the recent redesign of the District logo,
it seemed like an excellent time to switch to a District
wide parking permit. Both college administrations
approved the new parking decal design and it was placed
into production.

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CRIMES STATISTICS - May 2006

Crime Foothill DeAnza Total

Assault/Battery 0 1 1
Burglary-Auto 0 0 0
Burglary-Bldg 1 0 1
Conspiracy 0 0 0
Court Order Vio 0 1 1
Criminal Threats 0 0 0
Disorderly Conduct 0 0 0
Drug Violation 0 1 1
Forgery 0 1 1
Fraud 0 0 0
Theft-Grand >$400 1 3 4
Theft-Petty <$400 2 3 5
Poss. Stolen Prop. 0 0 0
Parole Violation 0 0 0
Robbery 1 0 1
Sex Crime 0 0 0
Stolen Vehicle 0 0 0
Stolen Vehicle-Recov 0 0 0
Vandalism 2 3 5
Weapon Violation 0 0 0

Traffic Accidents 1 2 3
Traffic Accidents-Inj 1 1 2
Hit & Run 0 0 0
Hit & Run-Injury 0 0 0
Towed Vehicles 0 1 1

Moving Cites 65

Warrant Arrests 0 0 0

Lost & Found Reports 37 108 145

Calls for Service 200
Officer Initiated Calls 360
Reports Taken 40

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DID YOU KNOW???

Did you know that all of the Foothill-DeAnza police
cars are equipped with with "AED's" - Automated External
Defibrillators?

Each year, approximately 1 million Americans die
of cardiovascular disease. Of these, between 300,000
to 400,000 die due to cardiac arrest, a sudden and
unexpected loss of heart function. When cardiac
arrest occurs outside of a hospital, survival rates
are extremely low, in a range of 1 to 5 percent.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
estimates that 15 percent of workplace fatalities ­ more
than 400 per year ­ are caused by sudden cardiac arrest.
Of these victims, it is estimated that 160 ­ 40 percent ­
could have been saved by defibrillation within 5 minutes.

All of our police officers are trained in the use of AED's
and CPR. Our staff is often able to arrive to a campus
location sooner than the Fire Department and Paramedics
and can provide lifesaving procedures until their arrival.

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IN THE NEWS - Foothill-DeAnza Police in the press

No articles this month

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Questions, comments and suggestions can be sent to;
levine...@fhda.edu or call (650)949-7514
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Search the "Message From the Chief" Archive at:
http://groups.google.com/group/FHDA-PD_MONTHLY
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