DPS Superman
Beyond the Badge
Vol.1, No.4 October 2008
In This Issue
Working with the Community
Local Crossing Guard
Staff Highlight
DPS Calendar
MPMP Hospital Evac Drill
National Fire Prevention Month
SWAT Team Update
Working with the Community

Applied Materials Earthquake Exercise

On July 30, 2008, Applied Materials conducted a full scale exercise simulating a 7.2 earthquake. The simulation included injuries to employees, structural and non-structural damage, hazardous materials releases, and impact to utilities. This was the first time all elements of Applied Materials' emergency response organization had participated in one exercise.

DPS Volunteer Terry ForetSunnyvale DPS volunteers participated in the Applied Materials earthquake drill by being the "victims" with simulated injuries, complete with moulage (disaster makeup). One was so realistic - an amputated thumb - the volunteer got whoosy even though she knew it wasn't real!

DPS Volunteer Terry Foret with simulated head injury
 
This exercise allowed Applied Materials to practice responding to an earthquake, establish incident command, facilitate communications, inspect damaged buildings, triage and treat 24 medical victims, and to discover and treat two hazardous materials spills.

16 DPS Volunteers at the Applied Materials drill
Sixteen DPS volunteers participated along with Applied Materials personnel in the earthquake drill

Immediately after the exercise, a critique was conducted to solicit comments and identify action items. As a result, Applied Materials was able to have a better understanding of their ability to effectively respond to major emergencies and know what they can do to make improvements.
 
For more information on what YOU can do for emergency preparedness, please phone (408) 730-7190, TDD (408) 730-7501.
Your Local Sunnyvale Crossing Guard

Crossing Guard Lagassie
Ruby helps out at the annual Firefighter Pancake Breakfast

Name: Ruby Lagassie

Sunnyvale Location: Ponderosa Elementary School, at the intersection of Iris Avenue and Sequoia Drive

Helpful Hints: "Always try to walk on paths or sidewalks. Look both ways for danger before and while crossing the street."
 

STAFF HIGHLIGHT -
Chaplain Mike Kim

 
Please join us in welcoming our new chaplain Mike Kim.

Originally from Washington, DC, Mike grew up in Pittsburg, PA, and is a huge Steelers, Penguins and Pirates fan. He moved to California in 2001 after earning Masters Degrees in Theology and in Divinity. He has been married for 14 years and has three children.

Mike has experience in youth pastoring and has been the pastor at Baylight Church Community in Mountain View since he arrived in California in 2001. 

 Chaplain Mike Kim
Our new chaplain, Mike Kim

We hope to grow the DPS Chaplain team to include three to five chaplains that will be available on-call for traumatic incident response and other incidents when non-denominational spiritual support is needed.

SUNNYVALE DPS UPCOMING EVENTS


OCTOBER

Week of October 18-26
Red Ribbon Week
(408) 730-7140, TDD (408) 730-7501

Sunday, October 26
Sunnyvale Pet Parade & Fair
www.downtownsunnyvale.com

Wednesday, October 29
Sunnyvale Challenge Team meeting
(408) 516-7217

Friday, October 31
Halloween


NOVEMBER
School Presentations
Internet Safety (6th grade)
(408) 730-7140, TDD (408) 730-7501

Week of October 18-26
Red Ribbon Week
(408) 730-7140, TDD (408) 730-7501

Sunday, November 2
Daylight Savings
Check Smoke Detector Batteries


Tuesday, November 4
Election Day

Tuesday, November 11
Veteran's Day

Thursday, November 27           
Thanksgiving

For questions and comments about the Sunnyvale DPS newsletter Beyond the Badge,Sunnyvale City Logo Color you can e-mail us at:
[email protected]

� 2008 City of Sunnyvale, CA

Chief JohnsonMessage from the Chief

We recently received our "final crime stats" from the FBI for calendar year 2007.  It takes the better part of a year for the FBI to collate the statistics for cities across the country... but this year's information was certainly worth the wait!
 
As you can see from the chart below, Sunnyvale has one of the lowest crime rates in the county, and is far and away the safest big city - congratulations to our officers for a job well done. 
 
I am particularly proud that during calendar year 2007, our violent crime rate dropped by 16.3%  and our property crime dropped by 10.2%.

 
Sunnyvale 07 Crime Stats

For more information, go to http://crimestats.insunnyvale.com
 

I really want you to know that our Officers are doing their very best to keep you safe. I think these statistics give us all some reassurance that we really do enjoy a high quality of life here in Sunnyvale. If you want to get involved with us, call me and I will be ready to share some exciting volunteer opportunities with you. Thanks for reading.

Chief Johnson
(408) 730-7161, or email at [email protected]

MPMP Hospital Evacuation Drill
 
In mid September of this year, as part of National Emergency Preparedness month, Sunnyvale DPS participated with other Santa Clara County Fire, Law, EMS, Public Health, and Regional Hospital personnel in an exercise of the County's Multiple Patient Management Plan (MPMP). The city of Morgan Hill was chosen because a large vacant property - a former hospital building - was made available for the exercise and provided a unique opportunity for medical and emergency personnel to facilitate an actual large scale evacuation of a health care facility in a realistic setting.
 
The exercise scenario involved a simulated act of domestic terrorism (a car bomb) resulting in a power disruption to the facility. The primary goal was to test the ability to safely and effectively facilitate the timely evacuation and/or movement of staff and patients of an acute care hospital facility. The large scale exercise was held over the course of three days, with approximately 400 persons each day in attendance and participating in various roles. Most of the costs associated with the exercise were absorbed through emergency
preparedness type grants.

Capt Moretto providing safety briefing


View of the event incident command post with Event Safety Officer (Capt.) Doug Moretto providing a morning safety briefing to the Medical Unit personnel






Sunnyvale DPS was well represented at the exercise. Specifically, Station 2 personnel attached to Rescue 2 were responsible for demonstrating and handling the EMTrack equipment, "a patient and evacuee tracking system, which facilitates patient entry through scan-and-go technology. The system equips hospitals to manage surges, evacuations, and alternate site movements, and enables Emergency Operations Center users to view, report, and manage transport activities" (from the product website). Sunnyvale DPS was one of few recipients of the EMTrack system, which was recently purchased by Santa Clara County and this exercise was one of the first opportunities to utilize the equipment in a realistic application.

Lt Drewniany monitoring a work group


Lt. Steve Drewniany, serving as an event Controller and EMS Branch Director, monitors progress of a work group during the exercise







At work behind the scenes at the exercise, and in many months leading up to the event, others from DPS supported the development and production of the training. Capt. Doug Moretto was the Event Safety Officer and Lt. Steve Drewniany served as an Event Controller and EMS Branch Director. Additionally, during the three-day presentation, Lt. A. Berrien, Lt. T. Smith, PSO B. Wilkes, and several Public Safety Cadets and Explorers Alcazar, Valenzuela, Quezada, Lam, Gonzales-Valenti, Pham, and Belnap provided invaluable assistance in support of the exercise by providing logistical support.
 
Sunnyvale DPS benefited from the training in many ways, and with the rising number of adult-living/extended care type facilities in this city, we are now better prepared to manage such an event.

October is National Fire Prevention Month

It's important to be aware of ways to help learn fire safety and prevention. This includes having emergency response plans and practicing them regularly with fire drills.

For more information on fire prevention and emergency planning, go to the website of the National Fire Prevention Association at:
www.nfpa.org
 

Sunnyvale SWAT - The Rook
 Sunnyvale SWAT Team members aboard "The Rook" armored carrier in a competition scenario

Sunnyvale DPS SWAT Team Participates at the Urban Shield Training Event

On September 12, 2008, the Sunnyvale DPS SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Team participated in a major regional tactical team training event, Urban Shield. The Urban Shield event is a 50+ hour continuous training exercise that tested the team's leadership and problem solving skills.

The training incorporated high levels of stress, anxiety and physical exhaustion designed to simulate a sustained response. The dual benefit of this event allowed each agency to evaluate its own tactical capabilities, while training together to identify our ability to cope with large-scale events at a regional level.
 
The Sunnyvale SWAT team participated in 24 scenarios that took place though out Alameda and San Mateo counties. Urban Shield is designed to incorporate key elements of real-world emergencies and major critical incidents. Testing the best of Law Enforcement S.W.A.T. teams, the scenarios ranged from dignitary protection, Amtrak hijacking, an active shooter at U.C. Berkeley, commercial airline hijacking at Oakland Airport, a maritime interdiction at the Port of Oakland, bank takeover robbery, and a 16-mile endurance/navigation hike. The Sunnyvale team placed eighth overall out of 28 teams from thoughout the country. 
 
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