[DPSDist] News from Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety

I hope you are reading each issue of our Beyond the Badge newsletter with an eye on learning a bit more about our city and the Department of Public Safety (DPS). We really believe the news you read will help us demonstrate that we really are working together to make Sunnyvale safe and a great place to live and work. I've received positive comments from individuals, from neighborhoods, schools, and from our business community.

One of our greatest compliments comes from your willingness to get more involved with our department through our Volunteer Program. I am proud to say that our volunteers are really the best! We now have 30 volunteers who help us with a variety of tasks throughout the Department; from Ron Nowicki, our data entry volunteer, to Ann Andersen who volunteers 15 hours each week in our Evidence Unit, to Coly Moore who delivers our internal mail each day, to Mike Kim, our Chaplain, and many, many others. You really make a difference at DPS and in the community.

I especially like having the volunteers around--they really help us learn what is important to those we serve. See if you recognize any of the following people who volunteer at DPS.

Ann Andersen, Property & Evidence
David Andrade, Fire
Ricky Boyer, Records
Terry Foret, Property & Evidence
Stuart Hecht, Community Educator, Animal Control
Shirley Klein, Community Educator, Animal Control
Michael Kim, Chaplain
Trevor Emerdinger, Recruiting
Steve Kpa, Memorial Dedication & Facilities
Dat Lai, Office of Emergency Services
Tuan Pham, Office of Emergency Services
David Larks, Records
Irene Lea, Beyond the Badge
Lycia Messersmith, Memorial Dedication, Training, and Beyond the Badge
Judy Miller, Fire & Environmental Services
Rozina Moidean, Records
Colston Moore, Crime Prevention
Andrew Nguyen, Crime Prevention
Billy Nguyen, Records
Ron Nowicki, Fire
Beatriz Ribeiro, Records
Joan Robichaud, Records
Ricky Ruelas, Property & Evidence
Anthony Senander, Facilities
Phil Stewart, Web Site Maintenance
Monica Tachibana, Recruiting
Emerson Tuazon, Facilities
Victor Vasquez, Records
Phat Vu, Property & Evidence

We really appreciate all they do.

Each year, our volunteers contribute more than 3,000 combined hours. We could use your help too. If you are willing to get involved in helping DPS become a world-class organization, call our volunteer coordinator, Dori Fontaine, at (408) 730-7199, TDD (408) 730-7501. I'm sure we can match your skills to one of our many needs.

Chief Johnson
(408) 730-7161, TDD (408) 730-7501 or email pubsfty@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us

"Toys for Rides" A Resounding Success

Now that the United States government has confirmed that we are officially in a recession, the decision to host the first annual Rides for Toys event was even more apropos.

On Saturday, December 6th, between 10:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M, Sunnyvale DPS joined forces with the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program in an effort to receive toy donations for those less fortunate during this holiday season. In return for a new, unwrapped toy, children and family members received a ride on a Sunnyvale fire engine.

Being the first annual event, we were uncertain about the projected turnout. With the offering of beautiful California weather, we were more than surprised by the number of people who showed up. With an initial plan of using three fire engines for rides, we learned midway that three could do it, but five were better to avoid a long-forming line.

The event took place in the Toys R Us parking lot. Widespread publicity made the event a great success, with an estimated 500 people receiving rides in exchange for toy donations. As Rides for Toys took place, two Marines in their dress uniforms stood tall, accepting toys from all interested participants.

Toys R Us management was so excited about the event, announcements were made on the store's PA system every 15 minutes, which greatly assisted with getting the word out. Fire personnel, Explorers, Marines, Neighborhood Resource officers, and our dedicated CSI photographer worked seamlessly to create a successful holiday event. Between the toys donated by Toys R Us, and those donated by people receiving rides, the Marines came in with a commercial size flat bed and filled it to the brim! The SUV driven by the two participating Marines was also completely filled. It just goes to show that even during a recession, generous hearts can be found.

Volunteer Highlight--
Brett Carmody and Terry Foret

Brett Carmody has been volunteering in our Therapeutic Internship Pilot Program since February of 2008. At that time, he was a senior at HomesteadHigh School. After graduating in May, Carmody has continued his assignment at DPS through the LYNCS Program at De Anza Community College.

Terry Foret has been volunteering with DPS since May of 2005. His main assignment is in the Property Unit, but recently he has added being Brett Carmody's mentor. Foret is originally from Texas and moved to California when he was 19. Foret currently manages a manufactured home community in Sunnyvale and runs a handyman service called I Can Do That. Prior to his current employment, Foret spent ten years working as a crisis manager and vocational coordinator at the Children's Health Council. During that time, he worked as a security dispatcher at Stanford and as an on-site manager at Lytton Gardens where he responded to residents' emergency calls.

Carmody and Foret meet once a week to wash and detail fire rigs. Carmody has a strong interest in fire services and especially enjoys his assignment because he gets a behind-the-scenes perspective of fire station activities. The two men rotate through all six Sunnyvale fire stations to ensure each team gets a little break.

Carmody says the hardest part of the rigs to get clean is the back of the vehicle because that is where a lot of dirt collects. He says the most important part of the rig to clean is the light bar because when it's clean everyone can see it better. Carmody hopes to some day have a job in fire services or possibly run an auto detailing business.

It is our hope that, through the LYNCS Program, Carmody will gain job skills that will help him in reaching his goals and becoming an independent member of the community. In the meantime, we definitely appreciate his "attention to detail"!

TRAFFIC SAFETY DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

The holiday season is upon us once again. As such, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety would like to offer some traffic safety information and driving tips in an effort to make your travels on our roadways safer.

During this time of the year, the sunsets are earlier and the roadways are often wet and slippery from rain or thick fog. These conditions, coupled with the distractions of the holiday rush, can often have an adverse effect on a driver's ability to perceive and react in time to avoid an accident. For example, a vehicle traveling 40 mph in ideal conditions will frequently have a total stopping distance of approximately 142 feet.

AAA recommends that drivers follow the "Three Second" rule so as to provide a safe following distance from vehicles ahead. However, a tired, inattentive or impaired driver takes longer to perceive, decide and react. Additionally, breaking distances are greater on slippery or uneven roads. Under any of these conditions, AAA recommends a "Four Second or Longer" rule.

Though our winter season is milder than most, the "Three P's of Safe Winter Driving: PREPARE for the trip; PROTECT yourself; and PREVENT crashes on the road," promoted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), are good tips worth taking.

PREPARE by maintaining your car with proper tire tread, windshield wipers, and functioning lights.
PROTECT YOURSELF by buckling your seat belt and using proper child safety seats.
PREVENT CRASHES by slowing down, keeping your eyes on pedestrians and bicyclists, and avoiding fatigue.

You can view the entire list of Winter driving safety tips at NHTSA's Web site: www.nhtsa.gov.

In addition to the winter weather, the holiday season is filled with festivities, gatherings, and all around cheer. Historically, there is also an increase in injuries and deaths as a result of alcohol-related collisions. In 2007, an estimated 12,998 people died in traffic collisions involving a drunk driver with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or greater. Ninety-five of those reported alcohol-related collisions in 2007 took place in Sunnyvale.

The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety is an active participant in Santa Clara County's Avoid The 13 anti-DUI campaign. Santa Clara was the first county in the state to launch such a program in 1973.

This year's holiday DUI crackdown is in effect from December 12, 2008 through January 1, 2009. The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety will be deploying dedicated DUI Enforcement Officers to conduct saturated patrols each day and night of the campaign. On December 12, 2008, officers from the Traffic Safety Unit will be assisting Los Altos Police Department with their DUI checkpoint. On December 20, 2008, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety will be conducting its own DUI checkpoint on the 600 block of West El Camino Real. The Department is dedicated to proactively stopping and arresting drunk drivers to reduce the number of injuries and deaths from alcohol-related crashes. For more information regarding the realities and tragedies associated with alcohol-related collisions, visit: www.madd.org and www.californiaavoid.org.

Have a happy and safe holiday season!