MARCH
Fire Prevention Month
Check Your Smoke Detector Batteries!
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Working with the Community
At Risk Youth Challenged to Stir the Pot
Parent Project joins forces with The Art Institute of California-Sunnyvale: A Challenge Team Project
During the month of March, the International Culinary School at The Art Institute of California-Sunnyvale will host the teen children of parents in the DPS Parent Project for a series of culinary classes intended to inspire the at-risk-youth to stir up food instead of trouble.
 Four Tuesday evening sessions will be taught by professional chef instructors at The Art Institute of California-Sunnyvale and assisted by culinary student mentors. In the first three sessions the teens will learn basic kitchen skills and on the last session of the culinary series and Parent Project, the teen chefs will plan, prepare and cater a meal for their parents as a celebration of their graduations. This Challenge Team project is especially significant to the culinary student mentors who, like the at-risk-youth, found themselves faced with similar challenges prior to enrolling in The Art Institute of California-Sunnyvale. Their personal experiences dealing with the lure of gangs and drugs make these individuals powerful role models for the teens through showing the profound positive impact education has had on their lives. 
The Challenge Team Sunnyvale is a community group that meets each month to discuss the challenges facing youth and families in our community. Leaders from the private and public sector, educational, judicial, health care and faith based groups look for creative and compassionate methods to bring positive influences into the lives of youth and to guide them away from the damaging influences of gangs and drugs. The Art Institute of California-Sunnyvale is one of The Art Institutes, a system of over 40 education institutions located throughout North America, providing an important source of design, media arts, fashion and culinary arts professionals. For more information, go to www.artinstitutes.edu. |
Your Local Sunnyvale Crossing Guard
Name: Lorraine Benkoski Sunnyvale Location: Braly Elementary School - at the intersection of Gail Ave. at Gladiola Dr. Helpful Hints: "Be aware of your surroundings at all times." |
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EXPLORER OF THE MONTH
This month's Explorer of the Month is Aaron Schwartz, who has been a member of the Sunnyvale DPS Explorer Post 417 since 2007.
He is 16 years-old and he currently attends Homestead High School in Cupertino. Aaron has volunteered at several Explorer events, including the Sunnyvale DPS D.U.I Checkpoints. He placed second in the Burglary Response event at the 2008 Rohnert Park Explorer Competition.
Aaron is a team player who always steps up when called upon. Great job Aaron!
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SUNNYVALE DPS UPCOMING EVENTS
MARCH School Presentations
Fire Safety Assembly & Rig Tour
(2nd grade)
(408) 730-7140, TDD (408) 730-7501 Sunday, March 8
Daylight Saving
Check Smoke Detector Batteries (408) 730-7140, TDD (408) 730-7501
Tuesday, March 10
Fire Safety Poster Contest (K-5th grade)
Awards Ceremony
at City Council meeting, 7 p.m.
(408) 730-7140
TDD (408) 730-7501
APRIL
Thursday, April 23
Tip-a-Cop Breakfast at
CoCo's Bakery Restaurant
1206 Oakmead Pkwy
7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
(408) 730-7140
TDD (408) 730-7501
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For questions and comments about the Sunnyvale DPS newsletter Beyond the Badge,  you can e-mail us at: pubsfty@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us
© 2009 City of Sunnyvale, CA
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 Message from the ChiefI want to remind you about a great tool that we introduced to you a couple of months ago. It is at your disposal via the Internet and will give you a snapshot of crimes reported in your neighborhood and across our city. We have contracted with a private vendor - www.crimereports.com, to download real time crime data from our Public Safety systems and place that information on a neighborhood map of our city. We've only given the vendor access to crime type and block information to protect the privacy of our citizens, so you won't see names or any identifying information on the map.
This tool can be especially useful to individuals and neighborhood groups who are interested in preventing crime in neighborhoods by using the data as an early warning system - and "spreading the word" to neighbors before trends appear.
Our view is that you are much more likely to recognize suspicious people or activities in your neighborhood; couple this powerful tool with your interest and we have many more crime fighters than we could ever muster.
I encourage you to explore the website www.crimereports.com and see what is happening in your neighborhood and in your city - a great tool that will help us keep you safe.
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Working with the Community
Third Annual Sunnyvale Kidz Camp Had Something for Everyone
The Sunnyvale Departments of Community Services and Public Safety hosted the 3rd Annual Sunnyvale Kidz Camp during the Sunnyvale School District Winter Break from February 17th to 20th, 2009.
The camp was coordinated by Kristin Dance of the Department of Community Services with assistance from Sunnyvale DPS. The camp included four fun-filled days of field trips, exercise, education and even the chance to pet a live tarantula....how cool is that?
Kids working a "crime scene" with Officer Dave Falco as he teaches them how to lift fingerprints
Each day after the introductions and review of the camp rules, the 27 energetic kids would usually start with some "hard core" calisthenics supervised by Officer Dave Falco. Each day of the camp was exciting and educational. With the help of many local businesses and city departments, the kids learned about topics such as nutrition, exercise, recycling, pollution, earthquake preparedness, basic first aid, bicycle safety, pet safety and much, much more.
Officer Falco demonstrates how to work the fire hose and nozzle
During the many field trips throughout the week, the kids had a chance to tour a fire station, police headquarters, museum, community garden, and the Sunnyvale Council chambers. Of the many activities they did, the kids were able to operate a fire hose from an actual working fire truck, dust and collect their own fingerprints like a real CSI, enter an actual jail cell, participate in a mock city council meeting (with the help of a very patient and informative Councilman Ron Swegles), ride on a bike safety obstacle course, tour an animal control vehicle, make their own fortune cookie pottery project and even hold and pet some creepy critters like tarantulas and hissing-cockroaches.
 Officer Dave Falco and Parks & Recreation's Kristin Dance with the Winter session Kidz Camp participantsThe camp was a huge success and would not have been possible without the tireless help of the many employees and volunteers throughout Sunnyvale. We look forward to the next camp during Spring Break in April at the Columbia Neighborhood Center. Kidz rule! |
Working with the Community
Public Safety, Parks & Recreation and Sunnyvale Elks Lodge 15th Annual Basketball Shootout
About 400 people turned out to watch the top seventh and eighth grade basketball shooters from nine Sunnyvale schools on Friday, February 6.  The 15th Annual Basketball Shootout at Columbia Neighborhood Center started with the Columbia Middle School choir singing the national anthem, and was complete with a celebrity shootout featuring Santa Clara University women's basketball team.
Parks & Recreation kept the shooters in rhythm with the music and Public Safety Officer Greg Othon was the MC for the main event.
PSO Holly Lopez keeps score at the shootout
The student competition was fierce. Nearly every division had a tie, and required a tie-breaker shootout to determine the placing. All finalists received a 2009 shootout t-shirt and small novelty basketball courtesy of the Sunnyvale Elks Lodge. The Elks cosponsored the event and awarded the top three basketball shooters in each division with a regulation size basketball and other amazing prizes. Third place winners received a $50 Fry's gift card. Second place winners received an iPod shuffle from Best Buy, and first place received a new Nintendo Wii also donated by Best Buy!
Top row Chief Don Johnson, Sunnyvale School District Superintendent Dr. Ben Picard and Neighborhood Resource Officer Jim Davis with the Santa Clara University Women's basketball team
Winners of the 15th Annual Basketball Shootout
8th Grade Boys
1. Nicholas Sugiarto, Cupertino Middle School
2. Matthew Nguyen, St. Cyprian
3. Trevor Pham, Columbia Middle School
8th Grade Girls
1. Emily Dinger, Sunnyvale Middle School
2. Ashley Noronha, Resurrection
3. Courtney O'Hanneson, Columbia Middle School
7th Grade Boys
1. Tyler Yun, The Kings Academy
2. Myles Gray, Columbia Middle School
3. Matthew Jewell, The Kings Academy
7th Grade Girls
1. Kayla Basa, St. Cyprian
2. Alma Sivic, Columbia Middle School
3. Dee Ann Dela Cruz, St. Cyprian
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New Sunnyvale Fire Engine Displayed at
National Fire Conference
 Sunnyvale's newest Fire Engine 4 is proudly displayed at Firehouse World in San Diego
Firehouse World, a national conference that was held February 15-19 at the San Diego Convention Center, is a major west coast fire and emergency services exposition and conference. Firefighters from around the US are provided hands-on training and an exhibit floor showcasing the latest innovations in firefighting and EMS equipment, apparatus, tools, vehicle accessories, rescue/extrication equipment, training, hazmat gear and clothing. Sunnyvale's new Engine 4 (staffed by Lt. Mike Andrade and PSO Brian Wilkes) was highlighted at this conference by the Ferrara Fire Apparatus Company. The City of Sunnyvale's newest fire engine (Engine 4) was prominently displayed, front and center. Ferrara took great pride in building the City of Sunnyvale a state-of-the-art apparatus and was very thankful for the opportunity to give it national recognition. Engine 4 was very well received by the conference attendees and was praised for its durable heavy duty cab interior, state-of-the-art firefighting technology and its efficient compartment configuration which provides an abundance of storage for life saving equipment. Sunnyvale DPS staff was afforded the opportunity to attend the convention, courtesy of Ferrara, and participated in a variety of training classes, networking, answering questions about the apparatus and even took time to recruit new Public Safety Officer applicants. | |
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