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Gavello Glen Neighborhood Association Supports K9 Unit
On July 18th, the Gavello Glen Neighborhood Association held a block party and took the opportunity to donate $100 they had raised for our DPS K9 Unit. The money is to be used towards the purchase of protective ballistic vest for one of our newest DPS dogs, Colt.
The event was attended by Mayor Tony Spitaleri, City Manager Gary Luebbers, PSO K9 Handler Robin Smith and her K9 partner Colt, Capt. David Verbrugge, Lt. Vinny Mata, NRO Jim Davis and from Fire Station 3 on Engine 30 were PSO Don Payton and PSO Stephen Cronin.
The community support for not only our Public Safety Department - but the City as a whole - was very evident. Many of the residents made numerous positive comments of support and praise to the officers who attended the event. Community pride definitely was over flowing that Saturday afternoon.
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Working with the Community
Neighborhood Wellness Walks at Columbia Neighborhood Community Center
Generations Community Wellness, a Sunnyvale based non-profit organization will be leading Neighborhood Wellness Walks on Saturday mornings from October 17 - November 21, 2009 , to educate families interested in learning more about healthy choices. Encouraging messages will be presented on nutritional education and different ways to add physical activity into daily life. Support from Kaiser Permanente has enabled multiple agencies to collaborate in an effort to offer services in this community. Some of the agencies represented include: Columbia Neighborhood Center and the City of Sunnyvale Community Services Department, Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, Sunnyvale Challenge Team, Santa Clara County Public Health Department, First 5 of Santa Clara County, and the California Vintage Baseball Federation ( www.cvbbf.com). Additional agencies will be represented and will provide services based on availability. Kaiser Permanente will send doctors who will offer a Wellness Workshop to the Columbia community as featured presenters on topics such as diabetes prevention and treatment. The hope is to reach 200 families and impact their lives in such a way that unites the community in safety and in health. For more information about these Saturday morning Neighborhood Wellness Walks, contact: Aby Ryan at aby@gteams.org or Jim Colvin at jim@gteams.orgwww.DonateYourFat.org Generations Community Wellness213 E. Maude Ave. - Suite 106 Sunnyvale, CA. 94085 (408) 736-8326
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Annual Firefighters
Pancake Breakfast
What: Firefighters Pancake Breakfast
When: Saturday, October 10, 2009
8:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
Where: Sunnyvale Fire Station #2
Arques Ave. and Wolfe Rd.
Why: Proceeds to benefit the
Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation
Menu:
Pancakes, sausage, juice, milk and coffee
Cost:
6.00 per adult;
$4.00 for kids 10 and under
For information, call:
(408) 730-7140,
(408) 730-7501, TDD
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Your Local Crossing Guard
 Name: Donald Ho
Sunnyvale location:
Intersection of Bayview Ave. and Maude Ave.
Helpful Hint:
"It is safer to walk your bike across the crosswalk." |
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Explorer of the Month
Our September Explorer of the month is 18-year old, Clara Avalos. Clara has been a member of the Sunnyvale DPS Explorer Post since June 2008 and is a graduate of Fremont High School.
Clara Avalos - Explorer of the Month
Clara has stepped up for the post when called upon, and she is always eager to volunteer her time for the community. Clara recently obtained her American Heart Association CPR/AED certification.
She is a good example to all young men and women who are interested in a future career in law enforcement. Great job, Clara!
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Working with the Community
Parent Project
The Sunnyvale Police Department in collaboration with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office presents: Parent Project
Because the tougher it gets to be a kid... the tougher it gets to be a parent!
Created by a psychologist, an educator, a police officer and attending parents, the Parent Project is a program with proven results for parents dealing with challenging teens.
The class is facilitated by a Sunnyvale police officer trained and
accredited by the National Parent Project Program.
The 12-week Parent Project program starts:
Tuesday, October 6, 2009 (Spanish)
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 (English)
6:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
Sunnyvale Community Center
550 E. Remington Drive
To register, phone (408) 730-7140,
(408) 730-7501, TDD.
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SUNNYVALE DPS UPCOMING EVENTS
SEPTEMBER
September 30
OCTOBER
School Presentations - Meet the Officer
Drug and Gang Awareness
(5th and 6th grades) October 3 & 4
Statewide Auto Extrication Workshop Fire Station #2
October 10
Firefighters Pancake Breakfast
at Station #2
8:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
795 East Arques Ave.
October 10
Cintas Document Shredding Event
8:00 A.M.- 10:30 AM
For all Sunnyvale residents, $1 per banker box or grocery bag,
up to 15 per vehicle
Lowe's Home Improvement Center
@corner of Wolfe Rd & Arques Ave.
October 25
October 28
Sunnyvale Challenge Team Meeting
October 31
Halloween
For more information on any of these events, phone:
(408) 730-7140,
(408) 730-7501, TDD
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We're on Twitter!
Beyond the Badge is now on Twitter!! twitter.com/BeyondtheBadge
Check us out for the latest scoop!
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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
© 2008-2009 City of Sunnyvale, CA
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 Message from the Chief
I want to introduce you to what I believe can be one of our most powerful crime fighting tools - Sunnyvale's 25 Neighborhood Associations. These associations are grassroots organizations that represent thousands of households, bringing together neighbors and friends to enhance the local quality of life. Many of these associations formed around common neighborhood issues and some are just about getting to know one another. When neighborhoods connect, we typically see a reduction in crime, blight, and best of all, an improved sense of community.
I recently reintroduced DPS to our 25 associations by letter, and invited them to work with us in ways that will help them improve their neighborhoods and help us better serve their needs. Not surprisingly, many have taken up my offer and together we are leveraging our talents to help affect change. We have become involved with neighborhood clean-up days, provided localized crime information at neighborhood meetings, and along the way - have met some really great people.
Each of our associations receives electronic copies of Beyond the Badge, and my hope is that association leaders ensure that their neighborhood gets connected to Public Safety by taking advantage of the information offered in each issue.
Your neighborhood tip for the month: If you park outside, please, please, please..... take your belongings inside! One of our most common thefts happens when people leave a laptop, a GPS device, or a cell phone in the car as a visible invitation to a passing crook.
If you want more information on organizing your neighborhood or participating in a local Neighborhood Association, call Dori Fontaine at (408) 730-7140, Nathan Truitt at (408) 730-7524, or (408) 730-7501, TDD.
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Humane Society Silicon Valley Opens California's First Animal Community Center
In April 2009, Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV) opened California's first regional Animal Community Center that will change the way you think about an animal shelter. In addition to caring for lost and abandoned pets, the 48,000 square foot Animal Community Center is the first environmentally certified "Green" animal center in the country to offer cage-less animal care and an adoption program with a full spectrum of pet and community services under one roof. Key programs and services include: - a medical center specializing in affordable spaying/neutering and vaccinations;
- a community dog park and training center;
- doggie daycare, boarding and grooming;
- a veterinary hospital with a public viewing alcove;
- an education center offering programs for children, teens and families;
- a community room available for meetings and conferences;
- pet supply store; and
- a pet-friendly café.
Humane Society Silicon Valley regional Animal Community Center
The center will also house stray animals picked up by Sunnyvale Animal Control. Sunnyvale residents who have lost a pet will need to reclaim that pet at HSSV. - All stray animals without an identification tag or microchip will be held at the Center for five days.
- Animals with an ID tag or microchip will be held for 10 days.
- Animals not reclaimed within the legal time period will be medically and behaviorally evaluated for the Humane Society's Adoption Program.
Animals that meet HSSV's adoption criteria will be placed up for adoption and kept until they are placed in a permanent, loving home - no matter how long it takes.
Cage-less animal care
The HSSV Animal Community Center is located at 901 Ames Avenue in Milpitas and built on 4.8 acres of land near Milpitas Boulevard and Montague Expressway. The center is easily accessible to Highways 101 and 237 and Interstates 680 and 880. The $25 million project is funded through public donations.
 Ali in dog kennel with Sasha
For more information, visit the Humane Society of Silicon Valley (HSSV) website at www.hssv.org or call (408) 262-2133. | |
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Sunnyvale DPS Responds to Lockheed Fire
During the early morning hours of August 13, 2009, Sunnyvale Fire Engine 4 (E-4), was called to respond to the Lockheed Fire as part of a wildland mutual aid strike team. The crew, consisting of Lt. Kim Bianconi, PSO Kevin Rego, PSO Orval Jones and PSO Michael Lecy, quickly loaded their equipment and headed for the hills of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Strike Team XSC2301 members from Sunnyvale E-4: Lt. Kim Bianconi, PSO Kevin Rego, PSO Orval Jones and PSO Michael Lecy.
Upon meeting up with the rest of Strike Team XSC2301, E-4 was directed to do structure protection along Swanton Road, which was the area immediately threatened during the initial phase of the fire. The crew spent the first 36 hrs of their deployment conducting "fire watch" throughout the day and night to make sure new fires did not ignite in the area.
Upon the arrival of their relief crew the next day, E-4, along with the rest of the strike team, traveled to base camp at the Watsonville Fairgrounds where they spent the day catching up on sleep and rest.
On their second day of deployment, the strike team was sent to do more "fire watch" in the Bonny Doon area. Many of these residents had been evacuated and still shaken by the Martin Fire that swept through their neighborhood just last year so many were comforted by the presence of Strike Team 2301.
While the threat of the fire was not as immediate, the strike team was able to take advantage of the open land to participate in training activities such as hand tools and progressive hose lays. Overall, this fire managed to burn over 7500 acres - but amazingly, no homes were lost. Strike Team 2301 was released from duty on August 17th, at which time E-4 returned safely to Sunnyvale.
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Working with the Community
September is "National Preparedness" Month
September is " National Preparedness Month" and the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety/Office Of Emergency Services
is reminding citizens that they can take steps to be prepared if
there's a disaster. It's important to make a kit, to make a plan, and
to stay informed. A survival kit includes basics like fresh
water and food for up to three days, blankets, matches,
battery-operated radios and lights. Checklists on what to include can
be found on www.ready.gov. A plan should include family escape routes and meeting places. Common
threats in California include fires, floods, and especially
EARTHQUAKES. New strains of the flu virus have also been added to the
list including H1N1, the swine flu and pandemic influenza.  SNAP Training ExerciseAdditional
steps that can you can take are getting trained and becoming engaged in
community preparedness and response efforts. Should you want to do more
for your community than just preparing yourself, please consider
volunteering in your community as part of your disaster preparedness. There are four basic types of volunteers that assist during an emergency.
1. Community members who have attended Sunnyvale Neighborhood Actively Prepare (SNAP) training. This training is commonly called Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
in other cities. SNAP is an intensive course in individual and family
preparedness. This involves about 30 hours of training, and occurs
seven Thursday evenings in a row and one Saturday. SNAP members are
trained to assist their family first, then to assist their neighborhood
and then to assist the rest of the community. Our SNAP program is
overseen by the Office of Emergency Services within the Public Safety
Department. 2. We have
"registered" volunteers who have identified skills and are willing to
assist in the event of a disaster or wide spread emergency. These are
pre-disaster identified Community Volunteers
who have committed to assist in various capacities in the City after a
major emergency or disaster. This program is overseen by the Community
Resources section of the Office of the City Manager. City of Sunnyvale Volunteer Resources 3. We have the Sunnyvale Amateur Radio Emergency Service (SARES) group. This group consists of experienced amatuer radio operators who volunteer their expertise with radio communications. The SARES group is very active and often participates in a variety of City events in addition to disasters. The SARES program is overseen by the Office Of Emergency Services within the Public Safety Department.  SARES members participating in a remote communication exercise4. Lastly, we have spontaneous volunteers.
These community members are people who want to help after a disaster
has struck, but have not previously committed to one of the other three
programs. These people report to a designated area to be interviewed as
to their skills and abilities and are "signed up" with the City as
Volunteers to assist with that specific event. This program is overseen
by the Community Resources section of the Office of the City Manager, City of Sunnyvale Volunteer Resources Even
if you are not interested in participating in one of these volunteer
groups, we ask that you take a minute to review our web site, Office of Emergency Services,
which we feel is essential. Included in this link is the Emergency
Preparedness Workbook that includes vital information to assist you in
better preparing yourself for emergencies. Remember, YOU LIVE IN
EARTHQUAKE COUNTRY!!! Take some time to review the Emergency Preparedness Workbook.
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Working with the Community
National Night Out
National Night Out is a nationwide event that encourages residents to "get out and meet each other" so they can recognize who does and does not belong in their neighborhood. It is the nation's "night out against crime." As the chief mentions in his message..."our neighborhood associations can be one of our most powerful tools in preventing crimes." National Night Out is our annual reminder that together we can make our neighborhoods even safer! 
PSO Carl Ella at neighborhood gathering
This year, 14 Sunnyvale neighborhoods representing hundreds of residents, held block parties on National Night Out. Public Safety, City Council and other city staff were able to visit these events and meet our residents. Public Safety personnel included patrol, fire, traffic unit (motorcycles), K9 Unit and SWAT team (Bear Cat). It was a great opportunity for the staff to "get out" into the neighborhoods and interact with community members in a positive environment.
PSO Brian Smart visiting with residents
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