[DPSDist] News from Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety

Message from the Chief

A Day in the Life... Since March is Fire Prevention Month, I thought I'd share a bit about daily life in the firehouse so that you can rest assured we are prepared to handle any emergency that comes our way. Our shifts start at 0800 hours (8:00 A.M.) when a team of firefighters begins their 24-hour workday.

Right to work, our first task is inventory and inspection of everything on all 14 Sunnyvale fire apparatus. We check to make sure everything is ready - from first aid supplies, to our lifelines in a fire - breathing air packs, fire hose and the tools we use on the fire ground. You'd be surprised to see the amount of emergency equipment we carry on those 35,000 lb. fire engines to ensure we are ready for every emergency!

Our next order of business typically consists of several hours of operational readiness training in topics ranging from emergency medicine, to firefighting, to emergency extrication using the "Jaws of Life." We truly believe in preparedness - the Boy Scouts have it right! We might finish the day with fire prevention inspections of businesses, apartment complexes, and storefronts to ensure they don't put themselves or us at risk with bad practices.

We squeeze in meals where we can, and we rarely sleep all night long without being awakened by an emergency alarm. - You might think our day sounds easy, but the typical day is interrupted with many of the 7,200 emergency response calls that we run each year. I am very proud to tell you that once our firefighters receive the call, we make it to your emergency in less than four and one-half minutes on average - we are the fastest in Santa Clara County.

Many times the workdays can be trying with the constant flow of adrenaline that accompanies each alarm - but I also share with you the secret that your firefighters would not have it any other way! Be safe, and please take this month's fire prevention message to heart.

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

NEAT Street Team

The goal of the Neighborhood Enhancement Action Team (NEAT) is to partner with community members in selected areas to improve the overall quality of life in Sunnyvale. NEAT works with the community to identify issues and concerns then uses a multi-departmental team approach to integrate and coordinate City resources to resolve those issues.

The current NEAT program area residents and property owners have identified property maintenance issues and general health and safety problems (such as littering and bicycle safety) as some of their neighborhood's concerns. In an effort to address these concerns, NEAT has formed the Street Team - six Department of Public Safety volunteers specially trained to proactively identify, document and investigate property maintenance and safety issues and to educate the NEAT area residents and property owners.

NEAT Street Team members Emerson Tuazon and Trever Emerdinger

The Street Team is on the lookout for trash containers stored in public view, junk and debris, outside storage, weeds, overgrown vegetation, blocking public right-of-way or creating vision safety issues, graffiti, vehicles parked on landscaping and other safety issues. By providing the City with extra "eyes and ears" in the NEAT program areas, the Street Team helps improve the quality of life in Sunnyvale. Watch for them in your neighborhood - driving a marked Civic provided by Larry Hopkins Honda or on foot - they'll be wearing their NEAT Street Team polo shirts and jackets.

2010 Sunnyvale
Basketball Shoot Out

The 16th annual Basketball Shoot Out was held at the Columbia Neighborhood Center on Friday February 5, 2010. This was the culmination of preliminary events held at 10 Sunnyvale Sschools.In all, 330 seventh and eighth grade students participated in the event and 177 were invited to compete in the finals.

A highlight of the Basketball Shoot Out was an appearance by the University of Santa Clara Bronco's Women's Basketball team.The players interacted with the finalists, rebounded on the courts and kept track of the baskets made.

Basketball

Each year, the Sunnyvale Elks Lodge is an integral part of this program - they provide hot dogs for everyone in attendance and many of the prizes that are awarded to the winners. Our community partner, Fry's Electronics, also provides prizes for the event.

The event is divided into 4 categories: