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November 2010 - Vol.03, No.11 |
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Events Calendar
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November 24
Challenge Team
Bring holiday cheer to those less fortunate - in lieu of our November meeting - please drop off blankets, coats, toys and food items to DPS Headquarters on November 24 from 7:00 - 9:00 a.m. Items will be shared with Challenge Team members that provide for those in need.
ChallengeTeam.inSunnyvale.com
November 25
Thanksgiving
December 2
FLY Showcase Breakfast
www.flyprogram.org
December 4
Holiday Tree Lighting
www.downtownsunnyvale.com
December 11
Rides for Toys
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
@ Toys R Us
December 11
Cops Care Cancer Foundation
Fantasy Flight
December 11
Breakfast with Santa
Seatings at 8 - 9:30 a.m.
or 10:30 a.m. - noon
Sunnyvale Senior Center
December 25
Christmas
December 31
New Year's Eve |
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| Message from the Chief | 
Training is Key
Last week, our four most recently hired Public Safety Recruits completed their first phase of their training at the South Bay Regional Police Academy at Evergreen. Just over 23 weeks ago, we dropped them off for their first day of training for their "dream job." Dream jobs don't come easy, our Recruits competed against more than 300 applicants in their quest. Our philosophy - we only hire the best! These Recruits completed more than 900 hours of instruction that included oral and written testing, real time interactive scenario testing, physical skills training and testing - and I am proud to say that out of 46 Recruits, ours finished at the top of their class. Their average overall score was 95% in all phases of testing.
This group will stay together and begin their work on the streets alongside a training officer who acts as their coach and mentor. This phase of training will last about 14 weeks, then off to a regional Fire Academy to learn basic firefighting skills and to be certified as Emergency Medical Technicians -15 weeks in all.
The amount and intensity of training our officers receive prepare them well to serve the community. Our goal is to produce the best trained, most confident, and skilled officers who will enjoy a long career here at Sunnyvale Public Safety. We are proud of the way our officers go about their work - as the Chief, I believe they are the best of the best....... and it all starts with training.
Wish our newest the best of luck: Elizabeth Nguyen, Jahari Tracy, Stephen Eckford, and Corinne Abernathy. When you see them in your neighborhood, they will be the ones with the biggest smiles - they are living their dream!
From left to right:
Elizabeth Nguyen, Corinne Abernathy,
Stephen Eckford, Jahari Tracy
Chief Johnson
(408) 730-7140, TDD (408) 730-7501
or email pubsfty@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us
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National Youth Involvement Month |
November is National Youth Involvement Month! This year's grand theme is Get Out and Volunteer! Are you ready for this year's awesome plans to get you involved?
As many of you know, each November the American Red Cross celebrates the incredible work that all of you do for the organization.Nationally, youth volunteers do everything! We respond to disasters, give blood, teach preparedness classes, raise funds for international relief and support our troops.
This year's weekly themes for the Get Out and Volunteer campaign are:
Week 1: Getting Active and Finding a Volunteer Project
Week 2: Spreading the Word and Tracking Your Volunteer Experience
Week 3: Staying Active and Finishing a Project
Week 4: Recapping Your Experience and Moving Forward
Look forward to more information to come out every Monday in November 2010 over Youth Wire and the Redcrossyouth.org blog, as well as a brand new Red Cross Youth Facebook page.
LET'S GET VOLUNTEERING!
For more information, please click here |
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2010 Firefighters Pancake Breakfast | |
The 2010 Firefighters Pancake Breakfast on October 9 served more than 1,000 diners and raised $5,081.33 for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation http://www.aarbf.org. 
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Special Olympics International Law Enforcement Torch Run Conference |
"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt..."
Special Olympics Athlete Oath
 On October 20-23, 2010, more than 1,000 people from around the world gathered for the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for the Special Olympics International Conference in Long Beach, CA. Attendees representing law enforcement agencies, Special Olympics staff, athletes, volunteers and sponsors came together to learn, share ideas and to reinforce the importance of the work that is accomplished through this partnership.
The history of the law enforcement partnership with Special Olympics began in 1981 when Wichita, Kansas Police Chief, Richard LaMunyon, saw an urgent need to raise funds for and increase awareness of Special Olympics. This movement has grown to include law enforcement agencies around the world and supports more than 36,000 athletes.
 During the past year, the LETR Northern California raised more than $1 million dollars and the LETR Worldwide raised more than $38 million dollars to support Special Olympics programs. Special Olympics provides year-round sports programs for people with intellectual disabilities at no charge to the participant. Sports include softball, weightlifting, track and field, floor hockey, bowling, gymnastics and bocce ball. In addition, some regions have dance troops, bands, equestrian sports and other unique activities.
Special Olympics athletes are always encouraged to reach their potential. One opportunity available to qualified candidates is participation in the Global Messenger Program. The Global Messenger Program trains athletes in public speaking so that they may travel all over the world to give presentations about the Special Olympics. Several Global Messengers shared the duties of MC for this year's conference in Long Beach. They shared the stage with U.S. Olympic Champions Rafer Johnson, Bruce Jenner, John Naber and retired major league baseball pitcher Jim Abbott.
 Participation in Special Olympics is rewarding to everyone involved whether as an athlete, a coach, a volunteer or a parent. The athletes are not "special" because of their disabilities. They are "special" because of their abilities.
Take a moment to visit the Special Olympics Norhern California website at www.sonc.org and learn more about this valuable program. You can support Sunnyvale Public Safety's efforts to help Special Olympics by attending one of our Tip-a-Cop events; cheering us on at the Power Pull and during the Torch Run; or by clicking here to make a donation. |
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Family Fun Night at Columbia Neighborhood Center | |
 On October 27, the Columbia Neighborhood Center hosted the 12th Annual Family Fun Night. The Department of Public Safety joined the Department of Community Services and other community groups to host the Halloween Event, which encourages families to spend quality time together in a fun and safe atmosphere. The free event included carnival style games, a haunted house and snacks for the children.
DPS personnel and volunteers staffed the Pumpkin Walk and the Safety Roulette games. In addition, community partner, SafeKids Coalition from Lucile Packard Children's Hospital brought their Smoothie Bike. Other games and activities included Putt-Putt Golf, Balloon Animals, Fishing, Ghost Toss and Penny Pitch.
The Pumpkin Walk, similar to a Cake Walk, starts with a circle of numbers on the floor. Participants walk around the circle until the music stops. Each player stops on a number. A number is drawn from a basket and whoever is standing on that number wins a pumpkin. Officer Todd Fekete showed off his hidden talents as the MC for the Pumpkin Walk.
The Safety Roulette wheel gave people the chance to spin the wheel and answer a safety question in the category where the wheel stopped. There were questions for children and adults. Everyone won a prize for trying.
The Smoothie Bike was a huge hit with the children even though it was a chilly night. The stationary bike had a blender connected on the back. When a rider peddled, the energy powered the blender. Children got in a bit of exercise and then got to enjoy a healthy smoothie made with organic yogurt, bananas and mixed berries.
Nearly 1,000 people attended this year's Family Fun Night. Events such as this offer great opportunities for families to spend time together and to interact with city staff in a positive environment. |
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Cops Care Cancer Foundation Fantasy Flight | |
 The Cops Care Cancer Foundation (CCCF) is hosting its annual Christmas Fantasy Flight on Saturday, December 11. Fantasy Flight is a heartwarming event for families who have a child stricken with cancer. The event provides a fun atmosphere where each child gets to bring their entire family to an exciting day at Yahoo and NASA-Ames for a Christmas carnival. The guests are greeted by local police officers and firefighters along with lots of special guests. Last year's guests included: 49er's Head Coach Mike Singletary, NFL great Isaac Bruce, SJ SHARKIE and Assembly member Alberto Torrico.
In addition to all of the carnival games, jump houses, food and guests, Santa Claus arrives by police helicopter to deliver a specific toy for every child. Financial assistance is provided to each family to help with added expenses during the holiday season. This assistance is made possible by the generous donations of sponsors and by fundraising efforts throughout the year. Fantasy Flight is a life changing experience for the families and everyone involved behind the scenes.
Last year, more than 100 children and their families attended the Holiday Fantasy Flight. In order to make the Fantasy Flight a reality, CCCF relies on donations of money and Target gift cards to purchase the special gifts for each child. All donations are 100% tax deductible. To help with this year's Fantasy Flight please call 408-264-CCCF.
To view this event's flyer, please click here |
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Rides for Toys | |
 The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety is hosting its third annual Rides for Toys event on Saturday, December 11. During this free special charity event, each child who donates a new, unwrapped toy will be given a ride on a Sunnyvale fire engine.
Parents will have a chance to discuss fire safety with Sunnyvale Public Safety personnel and receive informational brochures. Sunnyvale firefighters will present the donated toys to Sunnyvale Community Services, a nonprofit organization supporting those in need in our community.
This year's Rides for Toys will be held in the Toys R Us parking lot at 130 E. El Camino Real. They especially need gifts for children ages 7-12 years old.
For more information about Rides for Toys, please phone the Crime Prevention Unit at
(408) 730-7140.
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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 © 2010 City of Sunnyvale, CA |
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