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August 2013 - Vol.06, No.08
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| Message from the Chief | |
Last November, the Department of Public Safety's Management Team participated in a Team Building Workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to develop an organizational plan and to explore how we can work together in the most effective way. We discussed a wide range of issues and identified several key action items which we have been working on since completing the workshop. One of the action items included a complete review of the department's Mission Statement. We felt that the Mission Statement should be clear, concise and describe exactly what it is that we provide as an organization. We also believed that the Mission Statement should be supported by a Vision Statement, directing our future actions, and by identifying our core values which lead us in our daily actions. The Management Team's efforts are listed below and can be seen throughout our public safety buildings. We felt that it was important to share this with the community we serve. We know that our daily actions will determine if we are following our Mission, Vision and Values and are committed to adhering to these guiding statements.
Mission Statement
Providing our community with fully integrated
public safety services
Police - EMS - Fire
Vision Statement
To continually improve our standing as a leader of the
fully integrated public safety model
Values Statement
As members of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, we value our role in contributing to a safe environment and enhancing the quality of life within our community. We embrace our commitment and responsibility to the public, and each other, by adhering to the following shared values:
Excellence
We strive to exceed expectations by providing effective, innovative, and valuable services.
Professionalism
We take pride in providing our community with outstanding service and in conducting ourselves responsibly by maintaining the highest ethical and moral standards. We embrace an environment that encourages teamwork, innovation, constant evaluation of ourselves, and treating those we serve and each other with dignity and respect.
Accountability
We hold ourselves, and each other, accountable for
our actions and
decisions for the benefit of our community and profession.
Community Engagement
We proactively engage our diverse and dynamic community through collaborative, supportive, and productive partnerships.
Chief Grgurina
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National Immunization Awareness Month
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Recognizing National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM)Each year in August, National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) provides an opportunity to highlight the need for improving national immunization coverage levels. Activities focus on encouraging all people to protect their health by being immunized against infectious diseases. In 2013, the National Public Health Information Coalition is coordinating NIAM activities. Get Toolkits to Help You Raise Awareness About Immunization The National Immunization Awareness Month Communication Toolkit, developed by NPHIC in collaboration with CDC, focuses on four weekly themes: - Babies and pregnant women
- Children, preteens, and teens
- Young adults
- Adults
The toolkit includes key messages, sample media materials, social media content, and event ideas. You can also get eye-catching NIAM logos and banners for each weekly theme. These branding elements highlight your participation in NIAM.
The National Health Information Center offers a toolkit with NIAM resources through Healthfinder.gov
Find CDC Resources for National Immunization Awareness Month
CDC develops immunization materials our partners can use in local outreach and education efforts during NIAM and year-round. Below are links to materials you can use during NIAM to:
Please click here for more information.
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CSOs Now Serving Community |
 Three of the first class of Sunnyvale Community Service Officers are now out in the field after months of in-house training.Here's a little bit about what they will be doing:Residents can expect to see CSOs aiding officers with crime reports where no suspects are present, such as commercial or residential burglaries reported long after the incident, vandalism, missing persons not at-risk and non-injury traffic accidents. They will also support the officers by providing traffic control, waiting for vehicle tows, transportation of witnesses and victims and other duties that do not require an emergency-trained Public Safety Officer.
 During a typical day for a Public Safety Officer in Sunnyvale assigned to patrol, there is a mix of emergency and non-emergency calls. Emergency calls deal with an immediate threat to safety, whether it's a crime in progress, fire or medical incident. Non-emergency calls are usually when there are no suspects in the area, such as a theft discovered a day or more after it happened, or a report of a crime that has no immediate threat to public safety, such as graffiti. Before the addition of CSOs to the team, once Public Safety Officers responded to a non-emergency, they were not available to respond to an emergency call or were pulled from the non-emergency and reassigned, causing disruption in service. Now, residents can expect better service during non-emergency calls and more Public Safety Officers available to respond quickly to emergency calls.
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Public Safety Cadets in Parks |
 The Department of Public Works Parks Division and Department of Public Safety are cooperating on a joint effort to introduce a program that has Public Safety Cadets monitoring Sunnyvale's Parks and Open Spaces. At the end of June, the Cadets began working on weekends to help educate the public about park rules and the Municipal Code, including the new ordinance banning smoking in parks.
 Cadets can also monitor problem areas such as vandalism on the John W. Christian Greenbelt where graffiti has been an issue lately. They have been trained to avoid confrontation and to call dispatch if they observe any illegal activity so that regular officers can respond appropriately. Feedback from the public has been very positive and appreciative for the presence of Public Safety Cadets in the parks during times of peak use. Be sure to say hello if you see them in the parks sporting their tan cadet uniforms. |
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Sunnyvale Explorers Win Awards | |
 From July 12 through July 14 Sunnyvale Public Safety Explorer Post 417 traveled to Modesto for the 3rd Annual Central Valley Explorer Competition. The group was lead by Explorer Advisors NRO Todd Fekete and NRO Brian Gantt. The team competed against more than 200 Explorers representing 23 different agencies from throughout California. During monthly meetings, NROs Fekete and Gantt provided training in preparation for this competition. The hard work, preparation and commitment paid off as Explorer Post 417 came away with not only awards, but a very important life lesson of how a team comes together for a common goal.
 Explorers Luis Ruiz, Nicholas Moore-Nieland, Dakota Manchette and Carlo Merino took 1st place in Vehicle Searches (beating out the perennial winners, US Border Patrol). Explorers Adam Hull, Daniel Alcazar, Luis Ruiz, Nicholas Moore-Nieland, Dakota Manchette and Carlo Merino also took 2nd place in Hostage Rescue. Explorers Nicholas Moore-Nieland, Adam Hull, and Dakota Manchette took 3rd place in a scenario in which they had to deal with a mentally disturbed individual.
The Explorers are able to participate in events like this through fundraising efforts conducted throughout the year, mainly T-shirt sales at events like the Art and Wine Festival, and a yearly donation made from the Public Safety Officers Association. These fundraising efforts and financial donations helped cover a large percentage of the costs to attend the competition. The Explorers are looking forward to repeating their accomplishments at the Southern California Explorer Competition in March 2014.
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Fire Prevention Staff Now in Uniform
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 You may have noticed lately that Public Safety Fire Prevention and Hazardous Materials Inspectors are now in uniform, sporting white shirts, navy pants and silver badges. Last year, a new service delivery model to civilianize the entire Fire Prevention office was implemented in an effort to realize cost savings and provide an alternative service delivery model.
The recently approved uniforms for civilian staff allow local businesses to more readily identify inspectors as Public Safety employees, and provide consistency with other Santa Clara County Fire Code enforcement agencies. In addition to the uniforms, new Fire Prevention and Hazardous Materials vehicles also have unique identifying side door decals.
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2013 Power Pull Recap |  The 11th annual Special Olympics Power Pull at Great America was held on July 20. In this competitive event, rivaling teams of 15 members, plus a Special Olympics Athlete, pulled a Central Concrete Truck weighing approximately 38,000 pounds and a Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety Fire Truck weighing approximately 66,000 pounds.
Teams pulled to raise money and bring awareness to the Law Enforcement Torch Run benefitting Special Olympics Northern California - at California's Great America. This year, Central Concrete reigned supreme against rival teams from Preston Pipelines, Star One Credit Union, Special Olympics, Joseph J. Albanese, Inc. and Sunnyvale Deptartment of Public Safety.
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In Memory of PSO Charles Fraker |
 Thirty-seven years ago, PSO Charles Fraker became the third Public Safety Officer killed in the line of duty. In his memory, all city flags were flown at half-staff on Thursday, August 1 and all officers wore black ribbons on their badges.
On Sunday afternoon, August 1, 1976, PSO Fraker was working patrol when a structure fire was broadcast at 301 Acalanes. This location is a multi-unit apartment complex and the fire was in an upstairs bedroom of one of the apartments. PSO Fraker responded and arrived at the scene before the fire apparatus. He immediately exited his patrol car and went to the involved apartment. When the fire apparatus arrived, a pre-connect line was advanced from the rig into the apartment by Officer Fraker and another officer. The small fire in the bedroom flashed over and Officer Fraker suffered fatal injuries from the flashover.
Officer Fraker was 25 years old and had been on the department for two years. His wife and two daughters survived him.
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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
© 2010-2013 City of Sunnyvale, CA |
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