[DPSDist] News From Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety

In the public safety field, we continually stress the importance of preparedness. If the prediction of an El Nino rainfall becomes a reality, our preparedness will have a significant impact on our community's safety. Heavy rain, cold weather and flooding can cause a myriad of problems and endanger lives, including that of pets and other wildlife. In response, DPS is in the process of working with other city departments and regional partners to ensure our communication and notification systems are working properly. This will include a new interactive map to be used during severe weather to alert residents of street closures, flooding and general public safety activity. As always, residents are encouraged to subscribe to the free DPS Nixle messaging system at http://local.nixle.com/sunnyvale-department-of-public-safety/ and our Twitter account @SunnyvaleDPS.

Personal and family preparation for the pending storms should include home readiness (i.e. check roofing for leaks, clear gutters and downspouts, stock emergency kits, etc.), automobile safety inspection (i.e. tire tread, battery strength, vehicle lights, windshield wipers, brake system, emergency kit, etc.), and pet care considerations (i.e. keeping animals inside and/or dry, ensure that they have a identification collar and are chipped, etc.). In addition to the above information, please slow down, be cautious and allow extra time when driving and/or walking.

Wishing all of our community a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving Holiday!

Chief Grgurina

TEL (408) 730-7140
TDD (408) 730-7501

or email to: pubsfty@sunnyvale.ca.gov

Is Your Vehicle Ready For the Rain?

If predictions are correct, this winter may be the wettest in a long time. Take some preventative measures now to ensure your vehicle is ready for the rain.

Wiper Blades

Wiper blades over a year old? Consider replacing them!
If the blades don't operate smoothly over dry or wet windshields, they aren't doing their job.
Top off your wiper fluid, and consider washer fluid with antifreeze properties.
Effective windshield wipers are essential to safe driving in the rain!

Tires

Tread depth should be no less than 4/32 of an inch for proper traction on wet roads.
Measuring depth is easy! Put a quarter into the tire tread. If Washington's head is covered, you are OK!
Ensure tires are evenly worn, in good condition with no metal showing.
Check tire pressure - Recommended pressure is usually shown on a label inside of the driver side door.

Lights
Check all lights to ensure they are working properly, including headlights, taillights, and turn signals.

Emergency Kit

Have an emergency kit in the vehicle, including jumper cables, equipment to change a flat tire, and a first aid kit.
Keep information handy if you have a roadside assistance service through your vehicle's insurance company, or know your local resources if you experience a breakdown.
If you are headed to a cold location, have warm blankets or clothing available in case you are stranded. Consider an ice scraper or snow brush!

Driving in the Rain
Rainy weather is blamed for hundreds of crashes, but in reality it is more a failure of the driver to adjust for wet conditions.

Slow down in wet conditions.
Turn your headlights on whenever there's bad weather.
Brake earlier, and leave extra following distance.
If you cannot see out of your windshield, stop and delay your trip until it is safe to drive.
If you see standing water, never drive through it! You never know how deep the water is, and you may get stuck!

Hydroplaning
At higher speeds, water can build up between your tire and the ground, causing you to lose traction and contact with the pavement. If you hydroplane:

Let off the accelerator, but do not brake
Don't put extra input into the steering wheel. Once you regain traction, you can lose control if you turn your wheel while hydroplaning.
Slow down until you regain traction, and keep your speed slow.

Drive Safely!

Stay Warm and Stay Safe This Winter

What To Do if You See a Drunk Driver

It happens every day. Drunk drivers get on the roads, endangering our friends and loved ones. You may have seen a driver weaving in and out of lanes, asleep at a signal light or traveling down a roadway going the wrong direction. Quite often, responsible citizens are left asking themselves - what should I do?

First, stay as far away from the other vehicle if possible.
Second, do not try to pass the vehicle or signal the driver to pull over. Doing so could result in a collision.
Third, take notice of the license plate number along with details of the vehicle including make, model and color. However, make sure you don't compromise your own safety trying to obtain this information.
Finally, pull over and call 9-1-1. Give the exact location of the vehicle, including the name of the road or cross streets and the direction the vehicle is traveling. Give a complete description of the vehicle and the manner in which the vehicle is being driven.

Save a life. Report a drunk driver by calling 9-1-1.

Recent Infectious Diseases Report

Over the past two weeks, we were reminded the importance of good hand washing, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and keeping informed to potential infectious diseases we may come into contact with. There were two incidents reported in just 10 days.

Shigella

During the weekend of October 16 - 18, County of Santa Clara Public Health Department was notified of multiple patients with symptoms of fever and diarrhea, all who had eaten at the same restaurant in downtown San Jose. After confirming the cause of the symptoms to be Shigella (shih-GEHL-uh) bacteria and the increasing amount of cases, a Health Alert was issued on October 19, 2015.

Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. Most that are infected with Shigella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps starting a day or two after they are exposed to the bacteria. Shigellosis usually resolves in 5 to 7 days. Some people who are infected may have no symptoms at all, but may still pass the Shigella bacteria to others. Shigella germs are present in the stools of infected persons while they have diarrhea and for up to a few weeks after the diarrhea has gone away. Shigella is very contagious; exposure to even a tiny amount of contaminated fecal matter-too small to see-- can cause infection. Transmission of Shigella occurs when people put something in their mouths or swallow something that has come into contact with stool of a person infected with Shigella. The spread of Shigella can be stopped by frequent and careful handwashing with soap and taking other hygiene measures.

Norovirus

This past weekend, our officers responded to an assisted living facility where they had a possible Norovirus outbreak. This has been reported to the County of Santa Clara Public Health, who is investigating.

Norovirus is a very contagious virus and is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States. Anyone can be infected with norovirus and present with symptoms of it. You can have Norovirus illness many times in your life and it can be serious, especially for young children and older adults.

You can get Norovirus from an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces. The virus causes the stomach or intestines or both to become inflamed. This leads to symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Norovirus can found in the stool (feces) of infected people even before they begin to feel sick. The virus can stay in the stool for 2 weeks or more after the person feels better. Symptoms usually develop 12 to 48 hours after being exposed to Norovirus. Most people with Norovirus illness get better within 1 to 3 days. A person is most contagious when they are sick and presenting with symptoms. As well, they continue to be contagious during the first few days after they are no longer present with symptoms of the virus.

The best way to help prevent Norovirus is to practice proper hand washing and general cleanliness.

Handwashing is Like a "Do-It-Yoursef" Vaccine (excerpt from CDC.gov)

The CDC believes clean hands can save lives. It involves five simple and effective steps (Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry) you can take to reduce the spread of diarrheal and respiratory illness so you can stay healthy. Regular handwashing, particularly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. It's quick, it's simple, and it can keep us all from getting sick. Handwashing is a win for everyone, except the germs.

Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

For additional information on handwashing, Shigella, Norovirus and other related pathogens, please visit the CDC website:

http://www.cdc.gov/shigella

http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus

http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing

Fire Safety Poster Contest

During the month of September, Sunnyvale DPS, the Kiwanis Club of Silicon Valley and the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce partnered to host the annual Fire Safety Poster Contest for Sunnyvale students in Kindergarten through fifth grade. Students were invited to enter original artwork depicting a fire safety theme such as Crawl Low in Smoke, Cool a Burn or Test Smoke Alarms Monthly. From hundreds of creative entries, the top three posters from each grade were selected.

The finalists attended a pizza party celebration at Sunnyvale Fire Station #2 on Tuesday, October 13. All the winning posters were on display and each child received a finalist ribbon, toy fire hat, stickers and trading cards along with a pizza lunch sponsored by Kuykenall's Collision Repair and the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce.

That same evening, the finalists, along with family and friends, attended a City Council meeting where they learned what place they won in the contest. First place received a gold medal on a blue ribbon and a fire extinguisher, second place received a silver medal on a red ribbon and a flashlight and third place received a bronze medal on a white ribbon and a smoke detector. The winning posters were displayed on the council chamber TV monitor as guests arrived and also during the award presentations.

Photos of the posters will be framed and on display in City Hall through the end of the year.

Lt. Jose Ramirez Honored at Law Enforcement Event

Lt. Jose Ramirez was honored by Crime Stoppers at the Santa Clara County Law Enforcement Awards Dinner on November 5 at the Corinthian Grand Ballroom in San Jose. Honorees included members of from Santa Clara County Probation Department and Santa Clara County Sheriffs Department, as well as Campbell, Los Altos, Los Gatos/Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, San Jose State University and Santa Clara Police Departments and Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.

Officers were recognized for their initiative, positive attitude and for efforts above and beyond what is required and/or expected of them. Lt. Ramirez was highlighted for his work in creating the Sunnyvale Boxing Club in 2006 which served more than 700 youth in its first year. The boxing club was the impetus to revive the Sunnyvale Police Activities League in 2011. Lt. Ramirez is the current Vice President/CFO of the Sunnyvale PAL which currently serves more than 1,000 youth each year through programs such as boxing, Junior Giants, KLD Soccer Camp, College Tours, Workplace Tours and Ocean Fishing Trips.

Congratulations Lt. Ramirez!

2015 Peninsula Firefighters' Burn Relay

The 2015 Peninsula Firefighter's Burn Relay was an incredible success! The Relay started at Moffett Field in Mountain View, CA and then continued on to 15 different Fire Stations throughout the San Francisco Bay, ultimately ending at the San Francisco Fire Department's Division of Training.

Thank you to each of the fire departments and various organizations participating in the Peninsula Relay for supporting the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (AARBF)! Together we were able to raise $87,618.72 for our mission of enhancing the lives of burn survivors and promoting burn prevention education.

One of the AARBF programs that will benefit from the Relay is Champ Camp. Champ Camp is the nation's largest and longest running camps for burn-injured children, with over 130 children attending this past June. This year Champ Camp celebrated its 30th Anniversary and thanks to generous supporters, AARBF is looking forward to hosting the next 30 years of Camp.

The Peninsula Firefighter's Burn Relay would not have been possible without the organization from the three Relay coordinators, Selena Brown - Woodside Fire Protection District, Steve Besozzi - Central County Fire Department and Brandon Vaccaro - Belmont Police Department. They not only inform each of the agencies of the Relay, but also assure our safety throughout the day. Thank you Selena, Steve, and Brandon for your continued dedication to the Relay and AARBF!

Elks Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest

On October 21, the Department of Public Safety joined forces to bring the Elks Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest to Peterson Middle School. Neighborhood Resource Officer Jahari Tracy worked with Sunnyvale Elks Lodge Hoop Shoot Chairman Jim McCloskey and Vice-Principal Andy Masur to hold the annual event. Of the 43, 10 - 13 year old boys and girls who signed up, the four winners of each division were invited to the West Central District Hoop Shoot in Watsonville in January 2016.

The Elks Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest is the largest and most visible of the many youth activities sponsored by Elks Lodges. The Elks National Free Throw Program is open to all boys and girls, ages 8 through 13 years old. More than three million boys and girls will participate this year. The Elks' Hoop Shoot highlights the Elks commitment to America's youth and provides a unique opportunity for youth and public safety officers to interact in a positive, fun environment.

Through their "Hoop Shoot" program, The Elks' desire is to provide an interesting, character-building, competitive program for all girls and boys in the contest regardless of their previous athletic competition or abilities. This nationwide, sanctioned program gives these youngsters an opportunity for spirited competition, to build relationships with their peers, and travel statewide, regionally and nationally - at minimal expense to their parents or school. Not only are the participants involved in this wholesome, individual-effort program, but parents, classmates, teachers and community are included.

For more information about Hoop Shoot, please visit http://www.elks.org/hoopshoot/

Reading Partners

Volunteer as a literacy tutor with Reading Partners!

Reading Partners is a literacy non-profit that mobilizes community volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring to struggling elementary student readers.

No experience is required to volunteer, and they are seeking weekly volunteers (one hour/week), as well as substitute tutors. Tutors are paired to work with the same student, for one hour per week, and are provided with an easy-to-follow curriculum that includes all of the books, worksheets, and step-by-step lesson plans to teach an effective lesson. Reading Partners also has a staff Site Coordinator who is available to support tutors at all times. Volunteers make an enormous impact: on average, students double their rate of learning while enrolled in the program.

Watch this short video to learn more about Reading Partners' work in the Bay Area!

Reading Partners runs programming Monday-Thursday at 25 Silicon Valley schools, five North Sunnyvale schools (Bishop, Ellis, Lakewood, San Miguel, and Vargas) with available session times running from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Reading Partners' Community Engagement Manager, Gina Roberti, at regina.roberti@readingpartners.org or at 408.622.0643.

Paradise Pier Fishing Trip

On Saturday, October 26, Sunnyvale PAL, Sunnyvale DPS and Fremont High School Partnered with Discover Angling to take 30 youth fishing at Paradise Pier in Tiburon. Youth from local schools including Bishop, San Miguel, Columbia Middle and Fremont High School participated. Many of the youth learned about the trip through their involvement with PAL Boxing, Reach Potential Movement and Heart 2 Heart Teens. Everyone met bright and early at the Gateway Neighborhood Center where they boarded a bus along with a dozen adult chaperones. The drive time passed quickly with the exciting highlight of crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.

Upon arrival at the pier, the group was greeted by several Discover Angling volunteers who had arrived earlier to set up poles and "claim" our spot on the pier. Among the volunteers was Baja Bev Seltzer, a retired commercial fisherman, life-long sport fishing enthusiast and author of the book "The Lady and the Ling Cod." At Paradise Pier, anglers fish for halibut, sturgeon, striped bass, shark, perch, bat ray, and crab. The Sunnyvale group caught lots of mackerel, a few rock crabs and many bat rays.

Paradise Pier is located at Paradise Beach Park which is a 19 acre park on the east shore of the Tiburon Peninsula. The T shaped fishing pier is quite long with ample space for lots of anglers. And the park grounds are beautifully landscaped with lawns, flowers and mature trees.

More information and photos at www.sunnyvalepal.org

Cops Care Cancer Foundation Challenge Coins

Cops Care Cancer Foundation http://copscarecancerfoundation.com/ has a limited number of commemorative coins they are selling for $15 each to support Fantasy Flight - a holiday event for children with cancer and their families. To purchase coins, please contact Mike Ghezzi at ghezzimichael@comcast.net or 408-568-1463.

ASSET OF THE MONTH - Positive Cultural Identity

Asset #41: Young person feels comfortable with and proud of his/her identity, including but not limited to disabilities, ethnicity, faith/religion, family status, gender, language, and sexual orientation.

THE IMPORTANCE OF POSITIVE CULTURAL IDENTITY

Research shows that positive identity is linked with several positive outcomes, including self assurance, a sense of belonging, a positive view of personal future, and better adjustment in school. But, developing a sense of positive cultural identity-a critical element of personal identity-can be difficult for young people, especially if their identity lies in two or more cultures: their identity in the majority culture as well as in their own cultural group.

The way that youth are treated in regard to their ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or
gender directly affects their ability to develop a positive personal identity. As adults, it's critical that we
model recognition, understanding, and celebrating all cultural identities, including the cultures to which we and/or our children do not belong. Sharing and celebrating different cultural identities increases individuals' self-esteem and promotes cultural competence among all young people. Every community can benefit from building greater esteem and understanding both within and among the many cultural groups in our region.

The following discussion topics can help families talk with young people about their cultural identity:

What is our cultural background?
What are some things that you value because it's valued by our culture?
What are some things about our culture that you would like other people to know?
Do you know anyone who's from a different culture? In what ways are your cultures? Similar and different? Do your cultural differences make it difficult to be friends? How can you share your cultural differences in a positive, nonjudgmental way?

ACTIVITIES

The activities below are a starting point to help build positive cultural identity in youth.

FOR FAMILIES

Make sure that your children learn the story of where they come from-including both family history and the history of their heritage-from an early age.
Even very young children are aware of racial and cultural differences among people. Address the issues of stereotypes, myths, and cultural differences in a positive, age appropriate manner.
It's normal for young people to explore different aspects of personal identity, including cultural identity. Children, whose parents promote a positive cultural identity, while allowing them the freedom to explore, tend to develop a healthy personal identity.
Some elements of a child's identity-such as sexual orientation-might not be shared in common with the rest of the family. Parents should make special efforts to ensure that everyone feels understood, respected, valued, safe, and loved within the family.

FOR ALL ADULTS

Serve as a mentor for youth from your culture. They will benefit from learning how to successfully maintain a positive cultural identity from someone outside their family.
Help your children maintain a positive attitude about school, and make sure they know that you will be their advocate to resolve any problems or challenges that they encounter.
Adults should be careful to strike a balance between celebrating the youth's difference and including the youth as part of the group as a whole. Sometimes, focusing too much on a youth's differences-no matter how good the intention-can further isolate youth from their peers.

AT SCHOOL OR IN YOUTH PROGRAMS

Support home languages as much as possible. Children who are bilingual in their home language and English tend to maintain a positive connection with their families and cultural communities.
All students need to be valued and appreciated for their unique characteristics regularly. Be aware of the cultural diversity in your classroom or program, and try to understand its dimensions.
Make a personal effort to learn about the culture of the youth in your classroom or program. For example, students from cultures where children are not expected to ask questions of adults may have difficulty letting you know when they don't understand the lesson. Help students understand the culture of your class or program without devaluing their cultures of origin.
Young people can discover and share their cultural identity through lessons and projects that highlight their cultures and experiences while engaging them in active learning. For example, develop lessons and activities around the gifts that different cultures have given the world, and discuss how "cultural borrowing" allows everyone to thrive.
Sometimes even the most innocent activities can be exclusionary. For example, celebration of "Crazy Hair Day" may exclude youth whose religion requires that they cover their heads. Be sure that your planned programs and activities take everyone's culture into account.

This article was provided courtesy of Project Cornerstone. For more information, visit www.projectcornerstone.org.

Nixle

What is Nixle?

Nixle is a free community messaging system which utilizes a secure network to ensure creditability and reliability of information. DPS will use the NIXLE system to notify residents about important events happening within, or affecting the city. Residents receive updates via text, web, and email to stay informed of important notifications.

How can I sign-up for Nixle notifications?

Go to www.nixle.com
Click on "Sign Up Free!"
Enter information on this screen (There is no need to enter home phone since the cell will be used for text alerts)
Your account is started. Go to "Settings" and sign up for "Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety." Just be sure to click "Save" when completed. (You can sign up for other agencies by using either their name or a zip code to receive alerts.)

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