Super Bowl 50 has come and gone and there have already been several stories on how the Bay Area performed as the host region. From a public safety perspective, the event which encompassed the entire area, was a success. There were no major incidents and all were able to safely enjoy the game and the associated events. The City of Sunnyvale played an integral role in assisting with the regional efforts and ensuring a safe environment in and about our community. From hosting the Regional Joint Information Center to providing additional public safety services throughout the community, all members of DPS and other city departments were involved with the yearlong planning and deployment of personnel during the two week period leading up to the Super Bowl. These dedicated efforts undoubtedly resulted in the safe environment for residents, visitors and guests.
Outside of the game, there were several related stories which highlighted our community. One of these involved a local Sunnyvale resident, Ronnie Richardson, who was chosen to receive a home renovation as part of the "Kickoff to Rebuild" NFL Super Bowl sanctioned event through "Rebuilding Together Peninsula." Numerous community volunteers from local companies came together to provide donations and labor to completely overhaul the home, including staff from the DPS Neighborhood Preservation Unit. For more information about this effort, see RTP's website at http://www.rebuildingtogetherpeninsula.org/
Local Special Olympics Athlete, Ryan Epidendio, was interviewed by Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles as part of the NFL media coverage during Super Bowl week. Ryan's passion for playing and following sports was highlighted along with the importance of the Special Olympics Program. We are especially proud of Ryan as he truly is a member of our DPS family with his brother, Nicholas Epidendio assigned as one of our Detectives. DPS is very involved with the Special Olympics Program and has enjoyed tremendous community support for these efforts.
Finally, I would like to recognize the Sunnyvale Downtown Association for hosting the very popular "Pre-Bowl Kick-Off Bash" on Saturday, February 6. Murphy Ave. was closed to vehicle traffic and set with a stage at the north-end, as well as multiple activities throughout the remainder of the street. The well-attended event showcased the downtown to the many visitors and residents who enjoyed a fun-filled evening in a safe environment. Great job Sunnyvale!
The month of February is dedicated to raising awareness about heart disease and increasing knowledge about prevention. We can use this month to raise awareness about heart disease and how people can prevent it - both at home and in the community.
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), including heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure (hypertension) is the number one killer of men and women in the United States. It is the number one leading cause of disability preventing Americans from working and enjoying family activities. Although the number of preventable deaths has declined in people aged 65 to 74 years, it has remained unchanged in people under age 65. Men are more than twice as likely as women to die from preventable cardiovascular disease. Women are increasingly at risk to die from a heart attack. An alarming fact is that heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing one in three deaths each year. Many CVD deaths could have been prevented through healthier habits, heathier living spaces, and better management of conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. To lower your risk factor for CVD:
Maintain a healthy weight
Eat a healthy diet
Get your cholesterol checked
Monitor your blood pressure
Exercise regularly
Limit alcohol use
Manage your diabetes
Work with your health care team
Don't smoke
Take your medicine
February is also National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
LOVE=RESPECT
Countywide Multi-Agency Traffic Enforcement Starts in Sunnyvale
In an effort to reduce pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle collisions, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety is partnering with law enforcement agencies throughout Santa Clara County to conduct high visibility, directed traffic enforcement operations. The first operation was conducted in the City of Sunnyvale on Jan. 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Similar operations will be conducted throughout the remainder of the year, rotating through the participating agencies.
Officers from Mountain View PD, Milpitas PD, Los Altos PD, Campbell PD, Santa Clara PD, Morgan Hill PD, and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office were deployed within the City of Sunnyvale, cracking down on vehicle code violators. Enforcement was conducted along the El Camino Real corridor. Some of the violations that officers were focused on are pedestrian right-of-way, jaywalking, 3-foot buffer for bicyclists, red light/stop sign violations, distracted driving and any other dangerous violation.
A total of 16 motor units patrolled the city and wrote 111 citations. Of the 111 Citations, 42 were for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, and 10 were for jaywalking/crossing against a light.
In Memory of PSO Gary Larson
Fifty-four years ago, PSO Gary Larson became the first Public Safety Officer killed in the line of duty. In his memory, all city flags were flown at half-staff on Thursday, January 28 and all officers wore black ribbons on their badges.
On Sunday evening, January 28, 1962, a robbery of the liquor store at 586 S. Murphy Avenue was reported around 9:00 p.m. PSO Larson responded to this report and saw possible suspects fleeing the area. He pursued the two suspects in his vehicle and on foot into an open field on El Camino Real, east of Henderson, where a gun battle ensued. PSO Larson was shot and died from his injuries. Both suspects were taken into custody.
PSO Larson was 23 years old and a two-year veteran of DPS. He is survived by his wife and two children. His son, Kevin, eventually became a Sunnyvale Public Safety Officer and served the city for 15 years.
Coffee with a Cop on Feb. 24
Coffee with A Cop was launched in Hawthorne, California in 2011, as a result of a brainstorming session. Members of the Hawthorne Police Department were looking for ways to interact more successfully with the citizens they served each day.
Community policing has long been considered a framework for establishing trust between the community and the police. However, over time the character and composition of our nation's communities has changed due to shifting demographics, more commuters, and the introduction of different communication methods such as websites and social media.
In the first three years, Coffee with a Cop events were hosted in more than 2000 communities, in 49 states and is one of the most successful community oriented policing programs across the country. The program has also expanded to outside the Unites States to Canada, Europe, Australia, and Africa. The key to Coffee with a Cop's growing success is that it opens the door for interactions outside of the crisis situations that typically bring law enforcement officers and community members together.
Please join Sunnyvale Public Safety Officers for Coffee with a Cop on Feb. 24 at Peet's Coffee at 144 W. El Camino Real. Please phone 408-730-7140 for more information.
Beyond Policing
On February 6 at 1:42am, DPS personnel responded to a residence on a report that a person was unconscious and was not breathing. DPS Patrol officers were first to arrive at the scene. They found the patient was suffering cardiac arrest and immediately applied a shock with an AED to the patient. When fire personnel and paramedics arrived, they delivered another shock. Thanks to DPS officers' quick response, the patient had regained a pulse and was breathing while been transported to a local hospital. All Sunnyvale Public Safety Officers are trained to perform the role of Police Officer, Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Each patrol vehicle is equipped with AED and other specialized equipment which allow officers to provide non-routine patrol duties such as firefighting and emergency medical services.
How To Prevent An Electrical Fire In Your Home
Electrical fires in our homes claim the lives of some 280 Americans each year and injure 1,000 more. Some of these fires are caused by electrical system failures, but many more are caused by incorrectly installed wiring and overloaded circuits and extension cords.
Watch this short video to learn simple steps you can take to prevent the loss of life and property resulting from electrical fires.
Silicon Valley's Only Spanish-Speaking Parent Project� Finds Success In Sunnyvale
Dozens of Spanish-speaking bay area parents who are raising difficult or out-of-control children have a new, unique resource to help them improve their parenting skills. The Sunnyvale-based non-profit, Heart2Heart-Teens (H2H-Teens), which works with low income families throughout Silicon Valley, is partnering with Sunnyvale PAL, Fremont High School and Gateway Neighborhood Center for a Parent Project Program (www.parentproject.com). Parent Project is changing destructive behaviors and is the only program of the kind in our country that is proven to be effective for intervention and prevention. It focuses in ending destructive behaviors such as truancy, drug use and gang involvements.
Parents enrolled in the current program are learning how important it is to show their children they love them, as well as ways to express that love. Other sessions include subjects like drug use, gangs, and active supervision (paying attention to such things as who their children are friends with, what they watch on TV, who they are communicating with on their phones and how to monitor Facebook),
H2H-Teens workshops are offered every Monday at 6:00 p.m. where the entire family is welcome to learn skills that can improve family dynamics. While parents are learning effective parenting skills, teens are being mentored through cooking meals, which they will serve to their families, practicing leadership skills and life-skills. They can earn up to 50 community hours from the workshop. Teens are then trained on job skills, resume writing and even learn computer coding as an introduction and effective way to gain a local job.
Children are also welcome to the program. They not only are experiencing positive changes in their families, they also see their teen siblings transformed from displaying destructive behaviors to exhibiting leadership skills and becoming positive role models. At the program, those children participate in a CARE program where H2H offers a safe and loving childcare program. During CARE, children learn similar topics such as how to say "No" to drugs, choose the right friends, and identify bullying. They are also encouraged to set a long term goal which includes adding quality virtues for their lives, to become leaders in the future, and to make a difference in their community.
Program Information: Parent Project, Teens Success and Children's CARE program will begin Feb. 22 at Gateway Neighborhood Center at 6PM. Please contact the director Aimee Lopez at [email protected] for more information.
Year Up Bay Area
Year Up is a one-year, intensive education and internship program for young adults. The program provides students with the skills, experience and support that will empower them to reach their full potential through professional careers and higher education.
The first six months of the program focuses on technical and professional skill building, while the second six months focuses on applying these skills through corporate internships at organizations like Salesforce, eBay, Yelp and Facebook. Students also earn up to 24 college credits and a monthly stipened.
Qualifications:
18 - 24 years of age
High school diploma or GED
Legal right to work in the U.S. (DACA included)
Motivated to learn technical and professional skills for a career in technology or business
Girls Circle is an interactive program that encourages middle and high school girls in the areas of self-awareness, healthy relationships and gaining life skills. The program helps girls to recognize and understand their similarities and differences which in turn help them understand each other.
The training lasts several weeks and includes ice-breakers, activities and sharing in a welcoming and safe environment. Over the course of the program, dedication, involvement and positive change are evident in each of the participants.
Asset #8: Young people are given useful roles in the community.
THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUTH AS RESOURCES
People of all ages need to feel that that they can make a contribution and play a meaningful role in their community, whether it's at home, at school, or in the neighborhood. Research shows that youth who feel valued and useful have higher self- esteem, a greater sense of personal control, reduced delinquency, greater social and personal responsibility, reduced substance abuse, and better social skills.
This asset for the month of February focuses on including youth in decisions that affect them and creating participation and leadership opportunities where their contribution can make a difference.
The following discussion topics can help young people recognize opportunities to serve as resources.
What would you like to share with adults about your experience in your home, school, neighborhood or faith community?
Who are some adults that you could talk to about making positive changes?
How will you know when these changes happen?
How would you like to be recognized for your contribution?
Keep in mind that serving as a resource doesn't have to be a large effort. Adults can help youth serve as resources simply by asking them to share their opinions, skills or knowledge, such as how to play a game or use technology such as text messaging.
Remember!
It's important that young people's efforts be recognized and celebrated!
Be sure to create opportunities to show that you value each individual's unique contributions.
ACTIVITIES
FOR FAMILIES
Hold family meetings. For example, one meeting can focus on discussing which kinds of tasks each household member is best at and enjoys the most. Then, review everyone's current chores and make changes based on each other's skills and interests.
Involve children in planning events such as holiday celebrations or trips. For family events, young people can help plan menus and cook, or plan games and activities for younger children; for vacations, they can research destinations and activities.
Ask children what they do or don't like about their daily routines, and find ways to improve them.
FOR ALL ADULTS
Ask a young person to teach you something new-a game, a hobby, a computer skill, etc.-or to share their favorite music or YouTube videos with you. It's empowering to be able to introduce adults something that they don't already know.
Ask a young person for advice on solving a challenge or completing a task. You'd be surprised at the quality of suggestions you receive.
Be sure to notice young people's contributions and talents in every aspect of their lives.
Help a young person find age-appropriate opportunities to serve as resources in their community. For example, many cities and towns have a youth advisory committee or other group of young people who provide input regarding issues affecting youth.
FOR ADULTS WHO WORK DIRECTLY WITH YOUTH
Does your organization allow young people to sit on boards and committees that affect its mission and programs? Including youth input at the highest levels not only creates valuable opportunities for young people but also helps your organization ensure that it's in touch with the needs and desires of the youth you serve.
Be sure to create opportunities for all youth to feel like valuable resources. For example, a county sheriff's office found that youth with low grades wanted to volunteer in the community as much as better students, but the community rarely asked those underachieving students to contribute. All young people deserve the opportunity to feel that their opinions and contributions are valued.
Create leadership and contribution opportunities in your classroom or programs. Groups such as student council, playground peace monitors, traffic safety patrol, and others are great ways for young people to feel like their contributions are valued, especially if they have some responsibility in making decisions for the group. In younger grades, classroom responsibilities like line leader help students feel like their contributions make a difference to the class. Middle and high school students can even help interview new staff and participate in school improvement teams.
Invite students to share their opinions and suggestions about activities, and incorporate their suggestions in the future. Give young people choices about which activities they take part in.
Encourage young people to write letters to the editor, to companies, or elected officials to share ideas or express opinions. Help them develop and share constructive suggestions to address their concerns.
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.
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.)
For questions and comments about the Sunnyvale DPS newsletter Beyond the Badge, you can e-mail us at: [email protected] � 2010-2016 City of Sunnyvale, CA
Outside of the game, there were several related stories which highlighted our community. One of these involved a local Sunnyvale resident, Ronnie Richardson, who was chosen to receive a home renovation as part of the "Kickoff to Rebuild" NFL Super Bowl sanctioned event through "Rebuilding Together Peninsula." Numerous community volunteers from local companies came together to provide donations and labor to completely overhaul the home, including staff from the DPS Neighborhood Preservation Unit. For more information about this effort, see RTP's website at 
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), including heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure (hypertension) is the number one killer of men and women in the United States. It is the number one leading cause of disability preventing Americans from working and enjoying family activities. Although the number of preventable deaths has declined in people aged 65 to 74 years, it has remained unchanged in people under age 65. Men are more than twice as likely as women to die from preventable cardiovascular disease. Women are increasingly at risk to die from a heart attack. An alarming fact is that heart disease is the number one killer of women, causing one in three deaths each year. Many CVD deaths could have been prevented through healthier habits, heathier living spaces, and better management of conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. To lower your risk factor for CVD:
In an effort to reduce pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle collisions, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety is partnering with law enforcement agencies throughout Santa Clara County to conduct high visibility, directed traffic enforcement operations. The first operation was conducted in the City of Sunnyvale on Jan. 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Similar operations will be conducted throughout the remainder of the year, rotating through the participating agencies.
Fifty-four years ago, PSO Gary Larson became the first Public Safety Officer killed in the line of duty. In his memory, all city flags were flown at half-staff on Thursday, January 28 and all officers wore black ribbons on their badges.
Community policing has long been considered a framework for establishing trust between the community and the police. However, over time the character and composition of our nation's communities has changed due to shifting demographics, more commuters, and the introduction of different communication methods such as websites and social media.
On February 6 at 1:42am, DPS personnel responded to a residence on a report that a person was unconscious and was not breathing. DPS Patrol officers were first to arrive at the scene. They found the patient was 
Dozens of Spanish-speaking bay area parents who are raising difficult or out-of-control children have a new, unique resource to help them improve their parenting skills. The Sunnyvale-based non-profit, Heart2Heart-Teens (H2H-Teens), which works with low income families throughout Silicon Valley, is partnering with Sunnyvale PAL, Fremont High School and Gateway Neighborhood Center for a Parent Project Program (
Year Up is a one-year, intensive education and internship program for young adults. The program provides students with the skills, experience and support that will empower them to reach their full potential through professional careers and higher education.
Girls Circle is an interactive program that encourages middle and high school girls in the areas of self-awareness, healthy relationships and gaining life skills. The program helps girls to recognize and understand their similarities and differences which in turn help them understand each other. 
People of all ages need to feel that that they can make a contribution and play a meaningful role in their community, whether it's at home, at school, or in the neighborhood. Research shows that youth who feel valued and useful have higher self- esteem, a greater sense of personal control, reduced delinquency, greater social and personal responsibility, reduced substance abuse, and better social skills.
Keep in mind that serving as a resource doesn't have to be a large effort. Adults can help youth serve as resources simply by asking them to share their opinions, skills or knowledge, such as how to play a game or use technology such as text messaging.
Ask a young person to teach you something new-a game, a hobby, a computer skill, etc.-or to share their favorite music or YouTube videos with you. It's empowering to be able to introduce adults something that they don't already know.
Be sure to create opportunities for all youth to feel like valuable resources. For example, a county sheriff's office found that youth with low grades wanted to volunteer in the community as much as better students, but the community rarely asked those underachieving students to contribute. All young people deserve the opportunity to feel that their opinions and contributions are valued.
For questions and comments about the Sunnyvale DPS newsletter