Dear Council Members, City Manager, and Others:

      This is a slightly longer update than usual on a small sampling of activities and calls for service RPD personnel have dealt with over the past month.  The good news is that even though we have stayed busy, violent crime continues to be down compared to a year ago.
      Although you seldom see them mentioned in these reports, I want to specifically acknowledge the ongoing excellent work of our Dispatch Center personnel.  These are the folks at the other end of the phone when the public calls either “911” or our non-emergency number.
      Our dispatchers often deal with extremely challenging calls that involve upset, frightened, angry, and sometimes incoherent individuals.  Not only do they handle police calls for service, they also handle fire and EMS calls—and in addition to serving Richmond residents, they provide the emergency call-taking and dispatch services for several other West County public safety agencies, including El Cerrito and San Pablo.    Many of our dispatchers are bilingual.  All are trained in providing emergency medical assistance to callers over the phone.  We are lucky to have such capable personnel working in our Dispatch Center.
      The Dispatch Center Manager is Byron Baptiste.  Byron not only manages our dispatch operations, he handles most radio/communications issues, deals extensively with the Department’s Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management System (RMS), and is a key member of the Department’s Emergency Preparedness staff.  If you have questions or concerns that involve our Dispatch Center, Byron can be reached at bbaptiste@richmondpd.net or at (510)620-6660.
      I hope all of you have a safe and very happy Thanksgiving. 

Chief Chris Magnus  

 

Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, 3:50 p.m., 100 block of W. Barrett Ave.--Officers responded to an  address in this block after a member of the public called 911 reporting that two males were inside the commercial building stealing copper.  As officers were setting-up a perimeter, the two suspects fled on foot.  The two suspects (a 42 and 52 year-old male) were eventually apprehended while hiding in neighboring yards. The 42 year-old suspect had an outstanding parole warrant while the 52 year-old suspect had a no bail warrant.  Both were booked into the RPD Jail Facility.

Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011--Officer P. Sanchez facilitated a Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) meeting at the City Council Chambers.  Officer Rogers, Officer Parker, and Detective Grivetti represented the Police Department at a career fair sponsored by Girls Incorporated to encourage young women to consider careers in policing.

Friday, Nov. 18, 2011—The Department’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Unit (DSVU), Criminal Investigations Division Lt. Mike Gormley, and several Community Violence Solutions (CVS) advocates conducted a Human Trafficking sting operation in the city.  They arrested three males for Human Trafficking and Conspiracy.  Two underage female juveniles were rescued.
Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, 2:50 p.m., 400 block of 36th St.--A resident who lives in this block called 911 to report that someone was trying to break into her home.  While officers were enroute to the scene, the caller said the suspects had fled the area on foot.  Arriving officers detained three juvenile males (one who discarded a digital camera) within blocks of the crime scene.  All the suspects were identified by the victim.  During this detail, three additional burglary and attempted burglaries were reported in the Northern District area.  The camera was later determined to belong to one of the burglary victims.  The arrested suspects included two 14 year-olds and one 16 year-old.

Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011, 7:20 a.m., 11th St. and Chanslor Ave.--Parking Enforcement Officer Aparicio was in this area enforcing parking violations when she was contacted by an 18 year-old female.  This female was standing on the balcony of an apartment on Chanslor Ave.   She began questioning the Parking Enforcement officer about why citations were being issued.  After a brief discussion, the female’s boyfriend, a 21 year-old male, appeared on the walkway and began threatening PE Officer Aparicio.  One of the threats involved using a gun.  PE Officer Aparicio alerted dispatch of the threats she’d just received.  Officers responded and were able to contact the male, who was positively identified by the Parking Enforcement Officer as the person responsible for the threats.  This suspect was taken into custody. 

Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, 9:05 a.m., 400 block of S. 15th St.--While on patrol, Officer Stewart observed a suspicious vehicle parked at the east curb line of S. 15th St.  The officer contacted the lone occupant—a 25 year-old male--who stated he was in the area waiting for his mother.  After a brief interview with this individual, Officer Stewart obtained consent to search his vehicle, which yielded a small amount of marijuana and a Hi-Point 9mm handgun. The suspect was arrested without incident. 

Monday, Nov. 14, 2011, 5:30 p.m., 22nd St. and Barrett Ave.—Two officers attempted to make a traffic enforcement stop on a male subject who was riding his bicycle westbound on Nevin Ave. near 25th St.  The suspect failed to yield by fleeing southbound on 25th Street and then west on Macdonald Ave.  While in pursuit of the suspect, the officers observed him discard small baggies of “rock cocaine.”  The suspect continued to flee to the area of 22nd and Nevin Ave. where they were eventually able to catch him on foot.  The suspect had numerous individually wrapped pieces of “rock cocaine” in his possession.
      While taking the suspect into custody, the suspect aggressively resisted and caused one of the officers to sustain a broken right hand. The second officer also sustained an injury to his legs as he responded to assist.  Both officers were taken to local hospitals for their injuries. 

Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011, 5:15 p.m., 3200 block of Rheem Ave.--Officers responded to a residence in this block after neighbors reported seeing an adult suspect kicking in the side door.  When officers arrived, they found a 40 year-old male hiding in a rear bedroom.  The suspect provided a post-Miranda warning confession stating his intent to steal copper wiring.  A search incident to arrest revealed he had individually packaged baggies of marijuana and a replica firearm on his person.  He was taken into custody.

Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, 3:45 p.m., 2600 block of Roosevelt Ave.--RPD Dispatch received a call reporting that an outstanding homicide suspect was at a residence in this block. Uniformed officers responded and quickly set up a perimeter.  Contact was made with the wanted suspect in the rear bedroom.  He was ordered out and immediately surrendered once Officer Palma and his K9 partner announced themselves. 

Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, 2:50 p.m., 5100 block of School Ave.—Det. Purcell conducted a Parole Compliance Check on a 25 year-old male parolee at a residence in this block.  This parolee is a validated gang member and is currently on parole for multiple serious convictions.  Located inside the parolee’s residence was gang paraphernalia, two robbery ski masks, and instructions on how to assemble a Glock firearm.  The parolee was taken into custody without incident.  

Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, 11:00 a.m., Barrett Ave. residence—Officers responded to an address on Barrett Ave. after a 42 year-old male called to report that he had drank a half a cup of bleach.  Officers contacted the man and determined he was a danger to himself.  He was petitioned for mental health evaluation and transported by AMR ambulance. 

Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, 10:45 p.m., 1500 block of S. 15th           St.--Officer Fonseca observed a  vehicle on 15th St. which he pulled over for various vehicle code violations.  Upon contact with the driver, it was determined the driver was operating the vehicle with a suspended license.  A search incident to the impound of the vehicle revealed a Glock pistol underneath the driver’s seat.  The 52 year-old suspect was arrested.

Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011, 8:15 a.m., S. 23rd St. and Cutting Blvd.--Officer Mendler was on routine patrol in the above area when he spotted a vehicle that he knew was reported stolen the day prior.  Officer Mendler followed the vehicle until sufficient cover arrived and took the driver (a 44 year-old male) into custody.

Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, 3:55 p.m.,  700 block of 36th St.—The RPD ShotSpotter System was activated with a single gunshot at the above location.  The activation resulted from an attempted carjacking of a 62 year-old male who was shot in his left arm as he fled from suspects.  The victim had been contacted by three male suspects who approached his driver’s side window and demanded his vehicle.  The victim was shot through his closed window as he sped off fleeing the scene.  The victim drove himself to Doctors Hospital. 
      Moments later, Officer Colbacchini encountered the three suspects in the area as they exited a 1999 Nissan, which was reported stolen (carjacked) from Point Pinole Regional Park.  Officer Colbacchini was unaware of the earlier circumstance surrounding the suspects.  Once the suspects observed the officer, they fled on foot into the surrounding neighborhood.  Officer Colbacchini was able to apprehend the driver of the vehicle.  RPD Officers quickly established a perimeter and were able to capture the three outstanding suspects.  K-9 Bosco assisted with the apprehension of an 18 year-old male, who was hiding in the washroom of a nearby residence. 
           
Sunday, October 30, 2011, 4:45 p.m., 2400 block of Nevin Ave.--Officers Dean and Brown conducted foot patrol along the 23rd Street corridor to include the area surrounding 2400 Nevin Ave.  While doing so, the officers contacted an adult male who they had seen earlier in the day loitering.  Upon contact, this individual provided officers with a false name.  His true identity was eventually discovered.  During a warrants check, it was learned that this 22 year-old male had an outstanding robbery warrant.  The suspect was taken into custody without incident and transported to the RPD Jail.

Sunday, October 30, 2011, 2:00 p.m.--Uniformed personnel attended the Halloween-themed event at the Solano Playlot where residents and children enjoyed the festivities. Officer Moody provided tours of his patrol vehicle and answered questions from the children and their parents.  
Friday, October 28, 2011, 6:00 p.m., 1100 block of 4th St.--Officer Ricchiuto contacted the occupants of a vehicle parked in this block.  Both suspects were crouched in the seat and appeared nervous.  Officer Ricchiuto asked for and received consent to search the vehicle. During the search he found a loaded 380 auto handgun.   The driver told Officer Ricchiuto that the pistol belonged to the other suspect in the vehicle.  This suspect was arrested for the weapons offense.

Saturday, October 16, 2011, 2:30 p.m., S. 17th St. and Maine Ave.--Officers Loucas and Marweg were on routine patrol when they observed an occupied vehicle parked in the above referenced area.  As the officers exited their patrol vehicle and began walking toward the suspicious car, a plastic pill bottle was suddenly thrown out the right front passenger window.  Officers retrieved the bottle and determined the contents included Ecstasy, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and suspected Oxycontin.  Contact with the two occupants of the vehicle was made, during which both denied having tossed the bottle.  Both were arrested and transported to the RPD Jail for booking.  The arrested subjects were 34 and 35 years old.

Saturday, October 16, 2011 and Sunday, October 17, 2011-- Officers and non-sworn personnel attended both the Home Front Festival at the Craneway Pavilion and the “Put your Guns Down” Peace Rally at the Booker T. Anderson Community Center.  Chief Magnus was one of the judges in the antique car show at the Home Front Festival.   Both events were well attended.  On Sunday, Chief Magnus participated in a panel discussion sponsored by the ACLU on ways police agencies can find common-ground with civil liberties groups on issues related to community-based policing, bias-free policing, ending racial profiling, realignment, and various civil liberties concerns.  Chief Moir from the El Cerrito Police Department and Chief Meehan from the Berkeley Police Department also participated in this discussion.