Holiday Reminders
December, 2009
The holiday season is upon us, and with it, the opportunity to eat too much, spend too much, and enjoy all of those relatives who you haven’t seen all year. With this in mind, I would like to remind you of two issues that we become more aware of this time of the year. The first is drinking and driving and the other is protecting your valuables and holiday gifts.

Don’t Drink and Drive
As with every holiday season, we all wish to celebrate with our family, friends, and co-workers. With this in mind, remember not to drink and drive.
   I can remember when I was a new police officer and had to knock on the door of two homes in Irvine, and tell the babysitter and the children that two sets of parents were not coming home that night. This was during the holiday season and a drunk driver had run a red light and fatally injured two sets of parents in the other vehicle.
   I still remember the Christmas trees in the living rooms and the gifts that would not be opened that year, with the children in the background crying.
   If you are going to drink, please use a designated driver or taxi service. Remember that the Irvine Police Department will be out in force patrolling for impaired drivers and making arrests.

Protecting your Valuables and
Holiday Gifts
Please don’t leave your gifts in your vehicle while shopping or overnight to keep them from prying eyes. We do have a Grinch every year that targets vehicles with gifts inside.
   When gone from your homes, secure your residence and activate your alarm. The Grinch has been known to enter homes looking for gifts and unlike your children, he is not going to shake each package before deciding what to take; he’ll just take them all. Please look out for your neighbors and report suspicious activity.
   In closing, please keep the men and women of our armed forces in your thoughts and prayers as they service our country worldwide, and at the same time, I would like to thank the men and women of the Irvine Police Department who are out there every hour of every day making our community safe.

Crime Trends Within Irvine
November, 2009
Every week I have the opportunity to review all of the crime reports that are taken within the Crossroads policing area. Many of the reports I review involve a suspect removing property from a victim’s vehicle or residence. I had one of our crime analysts examine all of the property reports from January 1 through July 31, 2009 and discovered that over 60% of thefts from vehicles and homes are through unlocked doors or windows.
     With the holidays approaching, I felt it was necessary to remind everyone not to leave items in your vehicles while shopping and to make sure you secure your vehicle and residence when you’re away.
     With that in mind I wanted to also recommend some of the programs that the Irvine Police Department Crime Prevention Unit offers to assist you with protecting your property and community.

Remove it or Lose it Program
This program is very successful when utilized in shopping centers and business to remind members of our community to secure their vehicle after they park. This includes locking your vehicle doors, rolling up windows and removing or locking your valuables in the trunk of your vehicle. This program consists of an informational campaign held onsite with notices left on vehicles to remind owners to secure their vehicles.

Neighborhood Alert Program
This program is also known as the Neighborhood Watch program and is a process to develop informal communications between neighbors. This includes organized activities in your neighborhood and the selection of a block captain to help liaison between neighbors and the Irvine Police Department.

This program reminds us all to look out for our neighbors and report suspicious activity. We are never too busy to take your call and respond out to your neighborhood to check out activity that you may feel is suspicious.

WatchMail Program
WatchMail is very similar to Neighborhood Watch. WatchMail consists of a “host” who broadcasts neighborhood crime and disaster related information via e-mail to surrounding neighbors. WatchMail is not a Police Department managed program. Although we play an active role in identifying hosts, providing training, and assisting with startup, the actual ongoing operation and maintenance are conducted on a grassroots level within each WatchMail community. WatchMail can be a good compliment to the traditional Neighborhood Watch program or it can stand alone in those areas that do not have an active Neighborhood Watch Program.

Home Security Inspections
The Irvine Police Department provides onsite custom security inspections for your home or apartment at your convenience. You will be given information and training on the most effective locks and lighting specific to your home and area. You will receive a written evaluation of the improvements you can make to increase security without making your home a fortress. This service is provided free of charge to Irvine residents.

     Please contact Crime Prevention Specialist Kim Cherney at (949) 724-7042 if you need any information regarding any of the mentioned programs.

Crime Trends Within Irvine
October, 2009
During our weekly Irvine Police Department command staff meetings, we have the opportunity to discuss crime trends within the City of Irvine. One area of concern are the numerous internet frauds where victims are defrauded out of their hard earned savings. This month’s Reflections article will discuss some of the most common types of frauds occurring in Irvine.

Nigerian Letter Fraud
We have all had the opportunity to share in a percentage of millions of dollars that the author of an e-mail, a self-proclaimed government official, is trying to transfer illegally out of Nigeria. The recipient of the e-mail (aka: Victim) is encouraged to send information to the author, such as blank letterhead stationery, bank name and account numbers and other identifying information using a facsimile number provided in the letter.
     The victim is also encouraged to send money to the author of the letter in Nigeria in several installments of increasing amounts for a variety of reasons. This includes the payment of taxes, legal fees, and othe expenses that will be reimbursed as soon as the funds are spirited out of Nigeria.
     In actuality, the millions of dollars do not exist and the victim eventually ends up with nothing but a loss of their savings.

Craigslist Fraud
One of the most recent frauds involving Craigslist is where a buyer purchases an item from the seller (aka: Victim) and in doing so represents himself as the middleman during the purchase.
     The middleman sends the seller a check for the purchase price plus an additional amount for the seller’s trouble. All the seller has to do is deposit the middleman’s check, take the extra funds for their trouble and then send a cashier’s check to the buyer at another address.
     The problem is the middleman’s check is fictitious and the seller is out the amount of the cashier’s check drawn on his bank account.

What You Need to Remember
• The most important thing to remember is that if anyone offers you something that is too good to be true, it’s most likely a fraud.
• If someone offers you something for nothing, it’s most likely a fraud.
• If a long-lost relative has died and you need to wire some money to get an inheritance, it’s most likely a fraud.
If you need additional information, you can go to the Federal Trade Commission’s website at www.ftc.gov or the Internet Crime Complain Center at www.ic3.gov.

      If you have any issues or concerns regarding internet fraud, please feel free to contact me at (949) 724-7025 or e-mail me at brichardson@ci.irvine.ca.us.

Be Prepared
September, 2009
Prior to my promotion to Area Commander I had the opportunity to manage the City of Irvine Emergency Management unit. One of the most important things this assignment taught me was how important it is to be prepared for a natural disaster. This months Reflections article covers some important reminders to keep you and your family safe.

Have a Family Communications Plan
Have a plan to establish communications with your family after a disaster strikes. Remember that you may not all be home during this type of emergency and you should have an out of state contact that you can leave messages with to update each other on your location and welfare.

Have Supplies
Have an emergency supply kit with the tools you may need for you and your family to make it on your own for at least five to seven days. Things such as water, food, medications, sanitation supplies, emergency AM radio and emergency lighting are important.

When packing supplies for your family don’t forget your four legged family members.
Remember to work with your neighbors or co-workers to pool supplies and equipment.
If you need additional information on supplies you can visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website at www.ready.gov .

Stay Informed
During a disaster the City of Irvine will broadcast local emergency information on 1640 AM Radio and ICTV 30. For regional information you can tune to your local news channels.
     Remember that to receive information from 1640 AM radio all you need is a small battery operated radio. If you don’t have a portable radio you can listen to the broadcast from your car.

Please remember to prepare, train and volunteer. If you have any issues or concerns regarding emergency preparedness please feel free to contact me at 949-795-6255 or email me at brichardson@ci.irvine.ca.us

Bicycle Safety
August, 2009
I recently had the opportunity to attend a “Safe Escape” program at the Irvine Civic Center that was hosted by the Irvine Police Department Crime Prevention Unit. This program was well attended and focused on Child Safety, Abduction Prevention, and Bicycle Safety.
     I am amazed that after 29 years in Law Enforcement I can still attend a program and learn something new. During the course of the program I learned about “Fixie” or fixed gear bicycles. These are bicycles that have just one gear, can’t coast and often lack a very important feature – Brakes. Now, when I was child I was impressed with the fact we could use clothes pins to attach playing cards to our spokes to have realistic engine noise, but I never imagined riding a bicycle with no brakes.
     This type of bicycle requires the rider to slow down well in advance, stand on the pedals with enough force to skid to a stop or utilize their feet as a brake. In our community, these bicycles are being purchased more and more by parents for school age children. We are aware of accidents involving juveniles riding this type of bicycle that have injured themselves or others by running into vehicles or pedestrians when they failed to stop.
     The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission defines fixed gear bicycles as track bicycles that are designed and intended for use in competition. This type of bicycle is exempt from federal requirements for standard bicycles, which call for bicycles to have brakes; at least in the rear.
     A review of California Vehicle Code Section 21201 (a) states, “No person shall operate a bicycle on a roadway unless it is equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.” We have contacted our traffic court and its opinion is that a “Fixie” bicycle with no hand brake is a violation of this section. There was also a similar ruling from a court in Oregon.      
     However, there are some opinions in the bicycle and legal community that feel that this is a “gray” area of the law and that the section can be also be interpreted to mean that as long as the vehicle can be “braked” by any method it is legal. Competing interpretations of the section will require judicial review that will result in case decisions giving us all better guidance in this matter.
     However, the real reason I am writing you about this issue is twofold. The first and most important is to ensure that any bicycle you purchase for your child is not beyond their skill level. The second is your child may be issued a citation if stopped by a police officer on a bicycle with no brakes.
     In closing, please ensure your child is wearing a bicycle helmet and take the time to teach them the “rules of the road.” If you have any issues or concerns please feel free to contact me at 949-795-6255 or email me at brichardson@ci.irvine.ca.us.

Introduction
July, 2009
If you are not aware, Commander Dave Freedland was recently promoted to the position of Deputy Chief. This position reports directly to the Chief of Police and is responsible for field operations and investigation functions of the Irvine Police Department. I wish to congratulate Deputy Chief Freedland on his well earned promotion.
With Deputy Chief Freeland’s promotion, I was promoted from the Lieutenant responsible for Emergency Preparedness to the rank of Commander and assigned the Crossroads Policing Area.
     I have been with the Irvine Police Department since August of 1980 and once lived within Woodbridge in the area of Alderwood School. I have had the opportunity to work patrol, traffic, investigations and other field and investigative capacities.
     I am a graduate of the Southern Police Institute in Louisville, Kentucky and hold a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
My last assignment was managing the Emergency Management Unit for the City of Irvine and this assignment made me appreciate the importance of being prepared for any man-made or natural disaster. You and your family need to have an emergency plan and supplies to be self sufficient for up to five days.

Emergency Preparedness
If you have any questions regarding emergency preparedness please go the City of Irvine website at www.cityofirvine.org and click on the Emergency Preparedness Button. In addition, please remember to turn to ICTV 30 and 1640 AM radio in the event of an emergency to receive updated local information.
     During the next several months, I hope to have the opportunity to meet with the residents and business owners within Woodbridge Village and listen to your concerns. This dialog is important as we strive to meet your expectations and work in “Partnership” to improve the quality of life in your community.

Pool Safety
In closing, please remember that summer months allow us all to utilize our backyard and community pools.
     To avoid accidental drowning please remember the ABC’s of Pool Safety:
     A=Adult Supervision
     B=Barriers
     C=Classes in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
     If you need additional information on pool safety please go to the Pool Safety website at www.abcpoolsafety.org.
Contact Me
If you have any questions, I can be reached at 949-724-7025 and my email address is brichardson@ci.irvine.ca.us.

Victims Bill of Rights
June, 2009
Although for the past four years, Irvine has been recognized as America’s Safest City with respect to violent crime, and in comparison to cities with populations exceeding 100,000; crime does occur here, and most unfortunately, the homicides that infrequently take place, often result from domestic violence. Recently, a Woodbridge father was murdered, and his wife and son were wounded, as a result of the alleged actions of his daughter’s ex-boyfriend. It is difficult to prevent such acts, but the Irvine Police Department has over the past year sought to study, and impact this phenomenon through the Family Violence Prevention Project. Sending trained counselors along with officers responding to domestic disputes, has been one method that has received experimentation, and is being assessed as to its effectiveness, along with other ideas directed toward curbing violence in the home.
   In November of 2008, the Victim’s Bill of Rights Marsy’s Law passed, requiring law enforcement and prosecutors to provide a Marsy’s Rights Card to each victim of a criminal act. Included on that card are the following rights provided to victims of crime:
1. Fairness and Respect
2. Protection from the Defendant
3. Victim Safety Considerations in Setting Bail and Release Conditions
4. The Prevention of the Disclosure of Confidential Information
5. Refusal to be Interviewed by the Defense
6. Conference with the Prosecution and Notice of Pretrial Disposition
7. Notice of and Presence at Public Proceedings
8. Appearance at Court Proceedings and Expression of Views
9. Speedy Trial and Prompt Conclusion of the Case
10. Provision of Information to the Probation Department
11. Receipt of Pre-Sentence Report
12. Information About Conviction, Sentence, Incarceration, Release, and Escape
13. Restitution
14. The Prompt Return of Property
15. Notice of Parole Procedures and release on Parole
16. Safety of Victim and Public are Factors in Parole Release
17. Information About these 16 Rights

The Irvine Police Department is currently developing these cards for distribution, which will identify in greater narrative detail as to what each of the enumerated rights provides.
Persons seeking additional information may contact Irvine Police Commander Mike Hamel at (949) 724-7055, or the Attorney General’s Victim Services Unit at 1-877-433-9069.
     On a closing note, I have been promoted to Deputy Chief of Police, and the new Crossroads Policing Area Commander will be communicating with you in future articles. It has been, and will continue to be an honor to serve you.

The Maze of Minors'
Driver Licenses
May, 2009
From time to time we receive requests for specific topics covered in the Reflections magazine. The following article addresses one area that has created much confusion for parents, regarding the restrictions placed upon minors who have been issued provisional driver’s licenses. Having experienced this issue with my own daughter, I understand how the wording in the provisional license statute can be rather challenging. The following is a summary of Vehicle Code section 12814.6. For the exact wording, it is recommended that a search engine for the California Codes be employed, specifically focusing upon the California Vehicle Code, Provisional Driver’s Licenses, section 12814.6.
     Upon the issuance of a provisional driver’s license to a 16 year old minor, the following restrictions apply for the first 12 months after issuance:

Restrictions:
A provisional licensee may not do the following unless he / she: Is accompanied and supervised by a licensed driver who is the licensee’s parent / guardian; or Is a licensed driver over 25 years of age or older.
• Drive between 11:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M.
• Transport passengers who are under 20 years of age.

Exceptions:
A provisional licensee may drive between 11:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M. or transport an immediate family member without being accompanied and supervised by a licensed driver who is a parent / guardian, or licensed driver over 25 years old when:
     There is a medical necessity of the licensee, when reasonable transportation facilities are inadequate, and operation of a vehicle by a minor is necessary.
     The licensee must keep in his / her possession a signed statement from a physician familiar with the condition, containing a diagnosis, and a probable date when sufficient recovery will have been made to terminate the necessity.
     Schooling or school activities of the licensee when reasonable transportation facilities are inadequate, and operation of a vehicle by a minor is necessary.
     The licensee shall keep in his / her possession a signed statement from the school principal, dean, or school staff member designated by the principal or dean, containing a probable date that the schooling or activity will have been completed.
     Employment necessity of the licensee when reasonable transportation facilities are inadequate and operation of a vehicle by a minor is necessary.
     The licensee shall keep in his / her possession a signed statement from the employer, verifying employment and the probable date that the employment will be completed.
     Necessity of the licensee or immediate family when reasonable transportation facilities are inadequate to transport the licensee or his / her immediate family member.
     The licensee shall keep in his / her immediate possession a signed statement from his / her parent or guardian verifying the reason, and containing the probable date that the necessity will have ceased.
     The licensee is an emancipated minor.
     Hopefully the preceding summary has provided a better understanding of the laws pertaining to provisional driver’s licenses, and the bold highlighting will enable a more memorable retention of the restrictions. Should you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Traffic Investigator Jonathan Cherney, at (949) 724-7024.

Mechanical Violations
Your brake light is out, or your registration tabs are expired. These violations fall under the mechanical or administrative sections of the Vehicle Code, authorizing officers to initiate a detention. Although these violations generally do not involve fines, some administrative fees may be incurred.
     What sometimes happens during the course of a person’s detention for traffic related issues, is the discovery by the officer of additional charges brought about by his or her observation of contraband (such as narcotics) or evidence of a crime. These contacts have occasionally resulted in citizen complaints, that the detentions were lengthy. However, officers are allowed to extend the delay beyond the normal ten minute traffic stop, in order to reasonably ascertain if a crime has occurred.

New Year's Retrospect
January, 2009
This past year marks my thirtieth (30th) year with the Irvine Police Department, and I thought that as we enter the new year, that I could share with you a few of the little known, or forgotten facts regarding this interesting City. Not to be viewed as a prelude to retirement, but rather, as a view into the past as to how significantly the city has grown.
     One of my first assignments as a new officer was to conduct traffic control for a herd of cattle crossing Bonita Canyon Drive. In the 1970’s cattle roamed over lands now designated for preservation as open space.
     In the late 70’s, buffalo still grazed along land adjacent to the intersection of MacArthur and Bison.
     The restored buildings situated near the Interstate 5 and Sand Canyon, near the La Quinta Inn, were originally located at the southwest corner of Sand Canyon and Burt Road. They served as the Irvine Country Store, which contained a working post office, and the Irvine Hotel.
     South of the La Quinta Inn, which was originally a structure storing grain, is the former site of the Orange County International Raceway. This racetrack was a hotbed for drag races, car shows, and pursuit training for police officers.
 The next time that you watch the movie, “Pearl Harbor,” starring Ben Affleck, look carefully at the scenes involving the practice takeoffs of twin engine bombers for the Jimmie Doolittle raid on Tokyo. The runways, control towers, and structures are from the MCAS Tustin Helicopter Base. The vintage WWII B-25 Mitchell bombers flew over College Park rattling windows, prompting numerous calls to the police department.
     When you watch the sci-fi movie, “Demolition Man,” starring Sylvester Stallone, Wesley Snipes, and Sandra Bullock, you might recognize the futuristic buildings in the background – they belonged to the Fluor Corporation, located at Jamboree and the 405 Freeway.
     Until 1976, police services for the City of Irvine were provided under contract by the Costa Mesa Police Department. A small cadre of Costa Mesa officers became the original complement of the Irvine Police Department. The last former Costa Mesa officer – turned Irvine officer, retired last year.
     Over the years, the Irvine Police Department provided assistance to the Secret Service in the protection of four (4) Presidents – Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. One of the more heart warming stories occurred in 1990, when President George H.W. Bush visited the Irvine Hyatt Regency Hotel in a driving rain. As President Bush exited his limousine, he looked up towards a high-rise office building and saw a Reserve Police Officer on the roof top, standing in raingear getting thoroughly soaked. When he asked a Secret Service agent as to who was on the roof protecting the high ground, he was told that the figure he saw was an Irvine Police officer. The President then pulled a ballpoint pen from his pocket that carried the Presidential Seal, handed it to the agent, and directed him to present it to the officer.
     Perhaps you also have some unique information on the City’s past that you would like to share. If you do, please send me an e-mail.