A Great Afternoon with Oak Tree Villa

Here’s the best news of the month for us here at the Santa Cruz Police Department.

A few weeks ago, the amazing seniors at Oak Tree Villa in Scotts Valley got together and held a yard sale.  They raised $1,500.  They called on Monday and wanted to meet with us to donate the money to the families of Sergeant Butch Baker and Detective Elizabeth Butler.

Chief Kevin Vogel, Deputy Chief Steve Clark and Officer Joe Hernandez drove out to meet the group in our 1961 Chevy Biscayne classic police car.  They literally rolled out a red carpet for us as we drove in.

What a great afternoon we spent with these fine men and women.  We stayed and chatted with everyone and took photos with the big presentation check.

Chief Vogel and Deputy Chief Clark talk with 105 year old Beulah Sutton

The Chief and Deputy Chief enjoy a laugh with Patricia Weiss

Deputy Chief Clark even toured several of them a ride around the lot in the classic police car, while Chief Vogel escorted them in and out of the car.  WHAT A BLAST!!!!

Francis Morrill gives a send-off to her friends

Bob Horton thoroughly enjoying the old siren during his ride

We are very honored by this generous gift.  We were also honored to spend time with amazing seniors and learn a little bit of their story.  We so enjoyed our time at Oak Tree Villa.  It was the best part of the month for us…..maybe even the last 6 months.

If you have some time to give….our recommendation is that you get to know the seniors in our community, they are great people with great stories!

Thank You Oak Tree Villa 

The great staff at Oak Tree Villa

When Duty Calls: Chief Vogel and Officers Hernandez and Ceceña Jump Into Action On Interstate 280

On Monday July 29th during the afternoon commute, Chief Kevin Vogel and Officers Joe Hernandez and Karina Ceceña were traveling back to Santa Cruz on Interstate 280 near Foothill College in Los Altos when they encountered a commercial vehicle stopped in the #2 lane of southbound Interstate 280. Needless to say, the vehicle was causing an extremely hazardous traffic situation by completely blocking one entire lane of the freeway.  The Chief and the two Officers stopped to assist.  As it turns out, the vehicle had been carrying a load of lumber.  This vehicle came to an abrupt stop on the freeway causing the load of lumber to shift and slide off the front of the vehicle.  As the load of lumber slid off the lumber rack, it hit the asphalt roadway surface directly in front of the vehicle, but not before  shattering the front windshield of the vehicle carrying the lumber. The Chief and the two Officers assisted the driver with picking up the load of lumber and placing it back on the vehicle. Within a matter of minutes, the Chief and the two Officers rendered the roadway safe and free of debris, allowing the afternoon commute traffic to proceed as normal on southbound Interstate 280. Here are a few pictures of the Chief and Officer Joe Hernandez in action.  Photo credit goes to Officer Karina Ceceña.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Officer Karina Ceceña

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Officer Karina Ceceña

SCPD Officer Joe Hernandez wins United Way Award

Santa Cruz Police Department officer Joe Hernandez won the United Way Community Hero award this week. Nominations fall into a list of six categories: economy, education, health, natural environment, public safety, social environment.Officer Hernandez won in the public safety category for his work with the PRIDE Program, Citizen's Police Academy and his work on community outreach. 

This is not the first time that Officer Hernandez has been recognized - he has also won the Jim Howes award for community service and the Red Cross Hero award.

PRIDE Program to Start Next Class

Class five of the PRIDE program begins next week. The PRIDE Program (Personally Responsible Individual Development in Ethics) is overseen by Sgt. Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez of the department's Community Services Section.

Working in conjunction with Santa Cruz City Schools and the County Office of Education, the program is a multifaceted approach to early gang prevention for local intermediate school-aged kids.

The nine-week program is designed to educate, mentor and guide troubled youth in the decision-making process.  Through guest speakers, trips and activities, participants will focus on positive and negative impacts of decision making. For example, during the course on bad decision making, participants may hear from former gang members, drug users and gang investigators. They will tour a state prison, police department and even a local morgue.

The second part of the program focuses on positive decision making. Speakers in this section will highlight successes as a result of avoiding gangs and drugs. These speakers will include successful sports players, business people, police officers, elected officials, educators and others. Upon completion of the program the teens will participate in a formal graduation with local police officials, family and friends.

The program is modeled after a successful program in Southern California that has shown participants to improve school test scores, graduation rates, engage in less violent or negative behavior and avoid gang/drug use.

For more information you can contact Sgt. Mike Harms at 420.5873

SCPD Presents to Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club

Chief Kevin Vogel, Sergeant Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez were the guest speakers for the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club on Tuesday September 18^th.  The chief gave a “State of the Union” address to the Rotarians on the staffing, accomplishments, challenges and goals for the police department.  Sergeant Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez provided an overview of the many community outreach programs offered by the police department’s Community Services Section.  Superior Court Judge Ariadne Symons provided a gracious introduction of the guest speakers that resulted in a warm welcome, including a standing ovation, from Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club members.  

On behalf of the Santa Cruz Police Department, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Sunrise Rotary Club President Rod Caborn, Judge Symons and the entire Sunrise Rotary Club membership for providing Chief Vogel, Sergeant Harms and Officer Hernandez with the opportunity to speak.  Our thanks to Jon Bei and the staff at the Delaveaga Golf Lodge for the wonderful breakfast.  Click here for photos of this event.

Enroll in the Citizen's Police Academy

Have you ever wanted to take a behind-the-scenes look at our local police department? Our Citizen's Police Academy is one of the best ways to do it. Our next session begins on July 10th and you can click here for an application. Participants will take an active roll in learning about our department's functions including: the K9 program, investigations, narcotic and gang enforcement, traffic investigations, training and hiring, records, driving, firearms and more. If you have any questions you can call SCPD Community Services at 831.420.5952 or click here for the application.

SCPD Honors Volunteers

The Santa Cruz Police Department honored its remarkable group of volunteers today at a luncheon held at the Community Room. Chief Kevin Vogel and Deputy Chief Steve Clark spoke about the importance of the volunteer program and thanked everyone for the over 4,000 total volunteer hours they put in last year. Some volunteers received Presidential Volunteer Service Awards given to volunteers that gave at least 100 hours of their time in the last year. The program is overseen by the Community Services Section and Sgt. Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez. The Volunteer Program at SCPD was created by Chief Kevin Vogel as one of his first actions as a new chief. Here are some photos from the event. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers!

National Police Week - Photo

On Tuesday at the City Council meeting, Mayor Don Lane presented Deputy Chief Rick Martinez, Deputy Chief Steve Clark and Officer Joe Hernandez with a proclamation for National Police Appreciation Week. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week.

PRIDE Program Graduation Tonight

The current class of the PRIDE Program graduates tonight. The nine-week program is designed to educate, mentor and guide troubled youth in the decision-making process.  Through guest speakers, trips and activities, participants focused on positive and negative impacts of decision making. This class they:

• Spent a media day at KION TV and KDON radio
• Toured UCSC for a science day
• Visited the Homeless Service Center
• Toured San Quentin and Alcatraz 
• Did a ropes course to develop trust with each other
• And more!

The PRIDE Program (Personally Responsible Individual Development in Ethics) is overseen by Sgt. Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez of the department's Community Services Section.

Working in conjunction with Santa Cruz City Schools and the County Office of Education, the program is a multi-faceted approach to early gang prevention for local intermediate school-aged kids.

Community Services Proving Child ID and Fingerprinting Today

The Community Services Section, headed by Sgt. Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez, are in Harvey West Park today at the Kids Cottage doing child ID and fingerprinting today starting at 10:00 am. The public is welcome to go down for the kits or to contact Sgt. Harms at 420.5873 to set up an event at their school or other location.

PRIDE Program Begins Another Year

Class four of the PRIDE program has begun. The PRIDE Program (Personally Responsible Individual Development in Ethics) is overseen by Sgt. Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez of the department's Community Services Section.

Working in conjunction with Santa Cruz City Schools and the County Office of Education, the program is a multi-faceted approach to early gang prevention for local intermediate school-aged kids.

The nine-week program is designed to educate, mentor and guide troubled youth in the decision-making process.  Through guest speakers, trips and activities, participants will focus on positive and negative impacts of decision making. For example, during the course on bad decision making, participants may hear from former gang members, drug users and gang investigators. They will tour a state prison, police department and even a local morgue.

The second part of the program focuses on positive decision making. Speakers in this section will highlight successes as a result of avoiding gangs and drugs. These speakers will include successful sports players, business people, police officers, elected officials, educators and others. Upon completion of the program the teens will participate in a formal graduation with local police officials, family and friends.

The program is modeled after a successful program in Southern California that has shown participants to improve school test scores, graduation rates, engage in less violent or negative behavior and avoid gang/drug use.

For more information you can contact Sgt. Mike Harms at 420.5873

SCPD/City Schools Jeopardy Challenge Winners!

The Santa Cruz Police Department joined the final four schools, Gault, Bay View, Westlake and De La Veaga elementary schools in the Jeopardy-style challenge on December 14th at the City Council Chambers. Chief Kevin Vogel, Deputy Chief Rick Martinez and Deputy Chief Steve Clark partnered with Councilmember Ryan Coonerty to judge the challenge. The schools and students did an outstanding job - Lillian Greene from De la Veaga ended up the ultimate challenge winner. Special thanks goes to the Community Services Section including volunteer Patti Whitlock, Sgt. Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez for organizing the event. Here are some photos from the event!

SCPD Partners with City Elementary Schools on a Jeopardy-Style Challenge

Over the past several weeks the Community Services Section of the Santa Cruz Police Department has been hosting a Jeopardy-style game at each of the four Santa Cruz public elementary schools.  A champion from each campus has been selected to represent their respective school in a final Jeopardy game scheduled for December 14, 2011 in the Santa Cruz City Council Chambers. Mayor Ryan Coonerty and Chief Kevin Vogel will be co-hosting the event. The finalists will be competing for a small cash prize to be awarded to their school, as well as to earn bragging rights for their schools.  All students, teachers, staff, family and friends are invited and encouraged to attend. The program helps build connections between the Santa Cruz Police Department and local schools in an educational and supportive environment. The events have been organized by Sgt. Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez of the Community Services Section. 

Jeopardy-Style Challenge with Local City Elementary Schools

December 14, 2011 - 4:00 PM
Santa Cruz City Council Chambers 

809 Center Street

PRIDE Program Visits KION Set

Students of the PRIDE Program, along with Officer Joe Hernandez and Sgt. Mike Harms, were invited by KION TV to visit the set and meet with anchors Marc Cota-Robles and Jasmine Viel. The students were given a tour of the studio, shown how the news is broadcast and even allowed a shot at doing the weather! The PRIDE Program shows at-risk students good and bad decision making - focusing on the consequences of both. This event modeled good decision making; how making the right choices in life can lead to a career at a place like KION.

Department Gang Experts Speak to Parents

Santa Cruz Police Department Gang Experts Bill Azua and Joe Hernadez joined with the County Office of Education and Mission Hill Junior High to outreach to parents about the gang involvement. The event, moderated by Deputy Chief Rick Martinez, focused on how parents can help prevent their children from getting involved in gangs. The Santa Cruz Sentinel wrote an article which can be found here.

Sounds of SCPD - 3rd Installment!

Since this has become one of the most requested elements of our blog we are going to keep tracking down officers to see what music they are listening to while at the PD. Here we go!

Deputy Chief Steve Clark

• Save me San Francisco (Train)
• Love Done Gone (Billy Currington)
• Valerie (Bruno Mars Tribute to Amy Winehouse)

Officer Erik Peabody

• The Trance is in the Motion (Static-X)
• Wormwood (Callisto)
• Syndic Calls (Isis)

Officer Joe Hernandez

• Maria (Ricky Martin)
• Fuego (Menudo)
• Baraja de Oro (Ramon Ayala)

Want to see what others are listening to? Here are the first and second installments.

PRIDE Program Enters Second Year!

Tonight marks the first night of the second PRIDE program. The PRIDE Program (Personally Responsible Individual Development in Ethics) is overseen by Sgt. Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez of the department's Community Services Section.

Working in conjunction with Santa Cruz City Schools and the County Office of Education, the program is a multi-faceted approach to early gang prevention for local intermediate school-aged kids.

The nine-week program is designed to educate, mentor and guide troubled youth in the decision-making process.  Through guest speakers, trips and activities, participants will focus on positive and negative impacts of decision making. For example, during the course on bad decision making, participants may hear from former gang members, drug users and gang investigators. They will tour a state prison, police department and even a local morgue.

The second part of the program focuses on positive decision making. Speakers in this section will highlight successes as a result of avoiding gangs and drugs. These speakers will include successful sports players, business people, police officers, elected officials, educators and others. Upon completion of the program the teens will participate in a formal graduation with local police officials, family and friends.

The program is modeled after a successful program in Southern California that has shown participants to improve school test scores, graduation rates, engage in less violent or negative behavior and avoid gang/drug use.

Teen Police Academy Comes to a Close

This week we concluded the second, and final, Teen Police Academy of the summer. Both installments were extremely successful. Led by our Community Services Section and Sgt. Mike Harms and Officer Joe Hernandez, the Teen Academy provides a day-in-the-life perspective for teens of an officer's job. Approximately 20 local students participated in each Academy and in a hands-on learning environment they were given the opportunity to learn about everything from crime scene investigation to traffic stops.

The program focuses on positive decision making as well as the physical fitness necessary to be a law enforcement officer. Other than a positive experience that teens can take with them maybe we'll find that the Academy helped us recruit a future SCPD officer!

Click on the links to take a look at the online articles written about our recent Teen Police Academy by Santa Cruz Patch editor Brad Kava and Santa Cruz Sentinel reporter Evan Morris. 

Learn more about Police Volunteer Patricia Whitlock!

Today we'd like to feature another one of our wonderful volunteers: Patricia Whitlock. Patricia was one of the first to sign-up and has been doing a significant amount of work on behalf of our agency and community. It's inspiring to see people like her give so much of their time and heart to our agency and community!
Here are a few questions and answers so you can get to know Patricia better!

What inspired you to volunteer for Santa Cruz Police?

Patricia: I volunteered with the police department when Bishop Richard Garcia of the Diocese of Monterey asked the parishes to establish a relationship with the public safety officers to help stop gang violence in our communities.

If you could tell the community one thing about yourself what would it be? 

Patricia:  I would tell them that I believe all children should be encouraged and loved as much as possible.

What is the most interesting or coolest thing you've done while at SCPD? 

Patricia: The coolest thing I have done while at the PD is the honor of attending the Red Cross Heroes

Award Breakfast where Officer Joe Hernandez and Officer Matt Mulvihill received awards for being Heroes of the Year.

What are your favorite movies and TV shows? 

Patricia: My favorite movies are: An Affair to Remember, Primal Fear and Thunderheart.  My favorite TV shows are: George Lopez and the new Hawaii 5-0!

What is your favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz?

Patricia: My favorite restaurant unfortunately didn't make it to Santa Cruz.  It is In N Out Burger!

Want to volunteer? Contact Sgt. Mike Harms and he'll get the process started! 

Department PRIDE Program Featured in City Mailer

The department's PRIDE Program, a ten-week program that targets at-risk youth, was featured in a City mailer sent to all households and businesses. The mailer was the City's first Annual Report, a state of the City that provided insight into strategic goals, stats and more.

The program works with school administrators, parents and students at the middle school level. These students are generally viewed as at-risk for negative behaviors (including gang activity, violence and drugs). The first five weeks of the program is dedicated to bad decision making - with trips to the local jails and a funeral home meeting people that regret these decisions. But the second half is dedicated to good decision making - with trips to local universities, sports programs and more. Students are paired with mentors in the program that help showcase these good decisions. So far the success rate has been outstanding - with students graduating from the program showing improved behaviors and grades at school.

For information on volunteering or contributing to the PRIDE program, please contact Sgt. Harms or Officer Hernandez at (831) 420-5870.