The Real City of Stockton

07-03-2011 Early Dawn Shooting Leaves 2 Wounded

2011-07-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

Around 0750 hours the dawn of the Morning was punctuated by sounds of gunfire.
The amount of shots fired, was enough to have so many people calling into 9-1-1 that it caused the information on the potential suspect or suspects to be elusive, and left for no certainty, except that two men were shot. Stockton Police Call Takers were taking call after call from the residents living within the apartment complex located at 2733 Country Club Blvd, that were awoken to the piercing noise of gun shots resonating within the confines of this area.

Each caller gave different information, about potential suspects, potential getaway routes, some reports had a BMA getting out of three different cars, and shooting two males, one in the chest, and one in the back. The Suspect getting back into a vehicle and fleeing the scene, however one caller said that the Suspect was being followed by two BFA's driving a silver Honda; Another caller made the piecing of the events even more confusing, because they told police the person who shot the men, fled on foot heading down Country Club towards 7-11.

Both men were flown by Reach, and Medi Flight to Doctor's Medical Center(Modesto), and one to Modesto Memorial Medical Center, one victim possibly being fatally wounded. According to the News10 Article about the shooting, it just basically reaffirms everything that is heard on the scanner recording provided in this posting. Press play to listen to audio of the shooting call.

Recording Provided by ScanStockton.com Media is (c) 2011

View the Posting at ScanStockton.com

ScanStockton.com

City Lays off 36 Fire Fighters

2011-07-02T03:41:00.000-07:00

According to News10 the City of Stockton has laid off 36 firefighters, trying to close the budget deficit. The City and Union negotiated Thursday night, but was unsuccessful in reaching an agreement, according to News10, they became deadlocked. However, seven firefighters decided to retire early, others were willing to take demotions, instead of laying off the fire fighters. Apparently this was not enough, so the City proceeded to give notice to the fire fighters who were being laid off.

Trucks will no longer have 5-0 staffing, and will only be staffed by four personnel; The lay offs will reduce staffing of all engine companies from five to four and drops staffing on trucks from three to two; 19 fewer firefighters will be on duty. (News10, 2011)

The quote does not make sense, I believe what is meant is that on all truck companies staffing will be reduced from 5, to 4 personnel, and possibly drops staffing on engine companies from 4 to 3. I am not for certain, I will do more checking on this. Additionally Engine Company 1, will be closed, and the City will have 12 stations, instead of 13. Company 1 is located at 1818 Fresno Drive, and staffed 1 Engine company, and Dispatch 1.

Some First Due in areas of Company 1 were all calls on HWY 4, the industrial sections on Fresno heading towards Navy Drive, such as Hormel Foods, Zacky Farms, also Boggs Tract, and the Port of Stockton.

Engine 5 located at 3499 Manthey Road, Engine 2 located at 110 West Sonora Street, Engine 3 located at 1116 East First Street, will most likely be the three Engine companies that take over parts of Engine 1's district.

Click on Map to be taken to See Engine 1 Area-Stations in position to Cover

A total of 48 personnel were cut, seven opted for retirement, some took demotions in the department, and this left 36 fire fighter position's left to be laid off. According to News10, the City and Fire Unions are still negotiating; Also News10 stated that the staffing level is the lowest it has been since the fifties.

Measure H, gave the City Manager and or City Council the right to change staffing or make cuts to staffing in the fire department. Before Measure H, the Fire Department made all the staffing decisions, and it had exclusivity, and could not be forced by City Hall or the City Manager to reduce staffing.

It would seem that the three fire stations that are in position to cover closed Company 1 district, are Companies 5,2, & 3. Company 2 handling everything North of Charter, all the way to the Port; Company 3 handling calls on HWY 4, and some of the industrial area's right off of Charter/Residential both North of or South of Charter; and Company 5 handling all the residential area South of Charter, through Con Way, all the way to Van Buskirk Park on Eighth Street.

Some potential high impact area's where Engine 1 Closure will cause delay will be responses on HWY 4, and the unprotected area, which Stockton Fire Responds to all MVA, or vehicles in the water. The responses times will be much longer. Any part of Charter way past I-5, East of, will have a much higher response time, and these times will be greatly impacted if any of the three engines are already assigned to calls, or for example if their is a structure fire, that utilizes all three companies, 2,3 & 5. The next possible due in engine would be Company 9, or Company 12, then Company 6. This posting is my opinnion, and I have based my potential theories on Station locations, Geographic areas, and response times.

This is not an official posting nor are any opinions contained herein shared with the City of Stockton, or Stockton Fire Department.

Source
News10, Initials. (Producer). (2011). City of stockton lays off 36 firefighters. [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.news10.net/news/article/144012/2/City-of-Stockton-lays-off-36-firefighters

ScanStockton.com

Same Cowards-Same Dirt-Same Uselessness

2011-06-28T03:41:00.000-07:00

The most recent shooting of a of a 66 yro man in Stockton, just goes to show you the cowards that we have in this city. I have never wanted to judge or be potitcally incorrect, instead I have wanted to try and be balanced in my views. However, this recent shooting, and the shootings that have occurred over the week end, and the robberies where the scumbags robbed and then sexually assaulted an 18 year old, makes me sick.

The people doing these crimes think they are hard, but in reality they are a bunch of scumbags, who are a drain, and while I think that even when they get caught, it will not be enough. I feel the true punishment that awaits them, will not be stitting in a jail cell, but will be from finally finding their purpose in this life;nothingingness. For those of you who believe in a higher power, I think this will be their greatest punishment. While I believe that people can change, and I always have hope no matter the circumstance, and I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt, individuals like this are loosing my charity.

It is one thing to try and rob someone, it is another thing to have such an evil thoughtless attitude. Just like James Rivera, he committed crimes that were horrible, he terrorized a lady with a shot gun. He died from his mistakes, and while I am sorry, and I feel sad at what a waste of life; People who do not care about life, or that of another, get what they deserve. You know though, sometimes it is not the failure of the person who commits these crimes, it is the failure of the parents.

So to you cowards in the end, when your at the barrel end of a gun, and someone wants your bling bling, think back on what you have done, and you will finally know what it is to be a coward. I wish no retribution for these misguided and totally inept individuals, but should it befall them, then I will not worry, because their disregard for life, and brutalizing people will finally have caught up when them.

In the end everyone pays for what they have done. It is just sad that most of these cases begin with the way they was raised. Take Rivera's family, where were all those people who got up in front of the City Council crying, and saying what a loss, where were they when this child needed help; they had no spot light, so they were probably doing nothing.

The police are out matched, we are on our own it seems, so be careful, and I hate to say this because it goes against all I believe in, worry only about yourself, and if a person looks to you like the sterotypical type that might try and rob you or rape you then, sterotype by all means. I have never been able to bring myself to do this, and I do not know if I ever will be, so I might be the next victim, but it is evidently clear that it is the sterotype that are doing these horrific things.

l care and cherish people from all walks of life, and I wish we could live in a perfect world were this stuff did not matter, but I am sorry hello; this is not the perfect world. Shooting grand fathers, raping women you rob, after already robbing three other people. Your a sad, piece of work, who will one day get all you have done, and it will be paid back so much worse. You victimize, without care, your a coward, your only strong because you have a gun, and or you have some homeboys, but take that away and you are the same as the rest of us.

Read my posting The Real City of Stockton: 11 Violent Crimes Occurred in the City within 24 hours , you will see the trash I am talking about.

Source

Elderly man shot during robbery in Stockton

ScanStockton.com

11 Violent Crimes Occurred in the City within 24 hours

2011-06-27T01:53:00.000-07:00

According to a news article by News10, there were 11 violent crimes in the 24 hour period from Friday to Saturday Morning.

There were four violent robberies, a sexual assault, attempt kidnapping, two different shootings, and in one of those shootings a person was killed.

The slide presentation below maps, and describes each robbery scene. The final robbery that was reported was also a sexual battery. One of the suspects took advantage of the eighteen year old girl.

View Presentation in Google Documents Mapping the Robberies

An AdForce Security Officer was shot listen to the scanner traffic from the Police communications about the incident.

A little while after this shooting there was a shooting at a bar on Main street that left five people wounded, and one of those dead.

Sources

Stockton has 11 Violent Crimes in One Night

1 Dead 4 injured in Stockton Bar Shootout on Main Street

ScanStockton.com

Much Anticipated Ruling by the Judge about FD Chief Hittle-Not so Simple!

2011-06-22T19:11:00.000-07:00

I based my information about the case being dismissed from the a posting on the City Hall Blog at blogs.esanjoaquin.com, so I went back to check on something and noticed that the dismissed had been stricken out, so I have done the same since I relied upon the information there to form my own posting.

The lawsuit that was filed by Hittle against the City, was ~~dismissed~~ "sided with the city", but in a shocking turn around, Judge gave Hittle, twenty days to address the issue:

"to draw a better connection between the city’s decision to suspend and investigate Hittle and any alleged violations of the chief’s employment rights."(Thigpen, 2011)

I read the response from the City Counsel that was retained for this suit, and the attorney seemed very confident, and almost to sure, so sure, that he was dealt this blow. In Response to the Erich Shiners, comment that "not only do the new charter rules a apply to [Hittle], but that the whole matter is not something that should even be before the Court. Shiners, supports the latter with reasoning that because the City,

"the city has not even decided what, if any, action to take related to Hittle’s employment". (Thigpen, 2011)

So in plain language because the fact that Hittle does not have an aggrieved claim, and because their has not been a decision as what to do with the Chief since the Notice of investigation in November 1, 2010, all the way until this date; Hittle therefore does not have grounds to bring a presumptive, if not theorized claim or seek remedy to address issue, for that which nothing has occurred. I think this just shows the kind of inept people the City Council decides to outsource some of the City's dirty laundry, and drama, none of which are cheap either.

As a paralegal if I was allowed to give legal, advice, I never would have written the response to Hittle's complaint, and Memorandum of Points, on any theory, instead there is so much case law out there, and if you look hard enough, the attorney could have found a much better argument. Nothing worse than for an attorney to be basically told that your full of "S*&t", by a Judge. The response to this theory, from Judge Holland

"You can't take the position that this is no big deal . . . something is cooking here" (Thigpen, 2011).

The Judge to ~~dismiss~~ side with the city, but then takes the step to allow for an additional period of time for which the Plaintiff has, xx amount of days, and here is what you must answer, and these are the issues, that I will rule, is in my opinion, the Judge, admitting, there may in fact be some form of aggrieved action, even though, there has been no action by the City. It is not normal for a Judge to extend time after a dismissal, unless for an error for which was not harmless, or some other exigent circumstances; But what is even more surprising is the fact the Judge basically, like an attorney would tell me, go and look here, this is what I want you to ask, and answer is something I have not ever heard or read of yet. When I am told about a case, I told what it is about, and it is my responsibility to draft a document which addresses, or is sufficient enough for the attorney, to go over it, have corrections made and then present it to court. It is my responsibility though, to ask the questions, and then answer them with all the facts.

Hittle argues that "case law is clear an amendment to a charter has prospective effect, unless [otherwise] expressly state in the code." The amended code is albeit any language to the contrary and as Hittle points out " , Section 1602 is completely silent . . .to retroactive effect", to the contrary Hittle asserts the code specifically states the amendment is effective on 12/10/2010. This would according to Hittle, mean that his is not subjected to the new 2010 amendment, and thus he still enjoys his civil service employee status, with the guarantee of his prior position. The only issue, that I have is that I do believe he would still retain his civil service status, but I am not for sure if a court would be willing to reach that far into this situation as to decide if he enjoys what I consider as absolute continuity, and there be no action to be taken against him, other than demotion, and then it must be based upon misconduct.

But the other side to that idea, is since the City has yet to find or release any factual findings of misconduct, or that Hittle did not fulfill his duties in accordance with Section 1602, the old section; It maybe hard to just strip him of his rights or not take his position very seriously like Judge Holland did, but making it clear that this is very important issue, and that "something is cooking".

Without the new amended language that would have allowed the change to take effect against Hittle, not within the presented amended materials that were given to the voters. It was in the voters guide or booklet, that gives pros/cons arguments, and then detailed analysis. To attempt to determine what the intent of the body was(City Government, and Citizens), who voted for this amendment, if they were not allowed the information that is now being questioned, and they did not consider the information that is being argued, will be an issue for the defense. In order for intent to be addressed, and then found by a court or legislated body, on an issue that is unclear, or possibly ambiguous; It must have been a part of the original amended materials that was given to the voters. Without this there is no way to establish what the intent was of the voters, regarding whether Hittle would loose his classification as a civil service employee, and the guaranteed protection of his job.

I feel that based upon the judge siding with the City, but giving an extension to refile, this may come down to the Court having to determine what the intent of both the City, and Citizens were when they decided to pass the measure. While, it may seem very plainly clear as to the intent of Measure H, I can say I never even considered what Hittle argues in his case, and the argument is sound under well established case law. So I feel he has a chance, and if he does get his job back, there maybe some other issues that he may have remedy for, such as retaliation, age discrimination, emotional and health stress from, economic damages, and any defaming comments, or slanderous comments, however the latter may not be possible, because he would be considered a public official, but even then it would depend upon the court.

I cannot take the view that the City has not been frustrated or angry at Hittle for may years; Because of him following through with section 1602, and not allowing a City Government, who maybe qualified in a lot of things, but one could argue are not qualified to run a fire department. I have not seen one report that has came from City hall that shows they know how to manage and deal with the issues of the department. Their only response is to play the victim of a corrupt union, who is far more concerned with themselves than the welfare of the whole. Hittle also refused to go against his rank and file, and follow the suit of the Police Chief, who in my opinion is brown noser, and this is the only way he has stayed on.

He has cow-towed, got in line, and did everything to protect his job, while, he being the expert knows the consequences of what has already happened, and is going to happen if the City Council has their way and continues to cut funding to public safety. The Chief makes vain attempts to cover his rear from both ends, but he is much more passionate and concerned not about his officers safety, nor the citizens, but doing the bidding of a City Council who wants him to further undermine, the huge deficiency that existed long before the financial crisis.

Hittle, in my opinion as I blogged long before he was taken out, was on the chopping block for a long time, the City Council just needed to turn the opinion of the public, through lies, misinformation, all the while covering their own egregious actions, all of which it would not be hard to say absolutely played a role in in the City's, demise to where it no longer is a matter of inconvenience, the choices, now are questions of just how much more can we cut, because we are already past the point of detriment, and now were are walking in a realm unknown. How much can we take before we really can bring down, and cause detriment, on levels never applied before by a government in this Country, on its citizens.

It leads one to question even if Hittle did commit something that was incorrect, would it rise to the level of what the City Manager, and City Council has done? The facts are all around us, and they are in black and white, but no one wants to hold them accountable.

The Record keeps harping on the Unions, the Fire Fighters, and others, this is why no City should ever depend on one news source, it should be law that there are two opposing ideas, or competitors, because I apologize, the Record does not report a lot of things, sometimes it is a bunch of incorrect information, and I have learned this from putting audio recordings of incidents in the City since 2008, and at least a majority of the time, what actually happened, is not reported. That is why I feel so passionate about postings as much information I can, not to undermine any public agency, but to ensure that we are at least allowed the potential to discover what is real, and what is somewhat fabricated. The News paper should try as hard as possibly to remain, impartial or take a certain view, and while the Record has tried to do this, they have failed miserably, most if not all of the negativity only being able to pollute the public because of the misguided, or one sense of overwhelming , belief in a cause or the current situation that it blinds and clouds the issue even further. That is our paper.

Hittle, Unlike the Chief of Police who is only popular with the City Government, not his subordinates, was unwilling to put his knowledge and experience against the opposing ideals from the City which he new would only further undermine, the thin line that is barely keeping this whole thing together.

Hittle should feel proud, and happy with the decision, because at least the Judge was not as inept as the Attorney the City Hired to address his claim. The Judge felt that there was some real issues that needed to be addressed and answered, so this is good for him. Judge may also be, being very cautious with this case, so that on appeal it would not get overturned, or pushed back down to the lower court. Our City Leaders have done nothing but point the finger, they have had some great ideas, but they talk about the ideas of the Police and Fire Department not fitting with the current fiscal times, and so on, but guess what it is not the Police and Fire Departments to be money handlers, and it should never befall upon them to have to worry about a budget crisis, when we have a continually nationally high murder rate, and the services of both are absolutely vital to the well being of all.

Sources

Thigpen, D. (2011, June 22). Partial setback in hittle lawsuit. Retrieved from http://blogs.esanjoaquin.com/stockton-city-hall-blog/2011/06/22/partial-setback-in-hittle-lawsuit/

PDF Files from which I answered and asked questions in this posting here.

__________________________________________________

News Story the Record Wrote Published 06-23-2011

STOCKTON - A San Joaquin County judge delivered a partial setback Wednesday to beleaguered Stockton Fire Chief Ron Hittle's lawsuit against City Hall but declined to toss out the suit entirely.

Superior Court Judge Lesley Holland sided with the city's objections to the litigation, but said he would allow the fire chief to make changes to his civil complaint in the next 20 business days, which Hittle's lawyer said he would do.

At the center of Hittle's lawsuit is whether voter-approved city charter changes last year, which make it easier for City Hall to remove a fire chief, apply to Hittle, who has held the position since 2006.

Hittle has been on paid leave since March and is the subject of investigations into alleged misconduct and poor job performance. He filed suit in April, in part to block Hittle being fired.

In court papers, Hittle's lawyers asked the judge to rule on whether the old charter rules still apply to the chief. If so, the most severe penalty the city can levy is to demote him to his previous position.

But during a brief hearing Wednesday, Erich Shiners, an outside attorney for the city, argued that not only do the new charter rules apply to him, but the entire matter did not belong in court because the city has not even decided what, if any, action to take related to Hittle's employment.

"You can't take the position that this is no big deal," Holland told Shiners. "Something's cooking."

Still, Holland sided with the city and asked Hittle's lawyer, Randy Thomas, to draw a better connection between the city's decision to suspend and investigate Hittle and any alleged violations of the chief's employment rights.

Measure H, approved by voters in November, stripped civil-service protections from the position of fire chief, making it an at-will city job. Under the old charter rules, Stockton's fire chief could be suspended or removed from office only with cause and still was guaranteed his previous position in the department.

Thomas said it was imperative for a judge to rule on Hittle's employment rights now. If Hittle is determined to have retained his civil service protections, Thomas said the chief may challenge his suspension and the city's investigations before Stockton's Civil Service Commission, where the lawyer said he expected Hittle to prevail.

Otherwise, Hittle needs to know whether to seek other work or consider retirement, his lawyer said.

"He's in total limbo, judge," Thomas said. "He doesn't know what to do with his life."

Hittle was placed on paid leave in March shortly after it was publicized that he had attended a Christian leadership conference in Livermore in August at taxpayers' expense.

At Wednesday's hearing, Shiners said Hittle is now on worker's compensation leave, though Thomas said he was not aware of the chief currently receiving any such benefits. He said Hittle is not considering a medical early retirement.

Hittle, in civilian garb wearing a blazer and brown slacks, declined to comment as he left the courtroom.

City leaders have said Measure H was not crafted to remove Hittle, whom they have criticized as being too close to the firefighters union - a criticism union leaders have disputed - but rather was an attempt to regain management control of a routinely over-budget Fire Department.

City Manager Bob Deis last month named David Rudat, a former fire chief and retired city manager from the city of Orange, as Stockton's interim fire chief.

In an earlier interview, Thomas claimed Hittle's suspension and investigation "is clearly motivated by an attempt to get another fire chief in to control the budget. ... This is part of the clean house opportunity of City Hall."

City officials have repeatedly declined to comment on Hittle's employment or lawsuit.

Contact reporter Daniel Thigpen at (209) 546-8254 or dthigpen@recordnet.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/thigpenblog.

This is work that is copyrighted by the Record, 2011 and Here is the orginal link to the article that is posted within this posting Fire chief's suit against city takes hit.

06/22/11

ScanStockton.com

Escalon Police Officer was shot 06/21/2011 around 0340 hrs.

2011-06-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

An Escalon Police officer responding to a burglary call at the Rite Aid Jackson Avenue, and was confronted by a large white or Hispanic male.
A struggle ensued and the subject was able to gain control of the officers weapon and shot the officer in the shoulder area. The Officer was taken to Doctor's medical center in Modesto and was in stable condition.


This was released by the Escalon Police of a Person who is wanted in several Burglaries in the area.

Click on the link to be taken to the main page where this information is posted on the Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers Page.

Below is the audio traffic from the shooting incident.

View the Posting and Audio Recording at ScanStockton.com

Crime and Violence increase-Cuts in Policing Contributory Grand Jury Concludes

2011-06-20T02:07:00.000-07:00

Within the last two Months two Grand Jury Reports have been released both dealing with public safety agency, the police departments, and Fire Department of the City of Stockton.

The San Joaquin County 2010-2011 Civil Grand Jury today
released its informational report investigating budgetary
impacts on the administration of justice in San Joaquin County.

“San Joaquin County public jurisdictions have been under increasing budget management pressure to secure sufficient resources to deliver an acceptable level of service. The need to continue to reduce budgets, personnel, and services over the past several years threatens the ability to ensure public safety in the present fiscal climate.”

Findings by the Grand Jury were a little to late, nonetheless it was nice to see someone take notice. What the report does is in my opinion shows the Citizens that it is not the police that are the reason for the steady 300% persistent crime rate on both the State and National Levels (Grand Jury Report:Budgetary Impacts of the Administration Justice, 2011). The one issue that the Grand Jury does not discuss is the impact on issues of Officer Safety, which should have been discussed. Less Police Officers, does not simply mean less safety for the public, but also means Officers are at a greater risk of harm, because help is limited because of having less resources, and if units are available they may be coming from other part of the City.

The report does a great job in providing analytical data, and Statistics for all of the law enforcement agencies in the County, showing and detailing how budget cuts have impacted each department singularly. I will be discussing the issues that the grand jury concluded just for the City of Stockton.

The Grand Jury Concludes the following impacts have directly been a contributory factor in the increase in crime, and the murder rate; In the first six months of 2010, the murder rate increased 244% compared to the the same time period in 2009. The City over the last two years has cut the police departments budget by $22,000,000, with the potential for 2011/2012 another $13,000,000, the sworn peace officers on the force from a high of 441, to currently 342, a difference of 99 less police officers available to the City.

In a report conducted by Dr. Braga several key recommendations were outlined to assist the Police Department with effectively combating the violence:

Increasing the staffing of the police force to be comparable to the national average, 550 police officers would be the number to meet this recommendation.

Until the Police force could meet the recommendation, Dr. Baraga recommended a hot spot policing at orginal levels.

Contiue to use community outreach, respond to hot spot areas with increased police presence as a temporary means to deal with an increase of violence within in certain geographic area. Also the latter outcome would be prevention.

Expand the Gang Suppresion Unit, deploy more officers to the combat, gather intelligence, and use preventative techniques such has higher presence of police in known gang areas, proactive prevention and intervention to prevent gang violence.

The are just some of the recommendations made by Dr. Baraga, which none of the recommendations were possible because of the budget crisis. Had any of the recommendations been possibly implemented, it would be reasonable to assume that some of the violence from Gangs could have been prevented, and the deaths mitigated. I view gang violence as a preventable, thus through education, prevention, and if needed incarceration, violence caused from the over 2700 active gang members in the City, could be reduced.

The buget cuts to the Police Department has caused the elimination of the following:

Gang and Drug Units
Community Policing Officers
School Resource Officers
Downtown Bike Patrol
Field Training Officers
Background Investigations
Camera Monitoring Program

The elimination of these programs so that the patrol division could be maintained and sustained with officers to patrol the streets. The elimination of all these programs have removed a very vital and integral tool from the police department; Prevention. Preventaive policing, or "community policing". The concept definition,

"Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies, which support the systematic use of partnerships and problem-solving techniques, to pro actively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues such as crime, social disorder, and fear of crime. " (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Orientated Policing Services, 2009)

What this report also does, is show what happens when cuts to public safety happen in a City, where crime is already an issue. The department already being understaffed, is subjected to further cuts, that undermine the ability of the Police department to efficiently, effectively, and safely protect & serve, is the outcome of what has happened. Statistics can be a great analytical tool, and can be used to create probable outcomes, giving an idea of what may occur, or establish and acceptable rate of increase in certain area of services; No information of probability or statistical information is able to for tell the true outcome of such a reduction in protection, and removal of vital policing tools, will have upon a City, already with a systemic problem of violence, drugs, poverty.

What the report does not address is how the decisions of the City Council further exacerbated the financial crisis, through wasteful spending, improper use of funds, and recovery, and litigation cost owed by the City, because of the incompetence and negligent decision of the City Government. Some financial cuts were inevitably going to have to occur, but the point is the extreme if not perverse has occurred, because the cuts have been so detrimental to safety, and in less than two years the cuts in policing already having a cadre of victims, and severely impacting many goals, and abilities to allow the City to get on the path to recovery. Furthermore, the wastefulness of the spending is not something that has been a harmless error, to the contrary all the decision to cut public safety, should not be simply attributed to the Economic Conditions of the State, but should also be attributed to the wasteful and bad decisions made by an incompetent City Government.

I feel very strongly that, even though the economic downturn was factor for every City financially, our City Leaders have made several decisions that left us in a far fiscally and vulnerable depleted situation. This has only worsened, and exacerbated this disaster. The City of Stockton, the City government has responsibility, and culpability, and the decisions they have made, are a direct reason as to why this grand jury report was necessary. Their mismanagement and wasteful spending, has gambled with public safety, and already the consequences are seen on the news daily.

"According to Stockton Fire Facts, the City after making all the cuts to public safety has earmarked 48 million on rebuilding City Hall, paid 33 million Howard Jarvis Taxpayers in a settlement for misuse of water utility fees, 22 million put into the Downtown Marina Project, with a 700,000 annual overhead cost, and according to the site there is more examples of mismanagement of funds by our wreck less City Council. The most recent example the City's inability to manage our money, for around fours months have " just voted to spend $20,000 a month to hire an outside firm", to operate as the CFO until a replacement can be found.(The Real City of Stockton, 2010)

If for example, the city had not illegally used funds in the construction of the Stockton Events Center, then the $33 million could be used for City Services, being able to sustain services which are vital with the appropriate staffing. This just one example of the absolute incompetence of the City Council, they should have never spent money on anything until they were giving legal advice by counsel to ensure they were not violating any law, but apparently this was not something that fell within the scope of their common sense, or the City Attorney themselves was incompetent and gave improper legal advice, either way it was their choice, which lead to "$33 Million settlement with Howard Jarivs Taxpayers Association due to the City illegally using Water Utility fees to fund the construction of the Stockton Events Center."

Furthermore, it will be interesting to see how the City decides to deal with the Fire Department, in July, if they will make drastic cuts, to close the deficit at the publics detriment. The coming decisions about cuts in the Fire Department, again some cuts are necessary, however it they follow through with the cuts that have been proposed with the information now; which is the cuts to public safety have in less than two years been found to be a contributory to the cuts themselves. I translate this in plain language: Cuts to the Police Department has lead to no proactive policing, and has caused a drastic increase in violence in death, only two years after making cuts. The cuts have not only lead to higher wait times for police services, but has caused officers not being able to respond to higher level call classifications, in an acceptable response time, meaning that a call in progress, will continue without the possiblility of intervention because all units in the City are tied up on calls.

The first part of June 2011, there was an estimated 4 or more murders in the City Jurisdiction, a couple of them within the same day, each of these incidents depleted the resources of the City, leaving the safety of the city to a few officers, and hope that something else would not happen. Each time hope, prevailed and the City was able to address the calls, and needs, but only barely and with luck.

History can not be changed, so this period in this City's history will show that the economy was not the only issue in the City of Stockton that lead to the conditions today, but will show the incompetent choices a City Council, and the publics failure to hold them accountable for their negligent actions. The only good that will come from this portion of our history, will be that we will be able to refelect upon and use it as guide as to what can happen when a government places the interst of the police, fire, and the public secondary to business interest, builing stadiums, marinas, and other ventures, in a time when such projects are not sustainable or a nessessity.

Sources

County Grand Jury, SJ. (2011, June 14). 2010-2011 grand jury releases report on budgetary impacts on the administration of justice in san joaquin county. Retrieved from http://tinyurl.com/5wut8uo

Stockton Fire Facts, . (2010). City of wasteful. Retrieved from http://www.stocktonfirefacts.com/?page_id=33

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Orientated Policing Services. (2009). Community policing defined (e030917193). Washington, DC: Retrieved from http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/files/RIC/Publications/e030917193-CP-Defined.pdf

ScanStockton.com

Three More Deaths-2 shootings & 1 Innocent Woman Killed by Car Fleeing from Sheriffs Office!

2011-06-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

No end to the staggering violence that has taken life, almost daily since the beginning June. Yesterday and today, the trend of violence and murder, that has shattered lives, and kept detectives, and resources spread thin, has taken three more lives.

On 06/13/2011, two people lost their lives, one because of being shot, another because of a fleeing driver, running from the Sheriffs Department--the victim an innocent driver struck by the fleeing car.

Today another victim lost their life, after being shot in the head by person known to the victim.

Noon Time Murder On Waterloo Road

06/13/2011

Around 1200 hours yesterday a Stockton Police Detective driving on Waterloo Road came upon a male down near Belvadere Street; The Detective went to check the person down, and discovered the person had been shot, and immediately radioed for help. The horrific shooting witnessed by many people in the area. Immediate witness reports to the Officer advised that a lite skinned Hispanic male, wearing shorts, white t shirt, and a shirt wrapped around his head, walked up to the victim and shot him in the head. The suspect then ran down Francis Street, where according to witnesses was picked up by a Ford Taurus, or Buick that was silver in color.

The Victim was not taken to the hospital, and was pronounced dead. Stockton Police sent many Officers to assist the Sheriffs department during the first few minutes of the incident because there was information that the suspect, still armed, was in the area of Belvadere Ave or Francis St; A large perimeter was set up by the Stockton police department, and the responding Sheriffs Deputies were in charge of the search. A brief search was conducted, but eventually called off after several witness's confirmed that the shooter had made it outside of the large perimeter. Most likely the suspect was picked up by the vehicle described in the previous paragraph; additionally there were reports by witnesses that the suspect was dropped of by the same car.

One officer radioed to dispatch "note in the call that it is windy out here, and there are dollar bills blowing down the road", this seemed to suggest that this murder was a possible robbery. This was not however the official view of any agency on the scene. CHP assisted and took over much of Stockton Police Departments assistance to the Sheriffs, at one point, 11 Stockton Police Officers were on scene assisting the S/O. Devastated family members of the victim arrived almost immediately after the shooting, and were distraught.

Read & Watch Fox 40 News Coverage-Click Here about this brazen act of violence that left another teenager dead.

Terminated Pursuit Turns Tragic

06/13/2011

Later in the evening around 2100 hours, a San Joaquin County Sheriffs Deputy attempted a traffic Stop on a car, the car immediately failed to yield and a short pursuit ensued. Almost immediately the Deputy terminated the pursuit, and advised over the radio that he was terminating the pursuit. Seconds later however, at the intersection of Franklin and Elm Wood Avenue, the fleeing vehicle struck and innocent woman's car, causing massive damage, and ejecting her from the car. She suffered massive injuries, and died later in the night. The lone deputy immediately gave chase to a subject seen running from the vehicle, after a tense foot pursuit, and the deputy having to use a tasor, the subject was taken into custody.

A Stockton police officer answering the call from the Sheriffs Department request that help be sent to the Officer, arrived at the scene and advised over the radio "... it is a mess out here, there is about 100 people out here,.. keep all our units coming". Read More or Watch the News Footage-Click Here.

Shooting Homicide Noble/ Sutter Streets

06/14/2011

Today at Noble and Sutter Streets, a known friend who was described as gang member, shot his friend in the head with a rifle. After shooting the victim in the head, Stockton Police Officers arriving on the scene discovered that the victims wounds were fatal. Witnesses told police, the suspect shot the victim and then placed the weapon in a back pack, got on a bike and left the area. Description was a HMA, with long hair, and was a gang member. A call out for detectives was initiated to investigate the latest murder, which has been a daily occurrence for almost everyday of this Month. According to Fox 40 news, this murder being the 7th in the last nine days. More News & Coverage at News 10-Click Here .

Grand Jury Report of San Joaquin County Law Enforcement Agencies

Ironically today News 10 - Sacramento reported the that the San Joaquin County Grand Jury Released a report and stated:

"The San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury concluded the area's law
enforcement agencies are suffering and crime is up as a result in an
informational report released Tuesday..." News-10 Sacramento . The report concluding that the loss of Officers as having a profound and directly attributable linkage to the increase in violent crime, and murder. Read Full Grand Jury Report-Download -Click the link to download.

ScanStockton.com

Another Gun Battle Downtown Near the Movie Theater-Fremont Park

2011-06-11T03:20:00.000-07:00

The bloody week of violence did not slow down on Friday, and continued until the early morning hours of Saturday.

In Less than three days, violence has once again broke out between two groups of people, who have used fire arms and fired shots at each other. Around 1730 hours the Stockton Police Department 911 Communications became inundated with calls of shots being fired near the Movie Theater, Fremont Park, Weber Park area. Officers arriving in the area observed a large groups leaving the area. A Patrol Unit, and a G-Set Unit observed a Black Male, who matched the description of one the suspects shooting. The subject was detained at gun point.

Additional responding Officers observed a large group of people near or in Fremont Park, close to the Memorial. Several people were also going in different directions, which is absolutely plausible because, it is something that a person would do when they are in or near gunshots being fired. I know this made the first Officers getting on the scene have difficulty in trying to distinguish who where the possible suspects.

However, Stockton Police did a great job under the conditions, and did recover a fire arm, and did detain several people. Officers were engaged by a Hostile crowd, which one Officer broadcasted was around 50 plus people at Fremont Park, or thereabouts. An Officer in the area or at one of the locations where officers were located heard additional gun fire. Arriving Patrol Units were able to do a check of the area where the gun fire came from, and a subject was detained. I was not clear at which location or which subject was a gun recovered . Several people where detained, and less than lethal force was used.

There were also three stabbings that occurred in a short period of time. Unknown on the Status of any of the victims. Last nights shooting that killed a man, was believed to have been gang related. The current cut backs, and the proposed ones that are to happen in July, will continue to severely handicap and create a situation, where crime will continue to increase, an the violence, will assist in keeping the murder rate high. This will be because of taking the resources needed to effectively be able to fight, apprehend , and reduce crime. The City Council should be held accountable for the long hold times for calls to be answered, people are having to wait longer when the call for an Officer. Even Priority 1 calls, which are the most important calls to send units to, are pending, sometimes having no Officers to respond.

13th Murder 06-11-2011

The Police resources were spread thin, and no Officers were available for a time to assist at a scene where a patrol unit observed a male down, with head trauma and no pulse. Stockton Fire discovered a gun shot wound to the torso. Officers had to be taken off other calls, and respond from other districts to assist in investigating the crime.The victim was taken to St Joes Hospital with no pulse, in full arrest, and was pronounced dead upon arrival.

A week of Violence has plauged the City

2011-06-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

This is a post that I put on my Site ScanStockton.com, I wrote this article the day I posted it. I did not include any of the audio traffic from the shooting incidents because some of the shootings were gang related, and I want to ensure that people like rivals or the suspects that shot and killed teenager, are not able to get this information and download it to their phones or put it on a site somewhere and gloat.

It seems that the crime rate in Stockton will continue to be sore and debated subject. The Record presents several good disagreement with Statistics released by the FBI/ and other agencies. It seems the feeling is that the numbers are incorrect or somewhat inflated maybe. These presentations are absolutely plausible and makes for a good read.

Here are some hard facts that cannot be refuted:

This most recent run of violence started on 06/05/2010 on the Eastside in the County at Wagner and Date Street. One 16 yro victim was shot in the head. Another Sheriffs deputy discovered the second body further down from the first victim; Second victim an 18yro had multiple gun shot wounds to the chest/upper body. The 16 yro was transported to the San Joaquin County General Hospital which is protocol for all head wounds. The victim passed away in the ambulance. The second victim was transported to Saint Josephs Medical Center, where according to the Record he remains on life Support. RecordNet.com Report

06-05-2011 Stockton Police Receives a call of male shot in the chest. Victim was treated for his injuries.

06/06/2011 A man is discovered badly beaten with severe trauma to his body, a Maid working at Motel Six on Navy Drive discovers the grisly scene. This is investigated as a Homicide.

06/06/2011 4900 Block of Kentfield- A woman giving her child a bath is struck by gun fire that penetrates the wall of her home, striking her in the back. She survives her Injuries. RecordNet.com Report

06/07/2011 An 11yro girl out with her older brother at the downtown Movie theater are caught in a gun battle between two groups of individuals. The young girl is hit by gun fire as she is sitting at a table in front of the theater, her brother grabs her and picks her up and takes her to safety. She is transported to St.Joes Medical Center with non life threatening wound. News10 Report.

06/08/2011 A 15yro boy is found with a GSW to the head. Police Officers arrive on Dundee with no leads or witnesses. According to the Record the shooting may have been accidental. The boys is taken to Bear Creek High School where he is flow to UC Davis and dies from his wound. News 10 Story.

06/08/2011 A male suffering a GSW to his upper body is dropped off at SJ Medical Center. The victim is uncooperative and will not provide information to police.

06/09/2011 Around 2245 hours Stockton Police receive multiple calls of shots fire, also a reported person shot and down in the street. Victim was found at Sixth and San Joaquin Street. Officers find the victim with a major GSW wound to the head. The victim is pronounced dead at the scene. Second Murder of this span of violence for the week.

Next Month the City is slated to take more jobs away from both police and fire departments. The city is already sadly a place where it is not uncommon knowledge that this City can be unforgiving and violent. This recent wave of violence has been sad though, because several victims were innocent and were shot because they were caught in the violence occurring around them. Additionally at least four of the victims were teenagers, two only 15 years old. The shooting on Kentfied may have been accidental.

There can be no doubt that the Cuts to the City Police force have been destructive and have left the City open to a wave of violence because the response time, or amount of calls holding, severally impacting an Officers ability to be pro active, such as going through known areas and doing special checks. These things that worked in the past to bring Stockton's Crime Rate down. Cutting more police and even cutting more Fire Fighters is not going to be something that no one in this City will benefit from at all.

ScanStockton.com

Stockton Fire Department Information Collection

2011-06-03T23:32:00.000-07:00

Here is some information about the Stockton Fire Department that is useful and provides insight into how the department works, common information about responses to certain calls, list all apparatus and their assigned stations. The informational packet also includes a list of all the stations in the city, and provides a link to Google maps, so that you can see where the different stations are located.

Also find out about specialized functions, and equipment the department uses to protect life, liberty, and property. This is a easy to follow plethora of information that will help you to better understand the department, and you can find answers that you may have to questions that have lingered in your mind.

The information at the least is consolidated, and can be helpful to those who view the information. You will most definitely learn something about the department that you may not have known. This is not an official endorsed release of information by the City of Stockton or the Stockton Fire Department. All information complied has been done by ScanStockton.com, and is for educational, and informational use only.

Click Here to View the Information/Guide!

ScanStockton.com

LAW -FIRE-EMS LINKS

2011-05-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

These Links on this page have been provided as a service. I make no promise that the links or contact information provided for a specific department is correct and up to date with the correct information. Any department that did not have a website, I simply provided the number and mailing information for that particular agency.

Always Dial #911 in an Emergency

Stockton Police
Non Emergency Number

209-937-8377

Emergency # 209-937-7911(Just like calling 911)

San Joaquin County Law Enforcement Official Web Links

Stockton Police Department

Manteca Police Department

Ripon Police Department

Tracy Police Department

San Joaquin County Sheriff-Corner

San Joaquin Community College Delta Police Department

Stockton Unified School District Police Department

University of the Pacific Police Department

Port of Stockton Police

Escalon Police Department

CHP Valley Division

Lodi Police Department

Fire Departments

Official Websites of Fire Departments Serving In San Joaquin County

Clements Vol FD

Woodbridge FD

Waterloo Morada FD

Tracy FD/Tracy Rural FD

Ripon FD

Montezuma FD

Stockton Fire Department

Lathrop Manteca Fire District

French Camp-McKinley Fire District

Farmington Fire District

Escalon Consolidated Fire Protection District

Manteca Fire Department

Lodi Fire Department

Linden Peters Fire District

P.O. Box 244

Linden, CA 95236

Phone: 887-3710

Fax: 887-2821

Liberty Fire District

24124 N. Bruella Road

Acampo, CA 95220

Phone: 339-1329

Fax: 368-3320

This is the most recent information that I could find as the date of this date 08/29/2010. Each department that has a link , it is the official link that the agency provides to the public. You can use the links to Law Enforcement agencies listed on this page to for instance, file your own police reports, contact the department, and each department provided information specific to the public they serve.

The same applied to all links provided to the Fire Departments who operate in San Joaquin County. Any department that does not or did not at the time of this writing have a web presence, the Departments, Address, Telephone number, and other information was provided.

Always remember that in an emergency to Call 911 , do not wait and try to find other information, call 911, above everything else.

Easter Morning Victorian House Fire Pic Gallery and Video Clips

2011-05-14T00:45:00.000-07:00

04-24-2011 Easter Morning Two Alarm Fire at Magnolia and North Center Street. A two story old Victorian home caught fire and was a blaze when the Stockton Fire department arrived on the scene.

At first the fire was a defensive attack because of the concern for integrity of the structure, but then fire attack went interior. Unknown if the occupants were home, or if they were in the large crowd that gathered to watch the fire. The Fire completely blocked all of Center Street at Rose Street, all the way through to Acacia Street.

ScanStockton.com

Popular and Madision Severed Gas Main MVA Picture Gallery

2011-05-14T00:41:00.000-07:00

These pictures were taken on 03-29-11, after an MVA wear a truck hit a house and severed the main gas line. Gas was hissing from the broken main and several homes and areas had to be evacuated until PG&E arrived. The truck could not be removed because of the active gas leak. This occurred at Popular and Madison Streets.

ScanStockton.com

Homicide Scene Gallery

2011-05-14T00:38:00.000-07:00

03-26-2011 This is the homicide scene where the victim was shot with a shot gun and the police recovered the weapon with two shell casings. The victim was around 30 yro, and was shot in the face. Unknown suspect, but the Stockton Police are treating it as a homicide. ***WARNING THE PICTURES MAY OFFEND AND ARE GRAPHIC VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.***

ScanStockton.com

Company 2 Stockton Fire Department Gallery

2011-05-14T00:34:00.000-07:00

Stockton Fire department fire equipment and apparatus. Trucks, Engines, Dispatches, Chief Operator, Battalion Chief SUV, Utility Truck, Support 2, Urban Search and Rescue.

ScanStockton.com

Lafayette Street Fire Picture gallery

2011-05-14T00:31:00.000-07:00

132 E. Lafayette Street Stockton fire Department 3rd alarm fire incident 03-21-2011. Pictures of incident, structure, staff, and apparatus. First Alarm Struck around 1727 hours.

ScanStockton.com

Do I fear Video Tapping the Police doing their Job?

2011-04-19T17:38:00.000-07:00

I was recently asked in an email if I worry about video tapping the police and the answer is no, and here is what I wrote:
No I do not fear or worry about video tapping the police because it is my right to do so and I am protected by several precedent cases, as well has my first Amendment right! The only time it would be an issue is if I was causing the police to not be able to do their jobs, and I was not following their commands. Which I address later in the email. No, but the police cannot demand privacy on the job, when they hold a public station. Several Courts have ruled on the matter including the Supreme Court of Michigan in a landmark 6-1 vote stating videotaping the police while in the act of doing their duty is not illegal. Read more if you wish to justify my point.

I have a right to video tape police as long as I do not impede their actions, I do not cross or go outside the boundaries they set forth for example, they say stay behind the yellow line, and I must follow this. There are two points that would be weighty in any claim a police officer might have and they must first overcome, The first and fourth amendment rights, both of which do provide certain protection.

First the First Amendment right gives me the right to freedom of the press, because I express to all officers that I am a freelance Journalist and I have a degree In paralegal studies, while the two do not seem to be cohesive, if you look at the court requirements of what a Journalist would be considered, I would meet the requirements. Here is an example of a case that may offer me some protection under the case law as well as my civil liberties or excercisment of my First Amendment right:

In Lovell v. City of Griffin, 303 U.S. 444 (1938), Chief Justice Hughes defined the press as, "every sort of publication which affords a vehicle of information and opinion."[85] Freedom of the press, like freedom of speech, is subject to restrictions on bases such as defamation law.

Now based upon the Lovell v. City of Griffin as long as I do not disobey or follow a lawful order by a peace officer then there is nothing that says I am doing anything wrong. In fact I am well within my right to video tape, record, and post any of the two.

More importantly in a Recent Precedent setting case the Michigan Supreme court had the following to say about video tapping police officer in the course of their duties:

In a 6-1 decision the Michigan supreme court has dismissed a lawsuit alleging that police officers have a right to privacy while on the job. The suit was filed by a former police officer who was included in a DVD documenting a Dr. Dre concert when him and other officers tried to shut the concert down. The supreme court ruled that while on the job police officers have no right to privacy and can be video taped freely.

Here are two links were cases can be found from the Michigan Supreme Courts Ruling

http://www.policeone.com/police-technology/software/video-analysis/articles/3443081-Court-sides-with-Dr-Dre-in-police-filming-case/

http://www.leftunderground.com/content/201-Michigan-Supreme-Court-Says-Videotaping-Police-Officers-Legal

One more final note of thought I will leave you with this was taken from PoliceOne.com:

In most cases it is perfectly legal to videotape police, and law enforcement experts say the practice is good for the community.

"I have seen videotapes of police officer saying, `You can't videotape me,'" said David Rocah, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland. "It is absolutely 100 percent crystal-clear that any citizen has the right to videotape a police officer as they go about their business."(Policeone.com, 2008)

Link to the Police One article for above:

http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/1660933-Police-are-increasingly-being-filmed-by-citizens/

Finally could my thought on the matter be faulty, yes it may, but here is the question that should be asked, why would the police fear me videotaping them doing their job, and then showcasing it for all the Citizens of the city to see how hard the police department works? Transparency is nothing to be afraid of, and Police whom are not clandestine operatives roaming around in the night like the gestapo, but instead are marked, whom wear uniforms, and are public officials that work for the public and the citizens of the city of Stockton. The only time Police should be fearful is when they are not doing their jobs, then it would be my hope that I would be able to bring about change, so that there could be no obstacle and the police could do what they need and are paid to do. I respect police, but I respect my freedom and my rights far more.

ScanStockton.com

Free Embeded Scanner Code for Use on Blog or Web page

2011-04-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

This is the embedded code that you can copy and paste onto your own blog or web page for free so that you can listen or let other listen to the police scanner for Stockton Ca. The feed is provided by ScanStockton.com and hosted for free by RadioReference.com. Enjoy listening to up to date police, fire, and Ems activity in your area, and keep up to date and have the news before others.

ScanStockton.com

Fire Chief Put On Leave Officials will Not Comment

2011-04-02T06:55:00.000-07:00

It seems to me that the City of Stockton Leaders are getting pay back and cleaning house of the fire department supervisory staff. The City Council needs to grow up; While I do not know the circumstances surrounding Hittle's suspension, I can only feel like it is retribution for his standing by his fire fighters before Measure H passed.

Now on the flip side of this, if he did something that was against policy then understandably then he must pay the consequences. However, does this not seem a little suspicious that only around six months ago he was stripped of his power, and his civil service protection, and now the City is seems is out for blood.

If I am way off the spectrum on this one, then gladly I will admit it, but our City leaders have been spiteful in the past, and so it seems it continues. When are the rest of the Citizens going to wake up and realize the people running this City have other agendas. This is a sad case of their childish spite.

If I am wrong the respond in kind and tell us what is really going on, your silence, leads to this type of conjecture.

We need leaders not babies. Grow up.

ScanStockton.com

A Recent Article In the Record States SPD Pursuit Policy May be Questioned

2011-03-27T16:52:00.000-07:00

This is an article I wrote on 03/05/11
Apprehension of Criminals Includes Pursuits!

Unfortunately the reality is that in order to catch those that create crime, cause crime, and are responsible for some of the most egregious acts, we must not shy away from allowing the police to do their jobs and if need be chase those criminals that are dangerous and are a threat to society. Pursuits are a dirty part of a police officers job, they have so many things to worry about, like first off which commander is working, or which supervisor; will they cancel the pursuit of a confirmed felon, and allow them to continue on their merry way, officers have to deal with these types of supervisors in the Stockton Police department. There is such indecisiveness, and inconsistency about the pursuit policy, that it makes the paper nothing but a noble attempt to be politically correct and promote safety among the city residents. But I take the view that to let individuals go that are responsible for some violent, or who have committed felonies is the same thing as having a pursuit turn bad.

We cannot think that not allowing officers who are already empowered to take a life if necessary and are the only ones besides a judge that can deprive you of your constitutional rights temporarily. Police officers have awesome responsibility and they are trained well and I feel they should be allowed to make choices that are consistent with their training and the oath that they took when they became police officers. I know that I will inevitably irritate some people who will say that I am on the wrong side of the idea or issue, but I say to you, what is the right side of the issue?, when criminals whom are dangerous are allowed to go free, and when we have a police force that is under attack, under staffed, and whom the officers do not have faith in their leadership! All of these things are detrimental. Any police activity is inherently dangerous, and pursuits are very dangerous but so are armed confrontations that occur in public places when officers are forced to use deadly force, or when they have to use force or fight with a suspect. I think it is quite funny that what is not probably understood is that what is more dangerous is the police using their cell phones while driving, reading their MDT's and working on the computers while driving-all of these activities are inherently able to cause accidents, and they do.

My point is this, their needs to be consistency regarding police pursuits, some watch commanders are willing to let their supervisors take ownership of the calls, and allow them to make the choice whether to terminate. Realize this over half of the termination of pursuits do not happen from Supervisors or W/C who are on the streets, but whom are at the police annex or the north facility in an office. I view this as limp, and makes me feel so bad for officers that are good at what they do but are held back because we have a department that is so afraid of chasing someone, that they are willing to gladly lump the pursuit onto CHP's plate, and they of course will take the pursuit, because they do not terminate, but they are in the business of catching these felonious criminals. The irony here is that all the time Stockton Police calls for CHP assistance, but when CHP calls for assistance from the City, the leadership is reluctant to assist, and just the other day they left a CHP officer alone on a pursuit, because the officer was told not to join the pursuit. The officers backup lost both tires in the pursuit so the CHP unit was solo and their were Stockton Police units all over, but they were held back by a W/C that needs to take the retirement package the City has offered, and go work for another agency like Mayberry PD.

Finally I want to address a case that was ruled upon by the United States Supreme Court and it deals with the issues of police pursuits and legal intervention. The brief states the following :

Georgia Deputy clocked 19-year-old Victor Harris going 73 mph in a 55 mph zone. As the pursuit entered Peachtree City, Deputy Timothy Scott joined the chase and took over as the lead vehicle. Although not yet trained in the Precision Intervention Technique (P.I.T.), Deputy Scott radioed in a request to a supervisor to perform the maneuver. The request was granted.

The actions of the Officer lead to the suspect becoming a parapalegic, and so several courts had oppinnions on the matter, but the final say came from the highest court in the land and here is what Justice Scalia stated in the opinnion:

Scott v. Harris

Justice Scalia stated...

A couple of points are clear from the Court’s decision:

* This case is not about the PIT Maneuver. While Deputy Scott asked permission to utilize PIT, he determined that he was going too fast to do so, and he rammed the vehicle instead. A precision maneuver such as PIT is not the same as ramming a vehicle.

* The Court clearly places the blame on the suspect and rejects the idea that if the police had canceled the pursuit, the public would be safer, citing: “. . .we are loath to lay down a rule requiring the police to allow fleeing suspects to get away whenever they drive so recklessly that they put other people’s lives in danger. It is obvious the perverse incentives such a rule would create.” The Court went on to say that the incentive would be “escape.”

* It is hard to say what the outcome of this case would have been if Deputy Scott did not have a video of the pursuit. The court relied on this evidence; clearly, law enforcement needs to embrace this technology. The suspect had been dishonest in his account, but Deputy Scott was protected because the incident was taped.

Furthermore Justice Scalia states “The court rules that a police officer’s attempt to terminate a dangerous high-speed car chase that threatens the lives of innocent bystanders does not violate the Fourth Amendment, even when it places the fleeing motorist at risk of serious injury or death.”

While the end of the brief and opinion states that this case sides with law enforcement, it does not give carte blanche when it comes to safety and pursuits etc.

But what this case makes very clear is that the Court understands that people who run are a danger and they need to be stopped, and it is not the burden of the police to have to be so constrained because they must worry about being sued because of the actions of a criminal who is the absolute reason the event occurs from beginning to end.

The police department the court understands is in the business of protecting and serving and apprehending those whom would seek to deny others their rights and civil liberties.

Yes police pursuits are probably the most dangerous of all police work, but they are nonetheless a part of the work and a very integral part. We cannot constrain our police officers whom we demand to protect us, by telling them they can only go after certain people who break the law, this is not the way the system works. I am not saying chase a person for a pack of spearmint or even a dirty book, I am saying do not let Parolees go, do not let people who have stolen cars go, and do not let other s go who are known felons.

Source
Scott v. Harris-Posted on Policeone.com

ScanStockton.com

Good Start to New Year-Positive Optimistic Change

2011-01-28T19:08:00.000-08:00

So far the New Year has been positive and it seems the City is getting back on the right track. Stockton Police has been working very hard to deal with the crime and it shows. I am optimistic and I feel if we keep on the path were are on then we can make this City the "All American City", once more.

The Stockton Police department has transitioned their communications from analog to digital. You have to have a digital scanner to listen to the radio traffic. The department did release a press release about the transition, but did in a way that was I feel sneaky and not really transparent. However, it is done and it seems to be working, but the Officers have had issues communicating and sometimes they have not been able to communicate. I think this is the growing pains of a new system, and I think it will get better over time. Sometimes when officers are trying to transmit their voices are distorted or the volume is to low and the dispatchers cannot hear or understand them. Stockton Police has a super Communications division with professional dispatchers and call takers, and all of them are good at what they do--this is a plus and the officers can feel confident that they will not be left alone!

I got an email from another Police agency in the area and it said that the agency was not notified about the upgrade to digital communications and this meant that no longer could they communicate or broadcast on Stockton Police Channels if they needed to. The issue was resolved, and apparently all the agencies in the area had upgrades to their radios so that they could still use their analog radios, but communicate on Stockton Police frequencies if they needed to. The sheriffs, Stockton Unified School Police, UOP Police, Amtrak Police, the Rail Road Police, Port Police, and Delta College Police before the transition had the capability to switch their radios to Stockton Police Frequencies and communicate. This ability is necessary because sometimes for example the Port Police are in a pursuit, they can switch over to Stockton PD and get help, call the pursuit, and broadcast vital information in any dynamic situation. This ability ensures officer safety, protects the public, and allows for interoperability so that agency dispatchers do not have to call Stockton and relay the information in third person. It cuts out the the third person and allows agencies to go right to the dispatcher, and most of the time Stockton will shut down the channel and give the broadcasting agency the air and this paramount because resources and help can be dispatched and kept up to date in real time.

SUSD Police all the time when needed will transmit on Stockton PD Channel for assistance with pursuits, and SPD dispatch will close the channel and give SUSD the air to call the pursuit. This is just one example there are many other times that this will happen. The Co Op Valley Units which is a group of CHP, Sheriff, Stockton Police and other departments participating--their mission is to recover stolen vehicles and apprehend those responsible for taking them. The Valley Units communicate primarily using nextel phones, or on a CHP channel. They also will use Stockton Police when they need assistance with a felony stop, or when they are in pursuit.

According to the police department the transition and upgrade to digital would not require additional money, and that the transition had begun around 10 years ago. I know that all public safety agencies in America have to transition to digital by 2013, and this is law. I hope that Stockton Police Administrators made the right choice and it was the right time for digital.

Manteca Police, Ripon Police, Tracy Police, and Delta College Police all use digital communications. Manteca and Tracy have used digital for the last two or more years. In Stockton though, there are several police agencies who have not made the transition. This includes: University of the Pacific Police/Public Safety, Stockton Unified School District Police, San Joaquin County Sheriffs Department, and the Port Police at the Port of Stockton. The other drawback to the timing and switch to digital is that most of the agencies listed above have scanners in their patrol cars, which previous to the transition allowed other agencies to monitor Stockton Police communications, this was beneficial because other agencies could hear information. An example where another agency was able to assist in the apprehension of an armed robbery suspect that had just occurred, happened recently. An armed robbery call was dispatched and Stockton Police were en route, but the suspect already fled the scene, but two UOP Police Officers spotted the suspect vehicle. The location was the 7-11 on Pershing, and the UOP Officers followed the vehicle and when Stockton Police Units caught up to the trailing Officers, a stop was attempted and a pursuit ensued.

The UOP Officers quick response and observation was a decisive factor in the apprehension of this dangerous armed subject. The pursuit lasted almost 35 mins and ended in the Unincorporated area at Waverly Road. A gun was recovered, no one was hurt, the officers were safe, and this dangerous person was taken into custody. This subject probably would have been able to get away, but because of a scanner and the UOP Officers ability to hear the call, the fast response and keen observation allowed this call to end with a bad guy in jail.

If you want to listen live to scanner traffic from the Stockton Police and other agencies in the area please visit this link Scanner Feed-ScanStockton.com , this streaming feed is hosted by RadioReference.com . There are several options to listen including, Windows Media Player,Real Player,Winamp, Web Player, and Java Web Player.

ScanStockton.com

Stockton Police and the Hard Work or Changes in strategy are working!

2011-01-09T05:53:00.000-08:00

It seems this near Year we are off to a good start. I listen to the scanner most nights, unlike last year, the scanner is eerily quiet. I feel this is a good thing. I think we are on the right path to changing things around.
We have not had a homicide this year which is another great thing!
It seems that the City Council is finally waking up, and seeing that there are other ways to do business that will benefit the City!.

It is bad deal that we ended 2010 with 63 Homicides, which I believe only includes the City and not the County. For example you can be on one side of Lincoln center and be in the County, and the other side is City.
So the murder rate was higher, but whether it is high or low, one life is to many.
Other notable thing was of course the Stockton police officer getting arrested in Lodi for DUI; I do not like the Officer, he treated me very badly onetime, but I am very proud that he did not try and use his station as a Police officer to get out of the DUI! That shows me he has integrity! For that he has my respect!

ScanStockton.com

Another Christmas with the New Year Approaching!

2010-12-25T13:59:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas with the 2011 knocking on the door! We are unfortunately going to go down in the history books as "another violent year for Stockton", due to the exploding crime rate!

The City has had a tumultuous year, with a crime rate that exploded, a reduced police force, a labor dispute between both the Fire and Police Departments, and the passage of a Measure H, that stripped power of the Fire Department from the department I feel, and put it in the hands of a City Council, that is not qualified.

I think that the future can be brighter for Stockton, I look forward to another year and hopefully their will be some much needed change!

The one violent crime that seems to be on the rise is armed robberies of persons or businesses, so my advice is to remain vigilant, be cautious, and do everything that police caution etc!. Past this, have a Merry Christmas, and feel good that a New Year is on the horizon!

ScanStockton.com

I have been called a racisit and nigger over Rivera Postings

2010-12-12T12:06:00.000-08:00

I received an email from someone who felt that I was biased about the Rivera Shooting, and that what I posted was not basically true. I was taken back by the passion in their belief; But I only wrote what I listened to on the day of the incident, and the night before from audio recordings. I did offer my opinion that Rivera was no Saint, but I expressed my sadness at his untimely and traumatic lonely death. Honestly the first thought that came to my mind was the pursuit was going to end in a foot pursuit, and that would be it, I did not think this young man was going to be killed.

Rivera's own family member said what I expressed, and basically what I did was mirror his words, "he been in trouble", "done somethings", the uncle admitted the young man was no saint! To that end, which of us our saints though? Ironically I thought that this incident would be free for the first time of the issue that ties me, the Police, and whoever speaks the truth to, to the bondage of being racist. He was black, that is a fact, he died by three white police officer's, do you think a black police officer would have not used deadly force? In this country everyday, do people kill people? Those they kill, most times are their own color! Famous Rappers over the years Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, and world leaders Ghandi, & Rabin, all killed by their own race or person of their skin. So it is shameful for the family, and the other groups who have made this shooting into a racially motivated isolated incident.

What does the word "nigger" mean, according to the dictionary? Ignorant! All of us are ignorant, if this sad incident, caused by an immature boy, is about me being a racist or the police officers, than all I can do is say that the racisim comes from within each of you. Your broken.

I really never wanted to blame no one, however, in this world blame comes from the actions of those whom are the cause of the blame-but I have also said that Rivera abused and terrorized and car jacked a person with a shot gun, lead police on a chase through densely populated neighborhoods, was a masterful escape artist, breaking out of Peterson Hall twice, all of these things he carried the burden of blame.

Even with all those criminal, violent, uncaring tendencies he showed up until the time the pursuit was terminated, when he was hit by the Police Unit-I said before that none of his past actions made him less of a person, and thus this meant that he should not have been treated the way he did, without regard for himself, his family, his victims, and the Police Officer's. I made sure to say that he should have been given the decency that he was not taught nor ever learned.

Even if I wanted to write another story, it would still have the same plot, but this time I would do the thing I did not do the first time, I would make sure I expressed that Rivera was not alone in his guilt, but the person who failed him, and who never showed him much of nothing, was those that took care of him, his mother.

A mother cannot guarantee a saint for a child, but in this case, maybe the realization of her failure, when she finally realized she was loosing her son; Maybe if she would have done whatever it took to be a Mother, there is no book on what you do to save your child or how to be a mother, so maybe him feeling for the first time ......, might have made him see that beyond his small world, was a sky that was infinite, with no limit, and the hope of all that space, may have saved his life. But you see it was never for me to say those things, because I did not know would have mattered, or if what he did was anything other than being immature, and impulsive! I STILL SAY THAT IT IS NOT MY PLACE TO SAY OR ASSUME WHAT I SAID PRECARIOUSLY ABOVE, BUT I AM NOT NO ONES VIOLIN.

So for those that have assumed about me, and questioned what I wrote, confirms to me, that you are desperate, understandably, the pain hurts maybe, and or the truth of what I wrote makes it unbearable. But, your selfish, and have lied in the media, maybe up wild story, that if anyone listened to the police pursuit from beginning to end, some of what has been said, never happened. Do the lies serve Rivera or do they serve the self interest of these Union groups, and the family who cannot see his wrong because maybe it was them that taught Rivera how to be a King of his own world for one more day?

Do I believe Rivera will be given the same chance that the rest of us may get if there is a higher power, you bet, I don't think of Rivera as some black ghetto thug, uneducated, worthless, black boy, who died the way he lived? No I think he died the way himself singularly lived, he was nothing other than himself.

Anyone of the family members who really believe that this boy did not have issues, that came from some hard pain that was probably not his fault, if you can't see it, then maybe you caused it. Ten Million dollars will never buy back your failures, your soul, bring you the happiness of seeing your boy turn out to be whom ever he may have had he lived. That money will tarnish, and put him down in the books like another Judas for whom he was sacrificed, so that his family could spread lies, keep that most evil notion of racism and hatred alive, only keeping the very victimization that you are so oppressed by to continue to be an issue, because your afraid, the money will fix all that!

To the family where the van crashed who also has filed a claim, saying she was traumatized, and that the bullets could have harmed her family, you qualify for victims witness use it. It is free counseling, that the State will pay for your children and yourself, if you were that victimized. I believe as well if the Officers were justified then the damage to your property, and your emotional distress is not the burden of the Sate or City, but the mother of Rivera. But by your own admission I feel you felt more threatened by Rivera's actions, until the bullets were fired.

The family should accuse the owner where Rivera crashed as uncaring, greedy, selfish, and sue him because maybe if he had fixed the area he was supposed to, Rivera could have been able to take cover, or escape, and not have been trapped. I could make all kinds of assumptions, and even say some of them were nigger's; but no I have enough respect for Rivera than the rest of you do, using him to further an issue that exist only because the people who are supposed to make sure what happened during the shooting was justified, are instead putting their selfish convoluted belief that is clouded by a boy who was a felon who was a criminal, and a violent one at that, no saint, but his actions were ok, or he did not do those things because three white police decided they were gonna do a lynching and kill them a black boy. EACH OF YOU ARE SHAMEFUL, EVEN IF THE POLICE ACTIONS WERE WRONG YOUR CONDUCT WILL ALWAYS TAKE AWAY FROM FULL ACCOUNTABILITY BECAUSE YOUR FAITH IN YOUR FELLOW HUMAN WAS NOT STRONGER THAN YOUR PERCEPTION OF RACE AND ITS MEANING TO YOU.

I am not naive I know there are people that are racist, and would love to tear this controversy into a good ole lynching....But that is not me, I am so sorry for what happened, I really wish that things could have been a split second different. I have said my support is about what I posted which was the truth, but my humanity never has been diminished because of the things Rivera done, so for those of you who can have the fortitude to write me the emails you did, then I say your already broken and you will carry that same ideological thinking probably until you die, and if you have children, you will curse them with your hatred.

I will not forget that Rivera was a human, and that no money, no lies, and even his own badness will cause me to not see him as anything other than what he could have been, if things could not have been so hard on him.

ScanStockton.com

Christmas Lights

2010-12-11T00:29:00.000-08:00

I will be over the next couple of days taking pictures of homes that I have seen that I think the decorations are outstanding and makes for holiday spirit.

Stockton is not all bad, and it seems that my blog has been about a lot of negativity so I am going to point out the good parts of Stockton. I hope you enjoy, if you have any images you would like shown or shared on the my blog then please provide me a link so that I can show them or use a free image hosting service one, of which I recommend is www.thepichoster.com, no registration, no pornography, clean site, with no ads. Send your information to .

Here are some pictures I took 12-10-2010




Happy Holidays!

Response to Post about Unions and City Control

2010-12-10T21:47:00.000-08:00

I responded to a blog posting Mr. Fitzgerald posted on his blog "The Fight for Control.... both link to his blog and my post can be found at this link-Well most the emails have set me straight and told me I was full of it.....I respect all those opinions. I just wanted to say that when I post on here it is only my opinion and I thank all those whom respond either it be good or bad, with great appreciation. But I still stand by what I said, and I open the door for someone to educate me and show me where my thinking is gone off the reservation.

Greatest Respect

Admin

12-07-2010 Several Police Task Forces and Agency Patrolled Stockton Tonight!

2010-12-08T00:09:00.000-08:00

The Stockton Police Department and the San Joaquin County Sheriff and other police agencies got some much needed assistance tonight. California Highway Patrol, San Joaquin County District Attorney Peace Officer's, Stockton Unified School District, Lodi Police, Probation and Parole, FBI Fugitive Task force, Stockton G-Set Unit, and University of the Pacific Police, and other agencies all worked together in handling calls for service and addressing other criminal hot spots.

There were two paddy wagons on duty and picked up subjects as far as Lodi. Several DUI stops, Traffic Stops, FI of individuals, and high crime suppression areas were able to have a high presence of uniformed and non uniformed peace Officer's in the area's. I heard several drug arrest being Code 5'd, and several priority calls were responded by the Multi Agency Task Force. Units were dispatched off a common channel so there was communication among all units involved.
Several High profile individuals were able to be unveiled and monitored. All Stockton Police Departments Special Operations channel were active. Great Job to all the men and women who participated in this great service for the City.

The Fight for Control-Michael Fitzgerald's Weighs in!

2010-12-07T22:32:00.000-08:00

When Mike Fitzgerald's weigh in on a subject, it is time to pay attention. It seems that is how he permeates, and spreads his words like the sun spreading sunshine. Somehow it seems like arrogance or some sort of incredible flamboyance, at how he writes, sometimes he floats in a paragraph what others cannot seem to put in a novel. So after my long what may appear to be a vein attempt to call Mike out, but it is not!

Link to Blog Posting: The Fight for Control

I read his masterpiece about how public Unions are trying to take over, and take power out of the City government hands! Well, at first this post reminded me of the movie "Hoffa", and all the alleged corruption, and money schemes,and so on in the fight of the labor movement.

According to the

"The Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute (the Statute) creates rights and obligations on the part of unions, agency management, and employees. If either labor or management fails to perform its obligation to the other party, an unfair labor practice (ULP) charge may be filed. A ULP charge may also be filed if either labor or management interferes with the rights each has been given under the Statute. Employees may also protect their rights under the Statute by filing ULP charges against labor or management. For example, it is illegal for agency management to threaten or retaliate against employees for seeking union representation or to refuse to provide a union information that the law requires the agency to provide. Similarly, unions may not try to influence management to discipline employees who did not join the union or refuse to represent employees because they are not union members. Neither an agency nor a union may refuse to bargain with the other in good faith. You can find out information about how the Authority has interpreted and applied the Statute to specific situations by searching Authority decisions; you can find additional information on specific subjects by searching the Office of the General Counsel Guidance."

Here is where I get confused Mike, is it illegal for the police unions or any unions to advocate for their members, and do what the union fees paid for every month, are meant to do? Not according to the federal law!

However, here is the caveat the Unions cannot "refuse to bargain with other(presumably City)" in good faith! I understand that both unions and the City, is a part of this molecular mass of bad judgment, refusing to negotiate, and or give more than either union wants to give! But in this City and how the Officials of this City have treated, backtracked, hustled, been hustled, spent money on saving things that do nothing currently for the City or it's benefit! So what is good faith? Not one group involved seems to trust one another, and I really feel sometimes the City bashes the Police and Fire Departments, and it is funny because the concessions that are wanted are not even comparable to the danger, harm, and daily threat of death. How can you even begin to find a price on sane men and women doing things which are insane, and that are against nature.

Yes, Yes, all FF and Police Officer makes the choice to become professionals, and so should they take what we give them because "the city budget is 80 percent public safety"? No, unfortunately in America we are violent, ideologically driven, and seeds are planted in the minds of the paranoid, who already think the police are bad, and out to get us. While I respect that it is the right of the Record and Mr. Fitzgerald to express and convey views which they feel are import to report on, but it is also absolutely the responsibility of the Press to back up what they are alleging or stating! Imagine if Washington Post had went to press with all the stuff they had on Watergate, from Deep throat, and other sources. To the frustration of the reporters, the editors would not print what at the time, was guess, conspiracies, innuendo, and a burglary! But the Post and the Courageous Reporters went out and made sure they backed up what they said, and made sure they backed up their story and their reasoning. I find the post in the blog by Mr. Fitzgerald as a brief, lose, an absolutely plausible idea, but reported with weight of the scale, one sided.

The City made an agreement with the Police and Fire Unions and what they agreed with, even if things have changed in the last two years-one thing about contract law is it likes certainty, and the real meat of the agreement is the bargain, meeting of the minds, non adhesion, and the legalese that mirrors ever other logical common English word in an agreement; But it is the plain language of the agreement, that gives its greatest continuity!

If the agreements are legal, valid, and withstand the four corners doctrine, then I say it is a bad deal for the us, but it was what was negotiated and therefore barring any legal remedy, City will have to keep up its end of the there broken arrows! Now should the fire department pay nothing for their medical benefits? No way, not when my benefits went from only 25.00 to over 186 in less than one year. Should all these special perks that worked when we had the money be honored? I think each case should be given consideration. I think it is shameful for the Record to make accusations like was done, then support it with a flimsily link to more obfuscation? Has all the wonderful years and perks, pay received by the Records most famous and most recognized, Columnist, created the aurora of a superstar who can say or do things, with the expectation that we will over look them, because they are not expected to know better? Its is not our business, but doesn't the Record have a Union? Don't every employee, and their family members benefit from Uniformity,and the collective process of bargaining.

I swear if the Police knew who was writing in support of them like I have, taking all the constructive advice from other concerned citizens, of which was not worded with constructively in mind, but giving me the fourth degree for being a few fries short of a happy meal! One more time I want to convey that I am not a big fan of the Police department, but I am sorry I will stand up for, argue for those, who I may not like, if it is the right thing to do? Noble of me? No, it ensures that we keep our freedom.

I am sorry I cannot take the view that what is going on is to circumvent the State of Emergency declared by the City government; what caused this declaration is the Odyssey of how to poorly manage a City! Being a politician, for example having to listen and consider issues that you may not have not compulsion to approach, unless it becomes personnel. If you cannot take the heat of being where you are at, then get the hell out, and go cool down on that big ice hockey stadium floor.

"The common denominator is that control by city leaders — representing the public interests — does not suit the unions.",

Who is representing the public interest? Commonality only becomes analogous, when the two issues or ideas have a common footprint, and share issues which are common to both sides; The issue in my view lacks view of controlling unions, not sharing common interests, of which the public interest is not top priority--once again who is on the other end of this issue, those who are elected to represent the the public interest; According to all the information provided by the City, and all the other sources; The City whom is entrusted to have the public in the first row, are according to all the reports where the foundation cracked, and their actions after knowing we were facing some sort of issue, kept doing all the spending, funneling sewerage funds to cover things, cost that were found to be illegal and improper, and hey the City was told about it, but they did it anyway, spending while at the same time attacking the public safety of the City! This conduct and what I feel continues do not make me feel like the the public interest has been where the reins of being elected placed it; So the lack of the City to show they have thought and welfare of the public as the driver for this issue, shows me that we have a news paper that realizes how many years later public interest is an issue, and then somehow tries to tie it in with a plausible take over by a powerful union. No wake up and get real we are facing far worst issues then the police and fire department suits!

Both me and Mike seem to like to base our writing on facts. I wonder how much this drama has made in revenue for the Record in sales, internet visits, sign ups, and ad impressions? Is it not the point of Unions negotiate to seek to enrich the members that are represented? How about this if you're in union, you drop out, or ask yourself this have all the years I drove a Saab and have been a smile to see, been admired, and you have attained it nothing other than your own enrichment? Do you maybe ever wander because you get xxx.xx dollars that you are taking away from the lowly customer service reps or service drivers? That extra money that you enriched yourself with might feed an family for a week or month. How much do they pay you to be in a business that is declining, and that is on the verge of collapse? How did the Record stay in business when others papers went flat? It charged to view the website, and made other changes to preserve your job, and others. Remember this, none of use are safe from the block!

This is written with respect and truly deep respect for you Mr. Fitzgerald, but like I told you once before I cannot drink the kool aid!

Stockton Fire and Police Union Leaders under Investigation

2010-11-29T04:27:00.000-08:00

More drama and City Politics interfering with public safety. Currently both the Stockton Police Department and the Stockton Fire Department are still at odds with the City of Stockton over labor disputes. Both departments have pending lawsuits against the City of Stockton over the labor dispute issues.

Since this disagreement started several years ago there has been accusations, audits, and reports released by the City of Stockton, The Stockton Police and the Stockton Fire Department. All the information supports and or refutes what other reports say. The one thing that is consistent is each believe they are right and support that belief with facts which are supportive. The City is in a financial crisis, but yet there is money being spent on this dispute, money which could be used where it is needed the most.

The City of Stockton has in the media and through other sources made it seem that the Police and Fire Department have been unwilling to negotiate, and have in my opinion vilified each of the departments. The City has created this false facade that "they" are trying to save the City and maintain public safety and because of these labor disputes each department is creating a worsen crisis as well as jeopardizing public safety!

I will first say that it has always been my view to try and be objective and hope that this issue would resolve itself, and not allow myself to be biased. However, the article written 11-28-2010 linked here .:: “Stockton's fire, police union leaders under investigation”, makes me believe I was naive. The article reports about both leaders of the Police and Fire Department union leaders being investigated by their respective internal affairs division, and after reading it, it is hard not believe that each of these investigations are motivated by politics along with retribution. Is it coincidence that both leaders of the unions whom the City is in a dispute are being investigated? No! What each of these leaders are under investigation for shows someone is desperate and has absolutely no integrity.

The investigation of Capt. Dave Macedo, a 22 year veteran of the Department according to The Record(2010),“is [because] of the release in September of a document detailing medical calls where firefighters, temporarily forbidden to work as paramedics, believed their inability to help hurt patient care”. Part of the mission of the department is to “insure a safe community through public education, prevention, and aggressive suppression and rescue activities”(The Stockton Fire Department,n.d.).

Macedo in my view was only upholding part of the departments mission, and what he did was about preserving life. If the report in question shows that the unethical and immoral decision by the County EMS Agency prevented in the preservation of life, and hindered patient care--then it was the right decision. When the Fire Fighters went to the Board of Supervisors it was THE RIGHT THING TO DO....we expect...no we take for granted that all we have to do is call 9-1-1 and help will be on the way. Each Fire Fighter takes an oath, and I do not know what the oath is verbatim, but a part of it is about “life”, “serving”, “helping”, and “preserving”. When this alleged misconduct occurred it seemed the City was supportive of the Fire Department.

The Official News Release dated 08-31-2010 “San Joaquin County Orders Stockton Fire Paramedics to Stop Providing Advanced Life Support”, according to Cochran(2010):

“[In] May 2010, Stockton Fire Department paramedics provided Advanced Life Support to a 56 year old male who was in cardiac arrest, saving the man’s life; a full three minutes passed before the ambulance arrived”.

Now the City who made an official statement about the issue that was not supportive of the decision of the EMS Agency, is in my opinion investigating an issue that need no investigation, and is only because of the passage of Measure H that the City Council and Manager now have the ability to control the Chief of the Fire Department, a Chief that was supportive of his Fire Fighters and would not capitulate to the Council demands.

The investigation of Stockton Police Officer Association President Leonesio is because according to The Record article(2010),

“[he] took part in a beer concession operated by off-duty officers at the San Joaquin Fairgrounds”.

This was done off duty and according to the article the POA was given a one day license by Alcoholic Beverage Control to operate the venue. From the article and what it states, I feel the investigation is inappropriate, that even if it is not, it appears to be retribution by the City along with Chief Ulring. Chief Ulring has lost the support of his department, he received a no confidence vote earlier in the month. What should be addressed is why does the Police Department not support its Chief?

It would seem that the City would be happy that Measure H passed! Which was widely supported by one sided reporting from The Record, who flaccidly attempted to appear to giving both sides of the issue attention; However they failed as reporters and left a lot of facts out of their reporting. This article is just another way to keep this whole Police & Fire Departments vs. Citizens of Stockton drama or concept going, it is an attention grabber. I maybe wrong, and if I am, then I will gladly apologize. It is hard not to believe like this could be retribution against these leaders; All the coverage and opposing statements, and misinformation or lack of information, has clouded the view of the truth. The real story here should be about the safety of the City, and the continued decline, and about why we have the second highest murder rate California? If both leaders committed misconduct then I feel that it be appropriate to address the conduct. I also agree even though the issue(s) alleged are petty, that the departmental rules be followed.

I have always thought that internal investigations where normally not publicized or polarized, and that it was always customary for anyone involved in the investigation to not comment. Perception is everything, and it is unfortunate that the City, The Record, or Chief Ulring are willing to risk tarnishing two public safety leaders, who willingly do a job with the inherent risk of being killed or hurt everyday they work. Wrong is wrong, and right is right, in this issue, like I have written before, The City, The Police and Fire Departments all share responsibility in this situation regarding labor negotiations. I feel that this article is akin to something that the mafia would do by breaking your leg, or hand, to scare you, or force you to give in. I am not saying that these investigations were motivated by the continued labor disputes, or the pending law suits against the City by both departments. It is not easy to escape, the notion of the idea, that it is sure coincidence that all the sudden out of the blue, the Union leaders of the rank file of each department are being investigated.

Even though it seems like I am pro cop, and so on, the real truth is I am motivated by what I feel is wrong. I make my own opinions from what I read and see, it does not mean I am right or wrong, and I do contend that change does need to be made. We need a City Council and Manager that is willing to take ownership for their wasteful spending, and their continued disrespect of the very people whom we somehow act as if their service is bestowed upon us from god. Everyone of us expect the police and fire to protect our life, liberty, and property. Should this expectation and service come free? No! Should the City be bleed out dry because of outrageous demands by labor unions? No! Should we take everything we read in media as gospel? No! We should take the time to read and try and understand what is going on, before we draw our line in the sand and take our stand!

The links provided are from the City of Stockton, the Stockton Police Officer Association, StocktonFireFacts.com, and the Stockton FF Union.

Daily arrest and Crime data for Stockton

2010-11-26T09:40:00.000-08:00

Updated Arrest and Statistical data provided for free by LocalCrimeNews.com. Daily reported arrest records for the City of Stockton, and other great information is provided by this site.

Stockton City Statistics and Stockton graphs of arrests. This is a super service provided by LocalCrimeNews.com. This information and content is the work of LocalCrimeNews.com, they are they (c) holders.
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2 Week- Violent Armed Robbery-Five Shootings-3 Murders 11-21-2010

2010-11-21T18:33:00.000-08:00

This has been another blood soaked and violent last two weeks. At least three people have been killed this week by gunfire, two suffering shots to the head, and another mortally wounded.

We have been very blessed that of the other four shootings that I researched that the death toll is not higher. I never wanted to make this blog about reporting on the crime, but since it is no longer on the verge of becoming an epidemic, but is collectively with the level of violence, and other issues that this City is facing socially, and economically--this issue will get worse.

This is a listed of the incidents that have occurred over the last couple of weeks that have been very violent and in each incident firearms were used.

Code Three-Run!

11-16--2010 Around 2100 hours an armed 211(PC) occurred at the 'Game Stop'. Three subjects all armed entered the business and threatened the clerk and patrons with a sawed off shot gun, one of the subjects was wearing a hockey mask. Several games were stolen, approximately 400 dollars in small bills were taken--the subjects wanted the clerk to open the safe but was unable to do it. One of the witnesses/victims had their vehicle stolen by the subjects as they fled from the scene. Officers arriving on scene still believed the subjects were at the scene because someone was lying on the ground face down and there were other people in the area. The Officer took a tactical position until other units arrived to back him up.

Units attempted to call out the clerk but the person was so traumatized that would not respond to commands to meet the police needing to clear the building and make sure the armed felons were not still on scene.

3 Person Shot

11-16-2010 Around the same time as the violent crime is taking place in Northern Stockton with the Violent Robbery--a call comes in of a shooting on Harding Way Near Waterloo. Officers arriving at the scene find three victims and immediately call for more ambulances. Two person shot have wound to leg, and wrist, the third is shot in the chest area and is in very critical condition.

According to KXTL Fox 40,(2010), three people were on their porch of a home playing video games on a large TV. They observed a man walking across the street, and opening fire on all three subjects playing games on the porch. There was no suspect information or the critical man wounded is still alive.

187 PC ~ Subject Caught

11-19-2010 A report came into Stockton Police of a Shooting near the 700 block of Toland Way. As Officer's were still responding with light and sirens to the scene of the shooting, the dispatcher aired that a possible subject vehicle involved was a silver Mustang.

A set of Stockton Police partners quickly observed a Mustang while they were rolling Code -3 to the shooting, they diverted and attempted to stop the Mustang, and it immediately took off at a high rate of speed and the Officer's lost the car. Sort time later the Mustang was left Rutledge and Alexandria in the Road.

Car is found less than a min or two at, Officers on the scene heard the subjects going through yards. There was still no suspect information so the Officers on the scene did not know what they were dealing with or how many subjects. One subjects attempted to break into a home, and the homeowner presses a panic alarm in the home, Stockton Police hearing the commotion run to the home, and engage a subject in the back yard who fights them.

The victim transported to Saint Josephs Hospital is shot in the head and is pronounced dead at around 0318 hours. Stockton finds three hats on the block, ditched clothing, and find .22 bullets on the subject in custody. A massive perimeter was set up with Mutual Aid from the San Joaquin County Sheriffs.

Stockton Police and the Sheriffs Office does a house to house search on both sides of where the car was found. Help is called into the CHP Auburn Air Support Helicopter for assistance. The search is completed but there is a lot of trees and both blocks are large, so the Police hold the perimeter down, and find a fire arm during the search. Around 0530 CHP was finally able to arrive overhead, and they picked up two heat sources with the FLAIR device, one source moves, and CHP cannot see it because of the density of the trees, and the other heat source is an outside light. Only one subject was arrested and according to the Record (2010), reported that police had one man in custody but still had not charged him with homicide, and the other subjects information was not available.

According to Recordnet.com, 44 homicides have occurred in the City this year, and this does not include justifiable or police officer involved shootings. Around November 12, 2010 a 15 year old Modesto Girl was killed while standing near Spring Hill Drive near Deep Cliff Way.

Audio Scanner Recording Stockton Police-Sheriffs-Fire Department-SUSD

Another Successful Failure & Masterful Deception

2010-11-18T12:55:00.000-08:00

The City Charter that has been in place for years,§ 1602.
Using the following language in this part of the Fire Departments section...

"[The][Chief][shall]manage[..], control and [have] direction of the personnel of the Department and shall have charge of all property and equipment of such Department. "

(Amended Election 6/4/74 effective 8/21/74; Added Election 10/12/71 effective 12/6/71; Repealed Election 10/14/47 effective 3/3/48).

This part of the City Charter being in place for around 40 years? Now it becomes a problem? But this was another masterful underhanded way for the City to get what it wanted, even though it had for many years without concern or issue, even admittedly the City HR Department acknowledge the practice of the authority, and agreements the fire department command structure and Chief had the final authority and the department was managed by trained department Officials.

We have made the wrong choice here, and have been duped once again by our undoubtedly irresponsible elected officials. We have given the City the full power to be able to use the same methods it did with the police department. According to Stockton Fire Facts, the City after making all the cuts to public safety has earmarked 48 million on rebuilding City Hall, paid 33 million Howard Jarvis Taxpayers in a settlement for misuse of water utility fees, 22 million put into the Downtown Marina Project, with a 700,000 annual overhead cost, and according to the site there is more examples of mismanagement of funds by our wreck less City Council. The most recent example the City's inability to manage our money, for around fours months have " just voted to spend $20,000 a month to hire an outside firm", to operate as the CFO until a replacement can be found.

It is clear the City has failed to take ownership years of misplaced spending and being willing to take away police and other resources that we need more than ever, so they can now fix their errors! It is time to we made them accountable. We voted the same group right back in office so that they can continue to take us down this winding road, that we just do not seem to know where it might becoming t0 an end! It is also time that we wake up and understand that maybe were not getting the big picture.

The one certainty in this whole situation is that both the Fire Department and City are clearly in a standoff that did not end when the passage of the Measure; This passage has only caused this issue to become more inflamed, with the real cuts the fire department used to warn against. Both the City and the Fire Department should remember one thing this is not about them, either of them, but it is about the us collectively of this City, of which they both have a duty to. Final note I am willing to concede this issue is not only the City's fault, but is the Fire Departments, and all of the rest of us Citizens--each of us have ownership in this problem.

Statewide Elections Good and then Bad!

2010-11-06T00:20:00.000-07:00

We recently had the Statewide Elections and there was some disappointment with most of the results. Before I go political I wanted to make a couple of pointers. The Crime in Stockton Continues to worsen. Now this is not because we do not have brave and eager men and women in the Police Department that want to do their jobs. Their hands are tied, and most patrol officers are beginning their shifts ready to go out and work the City over, however it is the City that is working the Police over. The City has a many reasons to be happy they can cut the Fire Department now, in the same ways they went after the police department.

However in what ever the City does decide to do with its new control and whatever new thinking that can help this City get up from its knees and so that we can win our City back, tell crime to kiss our ass, work hard to make sure that programs that will help-truly help like gang units, intervention teams, and other programs, lets do this together and lets reach out to the public to see if there are possible some of things that we can do collectively that can help and begin to address our detrimental, Corrosive, and path which only leads to degradation and the City's Continued fall into the being the worse. Please we must all start to wake up and understand that two shootings on one night, where both victims are mortally wounded, and where gangs are still polluting and using their destructive influence to breed and produce the things we need less of which is no more unaccountability, and we need a City Council or a Police Department, or Someone to help us begin to walk the road to a better way of living and life in this City we all inhabit.

I personally did not think that Measure H would pass, I simply believed that all the like minded individuals would see that this was the way for the City to Continue us down the destructive course that we have been down for the last three years. All of the years are money issues were supposed to be addressed by the Concessions of the Police Department and other City Departments that pitched in and took cuts so that we could have a budget that was not wholly like a Easter Chocolate Bunny, hallow in the middle with nothing to keep us from being crushed in or sucked in.

With the recent victory the City of Stockton and the Fire Department Should be read to as a team bury the hatchet, and bring out the peace pipe, and all the City Council and the Fire Department Administrative Staff should come together and for the Safety, Preservation and the stability of our City and our ability to try and turn this colossal spiral that just does not seem to have an ending.

If the City Management attacks the Fire Department and its administrators who supported the Measure, this will set us off on the wrong course of action, long before we have been even able to pick the best choice. It is time for the City of Stockton Council and all those who run this City and or have been part of the Colossal mess up and where there has been not one good idea that has worked.

It should be noted that the City should have never been given this Carte Blanche and power to have so much control over the Fire Department--The Fire Department has been in an agreement with the City for years and this crap that they used as the same rhetoric to say that the Fire Department was pulling dirty uncaring politic hiding behind the City fuck up.

This election was shit. No one knows and or thinks that this stuff can be fixed who has a brain that fires on even only two parts.....We will see just what a waste our City Government is, if their last three years is a precursor to what they think they are going to be able to achieve. At least when you are smoking and getting high in office, you will not be having to cut a Police Officer or a Fire Fighter, because you will be getting the taxes on the weed you smoke.

NOT ONE OF THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS OR THE CITY MANAGER HAVE BEEN WORTH THE LOSSES THEY HAVE MADE MOST OF THIS CITY WHICH IS ON THE POINT OF TRUE DESTRUCTION.

Four mins to dispatch call after reciept of call--Stockton FD sells out and puts money in Measure H.

2010-10-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

Well, to say I am disappointed would be wrong--at the end of the day if people are being cared for and their able to get the help they need. Where I feel somewhat upset is how can on one hand the City or Fire department give up seeking legal remedy, when a report comes saying that on average it takes four minutes before the tones are units are dispatched, in the Rural Fire Districts, which means that the response time in retrospect is probably near over ten minutes where this one or two person staffing. This response time being even longer for all volunteer departments, not to infer they have substandard ability;

Clements a prime example of a department with State of the Art technology and resources available to be committed, contingent upon timely notification, and then available response from volunteers, Farmington added a New apparatus to their Station 4-1. I could go on, but most of the times, responses in the County is already expected to be at a higher level, but putting a choke hold on the call and not giving it up for whatever reason is a furtherance in in backwards thinking and there is not reason we cannot fix the issue. Oh, I am sorry wait a min. , we cant fix it, because we have sold out, and wasted four million dollars, and Measure H, so important to both the City, and Fire Department, either side being a possible looser, where it will be decisive in the shift and policy of City and Department.

Conveniently a day after another story, basically slapping us in the face, and in my view, saying to all of us that supported the fire department and City throughout this feud, that I was duped--now I am big L, stamped right on my forehead.

It is still the most insane thing I have heard, the one thing that City could say is that before the break up and the dictatorship of the EMS Agency campaign, we at least had a semi flawed, but well tested system in place that worked.

There was a point, before Lifecom was built and the back room underhanded dealings went on, that the City of Stockton dispatched every fire agency in the County, from South County ECD, Lodi, and all the rural fire districts in the County, and to put the cherry on top--we dispatched all the Ambulances to.

There has never been a point and time--where the City and County were at the design and concept of interoperability. While it can be argued that interoperability falls short of distinction in this case, I respond and say look at the definition as to what the meaning is a far applying it to EMS, and it will be come clear to those who have their thinking caps on that we have just took an eight year regression backwards, instead of being the pioneers.

It seems to me that once we get one thing that is half way commendable or worth standing up against, the City, and Fire Department, with the Records help, do not fail to make us feel extra special! The Record delightfully reports this story, and then breaks the drama as coming to a close, where once their was fireworks, now there is tacit, flaccid, shrugging your shoulders, this could only happen in this City.

We have lost 4,000,000, million dollars on something that apparently at the end of the day both sides jumped shipped, where they should have put their own politics, aside, and stop worrying about Next Months Measure H. This being a huge victory for the City, to be given whole free reign to cut funds where they should not be cut, so that we can truly fund and subsidize a hockey team, events center, and a Marina.

It seems that Fire Department has been so hardened by all the fighting over the years, that they have learned how to play dirty and think just like the failures at City hall. They can be ghetto, be Heroes, Super Men, and then go undercover, and do us all. Back down to victim, and big picture of wasted money, and now they maybe hero's, but they lose in their victim, ballot they have played over the years, and they get an Oscar for best performance in duping the Citizens, and showing us just how stupid and dumb we all our.

Listen Live to Stockton Police Scanner/S J S/O Traffic

Mike Fitz From The Record Got backt to Me for what I wrote Below!

2010-09-11T18:07:00.000-07:00

Well Mike from the Record was able to read what I wrote; the lovely ability on this blog to be able to email people and tell them about the great postings.. However I do not mean to not give proper respect to Mike, when I refer to him as Mike Fitz, I forget how to spell his full name, and it is just easier for me to keep the flow going.

Our City does not have a a competitor news paper, that is not to say there is not other news sources out there, but if you ever look at the Sacramento News Stations they normally credit the Record for the news report, which means the Record wrote it. It would be stupid, detrimental to not have some person in the public who questions or posted a response to something that they don't agree with. Even though I am not a skilled, and as suave Reporter, and fantastically gifted commentator, and columnist. like Mike F., I am able to have enough writing ability that I can at least plant the seed for another spin on his idea or what he believes.

He was great in the email, nice, and he broke down to me how he writes, and that he listens to both sides, and then writes what seems to be his logical spin on the situation. I do not want really go into to much of what he said, because I not want to twist or embellish what he said; I deleted the email. I know for sure he was nice, and took the time to give me the understanding, I guess you may say to his approach. I will tell you what think, I think he gets both sides of the story, he does a fair review of the issue, then does his own research, and then he put's his brand on it. I don't question, the author's ability, I question rather if what he wrote on his blog was about his true feelings, or what is about keeping an inflamed issue, even more inflammatory, drama and a new spin keep the ink printing, and the bloggers -Blogging. Which I am down for to a point, because there is that fine line where sometimes, my ability to do something does not necessarily compel me or will not bring much to the story, but a lil more drama!

Pretty powerful when you think you can influence thousands of readers with a note pad, some investigation, and the in your restrictive space in the paper, find the words that penetrate, causes people to listen, and influence them; Which yes folks, Mike Fitz is that man, my grandfather used to enjoy the writings of him very much, every once in a while when Mike had a new progressive thought, that he did not like, that would be the quickest way to fire him up. Grandpa is gone, and I owe him, nothing than what I gave him, and I live and am my own person like he said. So while I agree this issue with the City has going on for years, there are far more responsible things to discuss with Hot dog eating Men............But Mike Fitz, said one blogger to other something like being fair...we each have own opinion and I so get the idea.

I never disrespected or believed that your moralization or piece of history that will live on in the scrolls of the Record, was your uniqueness through almost naivety, not in the since, almost just like it is easy for you say what you do because you can see it so clear. I meant ever thing I wrote, and it was all meant to be like one of your commentaries or purview in your reality, and or understanding; both of which I truly admire. The one issue though we disagree is this I feel; because of who you are, and the influence you have, you sometimes have and ethical responsibility to maybe think about should we be worried about overkill on a Medical Aid call, when this is the standard in San Diego, City and County San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles Fire Department, and on and on and on. The overkill and the less is more attitude is real world, and Yes Mike, you overkill maybe where home was always supposed to be, yes you would probably be right.

Again in a City well where there is absolutely no lack of news, the Record can sometimes only find things to write about that maybe be current, and well intended, but are akin to the "unnamed newspaper", who decided to do a poll to see if President Obama was or if people thought he was Muslim? Well now that was a genius thing to do, the numbers were pretty shocking according this paper, they were taken aback, but you know what they should be tried as traitors, and charged with treason, and while they are being abused by the government, they can make sure they think of the next genius poll question to ask the next time.........? Point is a well intended for whatever benefit I have no Idea other than to see a brand of magic based on a loosely unknown demographics of Americans, and then report, and then make a headline this went admittedly drastically went astray from its purpose, burning bibles, flags, regressing backwards, not forwards, these are all the things that can happen with an Idea, a hot dog vendor per SE, my google search, couple phone calls to some research think tanks, then I have my discovery. The question should do I believe in my President-Yes; Do have an issue with Muslims NO.----This is not at all what I feel Mike story was akin to, I am just saying that sometimes can it be about keeping something going for the money for the paper?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mike direct to you there was a time I wrote to you about almost getting arrested over refusing to pay for ranch dressing a Denny's that should have came with he salad. You called me back, but because I wanted to long you said to me on the phone, some to the like of "There is a saying...old news is yesterdays news, or something like that but it made sense", maybe yesterdays news should be today's?

--Interoperability
--Advanced Life Support
--Professional Fire Department
--Expectations
--Going Back instead of Forwards
--How Many Lives saved will help make the overkill less dramatic?
--We have equipment that is perfectly able to defibrillator a heart already!
--The demand that we pay thousands of dollars on getting equipment that we already have it just tells you when to press the buttons or makes the decision on the amount of jules you will get when it defibrillator the heart!
--Why is the County Not compelling Manteca, Ripon, and Escalon to forgo their programs?

One final last piece of possibly revolutionary or inflammatory piece for the DJ= When Stockton Fire Dispatched for all the Ambulances, Stockton Fire, South County ECD, and then took over the dispatching for the County Fire department from the Sheriffs Office, and then getting Lodi to join into(Not for sure about Lodi), but this was the whole County Fire Command Structure Under one roof, a benefit to everyone, if there ever was an MCI alert the information was put out, with everyone getting the information, when Mutual Aid was required, you you need go no further, you have your mutual aid assignment sitting across or next to you... and it worked for years, years, the Stockton Fire Department did what we demanded they do, but they did it good people. There was harmony between the fire and the Ambulance, companies, even A-1 was in the group, always normally responding with E-12 first in , and all of calls out on 26, who cannot remember A-1, aka"Medic 31". They system was only broken by those that had other agenda's. The fire department also did all this dispatching work from Company two not some new state of the art call enter , that the only revolutionary I ever seen at a call center is automatic flushing toilets.

There is the other side to your over kill.....Thanks for the Email, I did understand, however I am sorry I can't drink that flavor of kool aid today Mike! But you have my disagreement, but as well I do appreciate your work, and even now when disagree.

Listen Live to Stockton Police Scanner/S J S/O Traffic

Honestly Sometimes I do not know why I like MIke Fitz of the Record

2010-09-08T03:23:00.000-07:00

Mike Fitz at the Record is a gifted writer, but sometimes does not know how to use his gift, or uses it while thinking like a pea!

He writes in one of his blog post, that maybe less is more, that maybe our city would do better without Paramedics......Giving credit to say he does this in his normally suggestive sarcastic way.....but sometimes I wanna just put him in a box for later..... Then he thanks a reader who if he was in the the position the people he saw, and thought it was overkill, you beat his ass, he would have been and doing the same thing calling for help, just like a scared baby.......We talk the shit, sometimes we forget we are humans that experience the same things, I can admit it, I can't stand the police sometimes, however without a quibble I would pick up the phone and call them to come help me, and I don't care you get her by Mike's New Rev Fighter Jet from Sweden, he suggest as a new crime fighting duty--again, he going back to those days when he was in college smoking out and saying dude......ah.....ya....wa.....nah...k...dude.

I know in my life I have seen three people saved from first responder paramedic responders who reached the scene first before the transport rigs...One was my mother who overdosed, and I looked at her and I just could not do CPR my sister tried, but I had just thought to myself, she was so unhappy and finally her pain would end--Stockton Fire gets on scene, puts Narcan in her, she opens her eyes. She went from being in full arrest because I heard one of the FF telling his partner, and I already new from experience. For whatever reason my mom has overdosed four times I know of, and every time, no lie you could go back look at the call histories on the addresses, it has been the FD who has gave her another chance to do it again or not.

The second time was in Sacramento when my Sister's BF shot her in my Car while we were coming home from the State Fair, my baby niece was in the car, he was pointing a gun at me, and making drive and run lights going in excess of 115mph, long story short, after an eternity, I was able to get him to give me the gun, I sent him in a MC Donald's and drove against traffic to a Sacramento Police Officer who I saw sitting in a small Chinese Restaurant; Ran into a pole, got out of the car with a the gun in my hand and stuck it through the drivers window and dropped it. I did not even realize that the officer was out of the car so fast and was already to shot, sometimes we do stupid things when we are in the wild.

The Officer believed I was going to shot him, and I look on it now, wow I do not know why he did not, a man crashing a car getting armed, putting his hand in his open patrol window and then throwing the gun on the seat....In min CHP, Sacramento Park Rangers, Two Helicopters, Dozens of Sacramento Sheriffs, and dozens of Sacramento Police.. But the point is the fire department was on the scene before the Ambulance that day....again it was the paramedics who made a difference.

The fire department did what we demand or expect of them, they went to the board and spoke and said its our job to protect life, property, and .......you get the point. You see in our world we pick sides, but when sides start to faulter or change, most of jump ship...Lets put it this way, if the FD was not doing what it was doing there would be some other person out there to say "Hey look at the FD they must not car, and that poor person died that night because of them not caring."

Well at least they showed they do care, and I believe in them, and I believe in Mike Fitz as much as my dancing eight ball, that I shake up and sometimes, it gives me the right answer or the one i want to hear, sometimes it gives me the answer I do not want to hear. When we talk about this case we forget so much, like sending out calls to another county, stupid stupid stupid---why have two working nationally accredited 911 points if were going to simply transfer calls like it seems the EMS wants done---hey lets cut money, and pay someone min wage to transfer calls to Salida.....I am sorry, I feel like the wrong people have taken to much what they prescribe, or go home it hit on the bong a little to hard before bed time...
"Hey Dude, your getting a Dell!, nah man you getting railed caused they cut down geeksquad"....Stupid but its my blog.... Good Job Mike your at least consistent. You can be counted one one thing, you can never count on what your committed to. You change, from one side to the other, which is why I like the Record at the least the man is wacky and says sometimes what the others want to, but wont. Without him our paper would be good for the dog, or the hamster cage.

Listen Live to Stockton Police Scanner/S J S/O Traffic

It is now officially Saturday the first weekend of this September 2010

2010-09-04T10:03:00.000-07:00

Stockton police Friday night had several units working at the same time, normally when you will hear other units working missions is on Stockton's Fat Day, Wednesdays of every week every phase(shift) 1, 2, 3, 4th watch has another phase working so every Wednesday is referred to as a "Fat Day"; These last couple of weekends have been violent filled, several more murders, shootings, stabbings, but instead of the violence decreasing it was in a spiral in August.

The beginning of the month and all the negative crime gossip flying through the bloggers RSS feeds as fast as they can type, and get it out on the net. Once your in the net, your in the wild, no way to stop what was misreported or correct it other than submit a retraction...Point is the Police are tired of being bitch slapped, pardon my language, not say they have not been working, they been working their butts off--but just been getting those days that sometimes admittedly kinda perverse, that you sit and wish for hot calls all day, keep the adrenaline pumping...Stockton has had so many Priority One runs, I do not hear units advise their responding Code 3, even though the AVL on the vehicle shows the dispatcher their running code. Stockton for a long time never had to advise they were responding Code 3, the Officer's had the empowerment, ... now the Officer's are just reacting because that is all they can do.

Friday night I heard each of the Channels assigned to a specific unit, KMA,and Records, but I have never heard before all six of Stockton Channels, working missions, or Code 5's, etc. The "Yankee Units" were working which was good, denotes=Reserve Officers. The Victor units were out on Friday, working parts of town. The G-Set which was officially chopped off the department in the massive budget cuts. Stockton played the cards right and got a good hand!!!!

There was going to be a DUI mission, however that was canceled because of a head on 901-A Hammer Ln. The person I am inferring from what I know used to be protocol, all head trauma's Code 3 to the County Hospital, unless patient is in traumatic or full arrest. It sounded like when the Medics Left the Scene I heard them Broadcast C-3, County, then I heard them Diverting to Dameron, so I believe the person was very critically injured, and since Stockton Fire Department are not allowed to Act or Practice as Paramedics, because the SJ County Emergency Agency, shut Stockton's 40 Paramedic's from being able to legally practice in the City, the fire units could only offer BLS, oxygen, vitals, basically glorified more detailed first aid class, EMT LEVEL, no disparagement their EMTS save lives to. However------

Now I will be the first one to say it because someone was already going to point this out using an incident like I am now, not in malice or approval, but for factuality. Stockton Fire Dispatch 13 was on scene first, Stockton Calls their Type 3 or Wild land rigs-Dispatches, truck 7, and E-7, Battalion 2, all were en-route, along with AMR. I do not have the amount of time difference when the call came out, it was pretty heavy traffic on Hammer for that time, so it could have taken the fire or AMR units same or one could have been more delayed than the other. But the point ladies and gentleman, saying hypothetically NONE OF THIS IS FACTUAL: the person who did die, needed to be intubated, and a IV drip would have keep enough fluid in the body to keep it from going into shock, or using some other right hand magic trick that Each Paramedic processes, some are known for their uncanny abilities to predict or know the precursor to what is to come, some are good at getting IV's in the first time, on people who have collapsed veins because of drug use or may be some hereditary or biological reason,

If myself and another person would have stopped at the scene we would have probably been on the phone, and because of use all being on the phone all lines were busy...However we would be walking up, or course I would be making sure I did not become part of the incident so I am looking for traffic, downed power lines, smoking engines, I am playing it safe(I am being a show of to, not to make light of any type situation), but after making sure I was safe the only thing if the person was unconscious in a car, anyone person could have done is the ABC's or if the care was on fire, and had to do some dramatic rescue.

The Stockton Fire Department if you look through history, and comparative to other departments, Stockton surprisingly not because of the Men and Women of the Department, but because of those people who have led this City from the All American City, to All American Place you do not want to live, their to fat, query the word "porn" the most, they have a violent crime rate, with a murder rate that rivals the big cities, and they have a population of diversity, that is respectable, leaves diversity, the last unsettled path that we have not had someone already label us or distinguish us with their Multi Billion Dollar Head Note Like "Forbes", not saying wow, ya there is some goo, ah no way living their is like living in a powder keg getting ready to blow, the city is chopping the control of the city they are intended and entrusted to control off, giving back ground that was already cleared and established as now officially if I see you here in this area, I am gonna kick your booty, do an FI of ya, and oboyeee if you got wants, or warrants, baby we talking a ride out to the Camp.

I know that the City is against the removal of the ability of the Paramedics to practice, this is not only the wrong way to bargain fyi if the EMS Agency was that concerned they would never have used taken away any skills that can save a life......LIFE LIFE, I do not mean to be drama,,,but one life saved is worth your petty squabble Mr. EMS Director.......You ever read your statement that.... "The San Joaquin County EMS Agency's mission is to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of emergency medical services and disaster response for the citizens and visitors of San Joaquin County."

Where I do not get this whole battle, is why it was necessary in the first place..Stockton Fire was doing a fantastic job! Not be disparaging to the Medics of AMR, but I wonder how many complaints over the last year have you got about AMR, or it's personnel? Now how many for the Fire Department? AMR and the Fire Department truly may seem to have the same fundamentals at heart, but that is not the case in my opinion, AMR is in the business of making profit off of providing life saving technology, while the Fire Department does it as a duty and benefit to the citizens it protects. What the EMS Doctors have done truly is where there needs to be an inquiry to their ETHICS no doctor in their right mind is trained to barter with lives, they maybe taught to triage, and call it quits on cases, but a doctor by its universally meaning, is to heal, help, care for, and the one person most looked up in the world is ? a doctor!

You ever notice how we always agree with doctors? I say in this case the EMS defeats and contradicts its own mission statement, what a blooper that is......it is our mission to provide the best ... care to visitors ... citizens of San Joaquin County[!](San Joaquin EMS, n.d.), while you fumble around trying to see who has the most will or believes in their argument, well over the years the true consistent story I have heard is the Fire Department believes that at the time the Statue was legislated, you would have to back to the legislative rolls, and history to truly find the intent of the legislator to understand the Statutory Code, while I indeed am not as educated or have the knowledge of the parties involved in this mess ... I do know one thing I think Doctor Kevorkian was a better doctor, at least the man believed in what he did, and it was a wild ride, but it served a purpose and lead to some ground breaking ideas, control of pain, end of life directives, forward progress, not regressing to 1976 . . . Hello is anybody there with the DJ?

It is a bad plan to barter with human life, never ends pretty. You would have thought you learned from your errors, of the poor lady who was in in full arrest but AMR dispatchers dispacted Collegiville FD AMR did not discover their error, until it was yea to late.. But doc's, make no mistake it was the EMS agency that has created this detrimental, and destructive path, that takes a gift away, and instead gives a burden. What happens if that person could have been saved last night because a Paramedic from SFD was able to apply Rapid Intervention, Application of ALS protocols and support? You think the Statutory Codes you fling around in your letter will save you? Any good attorney would go after the doctor first, in theory who has the most money, deeper pockets, whose decision under the statute was it to make these choices, you try and burden the City with your application of Codified law, but you do not cite or denote where your butt is online first... your supposed to know better. It would seem that by taking forty well skilled and very experienced men and women who have provided according to the usfa.dhs.gov(2007), "Since 1976 the ...[EMS]((SFD, 2007)) level provided is Advanced Life Support[...] with all front line engine companies staffed daily by two Paramedics."--a pretty stupid thing to do. This taking away forty chances at life saved, hence is the theory right docs?

Doctors stopping people from getting help.....this could only be a story from Stockton California (209).

Disclaimer: Any views expressed herein do not and have not been approved by any agency within this post. None of the opinions are shared with any agency in this post, nor have they been officially, nor unofficially sanctioned...This post is the unique work of the author of this blog, making my own opinion expressed on the matters discussed in this post. Anything that was discussed about patient care, was an opinion not a fact, the police departments, operations, all the impression, and opinions of the author.

References

Usfa.dhs.gov. (2009, February). Is the Stockton Fire Department Learning from Past Incidents. Retrieved September 4, 2010, from http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/pdf/efop/efo43187.pdf

Update to the Murderous Friday-3 people Murdered in seven hour period!

2010-08-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

This last weekend was a violent weekend, and kept the police busy with four homicides, three of them occurring in a seven hour period on Friday 08/07/2010.
According to the Record a 25yro male was arrested for the shooting death of Michael Allen Williams,33,; Fernando Valdez was arrested around 1435 hrs in the 5300 block of Arch road on Monday 08/09/2010 by the Stockton Police Department.

According to the Police Williams was driving with his Mother around 2250 hours near Arch and Newcastle Roads, when shots were fired at Williams car. William's Mother stated that her son tried to flee the area, but that the a car pulled up next to them and continued to fire shots at Williams and his Mother. There was no motive given for the shooting death of Williams.

Three juveniles and one adult identified as Michael Muy was arrested in connection with the beating death of 14 yro Rin Ros. The the suspects in the beating of Ros were all arrested on Saturday. According to the Police; Muy and the two juveniles attacked Ros around 1630 hours near Larcom Lane and Morely, beating him so badly that he died.

Around the same time that Ros was killed, a 36 yro man was found stabbed in the 800 block of South Lincoln St. He was taken to the San Joaquin County General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The victim was identified as Frank Joseph Hernandez, 36, who had been living at the Stockton Homeless Shelter. No arrest, or motives, or leads were discussed in the Article written by the Record.

According to the Record 30 homicides have occurred this year(2010) already; Last year's(2009) murder total for the whole year was 35.

According to LocalCrimeNews.com the City of Stockton is third on the list of the most arrest reports, San Diego is second, and Los Angeles is first. I cannot say how accurate the information is, but the site also provides statistical graphs, and free arrest records, and I matched the arrest records with the "Whose in Custody", information on the Sheriffs website, and they matched; So it appears that the site has up to date reported statistical information.

Supplement Ros Murder: According to the Associated Press article ;Four teens were arrested in the beating death of Ros, only identifying Muy. Apparently Ros was pulled from a car, near Panella Park, and was beaten by up to nine people witness(es) reported. When the call was made to 911 Ros was already in Cardiac arrest.

Another Round of Murders and Violent Crime Plagues the City Again!

2010-08-08T05:03:00.000-07:00

According to the Record an article written on Friday 08-06-2010, stated that two people were killed within hours of each other. At approximately 1635 hours a person was reported to have been stabbed in the 800 block of South Lincoln. The victim was described as a 36 year old man, who was stabbed in the abdomen. According to the Record the subject was a documented gang member.

He was taken to the hospital were he was eventually pronounced dead. At around 1730 hours, Stockton Fire Department received a call of a 15 14 year old boy in a full arrest. The Fire department arrived on scene and did find a teenage boy in full traumatic arrest, so they began to work the code, and attempt to get his heart beating. I know the fire personnel and the AMR Medics worked very hard to save this boys life; however he had received to much damage from being beaten by 7-9 other subjects before he went into cardiac arrest.

This incident occurred in the ~~3800 block of Alvarado st~~ at Panella Park. The family identified the victim as Rin Ros a 14 yro boy who attended Stagg High School. The witness(es) to the incident stated that Ros was pulled from a vehilce and beaten to the point he went into cardiac arrest. After heroic measures the young teenager was transported "Code 3", to St.Joseph's Medical Center were he was pronounced dead. This was the second homicide for the Stockton Police. This was the precursor to what was to come later in the night and early morning of the next day.

Stockton Police received a "901B", which a code the department uses to broadcast to units, and it means a vehicle accident, unknown on injuries--officer needs to respond to ensure non-injury. Less then five minutes of the dispatcher broadcasting the accident call, a call came in of a "911(Nine-Eleven)" which means a person shot. The shooting call was at Arch Rd, and Newcastle. Arriving Officers on the scene, made it very apparent that it did not look good concerning the conditions of the victim. The victim was unresponsive, and so Medics were called into the scene ASAP.

According to what I listened to was it was a Mother and her son in the car, when another car full of subjects fired shots at the mother and son. The Son was struck, and did suffer a fatal wound. Stockton Police did a search of the mostly open fields and commercial buildings which are very hard to search, are a concern about Officer safety. Officer's could be abused by a subject laying in wait; the California Highway Patrol Helicopter was called from Auburn. CHP arrived and used their heat seeking, and night vision technology to do a good search of the area. No Suspects were located, however SPD did say that someone was still using the victims cellular phone to make text messages, and this could only be the subjects wanted in connection with the crime, or someone else, because the victim had passed away. Victim's witness was called for the mother.

Early at 0554 hours 08/07/2010, the Police received a call of a person shot on Ponce De Leon st. The caller reported that there was a man lying in the road way with a firearm on the ground next to him. Officer's arrived on the scene and found a man laying on the ground, who was suffering a GSW to his abdomen area. The subject was taken by AMR to the hospital, where he went into surgery, and was later pronounced dead.

At around 2259 hours 08/07/2010, the Police responded to a drive by shooting where there was a young woman suffering from a gun shot wound, that was not life threatening. The Police were told that a second victim was loaded into a car, and he looked limp, and non responsive, where he was supposed to be transported to the hospital by his friends. However, thankfully, he went home to his mother and was unhurt, and in good condition.

In the morning hours of 08/08/2010 0230, police received a shooting call at MLK and Grants Streets. A lady had ran up to a gas station clerk, covered in blood and asked him to call for help. Units arrived on the scene to find a Hispanic male sitting in his car he had been shot in his neck. He could not tell the police why or who shot at him; other than giving a vague description. He was in serious condition so the Police held the scene in case he died.

At around 0245, a Stockton Unified Police Officer came over on Stockton PD main dispatch channel and gave them a plate; The plate was ran and the License plate matched a car that had just been broadcast by the Police, as a armed, firing 957's(Shoots Fired). The SUSD Officer was alone, and the SPD dispatcher requested several times for a unit to "fill", with the solo Officer. The Dispatcher after not being able to get a unit to assist broadcast a signal "900", which means the channel is shut down for emergency traffic only, all other Officers are to respond via MDT or on Channel 2. After doing this, the dispatcher came over the air and alerted all cars: "All units Code 12, SUSD is following the 957 vehicle". No units from SPD could break to assist, and a CHP unit listening to the scanner must have heard this because CHP got behind the SUSD unit and five people were taken out of the car in a felony stop. Several people were detained without incident.

During the time SUSD Officer had the main channel dedicated to his traffic, Officers in North Stockton on Burney St, heard several gunshots from an Automatic Rifle, one of the Officer's stated "the shots sound like they are going over our heads".

So the gunfire was very close to their location. Units had recently just recovered an AK47 from a house in the same area. At the time of this posting, nothing major has happened; However in reflection, three days Friday, Saturday, and Sunday there were four homicides, several shootings, and other violence.

Stockton Police Officers having less Officers on the street was very poignant this weekend, shifts were held over to answer priority calls that were needing an Officer; at each homicide scene that occurred, there had to be one or more patrol Officer's assigned to the scene to block traffic and preserve the scene. This takes more Officers from being able to respond. The Officer's this weekend were stretched thin, and this is my opinion, and City Hall should take this weekends headlines in the Media that will be broadcast all over, as a wake up call to get it together down there, and get rid of the hockey team, or stop funding redevelopment projects where they were built to be a source of revenue, and not be given City Money to fund them so that they can operate. The Emergency Services of this City are far more important.

Post was originally wrote on August 8, 2010, and the updated references to the information in this post are listed below:
References
- Associated Press

- Police make headway after violent Friday

- "City sees 3 homicides in 7-hour span"

The Stockton Police Tone Down their Campaign

2010-08-05T21:59:00.000-07:00

A News Ten Article stated that the Stockton Police Officers Association decided to tone down it's campaign, after receiving public complaints.

I say to those that were complaining about the signs--your ignorant to what is actually happening in the City. Since when did telling the truth become such an issue? I have always been taught that the truth is the best way, even if it is hard, cold, and dirty.

Could the signs have been a little more stylish for the less squeamish, or for those of you cannot seem to comprehend that what WHAT THE SIGNS SAID WAS THE TRUTH; sure maybe, but nonetheless the facts would not be different.

This City does have the second highest murder rate according to an article written by David Siders Stockton in 2008 had the second-highest violent crime rate Murder rate in the State of California (Stockton2020.org, 2009), violent crime has increased.

The Stockton Police Officer's have not backed down, they have fought back and did what we expect them to do, with less officers, and higher call volumes! It is so easy to whine, or complain, or be judgmental or make issue with the approach of something YOU DO NOT WANT TO HEAR! Why?, because if you accept the truth, then you burst the little bubble you have been living in.

The Police department is not perfect, and I will be the first one to speak up when I see or hear things that I feel are wrong, I am not anti police, nor am I pro police in the sense, that I am willing to take their view one sided, I would like to think that I am realistic and willing to understand what the Police are saying.

Any of you that were upset about the signs take a look at any of the data released by the Department of Justice this year in relation to the Murder rate? Any of you look at the murder rate this year, which can be found at Recordnet.com, or here SJ CRIME? Please visit the Police Officer's Association page and click this link The Facts, or visit the The Main POA. You may think that the Police Officer Present an argument that is favorable to their side:They do, but they back up what they say with actual City of Stockton Commissioned Reports, and reports done by the Police Officers Association. So what I mean is the City commissioned its own reports, but by doing so they back up everything the Police have issues with!

Now I am a little bit more calm, now so I want to say that I respect everyone's rights to how they feel, and if you were offended by the original signs, which only told the truth, nothing was exaggerated, what was said is backed up by the City of Stockton's own data, or State, or Federal Government released reports;I want to say I apologize, I mean no disrespect. I just want to make this final point, all you detractor or people that are upset, who would be the first person you would call if someone was breaking into your home, or attacking you, trying to car jack your car, or hurting a loved one?; I can say without doubt, pause, speculation-I WOULD CALL THE POLICE TO COME AND HLEP. What is fair is fair, the City has reneged, on the Police Department, and forced them to the table to bargain under duress, either they negotiated or we lay off xx amount of officers!!!

It is a great step the New City Manager is willing to work with the Police, and I hope this can all be resolved. But the attacks on our Police, and Fire Departments by the very own City that employs them, and the Citizens that demand their services as if they are somehow bestowed by god upon each of us; Wake up, apparently being a Police Officer, Or a Fire Fighter is no longer about being a public servant, but more akin to a business corporation, and the front line men and women are going to work everyday, 24/7, non stop, willing to put their lives in harms way so that I may, and all of the rest of you may enjoy that one thing that we all demand:"Freedom", the ability to feel safe, and if necessary when the times calls dial that magic 9-1-1, and wait for those people who we seem to not appreciated; But the hearing of their sirens in the distance giving those in need of their help the sense of relief that someone is coming to help!

To the Stockton Police Officer's Association, I applaud you for telling the truth, not obfuscating the truth in some new development, like City Hall does, I respect that you showed the Citizens that the Police understand and respect the First Amendment right of the Constitution-The right to free speech and expression! I understand that the force is understaffed, and that the Officers are put under extraordinary pressure daily, and I am thankful to all those Officer's of the department.
Please don't give in, the POA did nothing but tell the TRUTH!, Normally we hear about departments in cover ups, or lying, and of course the public gets upset, but this time what a perversion, we get upset for you speaking the truth!

News 10 Article

Reference

Stockton2020.org, (2009.). Stockton’s Crime Rate Second in California : Stockton2020. Retrieved Aug. 05, 2010, from http://stockton2020.org/2009/06/17/stocktons-crime-rate-second-in-california/

Finally,someone in the Media willing to speak the truth--Rivera was not a helpless, innocent victim!

2010-08-01T04:09:00.000-07:00

He played the big game and tried to fill a grown mans clothes, and he took things he wanted not because he was entitled to them, but because he had the power to put a shot gun in your face and cause you to be terrorized.

I will say that I do not think that the police followed all the rules, and it was overkill, and I am sad and mad the police and all the others that are making this ordeal into a springboard to say that something happened because I am this, or I am that. Let me tell you if you want to define yourself has being a __________, well guess what there are white ones to.

Michael Fitzgerald is the only on at the Record who is willing to take issues head on. IF he was not there we would also get these weak convoluted articles written by some of the reporters. Why is everyone so afraid to be a reporter, and take on the issues that are uncomfortable controversial, instead also accepting the status quo.
This article is right to the point: Here is what we do know-the young man was in trouble not for little things like taking candy from a store; but things that you would expect from a much older person, and not a teenager. He used violence in his methods, if you have ever been a party or witnessed a shooting, and then had one pointed at you --you would understand the terror that it causes.

The police did try less than lethal tactics, if you listen to the recording of the incident you can hear the officers setting up spike strips, or preparing to deploy, using legal intervention, and they gave him a lot of room to flee.

I can say is that the officers there upon that shooting seen were yelling on the radio that shots had been fired, and they needed medical right away. They also were thinking about how best to rescue the boy from the entrapment of the building and the car.
What I cannot say is why the Officers fired upon this boy, I am sad that it had to happen, but if he was left to flee he posed a great threat to society--and in cases like this police are allowed to use deadly force under the Garner Rule set by the Supreme court.

Here is where we should take this winding stair way of blame, we should turn it around and put it right back in the parents face or whomever took car of the boy. Society can not raise your children for you, your supposed to teach your children right from wrong, good from bad, and how to always give to people what you expect to get back.

The police did know a few things, and the things they did know were significant--the car was taken from a person under the barrel of a shotgun-not a very good spot to be.
No matter what we are humans and more so, we have share some common link, not matter what race, or characteristics. This was not a shooting that was motivated by anything other then Rivera's actions, he posed a threat, and if it had been me or you in that car we would have been shot to.

Several African Americans hold ranks in the Police department that are above patrol officers, you look at the police department as a whole it is pretty close to being affirmatively correct. The one thing that this should not be about is some false notion that he was shot because he was black or any other reason.

One more time he was shot because he chose to terrorize people, made a reputation for himself, escaping Juvenile hall, gaining access to a firearm and so on. The one statement that I have heard where I really must say I respect is to the Uncle for saying that his nephew was not the best kid, and had some bumps scraps.

I do not care if it was passive acknowledgment that someone in Rivera's family was willing to say he understood, even for a second. I am not for the mentality of once an officer shots they all start to shot, and I think that this is what may have happened, one officer fired his weapon and the other Officers were taken back and thought they were being fired upon, and fired shots as well.

Look at all the Shootings where a person has been shot many times, there are always several officers on the scene. Rather this is not relevant to what I have to say last--Your Son, Friend, Nephew, or Cousin woke up that day, and everything he did to that point was what caused the tragedy to occur, no one was driving a car jacked vehicle, and no one but him decided to flee-what would have happened just Micheal pointed out he careened into some school children, or hit another car--at that speed it would have been devastating.

Ownership begins within, but it must be taught, and each of of process this ability to own our actions--to everyone who does not know what really happened take a step back, think about what your upset about, when it is not hate that should be driving you , but sadness at another young live wasted for no good reason. Please visit this site www.scanstockton.com and you will be able to hear the police radio traffic of the whole event.

Also visit this sitehttp://sjcscanner.com/2010/07/when-can-a-police-officer-use-deadly-force/ read the article about the use of deadly force.

<div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Once Convicted Herzog Sentenced to 78 years will walk free in 150 days</h1> 2010-07-30T19:57:00.000-07:00 A man that was convicted of three murders, and sentenced to 78 yrs; However on appeal he was successful in his appeal. <a name='more'></a> The Six Circuit Court of Appeals stated that Herzog was physically exhausted, deprived of food, and when he tried to invoke his right to remain silent-none of the detectives cared.  Also the Court in its ruling said that Herzog was interviewed over several days, in which he was given no food, and unable to invoke his rights. The San Joaquin County District Attorney went to Herzog's boyhood friend  Wesley Shermantine, who remains on death row for four murders, was approached by the DA to get him to assist them with trying to keep Herzog in prison by cooperating with them; He refused. Herzog will be released in September 2010, and will be under parole watch with an ankle bracelet which is a GPS device to monitor his movements, and the Parole Officials said they would take extra steps, but were clear to say that the ruling made by the Sixth Appellate court, had no reflection on them nor was it their fault saying:  "This is not something we decide," Patiño said. "It is a calculation that is created by California law." The justice system in the United States is perverse sometimes, in that the wrong guy gets out because of a technicality, or you have stupid police men not following procedure, and thus there lye's the reason as to why he will be set free.  I am not attacking the Sheriffs, but it is stupid to not let this guy invoke his rights, he still would have been convicted because what did.  Not feeding him, and keeping him up for several days making him exhausted was equally stupid, police officials are supposed to know the rights they protect, and in this case it was the police who caused this man to be set free. It is said he was involved with 5 murders, this is another OJ Simpson case, where the police were doing what they thought was right, but they forget their responsibility as peace officers.  A person who commits horrific crimes in the United States of America are protected by several parts of the Constitution, one being to invoke the right to remain silent, ie:the Miranda warning.  The reading of the Miranda, does not mean that a police officer once he has read it, he has fulfilled his duties under the warning.  Instead it applies until he is taken to court. We apply the idea everyone is innocent until proven guilty; thus they are entitled to  hearing of their peers, the right to invoke remaining silent, and no matter how horrific the crime is, they still enjoy all the rights of a regular person until they are convicted or found guilty by a jury of his peers. As far as the Baxter done comment if the tapes of the interrogation would show that none of the things the appellate court considered; Then why was the tapes not introduced?  I am sure the appellate Court did not want to let this guy, out, but when peace officers who are sworn, and given extraordinary powers the surely must know that their actions years to come, could someday affect the whole outcome of the circumstances.  Herzog is proof positive of this notion. <a href="http://www.skcentral.com/news.php?readmore=137">Serial Killer News</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Question of Deadly Force & Police Justified ......</h1> 2010-07-30T16:51:00.000-07:00 <hr />When are police able to use deadly force? This is not an issue that is easy to answer here is a post that scanstockton.com wrote: <a name='more'></a> A Stockton Teen was killed today after a pursuit with the Stockton Police Department. The teenager was spotted in a 215 (PC)(carjacking); the vehicle was taken by subjects who were armed with a shot gun. Stockton Police were looking for the vehicle when a "Valley Unit" (CHP, Stockton PD, SJCO S/O, Lodi PD, Manteca PD, SJCO Probation, and Tracy PD) whose sole purpose is to find and recover stolen vehicles, and reduce the grand theft auto, and captured those who steal cars. After being spotted by the undercover Valley Unit a marked unit was nearby and spotted the vehicle as well. A pursuit ensued when the teenager would not yield, and speed off. The pursuit snaked through the narrow streets of North Stockton neighborhoods. At the peak of the pursuit the teenager was going almost 70MPH, through these populated neighborhoods, where the roads are narrow. An SPD Sergeant gave permission for the units to use Legal Intervention or PIT maneuver. The teen was able to stay ahead of the Officers until they arrived at Bancroft and Salters Drive-Officers rammed the vehicle, causing the boy to loose control and slam into a house where the drivers, front portion was inside the house, and not outside. During this time, after ramming into the house Officers there was a minute of silence, then Officers started call out "Shots Fired","Start a 945", "We have shots fired....all Officers are 907 at this time." According to the Story posted on the Record's website, 16 to 17 shots were fired by several Officers at the teen, who was trapped inside the house and car. Officers waited for a minute for more units to arrive on the scene so that they could take the boy out of the car safely, without any further use of deadly force. Apparently for the boy it was to late, the Record reported at around 1645hrs, that teenager involved in the pursuit had died. The uncle of the boy did identified his nephew as being a high school student attending Bear Creek High. The boy was removed from the vehicle and the collapsing house, and his lifeless body was given to the Paramedics. It is important to note that SPD tried use all the non lethal methods, such as spike stripes and the PIT, but in the end the Officers felt that they needed to use deadly force, either to protect themselves, or to protect the public. This was a choice forced upon the Officer's, and it is also very important to note that the teenager was driving a car that was taken at gun point with a shot gun; Officer's new two things, the car was a car jacked car, and a shot gun was used in the car jacking; The decisions they made based upon this information alone, justifies to me the Officer's had every right, to stop escalating the use of force, and using deadly force to stop the teenager. <cite>Federal constitutional standards permit law enforcement officers to use deadly force to apprehend criminal suspects when there is "probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a threat of serious physical harm...to the officer or to others..." and if deadly force "is necessary" to effect the apprehension. 1 This formulation of the constitutional rule by the Supreme Court suggests two factors - dangerousness and necessity - as relevant to the question whether deadly force is constitutionally permissible (JD, nd).</cite> With respect to "dangerousness," the Court has suggested that "...if the suspect threatens the officer with a weapon or there is probable cause to believe that he has committed a crime involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious physical harm...,"2 the officer reasonably could conclude that the suspect is dangerous. However, the absence of comparable guidance on the issue of "necessity" has invited serious legal challenges on this issue alone. These challenges generally may be described as follows: 1) Deadly force was not necessary because less intrusive alternatives were available, or 2) If deadly force was necessary, the officer's prior actions created the necessity. (Jall, nd) An officer may use enough force as necessary to stop a threat to themselves or the public; Further more a police officer may use increase the use of deadly force if the Subject resist. The police officer has no duty to flee a scene in which they have committed themselves to. According to Law.jrank.org the standard use of deadly force is different between departments, however the basis they make the rules for deadly force are taken from th United States Supreme Court. <cite>"Deadly force" is defined as "force reasonably capable of causing death or great bodily harm" (Geller and Scott, p. 23); </cite> <cite> As stated above an Officer in pursuit of a subject may still use deadly force; Officer must be in fear of his life, partners, or his/her responsibility to the public. </cite>However according to Law.jrank.org, <div align="center"></div><blockquote>The U.S. Supreme Court stated the standard in 1985: "Where the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a threat of serious physical harm, either to the officer or to others, it is not constitutionally unreasonable to prevent escape by using deadly force. Thus, if the suspect threatens the officer with a weapon or there is probable cause to believe that he has committed a crime involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious physical harm, deadly force may be used if necessary to prevent an escape, and if, where feasible, some warning has been given" (Tennessee v. Garner, 471 U.S. 1, 11–12 (1985)). </blockquote> </embed><noembed><div class="blogger-post-footer"></div> </article> <article> <h1>Stockton Pursuit Turns Deadly for Teenager 07-22-2010</h1> 2010-07-25T17:15:00.000-07:00 This is just another sad story of a young man feeling like it is OK to take car's at gun point. Even sadder is the fact he lost his life for absolutely nothing; <a name='more'></a> Were the Police wrong for shooting the teen, even though he pointed no firearm at them? Yes the made their choice to use deadly force because the felt threatened. It is hard thing to stomach sometimes when you of Police having to use deadly force, where possibly non lethal weapons would work. But any use of non lethal weapons was impractical and impossible. This subject and the car he was driving was believed to be a Car Jacking, taken with a gun. There is some debate already in the Community, well everyone who thinks they could have done a better job--by all means go sign for the academy, for the rest you shut up and give the investigation time to work. If you sill have doubt I have placed the video clip of the pursuit and subsequent shooting. Press the play button or use the text in the box and place it on your site. A Stockton Teen was killed today after a pursuit with the Stockton Police Department. The teenager was spotted in a 215 (PC)(carjacking); the vehicle was taken by subjects who were armed with a shot gun. Stockton Police were looking for the vehicle when a "Valley Unit"(Co Op between SPD, SJSO, CHP), whose sole purpose is to find and recover stolen vehicles, and reduce the grand theft auto, and captured those who steal cars. After being spotted by the undercover Valley Unit a marked unit was nearby and spotted the vehicle as well. A pursuit ensued when the teenager would not yield, and speed off. The pursuit snaked through the narrow streets of North Stockton neighborhoods. At the peak of the pursuit the teenager was going almost 60MPH, through these populated neighborhoods, where the roads are narrow. An SPD Sergeant gave permission for the units to use Legal Intervention or PIT maneuver. The teen was able to stay ahead of the Officers until they arrived at Bancroft and Salters Drive-Officers rammed the vehicle, causing the boy to loose control and slam into a house where the drivers, front portion was inside the house, and not outside. During this time, after ramming into the house Officers there was a minute of silence, then Officers started call out "Shots Fired","Start a 945", "We have shots fired....all Officers are 907 at this time." According to the Story posted on the Record's website, 16 to 17 shots were fired by several Officers at the teen, who was trapped inside the house and car. Officers waited for a minute for more units to arrive on the scene so that they could take the boy out of the car safely, without any further use of deadly force. Apparently for the boy it was to late, the Record reported at around 1645hrs, that teenager involved in the pursuit had died. The uncle of the boy did identified his nephew as being a high school student attending Bear Creek High. The boy was removed from the vehicle and the collapsing house, and his lifeless body was given to the Paramedics. It is important to note that SPD tried use all the non lethal methods, such as spike stripes and the PIT, but in the end the Officers felt that they needed to use deadly force, either to protect themselves, or to protect the public. This was a choice forced upon the Officer's, and it is also very important to note that the teenager was driving a car that was taken at gun point with a shot gun; Officer's new two things, the car was a car jacked car, and a shot gun was used in the car jacking; The decisions they made based upon this information alone, justifies to me the Officer's had every right, to stop escalating the use of force, and using deadly force to stop the teenager. ********According The Records website that the Police fired their weapons when the boy pushed the accelerator while being trapped partially under the garage part of the home. When the Officers hit him, he lost control and slammed into the garage. The Officers said yesterday they would need a search warrant to check the van, to see if any weapons are in the car. that sat in it same position since the shooting happened, through yesterday.********** <noembed>

This has been a violent Month for the City July 2010

2010-07-25T14:16:00.000-07:00

This last two weeks have been violent for the police and for the people who have suffered at the hands of violence.

It is hard for me to accept that just because some crime is down, that we should be happy. Crime maybe down, but its down in the wrong area's! Taking someones T.V., Burglarizing a home, stealing a car are crimes that are about property; But in comparison to crimes against a person: rapes, assaults, murders, are the types of crime the police department with the assistance from the City Council should putting a plan in action to reduce these violent crimes. City Council needs to find a way to supplement the force with the money they need so they can do their job. Unless the City wants more news like this splashed across News pages, they need to get a plan together.

CHP has in other places like Salinas, committed a task force of CHP officers to assit the local police agency. The CHP will commit a team of units to work with SPD to target high drug, gang, and other areas where the crime is high. Some people may see this as allowing a "foreign power"(so to speak) come in and take over, but it is not the case they will work and follow the same rules they already do. CHP is one of the only peace officers designated to exercise police powers through the State concurrently. They have the statutory power and authorization to exercise their powers any where. Not all police have this same authority. Off duty officers gave CCW, but they are not authorized except under certain situations to use and exercise their powers outside of their jurisdiction.

People may think that I am being an alarmist or being pessimistic, no--not at all, it is that bad. 07/16/2010 shootings where seven people were shot, that Friday night, and early Saturday, was the most violence the City has encountered since the Cleveland School shooting. The violence began at the movie theater; gang types and other rivals get into a huge fight.

Bike Officer calls for help, and officers arrive on scene. When the Police all committed, two to three more fights break out, so that El Dorado going Northbound is blocked. Police then have a foot pursuit, and this makes the situation even worse; all these subjects are juveniles. Some of the subjects picked up the chairs, that are around the theater and were using them as weapons(245PC-Assault w/Deadly Weapon-"Felony"). This is where at least 6 or more surveillance camera's spy, and if you cant see them then your blind. This wasted tool to prevent crime, does nothing to keep people from being people and these kids know they are being recorded or watched on CCTV, they don't care.

Approximately six to seven units were on the scene, and a supervisor. These fights went on for a while, transferring over to the garage where people park. The melee at the theater was almost cleared up when:"beep...beep...beep...All cars a 911(Nine-O-11"), multiple people shot.....I was thinking one or two people shot. Not that I wish for anyone to get shot, I don't. When the Officers got on scene it was chaotic, the victims were all Spanish speakers, a call out over the radio of all Spanish speaking Officers were to respond to the scene.

First body court was "It's not looking good, one looks 972(dead); I need all the Spanish speakers, and I need multiple 945's(Ambulances), we have at least 4 people down."

Then the next request was from the Fire Captain on scene he had the Battalion Chief put the County on MCI(Mass Casualty Incident) status, which means that patients will be sent to different hospitals so that they get the fastest treatment. I heard the Fire Captain from Eng. 3, say that they had at least seven people shot, with one confirmed dead. This changed later to two people dead from this shooting. Cal Star the Air Ambulance landed in the park right next to the Old Flea Market on El Dorado going South.

During this time when Officers were dealing with this mass shooting, the very same subjects who were possible subjects in the shooting, robbed another guy less than three blocks away. Listening to the scanner radio traffic, SPD, got several calls about these subjects prior to this shooting, but of course it does not all come together tell afterward, but:these young men first robbed someone at Rancho San Miguel, then headed over to San Joaquin St at Ninth, and confronted their Hispanic victims, as to why the shot them, no clue. I could hear women, and young children crying when Officer's were speaking over their radios. This meant that they were there and most likely saw this happen, and you would think that women and children might give someone who wants to shoot someone, some pause, but theese guys were cold blooded cowards.

After the shootings occurred Officers were busy going to call to call, dispatcher every other call, "All Cars, All Cars 957's Reported.....". Stockton Police respond to a call early Saturday were there was a man standing in a neighborhood, shooting an AK47, officer arrived on scene and saw the subject, but the subject ran along the canal into the brush, and the Officer did not pursue him. I would not have either, the Officer had no cover, it was dark, and he would be walking into brush, where the Subject would have the tactical advantage...Bullets fired from these types of weapons can go through a bullet proof vest. Officer waited for backup, and then a brief search was done.

A little while later...."All Cars 990("Nine-Nine-0") on a .....that was at the Lodi McDonald's at the drive thru, and one of the workers spotted a person tied up with a rag in mouth, the car....Any info contact Lodi PD". The description they gave of the car and the subject--it sounded like part of the three guys that had already done enough damage.
Officers spotted a vehicle around 0230 or later, and it was occupied by four subjects, SPD made a stop and a gun was tossed out or found in the car.

Officers waited for more units to arrive to address the possible threat of being shot...Officers arrived all subjects were taken into custody. It was such a busy night that some Priority 1 calls, were having to wait for a goo while 30 mins or more. Priority 1 calls, are the highest levels calls that are dispatched to first, because they are either in progress at the time, or it is a violent crime.

The Watch Commander even took the step of holding over the Fourth Watch until the call volume went down. Because of the budget crisis Officers working any overtime has to be approved, and the administrators get heat from the City Council; So I was glad that that W/C stood up and held the units over. This used to happen allot in the previous times, but I have not heard it used once since the money crunch.

The Stockton Police was understaffed, and dealing a double homicide with multiple victims, and almost forty witnesses, all the while the rest of City is red hot, with action. Stockton Police did a super job in my book, they had to many things going on, and they needed more help, but they made do with they had, and by dong that they a fantastic job.

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Stockton Police to loose 22-66 Officers

2010-07-05T02:20:00.000-07:00

According to an article written by News10.net, it stated that if the Police department does not allows its union to negotiate or if it won't negotiate, then layoffs will occur. Then numbers being considered for police layoffs will be either 26 or 66.

Deputy Police Chief Tammie Murrell announced her plans to retire so that her salary could be used to keep other officers on the street.

I think it was great what the Chief did, but to even consider touching one Officers is a not a good idea. We already have less officers on the street, and our murder rate consistently over the last two years has increased, not decreased according to the Department of Justice Crime Rate Report, we did have less rapes, assaults, and property crimes, than in previous years past.

But the trend of the Murder rate is what most concerns me, and the fact that on any given day that there is on average 2 or more Shootings or violent crimes like stabbings, using a weapons considered deadly weapons.

It is important for people to express that they are concerned about the budget cuts of the police departments, and the cutting of the fire department Truck Company.

Here is a list that the Stockton Peace Officer association has listed

Stockton averages about 93.61 crimes per 1,000 residents.
One's chance of becoming a victim of either a violent or property crime in Stockton is 1 in 11.
Stockton averages about 15.78 violent crimes per 1,000 residents. The national average is 4.7

violent crimes per 1,000. The California average is 5.61 violent crimes per 1,000.
Stockton averages about 77.83 property crimes per 1,000 residents. The national average is 34.3 property crimes per 1,000. The California average is 35.44 property crimes per 1,000.
Stockton averages 407 crimes per square mile. The national average is 49.6 crimes per square mile. California averages 187 crimes per square mile.
Stockton is safer than only 2% of the cities in the US.
Stockton has about 1.2 officers per 1,000 residents. The national average is between 2.0 and 2.5 officers per 1,000 residents. Stockton will drop to just below 1 officer per thousand residents if all of the projected layoffs occur.
Stockton had the second highest rate of violent crimes per capita in California for the past two years based on the FBI UCR stats. Oakland was number one.
Stockton Police Officers are the fifth highest paid law enforcement agency in San Joaquin County, behind Manteca $91,000, Tracy $80,000, CHP $79,000, Lodi $77,000. There are only eight police agencies in San Joaquin County.
Since receiving Federal Stimulus money under the CHRP Grant (COPS Hiring Recovery Program) Stockton has eliminated 74 police officer positions and will eliminate another approximately 60 more police officer positions for a total of 1/3 of the police force. In addition to eliminating the police officer positions, Stockton has eliminated or significantly reduced various Community Oriented Police (COPS) programs, in violation of the submitted CHRP Grant application.
The City of Stockton paid for an independent audit of the police department in 2006. The report suggested that, at that time, the police department should be staffed with about 530 police officers. The report suggested the City budget for the increase in police officers. (Referred to as the Braga Report, CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT)
The City of Stockton currently owns an Arena, a Marina, a Minor League Baseball Park, the Bob Hope Theatre, a Civic Auditorium, numerous parks, boat docks, ball fields, libraries, buildings, lots and land both in and out of the City limits. Every item listed is a drain on the City's money and funds. Every year the Arena, Theatre, Auditorium, boat docks, ball fields, libraries and now Marina are losing millions of dollars and have to be subsidized to stay open.
The current City Manager is an interim City Manager and is getting paid about $25,000 a month for six months until his replacement starts. The replacement City manager is going to get paid $240,000 a year, as well as $1500 a month for a housing allowance, plus $200 a month for his cell phone/computer. He will get mileage reimbursement and/or a City vehicle and his retirement, medical and dental will be paid for.
Recently, the City Manager agreed to open the City's books for an independent audit of certain City accounts. This audit is being paid for by three parties to ensure fairness and transparency. The City, the Police Officers and the Fire Fighters. The draft of the first phase of the audit was released showing the City has up to $32.9 million in surplus money in various accounts. The City has since said the audit is flawed and inaccurate. The auditors deny those claims. CLICK HERE TO READ THE AUDIT

These list was taken from the Stockton Police Officer's Association

I encourage anyone who cares about the safety and well being of the your family and this City we all inhabit then you should Write to the

CONTACT CITY OFFICALS

Bob Deis

City Manager

Email

Phone

Click Here to Let Your City Council Member-Say No to the Cut!

The whole list of facts just makes me feel angry because what I been writing hear about the City's Murder Rate and Crime rates, are all confirmed by at least two different independent auditing. It also confirm what I been saying that all the money we had we wasted on the Marina, Ball Park, and the Arena, that according to the POA for Stockton Police say we are losing money on and these are being supplemented by the City of Stockton, which if they want to subsidise those things that are not making money for the City--why not supplement the Police Force. The Citizens of Stockton Deserve Better.

City Administrators Cut Truck 4 from Fire Department Resources

2010-07-04T22:20:00.000-07:00

The City of Stockton slashed Truck 4 which is not an Engine, but is the big long trucks that are driven by two people.

Truck's are not front line, what I mean by this, is that they do not respond to medical calls or some of the other things, that engine's normally handle. However, for example:Company 4 is stationed right at the edge of Delta Community College, near Robin Hood at Pacific; this was a strategic spot for the placement of a Truck. Truck 4 could handle calls on both University of the Pacific, Delta College, Both Malls, and the busy intersections of March Lane, Pacific Lane, El Dorado at March(considered a highspeed intersection), and many in an area where there is a lot of traffic, people, and some residential, but mostly commercial property. There basic response area was all of Pacific Lane, March Lane, El Dorado, a very large part of northern Stockton. The closing of this particular truck to me a disservice to the citizens of Stockton.

Truck 4 was auto dispatched to all structure or building fires, rescues(persons trapped, pinned in, vehicle accidents with reported people trapped), only the trucks carry the rescue gear for auto accidents the require the use of the jaws of life, cribbing, shears, the ram, inflatable air bags, all of these tools could be used where a person is pinned in their car. According to Foster City's FAQ page:

[] Fire Engines and Fire Trucks perform significantly different functions at a fire scene, they are very different. Fire engines are equipped with hoses and water so that personnel can aggressively fight the fire. Fire Trucks are like the firefighters tool box -- carrying ladders, rescue equipment and other tools to enable personnel to support firefighting activities. Foster City FAQ

The definition or comparison from Foster City is accurate to the use of Fire "Trucks" in the City. If for example my home was to catch on fire, Truck 4 would have been the first in Truck, their job on scene would have varied. While it is the Engines primary responsibility to pull hand lines from the engine, and start attacking the fire with the water from the engines pump, the next in engine drops hose line for a hydrant to supply the first engine on scene. Having the policy of aggressively attacking the fire, the Department uses "fast attack approach", so by the first engine on scene not having to drop a line and supply its own water, seconds, minutes, are saved, with a better chance of saving life and property.

The policy or attitude towards fire trucks are no different, when the truck gets on scene of any structure or building fire, they are responsible for entering the structure to check for persons trapped,secure utilities, roof ventilation, or use of the aerial ladder water pumping capabilities on large fires.

All fire department officials have a responsibility to save life and property, but a Truck is a vital part of doing that job. Engines do not have the room to carry large ladders of different sizes,water removal pumping equipment,or large ventilation fans used to ventilate homes. An engine simply cannot carry all the tools that a Truck does, and on any rescue or fire a truck is where the gears is for basic removal or use of a large ladders to free or allow the police department to use, etc.

A truck is toolbox and has many different versatile and vital uses, that front line engines need on different emergency incidents. Now with the removal of Truck 4, the nearest Northern Truck available is at Company 7, which is located off Hammer Lane sitting before I-5, and before Thornton Road.

There used to only be three trucks:2,3, and 4, then the City Administrator's in their wisdom allowed for the addition of a fourth truck which was important, and provided better coverage of the North half of the City so that it was not Truck 4 responsibility.

Now because the City has expanded so far out North all the way to Morada, the city line sits right at the Waterloo Morada Fire Department. It will now be all of Truck 7, who will be auto dispatched for almost everything North of El Dorado at March Lane, West Lane, etc. Truck 4 used to do it before, but this was before all of the development that took place in 2003-2004-2005. Response times are now going to be inevitably longer, through no fault of the department. Say for example, Truck 7 is at a rollover with a person trapped at Eight Mile and I-5, and there is a building fire that comes in while they are dedicated already to the rescue, let's say the fire is at Bear Creek High School, the next in due truck would be Truck 2 if busy, then it would roll over to Truck 3.

Each of those Trucks are assigned on the South side of the Crosstown freeway. It would be about a good 10-15 min response time if traffic was heavy or any numerous reasons, if either of the trucks were dispatched to a call North of the Crosstown it would be an extended response time. I would guess even in the best of conditions the response time would be around 9 mins at best. In a dynamical environment like any active fire it gets bigger and bigger as the seconds or minutes pass, five or six minutes can mean loosing everything with nothing left to try and salvage. To a person trapped, unconscious or in and immediate casualty, the response time could be the decisive factor in whether they live or die

I understand the City has to make tough choices, but both Police and Fire Departments should be hands off when it comes to the pivotal point where it is detrimental to the Citizens of the City. This closure may save money, but will the money ever equate to another person's life, or the loss, that comes from saving only a fraction of what the City is in the deficit for. I would think the answer would be NO, but I guess in all their wisdom down at City Hall and the City Administrator; They have taken the same approach that the Governor of this State has done, and that is take something, or from someone that simply does not or cannot do without.

To the City of Stockton Administrator or City Council the decision to the cut this vital necessary tool from the Fire Department, have done a great disservice to the people of the City of Stockton. You may think that there will be no consequences for your poor ability to manage money when we had it, or even mange a negative budget now; someday or some way this will hurt the people that when you became administrators of the City you swore to protect, and regulate with common sense.

If you ever wonder why we are always on the bad lists of things, take a look in the mirror and you will see the reasons why. It's not the crime, or other issues, it's in your lack of leadership and ability to manage this City that makes us the worst of everything.

Read the Story at News 10

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City of Stockton Police Survelliance Camera Room will No Longer be Used

2010-06-25T12:20:00.000-07:00

An article printed on News10.net ,reported that the City of Stockton Police Surveillance Camera Room would no longer be used because of the budget deficit the City is facing of twenty three millions dollars. According to News10 the Stockton Police Department said that because there will be no funding for the system, "it will go dark".

The City spent millions of dollars for the City wide camera network that could pan, scan,zoom,and record large distances from their placements. They were placed in parks, in neighborhoods, which all cause Constitutional and Civil Liberties issues. There was never no outside oversight or auditing of how these camera's were being used. The Police Department was given Carte blanche

For example, watching someone because of their race, style of clothing, being in a specific group, demeanor, or doing anything that is protected by the First Amendment, or Fourth Amendment would be Constitutional violation. This would cause imbalance in the rule of law, and would not just violate the persons watched, but violate the Rights of every Citizen in the City.

Allowing the Police Department to set policy, and then say they are following policy, does not get to the truth if they really are following the policy. How as citizens of this City are we really to know if any of our civil liberties are violated. A Police Officer need probable cause in order to detain or arrest, or really engage you at all. The idea of our Constitution establishes separation of powers:Legislative, Judicial, and Executive. If we allow the Police to have so much power over us without being required to allow oversight into what they are doing, and how they do it, then I say this is a good thing them turning the cameras off.

I wrote and the Police departments about the camera system,and they responded to some of my questions, to the questions I asked about it's effectiveness in reduction of crime, (because crime has increased not decreased), the answer I got was [the] ". . . camera's cannot capture every crime in progress . . . [or] do they always deter crime."

The Police department many times has made inferences that these camera's are the "bread and butter" of the team, it would seem to me that their statement above goes against what they claim to the media all the time. In response to my questions about ensuring the protection of Constitutional rights, and Civil Liberties, that the Police department and the City may not be in compliance with the law

:the response was "safeguards are in place", which was a four page policy discussing the Constitutionality, Civil Liberties issues. How is this four page policy of procedure guarantying me that it is being followed or enforced; one of the ways, it stated in the letter or the policy, "and it will be the commanders job every once in a while to visit the and check up on the camera room".

Four pieces of paper basically affirming my argument, that yes this tool has the potential to be used and abused. But here you go it's a letter of our policy; It does do not mean nothing if there are not safeguards in place to actually implement the polices, and ensure the rules are being followed. Without the support, supervision, of real human interactions , this document is useless. I guess our Founding Father's understood the potential abuse of one branch of the government becoming to powerful, and thus the separation of powers, the idea being you cannot expect the people to police themselves. Logs should have been kept of who they watched, location,street,race,how long watched. This would generate some true verifiable data that the Police could use to assure at least they are doing something.

It would have been a good idea to having some group citizens or public officials mixed with citizens help ensure oversight,making sure proper surveillance was being used for the proper reasons. No such body or regulatory body from the City exist. It should have been a priority to have something in place beside a four page policy, and the police being in charge of ensuring proper usage.

The type of surveillance the police is arbitrary in nature meaning they where/are free to watch whom they choose apparently. Random audits by the Commander who is in charge of the program would help to solidify the policy, but there again all we have is their promise, forgive me I do not put a whole lot of currency in this, because we are human, and we all lie at times.
It would have been good for random recordings to have been pulled, and watched by the Commander to make sure that profiling was not occurring, and where the cameras were surrounded by private homes, and several city blocks of the same, that no one was looking into peoples private homes. In randomly monitoring the City, no persons home could lawfully be watched without a warrant based upon probable cause and evidence. Of course under circumstances that would another issue.

Where the use of probable cause comes from and Supreme Court Case Pertaining to the 4TH Amendment according to LectLaw.com:

FOURTH AMENDMENT [U.S. Constitution]

'The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.'

Fourth Amendment protects the 'right of the people to be secure in their persons . . . against unreasonable searches and seizures.' The essence of that protection is a prohibition against some modes of law enforcement because the cost of police intrusion into personal liberty is too high, even though the intrusion undoubtedly would result in an enormous boon to the public if the efficient apprehension of criminals were the sole criterion to be considered. 'The easiest course for [law enforcement] officials is not always one that our Constitution allows them to take.' Wolfish, 441 U.S. at 595 (Stevens, dissenting).

Many people will say that I am wrong, but those of you that do, I am sorry to say are ignorant to your rights, and don't understand what powers police are able to perform under the California Constitution, and the Statutory Code of California. As with any tools that can be abused, there needs to be strong supervision, and something as important as protecting our Civil Liberties or Rights, we should not take lightly. We should not be complacent, and or accept the word that something being done unless it can be proven. Reduction in Crime was the primary goal of this system, the camera program extended to more than over twenty camera's all over the City. Again nothing to show what is going on in the camera room, or whom is being watched, and if even it encroaches on the line of liberty, then let it stand back.

The other counter claim that people will say is these camera's have helped reduce crime, and act as a deterrent--this is a fallacy, the crime rate over the last two years has gotten worse, we have consistently per capita of people,compared to murders in the city, have a higher murder rate than most big City's. Right around the new year we were given another dubious title, not by some little news paper, or blogger, but by Forbes magazine a bible of business if you will, that is, an has been read and circulated for many many years; Being bestowed with the title "Most Miserable Place to Live". We at least tied with Cleveland for the number two spot out of the two hundred Cities surveyed by Forbes, and one of the reasons we ranked low, was because of our Crime Rate.

In May 2010 there were two weekends that five people were shot in a separate incidents, and then the other weekend six people were shot, with one homicide. Just the begging of this week there were two people shot, in Stockton, but the part that is County on Wallace and Sonoma Streets, both people shot were teenagers, one was mortally wounded.

This is an everyday reality here in this City, the Cameras have been up for over three years, and what has it done, but be potentially been a tool abused, and that may have done some good. In terms of being a deterrent, which was used to justify the rational for being implemented in the City, has not lived up to the impossible deterrent that cannot stop human nature, only reaction from another can deter or stop the threat.

The money spent on this network, would make talks of laying Police, and other essential City government people, non issue, or it would at least lessen the impact of how many people would have to loose their jobs in their vital roles to the City and its Citizens.
The posting of my original letter, and City of Stockton's Response

The Real City of Stockton: City Under Surveillance no Reduction in Crime

Reference

Lectlaw.com, Initials. (n.d.). Fourth amendment defined & explained. Retrieved from http://www.lectlaw.com/def/f081.htm

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The New Year 2010 Has Not Been a Good One for The City

2010-06-22T03:45:00.000-07:00

The City continues to struggle with a budget pitfall and no money for essential things. Forbes has listed the City of Stockton as the second most miserable Cities to live in the United States.

The Major reasons for being recognized as second most miserable spot to live is because of the high crime rate, according to Forbes out of the two hundred Cities surveyed both Cleveland OH, and Stockton held the dubious title of being ranked second for the crime rate. Out of 198 other cities are little City when compared to LA, or New York, Chicago, had a higher crime rate.

Unbelievable. Mayor Ann Johnston response to the crime rate issue was, that the City did make a one percent cut in our crime rate; first I do not believe it, I believe the staticians at the Police Department or City Hall lowered the threshold of some crimes that would be considered as violent offenses such as the ones the FBI uses to classify criminal statistics, for instance will take simple battery or assault and will place it in the lower threshold;

Of course I have no proof, but the one thing I do have is history and if you were to sit down and look at every days paper, for the 365 days you would notice something changed. What changed is the amount of violent crimes increased last years, shootings, stabbings, robberies, we held another dubious title of being ranked near Oakland for our Murder rate. So I do not think the Mayor Johnston's response to Forbes about certain things were accurate, when there is factual evidence put before you that is negative, and has the ability to impact economic growth, make people not want to live in Stockton, or cause a burden upon the City, You of course get a defensive answer that inflates what is truth, and deflects what is reality.

During of this dubious title placed upon our city by Forbes were in the middle of a budget crisis, there are talks of thirty or more Police Officers being laid off, cutting of services that are not essential in the sense to everyone, but to some they are essential. All the money our City poured into the down revitalization's, has not produced the desired result, there have been no new big companies moving to our City, the crime that used to contained in with the are has been pushed out to other areas, they staff full time Police Officers, to patrol the Movie theater complex and other areas of downtown, in addition to this cameras everywhere, you cannot pick your nose without being recorded and you would never know it unless you looked up and seen the massive surveillance. For any person who things the moving towards our city's being under surveillance is ignorant of the consequences, and I wont even take the time to tell you why, because you are already ignorant.

According to Forbes some of the other reasons for the listing was because of our unemployment level which at the time of the video was 18.5 percent, which I am for certain it is higher, or just slightly lower. Again the Cities response to this, was we are an agricultural area, and the jobs work in seasons, is the inference I understood by the comment. But wait a minute now, we are surrounded by tons of land of agriculture, we grow tomatoes, walnuts, almonds, cherries, sugar pines, peppers, and several other things that are parts of our food groups and a major contributor to our economy.

Hey what is going to happen when we kick out all the Hispanic people, or make a law like Arizona, which by the way is unconstitutional, and if you differ with me because of the immigration issue, I saw we got our priorities wrong, but here is the real caveat, if we can allow one group of people to be stopped by the police, treated differently, placed in a lower class, disallowed from getting, help; What makes you think that it wont happen again, you see once you break the foundation down just a little, remember our foundation is guaranteed under the Constitutions its protection, you let the break the foundation for one group good or bad, pretty soon the whole thing will crumble.

I am sorry I know I ran off a little and went into other areas when I should have stayed on topic, but hey this is a blog, everything goes on a blog! In closing we need to insist that our city do more to protect everyone, even the idiots that are the ones that are killing each other, we need to demand that the police stay as it is, cutting of the library hours to 17 hours in a week to me seemed really drastic, and sad, but I forgot that most every home or person has access to the Internet, the Internet is one big library of any kind of information you want. Still libraries are essential tools, but that was a hard decision to make, but it was the right one to make, instead of cutting emergency services, or cutting back on hours.

The other thing that should never happen is no one should ever be willing to give up their civil liberties to or walk, play, go to the park, and have to be violated by someone whom you have no idea is watching you, NO MORE WASTING MONEY ON INVASIVE SURRVELLIANCE CAMMERAS THAT VIOLATE THE CIVIL LIBERTIES OF THE CITIZENS EVERYDAY--JUST LISTEN TO THE POLICE SCANNER YOU WILL HEAR IT HAPPEN, PROFILING, AND OTHER SUCH THINGS.

This is not going to fixes our crime issues, Education, Early Learning, Interventions, Employment Opportunities all can be ways of leading us back into the sunlight and keeping hope alive, instead of whats going one which feels like were walking into the darkness with the uncertainty one has when the go into a room that is dark.

Forbes Video of Mayor Ann Johnston Speaking

In Home Care Workers will lose their health coverage in April 2010

2010-01-31T18:13:00.000-08:00

A letter dated 01/29/2010 from the Health Plan of San Joaquin has stated that In Home Supportive Services(IHSS),

will loose their group health care coverage as of April 30, 2010. The reason for this loss is because according to the HPSJ "[u]nfortunately, with resource constraints at State and County levels , the expansion of the program has not been possible, over time the Healthy Connections program membership level has declined to a level that is not sustainable for a coverage program."

The sad thing about this is the following benefits in 2003 were approximately 35.00, in late 2007 they were raised to 99.40, and the current cost of single coverage is 159.00 (est), in this program there are only a certain amount of available slots for coverage, and once the limit is reached people seeking coverage are put on a waiting list. This program could be sustainable and benefits could be saved if more people were allowed coverage.

According to HPSJ IHSS workers who desperately rely on their health care coverage will loose their benefits as of 04/30/2010 and the contract will canceled, any health care services scheduled after 04/30/2010 will not be covered.

This is sad day for those people who rely on this coverage and who will suffer because of this horrendous decision, motivated by money. Many people may not be able to afford other coverage options or get coverage with other insurance companies due to the condition of their health or be able to meet the requirement of new health care companies matrix or pass their underwriting department.

IHSS workers in this county are paid 9.45 per hour to take care of the most vulnerable people, help them remain in their homes without having to go into rest homes, or lose the ability to remain independent.

I think the HPSJ is motivated by greed or their decision is based upon monetary gain. I feel that if there was some overhaul to the existing contract that a health care coverage program could be sustainable--but it appears it is far more lucrative to leave hundreds or possibly thousands without insurance or the ability to get or afford the astronomical cost of cobra or some other type option.

Just another example of our county, and the people who run it of taking from those who have the least to give, and ensuring those who have the most are able to continue with their lives uninterrupted.

Listen Live to Stockton Police Scanner/S J S/O Traffic

Online Porn Ring Busted - Pimping and Pandering Stopped

2010-01-31T17:59:00.001-08:00

According to the Stockton Record and investigation into an online prostitution ring was discovered after a lengthy investigation and came to a head on Wednesday 01/28/2010 with the arrest of a 49 year old suspected of running the operation.

A search warrant was served on a home on East Barrymore street, arrested was Adolphus Tolver, 49 for suspicion of pimping and pandering. Neighbors noticed the amount of traffic and alerted authorities to the activities in mid 2009.

This is absolutely horrible and just another example of the type of crime that is occurring in the city, which seems to have no end and continues to worsen and not get better. At the least the police department did an excellent job, and broke up this ring and freed these vulnerable women from the clutches of Tolver. Now hopefully some of these women can get some help, and find better options and living conditions and not have to live in fear or sell their bodies on the whim of a pimp who seems to only understand degradation, greed, and insanity.

Source

The Record Article

Stockton's Hockey Team

2010-01-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday 010910 I went to a Hockey game for the first time. I thought it would be boring and that no one would be there. I was totally wrong. The place was packed switch over 7000 people there. There was a police presence, but still it boarders the a rough part of town, but I found there to be more surveillance camera's than in a casino in Vegas. So as long as the Stockton Thunders can keep pulling in numbers of people like they did that Sunday I saw wow, and go for it. In the economic crisis we are in, and the way the City is handling it, it at least there is one venue in town that can draw crowds of almost 8,000 people. There are some die hard fans to and it is refreshing to see people free from worry, and truly enjoying themselves, free, and for moment in another world that is free from the everyday worries!.

Listen Live to Stockton Police Scanner/S J S/O Traffic

01/14/10 Vendor is Murdered 1st Homicide of the New Year

2010-01-17T19:22:00.000-08:00

Vendor is shot on Stockton Street and later dies from his wounds. According to the Record a vendor selling ice creams was pushing his cart near Van Buskirk Park where he was killed. This is the first official homicide of the new year.

Around 1630 hours SPD received a calls of shots fired from residents who lived in the area. When units arrived they found the victim near Houston and Alabama avenues. The vendor was 55 years old and was found lying on the ground suffering from gun shot wounds. He was taken to San Joaquin County Hospital where he died in surgery.

Police Spokesman Smith stated three males 17-20 years of age were seen running away from the scene of the shooting. Police could only speculate as to the motive for the shooting--robbery. Police searched and interviewed potential witnesses in the area, but this being in Conway Homes--witnesses were hard to find, for fear of retaliation I assume. They have to live in this area that is for low income residents, and has a high gang population--so cooperation with the police could bring retaliation.

It is sad this man died working a hard job pushing a cart around trying to sell ice creams, I hope this murder is not the beginning of a continued steady murder rate.

Listen Live to Stockton Police Scanner/S J S/O Traffic

Allegiant Airlines Reports Stockton a Great Market

2010-01-09T21:02:00.000-08:00

Allegiant Air Stockton's only major airline service offering three flights weekly on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays between Stockton and Las Vegas.

According to the airline business has been steady and will increase flights in February with a fourth flight, and will increase to five flights in March and will continue to increase flights from Stockton through the summer months.

This is good news for Stockton, the low fair airline according to the Record has consistently been flying full plane of passengers, as a result the company sees a demand for their service. This is wonderful and will keep at least one Airline operating at the Stockton Airport. According to Allegiant "Stockton continually ... has been a great market for us." This is a bit of refreshing news in cash strapped, and seemingly endless bad news. At least we have business that comes to our city that is making profit, and providing jobs.

New Interim Revitalization Director Named

2010-01-07T03:51:00.000-08:00

According to the Record a new interim revitalization director is named to take over for the out setter of Harzoff. The new director Gus Duran will be in charge of the over 40 million dollar budget of the revitalization department.

According to the Record the "Stockton Revitalization Department is one of the city's highest profile operations, chiefly for its involvement in development downtown."

Which I feel is chiefly a waste of tax payer money and especially in the crisis we are in, another backwards decision made by the City Manger O'Rourke. I do not say that revitalization is not a good thing, but when people are loosing their jobs, homes, and crime is rampant, wouldn't not be more prudent to spend at least part of this money on other things that might be better for the city.

Bring more jobs to the city, attract more businesses, and do more for the people, don't pay a person $144 ,396 for doing a job--that so far has not worked out.

Hello, I feel this is just more wasteful spending and we as citizens of this city need to take a stand or forever suffer and keep our mouths shut later, because sooner is better than later, and the signs are already there--"Houston we have a problem", is Duran going to be the revitalization savor, or is this just going to be another waste of money where no one wants to go?

The city has done an extraordinary job in cleaning up the downtown area, making it more attractive and yet and yet and yet people still won't come. Hello! Get it together people!

New Year, Hopefully Better Times

2010-01-05T19:33:00.000-08:00

Stockton officially began an new year with the potential for things to continue to get worse or to get better. There needs to be change in the city. Our City officials need to come up with a new strategy to try and cut the crime rate down, improve the quality of living in the City and bring new commerce to the city. What has been done by City officials for the last couple of years has not worked, so when something does not work--then you need to try and fix it.

We need to figure out a budget that will work, even though it will cause some hardship, we need a police department that can control violent crime, and need to stop wasting money where money could be better used for other things. Now by know means to do I even no where to begin on how to address the issues that I have stated, but there is one thing I do know if there is a problem and things are not working the way they are being done, that means new tactics or new ideas need to be explored. In 2009 the City of Stockton had several dubious titles that were not ones to be proud of for example: We were the foreclosure capital, we ranked 36 out of all the cities in the US as the most violent places to live, we were ranked as one of the top porn search engine cities for pornography, we faced loosing 30 plus police officer positions, we had one of the highest murder rates in California per capita.

Before the end of the year we went out with a bang, and had three murders in a 12 hour period--not something to be proud of or to feel safe about. Stockton has it's problems--but I feel all these problems are fixable with some new ideas, a City Council willing to act, and a Police Department that will keep fighting as it has done so far.

Stockton Fire Department Response Reduction

2010-01-02T16:19:00.000-08:00

First off I must say I am big fan of the Stockton Fire Department. They are one of the best trained, and professional fire departments in the Untied States. However, during this crisis, and even before I have always questioned the response and amount of equipment that is sent on a first alarm fire.

First Alarm Response to a Reported Structure/Building Fire

Battalion 1

Battalion 2

Operator 1

2 Trucks

2 Engines

1 Safety Engine

This is a first alarm response on any structure fire/building fire. This includes approximately 25 personal, and eight pieces of apparatus responding all code 3 to the alarm.

I feel that money and safety could be better served by looking at the amount of equipment that is sent to a first alarm fire, which half the time turns out to nothing. City's of compatible size send less apparatus on a first alarm fire and seem to do alright. Stockton used to send 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Chiefs Operator, 1 truck, 2 engines, and 1 safety engine to a first alarm fire, and this seemed to work fine.

I feel money could be saved by reducing the amount of equipment and manpower that is sent to a first alarm, but also reduce the potential for accidents because all the units responding to the alarm with lights an sirens. Money could be saved, but of course there is the argument the massive amount of response is necessary to save lives, but I counter--Stockton's old run cards worked good and lives were saved and they still held the Class one Ratings.

Revitalization director fired

2010-01-02T15:43:00.000-08:00

According to the Stockton Record the Revitalization director Dave Harzoff was forced from his post. The City declined to comment on the matter saying that it was "personal matter".

Harzoff was in charge of the 39.8 million Revitalization department. There was not one certain reason for his out setter, but there was speculation as to why he left so abruptly, one of the main reasons according to The Record was because of telling the:

"the City Council that a substantial increase in the marina's projected annual deficit was the result of a flawed cost analysis last year - drawing criticism from former officials - the city backed off that statement, instead attributing the difference to financing changes and revenue projections made more conservative this year."

According to the Record article Harzoff was temperamental, and had a difficulties with his staff and others. His annually salary was 137,268...Read More About the Story Here.

This is just more waste of taxpayers monies on crazy idea's and all this revitalization for the downtown area, which has done nothing to bring the citizens of this city back to the downtown area, nor others coming from other places. Again the money that was paid for the Mariana could have been far better spent in other area's of the City's budget.

Another New Year 2010

2010-01-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

Well another year has passed in Stockton. Hopefully this year many good things will happen and the ever needed change will occur. Things that really need to be addressed are crime, poverty, and getting a budget that is workable. So we have a rough year ahead of us, but I feel we can do it. Happy New Year Stockton!

12-27-2009 Death toll confirmed by the Record

2009-12-28T01:32:00.000-08:00

Three fatal shootings occurred in the city of Stockton in a 12 hour period. The first shooting happened earlier in the day when a subject was shot while walking, local residents said they heard at least 8 rounds fired.

Later at a club in downtown Stockton a disc jokey was killed by his friend who showed him a gun he thought was unloaded, the victim was only 19. The third subject was dumped off at Dameron hospital suffering 5 gun shot wounds to the chest and he died, and his death maybe connected to a girl who showed up at San Joaquin County Hospital shot in the leg. Two concerned friends said that the subject who died at Dameron was at a party in South Stockton and the girl who was shot in the leg was to. What was not reported in the record was that there was also two stabbings during the same period.

How can you be proud to live or even argue that this City is a good place to live when three young adults not one over 20, are killed in cold blood all in one day forever sharing their deaths in eternity together. Mayor Ann Johnston what do you say now? Do we have a problem?

IHSS Money Awarded to fight fraud

2009-12-27T21:59:00.000-08:00

It is important to combat fraud in any program but I see the the money being spent on the IHSS program as an attack on the program itself. There maybe fraud in the program there is no denying this, however it is not as bad as those in power would like people to believe. Governor S has set about since this budget crisis in our state and has attacked the IHSS program at every chance he could.

He has tried to cut funds to where people who should have a choice to live where they choose--would no longer have that choice their provider hours getting cut would mean those that depend on the the help would have to suffer, or go into homes. Imagine people, would you want to be forced out of your home, the very foundation that you built your whole life, all because a Governor sees taking from those who have nothing already as the best choice. False allegations have been made about the program, over exaggerated headlines have been splashed across the headlines about this fraud riddled program.

Where is the proof, where is the tangible proof to show that there is a huge issue with fraud, a few bad apples does not mean that the rest of us are bad apples, and that this program is run amok with fraudulent spending, and scam artist have infiltrated the last open program to scam. Get real people, this is a way for the Governor to try and continue to get support to cut the program.

Here is what I will leave you to think about, IHSS is a program that pays people dirt wages, to take care of people, who need to be bathed, feed, taken to their doctors, given their medications, allows them their freedom to be disabled, in their own environment, where they can feel free, and be free even if in their own mind--lets take a real hard look at these allegations of rampant abuse, and fraud, and lets take this into consideration the money that was given to San Joaquin County of $402,878, could increase hours, provide better services to those who need them, allow for the betterment of living for those who daily life is one of hardship. It makes one wonder that so far every major thing the Governor has tried to do to the IHSS program has been stopped in court, and halted for further review or found to be unconstitutional. Now the Governors latest claim is the States Entire IHSS program come January 2010 may have to be cut.

More Violence in the wee hours

2009-12-27T04:22:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to update the total shootings for the city was at least seven. A victim was dropped off at the county, and then another victim was dropped off at Dameron and was not looking good. The vicitim at Dameron hospitial did die, this will be the second homicide for sat/sun period, and less than six hours apart. There were also two stabbings, where officers happened upon the scene.

Out of every city in the US we Rank 36 as the worst to live

2009-12-27T01:41:00.000-08:00

According to http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2009/CityCrime2009_Rank_Rev.pdf this link we rank number 36 surpassing Houston, Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angles, Fresno, and Modesto. Murder, Rape, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Burglary, and Motor Vehicle Theft are all considered when ranking cities for 2009.

Stockton is 36, the cities above for example are cities you would expect high crime rates ie: Oakland, Camden NJ, St Louis, Detroit/Flint Michigan, New Orleans, Compton, and Atlanta--to join the cities above and be in the top 50 worst places to live because of crime is embarrassing, and should be a wake up call that the city is not doing something right.

It may be the police, but I feel it is more the politicians that keep taking money from services like the police and using it other places--that I feel are absolutely detrimental, and do not serve the purpose they are supposed to. WAKE UP CITY MANAGER, WAKE UP MAYOR, AND WAKE UP CITY COUNCIL. Lets try and fix the issue now while it is still attainable, and not wait until the crime rate gets so bad that we move up the list and join Oakland, and New Orleans in the top five spots.

Murder Rate in Stockton 2009(12)

2009-12-27T01:16:00.000-08:00

From what I counted and the death tonight of a male subject who walked into St. Joes hospital talking, and then died, there has been almost 30 murders in the city itself.

This does not include the pockets of the city that are really in Stockton but are considered the county. I could be off, but I know that I my count is not that far off. If we have 30 murders this year one person out of every 8833 thousand has died of a murder this year alone in our city. Mayor Ann Johnston will deny that Stockton has a high murder rate, and that those people who make the statistics showing just how low are city is getting, because they have never visited Stockton--their data is suspect or incorrect.

Tonight alone there has been two stabbings, and at least two shootings, with one person dead as a result. I would say this would be considered a violent night, this does not even take into consideration all the domestic calls, or robberies, or other violent crimes.

City Under Surveillance no Reduction in Crime

2009-12-27T00:48:00.000-08:00

This is a letter I wrote to the City of Stockton and I did get a reply which is posted at the bottom and can be downloaded in its entirety.

According to an article written in 2007 titled “Dozens of new police cameras to watch over Stockton”, 44 surveillance cameras were going to be installed in parks, and intersections across the city, in addition to the already strong presence of security cameras in the downtown area.

As the crime gets worse in Stockton with one of the highest crimes rates in California per capita, already this year leading with 33 murders, and violent crimes happening daily—I see and feel no safer with these surveillance cameras. The police and others will most definitely say that the implementation of this vast network of security cameras has reduced crime and been a great asset to the city—I find this to to be a fallacy, and more fiction than reality.

I was walking through the park the other day near the federal building downtown and right in the middle of the park was a surveillance camera. Is the reason that there is a camera there because there is a large number of predominately African American's that congregate there, or is it because of the couple of drunk wino's? The point being, if there is a tactical reason for the camera to be there in that park, it is not serving its purpose, but I feel instead is being used by the police as tool to monitor and watch people who have every right to walk outside of their home and not have to feel that their privacy is being invaded under the guise of crime or some other issue.

According to the ACLU the right to express oneself not just through action, but also in the choice to stay still or “repose”, has been continually affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. In Chicago v. Morales, the court wrote that freedom to loiter for innocent purposes is part of the liberty protected by the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment . . . an individuals decision to remain in a public place of his choice is as much a part of his liberty. The idea being I should be able to walk through or sit at a park bench in our city and not have to worry about being under surveillance.

According to the Fourteenth Amendment even in public places a “person seeks to preserve as private, even in an area accessible to the public”—a person is entitled to protection if a court finds he has a “reasonable expectation of privacy”. Going to a park or to the downtown water fountains there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. According to the ACLU (2007), video surveillance systems . . . infringe on the freedom of speech and association guaranteed by the First Amendment and threaten the anonymity and privacy protected by the Fourth Amendment and state constitutions.

Cameras do not belong in parks, or on every corner of movie theaters, or at places where children play in the water during the summer months, or around a hockey stadium, or at intersections, or any other public places within the city where citizens may expect a reasonable expectation privacy. It is incorrect for the city, the police, to justify spending money, and doing so by saying that this will reduce or resolve the crime that occurs in the city—because it has not. People still commit crimes in front of surveillance cameras all the time, just watch the news or read the newspaper.

The dilemma here is that without oversight and citizens of this city not being able to have access the policy and provisions set forth by the city governing the use of the cameras, there is no way to guarantee our rights that are created by the supreme law of the land the United States Constitution. According to the ACLU report of 2007 the city was supposed to have video cameras in public places that could pan, zoom and record-have surveillance cameras on public streets, and have regulations for retired police officers who monitor the cameras. I have not been able to find any public information about the policies of use anywhere and this should be information that falls under the California Public Records Act. States records held by the government are presumed open and available to the public; this could also be detrimental because in theory because surveillance footage is a record of data that is held by a public agency—if a person requested surveillance footage unless that footage related to a criminal investigation, Under the Act the video would most certainly be accessible to the public(ACLU, 2007). This could pose issues of privacy of others getting information to be used in nefarious ways etc.

There needs to be oversight that is done by another agency besides the police department to ensure that racial profiling is not occurring, that cameras are not being used to view peoples homes, or inside their homes—this type of surveillance would require a warrant or probable cause. This is another issue how does the police department pick and choose whom to watch under surveillance? Is it based upon their clothes, their demeanor, their haircuts, their cars, these are all valid questions that need to be answered. According the ACLU Stockton was considering adding even more cameras than what was disclosed in the report all under the guise of reducing and preventing crime.

I think we would be far better off taking the million plus dollars that were paid for these invasive surveillance cameras, and used the money to support the police departments GSET Unit, which goes after gang members and has an officer deputized who works with the FBI fugitive task force so that federal charges can be pursued against those whom continue to ravage the city—the money would have been better spent on putting more officers from the CPO idea which deploys officers to high crime areas and allows them not to have to answers calls for service but focus on high crime and trouble areas, and as well supplement Patrol if necessary. I feel funding these officers and making their teams bigger would be far more fruitful then what we have today—a bunch of technology that does not deter crime, potentially violates our rights, has no oversight, and only the police know the methodology they use to apply the technology.

I encourage all those whom are going to think I may be way off base to go on the internet Google scanstockton.com and listen to the daily 24 hour recorded scanner traffic and it will soon become apparent that there is a problem that the police are trying to win but are not being able to get control of it, not for lack of trying, but just because of the level of violence, access to drugs, and poverty. This city has its priority backwards we staff the downtown movie theater with full time bike officer, and there are cameras everywhere around that structure, but yet weekly fights happen, cars are stolen, burglarized, officers are assaulted and all in plain view of the ever watch eye of the surveillance camera. We have to the right to ask the city government if the right choices have been made for the citizens of this city. We also have the right to be able to have access to the policy to ensure that the use of these surveillance cameras are not being misused or abused.

City of Stockton CCTV Policy -

Reality Check

2009-12-26T21:14:00.000-08:00

The city that once used to be the All American City, is now a city with foreclosed homes litter through out neighborhoods, a crime rate that rivals cities three or four times its size. We have revitalized our downtown area, but no one wants to go there, we have built a beautiful Marina--but have no boats to fill it, we have invested millions on an Arena, Movie theater, and placed video cameras on almost every downtown corner, however there is no reduction in crime. We have city leaders that seem to want to lead, but just cannot seem to grasp how to run a city. Both the Fire Department, and the Police Department are taking a beating from the budget crisis. Tonight a man walks into Saint Josephs hospital talking, but later dies--another murder to add to our already high murder rate.