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Citrus Heights PD swears in 17 new officers at awards ceremony

The Citrus Heights Police Department handed out awards, made promotions, and welcomed more than a dozen new officers to its team last week, during an annual Swearing-In and Awards Ceremony at the Community Center.

“Our men and women work extremely hard, day in and day out, 24/7, to ensure our community is safe,” said Sergeant Michael Wells in a news release, commenting that the ceremony is “just one way” to show the Department’s appreciation for their work.

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In addition to the new officers being sworn in and taking their oath of office, Police Chief Christopher Boyd also promoted a lieutenant and two sergeants during the ceremony. Members of the support staff were honored as well, including a code enforcement officer, community service officers, program assistants, volunteers, and explorers, according to the news release.

Other awards were also given to members of the police department and community, highlighting noteworthy efforts which included two life-saving awards, exceptional service, and team achievement.

The event, held last Thursday, was attended by city council members, as well as representatives from various law enforcement agencies and members of the public.

CHPD says the ceremony is designed to appreciate “hard work, sacrifice, and dedication” of its team, honoring their efforts to make Citrus Heights “a better place.”

The 9th annual ceremony has been held each year since the City formed its own police department in 2006.

April 4, 2015
Police: driver gets stolen vehicle back after search leads to arrest

Citrus Heights police said they recovered a stolen vehicle and arrested an at-large wanted parolee Monday, after “an alert citizen” helped find the man hiding in a shed within a search perimeter officers established near Antelope Road and Mariposa Avenue.

Officers maintain a perimeter near Antelope Road Monday, in search of a vehicle theft suspect.

Sergeant Mike Wells said police officers located the stolen vehicle just “moments” after it had been reported stolen around 9 a.m. by a man who left his vehicle running while going inside a local gas station.

Police said the thief fled the vehicle on foot and was reported “hopping fences” near Mariposa and Pratt Avenues, leading officers to establish a multi-block perimeter in search of the thief. A California Highway Patrol plane was also observed circling the area during the search.

Wells said the search resulted in officers finding a man hiding in a shed after “an alert citizen observed some property, which did not belong to them, in front of their residence and advised officers.”

The man is believed to be responsible for the vehicle theft, according to Wells, but an investigation is still under way. He said officers arrested the man after determining him to be an at-large wanted parolee.

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The sergeant said CHPD reminds drivers “not to leave their vehicles running when unoccupied,” commenting that it happens more frequently in the winter when drivers warm up their cars on a cold morning. “It only takes a few seconds to have your vehicle stolen, and leaving it running can make an inviting target for criminals.”

January 28, 2015
CHPD wins $182k grant for more DUI checkpoints, safety enforcement

The Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) announced Tuesday it was awarded $182,525 in grant money for a one-year special enforcement and education program, aimed at reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries in the city.

Stock photo, Citrus Heights police officers

“I am proud of our continued partnership with the Office of Traffic Safety,” said Lieutenant Ryan Kinnan in a press release, referring to past grants the local Department has received from OTS.

CHPD says deaths and injuries fell significantly between 2006 and 2010 in Citrus Heights, but saw “slight increases” in 2011 and 2012. Kinnan is hopeful that “innovative strategies” funded by this latest grant will help reduce collisions and injuries in the city.

In addition to anti-DUI efforts, the Department says grant funds will go toward public awareness and educational presentations, motorcycle safety and distracted driving enforcement, seat belt and child safety seat enforcement, as well as other traffic-related enforcement activities.

Answering a common question about why the local Department goes out of its way to publicize DUI checkpoints ahead of time, CHPD Public Information Officer Anthony Boehle previously told The Sentinel that awareness efforts are about preventing drunk drivers from getting on the road in the first place.

“DUI checkpoints are not intended to make arrests,” Officer Boehle said, explaining the more people know about heavy crackdowns on DUI’s, the less likely they are to attempt a drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. “It’s all about public awareness.”

In contrast to the checkpoints, Boehle explained “DUI Saturation Patrols” — also funded by the grant money — have a much higher potential for making arrests, because of a difference in goals. While checkpoints may arrest a small number of drunk drivers, the officer said “Saturation Patrols” are deployed specifically to “hunt” for DUI drivers — adding that a single patrol car can make more arrests in one night, than a checkpoint can in the same time.

The Department’s high-visibility anti-DUI efforts in the past have been aided by similar grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the latest funds are designed to work towards what OTS calls their shared vision: “Toward zero deaths, every 1 counts.”

October 23, 2014
Local Labor Day Weekend Fair Highlights Safety, Fun

With giveaways, local vendors, fire truck photo-shoots and free safety checks, the Citrus Town Center hosted a Safety Fair on Saturday — drawing kids, families and shoppers to the annual Citrus Heights event.

Strollers, balloons, moms and more, were out and about at the Citrus Town Center’s Safety Fair over the weekend.

Odds of winning an 11 a.m. raffle by the fire department for free home safety equipment were high, due to only a handful of entries — but things had picked up by the second noon-hour raffle, according to the Department’s booth manager.

Area resident Kristin Pickett waited in a line of cars to get a free child seat safety check performed by the Citrus Heights Police Department.

“It was wonderful,” said the young mother, after Officer Dave Jones took several minutes to verify her child’s car seat base was securely fit and the straps tight. “It was great of them to be giving up their Saturday on this extremely hot day.”

Free bike safety checks were also offered by police, with officers available to provide brake checks and chain adjustments, as well as helmet and seat adjustments.

“There’s still too many kids that ride their bikes without their helmets,” said Sergeant David Gutierrez with the CHPD Traffic Unit, adding that half-way through the event they had been able to provide a few free helmets and fittings.

Handing out free Quick Quack car wash vouchers, Chaplain Frank Russell with Law Enforcement Chaplaincy Sacramento manned a table hoping to recruit new volunteers for his organization which offers “compassionate crisis care” and counseling for law enforcement workers and community victims of trauma or crime.

In addition, Sunrise Marketplace, Sprout’s and several other local businesses took part in the event, along with a cartoonist who offered free caricature drawings to a constant line of excited attendees.

Saturday’s Fair was one of many activities the Citrus Town Center sponsors throughout the year, as part of its goal to foster a “community feel” for the neighborhood shopping center. In 2012, the former “Sunrise Festival Shopping Center” finalized its nearly $4 million remodel, featuring new landscaping, store frontages, outdoor seating areas, and a prominently displayed new name at the corner of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Avenue.

September 1, 2014
DUI Checkpoint Planned in Citrus Heights

Police officers plan to set up a DUI Checkpoint at an undisclosed location this weekend, as part of an effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents and fatalities, according to a press release issued by the Citrus Heights Police Department.

Officers from the CHPD Traffic Unit will be stopping drivers who pass through the checkpoint and checking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, beginning Friday at 7 p.m. and continuing until 2 a.m. Officers will also be checking for valid driver’s licenses, and “will strive to delay motorists only momentarily,” according to the release.

CHPD acquires funding for its checkpoints through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and has found the results to be successful — with the Department reporting that its last checkpoint resulted in two DUI-suspect arrests, 15 citations and three impounded vehicles. The six-hour checkpoint was held on August 1 and screened 820 cars at the intersection of Greenback Lane and Birdcage Street.

“The deterrent effect of DUI checkpoints is a proven resource in reducing the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol or drug involved crashes,” the release reads. “Research shows that crashes involving alcohol drop by an average of 20 percent when well-publicized checkpoints are conducted often enough.”

The Department is also planning a “DUI Patrol Saturation” for September 1, as part of its ongoing effort to reduce accidents and fatalities in Citrus Heights.

August 11, 2014