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Tag: Ron Lawrence

  • Citrus Heights police chief discusses use of force, crime, budget issues

    Citrus Heights Police Chief Ron Lawrence, right, stands with Sgt. Seth Cimino following a community presentation on June 15. // M. Hazlip

    By Mike Hazlip—
    Citrus Heights Police Chief Ronald Lawrence in a neighborhood presentation on Tuesday addressed use of force, budget and crime questions.

    Speaking to the Citrus Heights Areas Seven Eight and Nine (CHASEN) neighborhood association, Lawrence addressed a question about use of force, saying the number of incidents nationally that result in force being used is “a lot less than you might be led to believe.” He said public perception of use of force issues have been influenced by broadcast media as well as social media.

    “What you see on TV, what you see on social media about some agency in Minnesota or Ferguson Missouri, or wherever the heck it is, is the latest story. It doesn’t mean that it’s happening in Citrus Heights, California.”

    Lawrence said Citrus Heights police have used force 12 times in over 30,000 calls for service so far this year. Numbers for prior years were similar, with officers using force in less than half a percent of all calls, according to Police Department statistics Lawrence presented.

    There were 68,449 calls for service with 47 uses of force recorded for 2019, and 68,884 calls in 2020 with officers using force in 40 of those calls, Lawrence said. He said training in de-escalation tactics have helped keep the numbers low.

    Lawrence also said he looks forward to more technological development to help decrease use of force incidents and help officers do their jobs more safely. He noted in his own career seeing the development of tasers replacing the former police batons, and said tech is now being tested that will allow law enforcement to shoot a rubber tracking device at a fleeing vehicle and allow authorities to break off a dangerous pursuit while still being able to track the vehicle.

    Crime
    In addressing local crime, Lawrence said the past three years have seen the lowest crime rates in the city’s history, although he said the department doesn’t take credit for the drop last year due to the pandemic’s impact on crime. He called 2020 “an anomaly,” noting a drop in residential crime due to more people being home during the pandemic, while also seeing an uptick in commercial burglaries due to more businesses being closed.

    The most significant local increase in crime was catalytic converter thefts, up 468% last year, accounting for the majority of parked vehicle accessory thefts. This type of theft also saw an increase over previous years.

    Lawrence noted a “dark figure of crime,” referring to crimes that go unreported. He stressed the importance of community involvement in reporting crimes and suspicious activity and said unreported crimes contribute to the public’s perception that crime statistics do not reflect actual crime rates.

    Budget
    Despite recent calls to defund police departments across the nation, Lawrence said he doesn’t think that movement represents the desires of Citrus Heights residents.

    Due to city budget deficits, Lawrence said the department began to prepare for a budget shortfall near the end of last year by leaving unfilled positions vacant. In total, the department had 28 unfilled positions, with 14 of those being sworn police officers.

    However, he said the federal American Rescue Plan will provide enough funds to fill 22 of those vacancies. The city’s finance committee has taken steps to direct those funds toward police, Lawrence said, but a vote by the City Council is still needed before the funds can be allocated. The item is scheduled come before the council on June 24.

    With these funds, Lawrence said he is confident “we’ll be able to rebuild our police department.”

    Related: COVID-19 funds will likely restore 22 positions to Citrus Heights Police Dept

    During his presentation, Lawrence also fielded questions from the community about mental health and homeless issues. He said he welcomes efforts to send social workers to address nonviolent mental health and homeless issues in the community rather than an officer.

    “If someone is having a mental health crisis, let’s say they are in despair, but they haven’t committed a crime, and they’re not committing any violence, there’s no reason a police officer should go to that.”

    The police chief’s presentation was part of the CHASEN neighborhood association’s monthly meeting, held at Antelope Road Christian Fellowship. The association recently merged with another nearby association, in an effort to boost participation and have the association’s boundaries line up with the newly created City Council District 2 boundaries.

    Related: Why these two Citrus Heights neighborhood associations decided to merge

  • Citrus Heights police chief pulls prank on department for April Fools’ Day

    Citrus Heights police chief pulls prank on department for April Fools’ Day

    Screenshots from a video posted by the Citrus Heights Police Department shows a prank pulled by Chief Ron Lawrence.

    Updated 8:46 a.m., April 3–
    Sentinel staff report– Police Department staff in Citrus Heights opened up an unexpected surprise Thursday involving a box of what appeared to be Krispy Kreme donuts left in the break room by Chief Ron Lawrence.

    The department posted a short video about the prank on social media, revealing the box had been stuffed with orange Cuties fruit instead of donuts. A hand-written message inside the box said “Happy April 1st, from Chief Lawrence,” along with “enjoy!”

    A second box left on the table apparently held a dozen donuts, however, as the video shows another open box with the sweet treats and the message: “I’m not entirely cruel.”

    “Our Chief #pranked us today by leaving these imposters in the break room,” the department said in a post accompanying the video. “Can you guess which box was empty first?”

    Lawrence told The Sentinel in an email Friday that April 1st was a “fun milestone” for him, marking his 10th year serving as a police chief. He has served as police chief in Citrus Heights since 2016, and previously headed Rocklin’s police department.

    “Our police staff are ordinary people who do extraordinary jobs. Like most everyone else in the world, they appreciate a little levity from time to time,” Lawrence said, regarding his April 1 prank. “Having an appropriate and healthy sense of humor balances out the difficult work they perform.”

    The seven-second prank video quickly received over 500 views on Twitter, along with more than 150 “likes” on Facebook.

  • Citrus Heights Police Chief praised for speech on law enforcement

    By Rylie Friesen–
    In a video that quickly circulated after being posted on social media this month, Citrus Heights Police Chief Ronald Lawrence earned praise for a speech addressing the profession of law enforcement during a tumultuous time in America.

    Lawrence’s speech was originally given in September at an annual Sacramento Law Enforcement Chaplaincy event, which was was held virtually this year.

    The police chief’s message centered on policing in America, crediting police officers as “members of a small segment of society who are willing to sacrifice their own personal well-being for the sanctity of others at the detriment of their own sanctity and safety, and forgo their own comforts of life.”

    “What level of sacrifice is required to be a guardian of truth, justice and a protector of society?” questions Lawrence in the beginning of his 12-minute speech. “What kind of strength and skill is needed for an individual to be brave enough to enforce the laws enacted by elected officials and the voting populous to ensure our society is free from chaos and anarchy?”

    Citing examples from American history, Lawrence noted the Boston Massacre in 1770, where British soldiers “took the heat” from rioting crowds. He also noted the 1920’s and 30’s were some of the deadliest decades for officers.

    More than 300 police officers were killed in 1930, with that number dropping to roughly half that in more recent years, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

    Referencing national controversy over policing, Lawrence offered a response to some who might say “these are horrible times to be in law enforcement.”

    “I suggest to you that these are the best of times. You’re here for a reason,” he said. “You get to help define what the future of policing looks like.”

    The video recording of the police chief’s speech received hundreds of likes, comments and shares when posted on Facebook earlier this month, with many describing it as “powerful” and “moving.” But Lawrence’s message was also not without criticism.

    A handful of social media comments expressed criticism of police use of force, one of which Lawrence personally responded to with an invitation to discuss the concerns.

    In his speech, Lawrence also addressed criticism of police and said the profession comes with a higher level of scrutiny, and “rightfully so.” He also credited California with leading the nation in use-of-force policies, which include verbal warnings, de-escalation tactics, and a mandate to render first aid immediately after such incidents.

    “I pray for better times in America, I pray that the social divide we see goes away,” said Lawrence in concluding remarks. “I firmly believe that better days lay ahead and the American police officer will continue to be the front line of peace and tranquility in our local communities.”

    Lawrence’s speech can be viewed online: click here.

  • Police chief says mask mandate won’t be ‘criminally enforced’ in Citrus Heights

    Sentinel staff report–
    Following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision on Thursday to issue a statewide face mask mandate to slow the spread of COVID-19, Citrus Heights Police Chief Ron Lawrence issued a statement Friday afternoon announcing that his officers will not criminally enforce the governor’s order.

    “The Citrus Heights Police Department will not be criminally enforcing the Governor’s Health Order requiring the use of face coverings or masks,” Lawrence said in a news release Friday afternoon.

    The news release cited limited resources being available to police, causing officers to prioritize emergency response.

    “Because of the potential for negative interaction during enforcement encounters, the nature of any violation of the health order being only minor, and the multiple ways in which the order could be violated, it would be unreasonable and inappropriate for the Citrus Heights Police to criminally enforce the Governor’s mandate,” the release said.

    Lawrence said officers will continue to educate residents and seek voluntary compliance with health orders, saying education has served as “an effective means to slow the spread of the pandemic in our region.”

    Local police are encouraging social distancing, regular washing of hands, sanitizing of common shared areas, and wearing of face masks or coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19. Employees of the police department are also following state mask guidelines “when reasonable and safe to do so,” the department said in Friday’s news release.

    The statement from Citrus Heights police echoes a similar statement issued by Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones, who said the face mask mandate will not be criminally enforced by sheriff’s deputies.

    The governor’s mask mandate, issued through the California Department of Public Health, requires face coverings to be used in the following situations:

    • Inside of, or in line to enter, any indoor public space;
    • Obtaining services from the healthcare sector in settings including, but not limited to, a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, laboratory, physician or dental office, veterinary clinic, or blood bank;
    • Waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service, or ride-sharing vehicle;
    • Engaged in work, whether at the workplace or performing work off-site, when:
      • Interacting in-person with any member of the public;
      • Working in any space visited by members of the public, regardless of whether anyone from the public is present at the time;
      • Working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others;
      • Working in or walking through common areas, such as hallways, stairways, elevators, and parking facilities;
      • In any room or enclosed area where other people (except for members of the person’s own household or residence) are present when unable to physically distance.
    • Driving or operating any public transportation or paratransit vehicle, taxi, or private car service or ride-sharing vehicle when passengers are present. When no passengers are present, face coverings are strongly recommended.
    • While outdoors in public spaces when maintaining a physical distance of 6 feet from persons who are not members of the same household or residence is not feasible.

    Exceptions are listed for children age two and under, along with those with medical conditions and other criteria. A full list of exemptions and additional information is available at cdph.ca.gov.

  • Citrus Heights police chief speaks out on Floyd death, protests, looting

    Citrus Heights police chief speaks out on Floyd death, protests, looting

    Ronald Lawrence, Citrus Heights
    Ronald Lawrence has served as Police Chief in Citrus Heights since Oct. 31, 2016. // Image courtesy, CHPD

    Updated June 18, 9:55 a.m.–
    Sentinel staff report– Police Chief Ron Lawrence, in an update to the Citrus Heights City Council last week, called last month’s killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis “sickening” and tragic.

    “I want you to know that the tragic incident that happened on May 25, with the murder of Mr. Floyd, was sickening to all of us,” said Lawrence. “I can tell you that the Citrus Heights Police Department stands with our community with just as much shock and sadness as all of you.”

    “I can tell you that we don’t condone that type of activity here, or that type of behavior,” he continued. “That does not exist in our police department, nor would we allow it.”

    Citrus Heights police chief concludes term as head of influential advocacy group

    Lawrence, who recently concluded a one-year term as head of the California Police Chiefs Association (Cal Chiefs), also addressed local protests, looting, use of force and what he termed “procedural justice.”

    “There’s been a lot of peaceful and lawful protests and demonstrations, which have been fantastic,” said Lawrence in his 10-minute update to the City Council. He said all protests in Citrus Heights have been “very lawful and peaceful,” but noted unrest and property damage in downtown Sacramento and other areas of the country.

    He said 11 arrests for looting in Citrus Heights were made during a single night on May 31, but described the incidents as crimes of opportunity that were “not related to any of the protests.” He said the incidents involved people breaking into multiple businesses and looting them, causing a loss of “upwards of $20,000.”

    Looters arrested after hitting Citrus Heights store, fleeing at 100 MPH

    Lawrence also said three American flags outside homes have been burned in Citrus Heights, with the incidents being investigated as arson.

    Commenting on use of force, Lawrence said while serving as president of Cal Chiefs last year he worked with the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups to pass Assembly Bill 392 and Senate Bill 230, which he said created “the most comprehensive and most restrictive police use of force policies in the nation.” He called on other states to adopt similar use-of-force reforms, “so that these incidents don’t happen, and that we can stop the tragedies such as May 25th.”

    Lawrence said Citrus Heights police officers continually receive training on use of force, and also training on the four pillars of “procedural justice,” which he said are: fairness in the process, transparency in actions, opportunities for voice, and impartiality in decision making.

    “Those are powerful things,” said Lawrence. “And I want you to know that the culture of our police department here wholeheartedly believes in those pillars, and we believe in treating our community with the utmost respect and professionalism.”

    Citrus Heights, however, has not been without criticism for its police department’s use of force in the past.

    Last year, the city settled a case for $1.2 million that involved suspect James Nelson suffering severe burns during what police described as “a prolonged struggle on the hot asphalt.” In another settlement to avoid a lengthy civil trial, the city agreed to pay $2 million to the parents of Hunter Todd, who was shot and killed by a Citrus Heights police officer while responding to an early morning report of individuals breaking into cars.

    According to a Sacramento Bee investigation three years ago, the Citrus Heights Police Department also was found to have the highest rate of fatal police shootings compared with any other police force “of significant size” in the state, with six fatal shootings during 2013-2016. Lawrence responded at the time that in all cases, officers “were either under physical attack, they were confronted by an assailant with a weapon and their lives were threatened, or there was an imminent threat.”

    Related: Protesters march in Citrus Heights to decry racism, police brutality

  • Guest Opinion: California’s homeless crisis and Citrus Heights’ local response

    Guest column submitted by Police Chief Ron Lawrence–
    The growing California homeless population is alarming. Communities across our state have experienced unprecedented increases in homelessness, with some metropolitan cities reaching epidemic proportions.

    While homelessness was a main theme of the governor’s State of the State address recently, the fact is: solutions to homelessness are falling on local jurisdictions to address at a local level.

    There are many causes to homeless in California; the primary reasons expressed by state legislators in Sacramento are expensive housing and high cost of living. While these may be true, there are other core explanations to homelessness, including changes in state and federal laws resulting in unintended consequences to local communities that strain local public safety resources and put more offenders on our neighborhood streets.

    Proposition 47 reduced felony drug possession to simple misdemeanors, ensuring a practical elimination of court-mandated drug rehabilitation programs removing incentives for those addicted to drugs to get much-needed help.

    Prison Realignment reduced the state’s prison population by releasing convicted felons into local communities, while inadequate bed space for individuals suffering from mental illness creates an untenable situation for police to assist this vulnerable population.

    These and other state mandates and takeaways have contributed to the proliferation of homelessness.

    Notably, a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling last April prohibits local governments from preventing anyone from sleeping on public lands, which now allows homeless to sleep (not camp) in public areas if adequate shelter space is not available. Our local ordinance here in Citrus Heights is currently effective and enforceable, and the Police Department responds within the law to illegal encampments.

    Q&A: Can Citrus Heights police still enforce camping ban after 9th Circuit Court ruling?

    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates more than 151,000 people are homeless in California, with an estimated 5,570 homeless in Sacramento County. This represents a 19% increase in Sacramento County over the past two years.

    Fortunately, in Citrus Heights our estimated local homeless population is 163 people in 2019, which was down 14.7% from the previous year’s estimate of 191 in 2018. We need to continue the successful trend we are having in Citrus Heights.    

    Every community has a different philosophy to address their homeless population, and while Citrus Heights is not immune to the increased homeless population that has occurred throughout California, we believe in our approach, given the state and federal laws, and current resources available to the City.

    Our philosophy is a two-prong approach: getting as many of the homeless assistance they need and into appropriate programs or shelters, followed by enforcement of those who commit criminal acts.

    Locally, we are fortunate to have a strong community partnership with HART (Homeless Assistance and Resource Team), who shares in our mission to provide vital resources to those who are experiencing homelessness, while working to keep our public spaces, neighborhoods, and streets safe for everyone.

    During 2018 and 2019, our Navigator very effectively achieved permanent housing for a total of 311 people experiencing homelessness. When we assist, our local homeless population continues to shrink as they become self-reliant and maintain a sustainable lifestyle off the streets.

    I consider that a big win for everybody.  

    Guest Column: Help is on the way for police responding to mental health crisis calls

    At the same time, there are individuals who refuse service and others who commit crimes. While we cannot force people to accept services, we do hold those who commit crimes accountable, with the limited resources available to us.

    We take enforcement action when all other alternatives through our Navigator have failed. Of course, we could assist more homeless and respond more rapidly to illegal camps if additional resources were available to us amid ever-changing state mandates and takeaways that diminish local control over local issues like addressing homelessness and public safety.

    Guest Opinion: Here’s something we can all do to help end homelessness in Citrus Heights

    While we are proud of our successes through the Navigator program, Code Enforcement, and Problem Oriented Policing units in reducing homelessness in our City, we must also maintain critical public safety services including emergency response times, crime prevention, and local school safety — regardless of what actions the state or federal government takes.

    In the meantime, I proudly stand with the local men and women of our Citrus Heights Police Department who bravely serve and maintain outstanding public safety for Citrus Heights residents and businesses.

    Ronald Lawrence serves as police chief for the City of Citrus Heights, a position he has been in since 2016.

    The Sentinel welcomes guest columns from community members about local issues. To submit a letter to the editor or opinion column for publication: Click here

  • Police Chief: Crime at lowest level since Citrus Heights PD was formed

    Police Chief: Crime at lowest level since Citrus Heights PD was formed

    • A slideshow image from the Citrus Heights Police Chief’s annual report on April 11, 2019.

    Sentinel staff report–
    Citrus Heights Police Chief Ron Lawrence told the City Council in an April 11 annual report that crime has dropped to its lowest level since the police department was formed in 2006.

    The chief’s latest report summarized the latest annual statistics on eight categories of serious crime tracked by the FBI. Compared to 2017, last year’s crime numbers showed declines in nearly every category.

    The police chief’s report showed a 10% drop in rapes, a 15% drop in robberies, and a 3% drop in assaults. Burglary was also down by 12%, larceny/theft down by 11%, and motor vehicle theft down by 8%, dropping from 356 vehicle thefts in 2017 down to 329 last year.

    Homicides remained at a single case in 2017 as well as in 2018, while arson increased from 11 incidents in 2017 to 12 last year. Compared with the prior year, crime was down a total of 10%, with 325 less victims in the city during 2018, Lawrence said.

    “I’m proud to say this, (2018) is the lowest crime year we’ve had as a police department, and that’s a pretty banner year for us,” Lawrence told the council, crediting police officers and staff for their work.

    Police data shows that in 2006, the year the Citrus Heights Police Department was formed, there was a total of 3,958 “Part 1” crimes in Citrus Heights. By 2014 that number had dropped to 3,091, and in 2018 that number dropped to 2,816.

    Noting crime trends have not dropped or increased significantly over the past five years, Lawrence also told the council he believes “we’ve hit kind of a flat line.”

    “What this trend tells us is that barring any additional resources to the police department and presuming there’s not going to be any impacts from the state on any wild police reforms… this trend should relatively remain, if all things remain equal,” Lawrence said.

    The police chief’s annual crime report is traditionally presented to the City Council each year in March and is based on crime data from “Part 1” of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program, which tracks eight categories of crimes that are broken down by property crimes and persons crimes. Property crimes include burglary, larceny theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson, and persons crimes include homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

    The police chief’s report also included statistics on traffic collisions, which increased by 3% in 2018, rising from 744 collisions to 764. The top collision factor was unsafe speed, which was listed as a factor in 37% of collisions in the city last year.

    Lawrence said the increase meant “we’ve got some work to do,” noting that the department will be focusing on traffic safety, education and enforcement this year to lower collision rates.

    Additional statistics on traffic citations, arrests, DUI checkpoints, police response times and other summaries were also included in the report, which can be viewed in the slideshow at the top of this story.

  • Citrus Heights Police Chief joins effort calling for termination of UC Davis professor

    Ronald Lawrence, Citrus Heights
    Ronald Lawrence has served as Police Chief in Citrus Heights since Oct. 31, 2016. // Image courtesy, CHPD

    Sentinel staff report–
    Citrus Heights Police Chief Ron Lawrence is taking an active role in calling for the termination of a UC Davis English professor whose past comments advocating that police officers “need to be killed” have surfaced recently in media reports.

    Chief Lawrence, in his new position as head of the California Police Chiefs Association, delivered around 10,000 signed petitions to the UC Davis Chancellor’s Office on March 13, calling for the termination of Professor Joshua Clover. Lawrence delivered the petitions along with Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), who has introduced a resolution to the California Legislature calling for the professor’s removal.

    Related: Citrus Heights police chief elected to head statewide advocacy group

    “Violence against the police has been on the rise,” Lawrence said in a press conference while delivering the petitions and noting that 144 police officers were killed on duty last year. “And to have a professor at the University of California at Davis advocate for police officers to be killed or injured is absolutely and unequivocally unacceptable.”

    The university condemned the professor’s remarks in a statement earlier this month, noting the killing of a young police officer in Davis this year and saying that the campus administration finds it “unconscionable that anyone would condone much less appear to advocate murder.”

    Joshua Clover

    Responding for calls to terminate the professor, the university said only the UC Board of Regents can dismiss a tenured faculty member. “This must be done by a vote of the board upon recommendation by the University of California president, following consultation with the chancellor and the Academic Senate,” the statement said.

    In an email to The Sentinel on Saturday, Chief Lawrence said UC Davis leadership appears “reluctant to take any administrative action on Mr. Clover’s outrageous statements because he is a tenured professor.”

    “I would argue that ‘tenure’ for a university professor is an antiquated concept,” said Lawrence. “No one should be untouchable and free from accountability, particularly someone such as Mr. Clover in a position of trust.”

    Clover’s most provocative statement was made in 2015 to SF Weekly in an interview where he was asked “What’s wrong with society today?” His two-sentence response in the published interview was, “People think that cops need to be reformed. They need to be killed.”

    Related: Citrus Heights council members take step to oppose AB 392 use-of-force bill

    Other media reports also quote Clover stating on Twitter that he was “thankful that every living cop will one day be dead, some by their own hand, some by others, too many of old age #letsnotmakemore.” Another tweet reportedly said, “I mean, it’s easier to shoot cops when their backs are turned, no?”

    The statements were made without widespread controversy until the UC Davis student newspaper, The Aggie, ran a column last month questioning the professor’s position and quoting his prior comments about police.

    According to Clover’s bio on the university’s website, he specializes in critical theory, Marxism, political theory and poetry. His interests listed include “social movements, social reproduction theory, crisis theory and the end of capitalism.”

    Clover also published a book in 2016 called “Riot. Strike. Riot: the New Era of Uprisings.”

    Want to share your thoughts on the this story? Click here to submit a letter to the editor for publication.

  • CHPD: Nearly 50% of DUI arrests involve someone reporting the driver

    DUI, Citrus Heights
    Police statistics show nearly half of DUI arrests in Citrus Heights involved a private complaint. // Image credit: CHPD

    Sentinel staff report–
    See a possible DUI driver on the road? Call 911. It works. That’s the message Citrus Heights Police Ron Lawrence has for drivers and residents who see vehicles swerving in-and-out of traffic and exhibiting drunk or drugged driving behavior.

    In an October update in REACH Out, a publication for Citrus Heights neighborhood associations, Lawrence said 60 DUI arrests were made from June-August this year, with nearly half of those arrests, 26, stemming from community members calling 911 to report reckless driving.

    While police also conduct regular DUI checkpoints in the city, at a cost of about $7,500 per checkpoint, Chief Lawrence said this summer’s arrest statistics are “a clear indication that (community) involvement in assisting us to stop DUI drivers is critical.”

    The department also recently announced the receipt of a $164,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to help fund special traffic enforcement operations, including DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols.

    Q: What does CHPD do when a reckless driving call comes in?

    A: “The CHPD dispatcher begins by asking if you have an emergency and will then proceed to ask you a series of questions, starting with the nature of your call. The dispatcher will want to know your name, callback number (in case you get disconnected), location and direction of travel. If you aren’t good with directions, you may use landmarks, business, park, or other common names to describe your position.”

    “The dispatcher will ask for a description of the vehicle driving recklessly as well as a license plate number, but it’s not important enough for you to jeopardize your safety trying to obtain a license plate number. As the dispatcher is asking you questions, simultaneously the closest available police officer is being dispatched to your location and is provided the information you gave to the dispatcher.”

    “It may take some time for the police to arrive depending on their current location as well as other priority calls for service going on at that point in the city. The dispatcher will ask you to remain on the phone to provide direction updates until you lose sight of the vehicle or until the police officer arrives.”

    “Once the police officer makes the vehicle stop, they will no longer need you at the scene but will request if we can call you back to take an official statement for any potential criminal investigation. The officer will investigate to determine if the driver has any impairments or is driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

    Q: What about reported vehicles that CHPD can’t locate?

    A: “For those investigations that do not result in an arrest for DUI or citation for other traffic violations, or those drivers we are unable to stop, the CHPD mails a letter to the registered owner of the vehicle to advise them of the report of the recklessness of their vehicle. This advisement, while not a punitive measure, makes the registered owner aware of the observations made of the dangerous operation of their vehicle. From January through July of 2017, CHPD mailed 368 letters regarding unsafe driving.”

    *Source for answers to questions are taken from Chief Lawrence’s October article.

  • Citrus Heights News Briefs: arrest, awards, Harvey fundraiser, vacancy

    Latest news briefs include a local fundraiser for Hurricane Harvey relief, a 20-year-old Citrus Heights man being arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting, police motorcycle competition awards announced, a temporary cooling center opening inside the community center, and applications being sought to fill a vacancy on a local water board.

    Citrus Heights man, 20, arrested in connection with drive-by shooting
    Roseville police detectives announced the arrest of a Citrus Heights man on Aug. 25, charging him with firing at least five handgun rounds into a Roseville residence in April of this year. Police said the shots were fired around 5 a.m. at a home on the 1200 block of Schooner Way on April 30, with a vehicle heard speeding away. Although a resident was home at the time of the shooting, no one was hit.

    20-year-old Christopher Martino of Citrus Heights was arrested following a lengthy investigation, with investigators believing the home was specifically targeted. Martino is currently being held in the Placer County Jail, with bail set at $500,000. Anyone with additional information about the shooting is asked to contact Sgt. Kelby Newton, at knewton@roseville.ca.us.

    Citrus Heights Community Center to serve as ‘cooling center’ during expected heat wave
    With weather forecasted to reach 110 degrees in the area during Labor Day Weekend, the City of Citrus Heights announced that a cooling center will be opened inside the community center on Fountain Square Drive from 1-8 p.m. on Sept. 2-4. According to the National Weather Service, which issued an “excessive heat warning” for the region, the number-one cause of weather-related fatalities is heat.

    In a news release Friday afternoon, the city said its cooling station will be located in the senior center at the Citrus Heights Community Center, located at 6300 Fountain Square Drive. Water, television, and free internet access will be available to the public. The community center was also utilized as a cooling center during a heat wave in June and averaged about 10 to 12 people using the center per day, as previously reported on The Sentinel.

    Local Grocery Outlet raising funds for hurricane Harvey relief
    The Grocery Outlet store in Citrus Heights announced on Thursday via social media that it is collecting donations for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts through Labor Day. Donations are being received at the register, with funds raised going to the American Red Cross Harvey Relief Fund. “Any amount helps, you can even round up your change,” a post reads on the store’s Facebook page. Grocery Outlet is located at 6059 Greenback Ln.

    Citrus Heights PD wins 3 awards at motorcycle competition
    Results are in for last month’s law enforcement motorcycle competition held at Sunrise Mall — Citrus Heights police officers won three awards in various competitions between more than 40 motorcycle officers from around Northern California. Officer Brian Pon won an award for placing first in the “Metric Class B event,” a solo speed course for BMW, Honda, and Kawasaki riders that had never placed in a prior competition. Pon clocked in with a time of 2-minutes-and-1 second for the course, with the next closest time coming in 4 seconds behind him.

    Sgt. Kris Frey also won an award for placing third in the “American Class A event,” a solo speed course with Harley Davidson bikes competing, and Sgt. Frey also teamed up with Officer Anthony Boehle to win third place in a team relay competition.  Organizers said all riders or teams that ranked within the top three received awards to take back to their respective agencies.

    Other briefs:

    • San Juan Water District seeks to fill board vacancy; deadline Sept. 8
      Following the death of board member Bob Walters last month, the San Juan Water District is seeking to fill a vacancy on its five-member board. (See vacancy posting)
    • Local police chief offers condolences after sheriff’s deputy fatally shot; Dutch Bros to donate
      Following the Aug. 30 fatal shooting of Sacramento County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert French at the Ramada Inn on Auburn Boulevard, Citrus Heights Police Chief Ron Lawrence tweeted: “Words cannot express the sadness that myself & everyone @citrusheightspd has for @sacsheriff loss. Condolences to the family & SSD.” Dutch Bros Coffee announced its location at 7445 Madison Ave. will donate $1 from every drink sold on Sept. 4 to a memorial fund for Deputy French. (See announcement)
    • Sept. 5th: Last day to submit additional names of longest Citrus Heights residents
      If you know someone who has lived in Citrus Heights for over 50 years, the city wants to hear from you. A list of the top 20 longest residents of Citrus Heights was released by the city in August, but a deadline of Sept. 5 has been set to submit additional names for the city’s finalized list. Names and information can be sent to Devon Rodriguez, at drodriguez@citrusheights.net.