Web-cam crime fighting

Taking a break from my to-do list, I decided to check cnn.com. There I found an intriguing article about web-cam crime fighting. A home owner had installed a web cam at her home after the home was burglarized. One day while watching the camera feed from her workplace, she witnessed two men robbing her again (they also grabbed a snack from her fridge). She called the police and they busted the perpetrators.

Here's a community policing idea -- what if we install web cams around the city's trouble-spots and then distributed the feed via the city's web page. We could all pitch in to monitor happenings around town. Whenever a resident is curious about activity happening across the street -- say, the shadows moving in the dark over in the park after it is closed -- she or he could log onto the site and get a look. If something fishy is going on, a call could be made to dispatch.

I know, I know -- this idea sounds rather "big brother." But, if the city posted notices (e.g., Notice: This public space may be monitored by video surveillance) and the cameras focused only on public spaces, I think I'd be comfortable with the idea. I might even give up my trashy reality TV shows to watch the realities of our streets.

What do others think? What would be the hardware and software needs of something like this? Are there wireless web cams that would make it possible to move the cameras wherever they are needed? What about legality?

Silly rabbit, eggs are for kids

I have no idea who "Rock City Crusades" is, but the organization is hosting an event this Sunday in Garfield Park. Judging from their double-sided full color glossy postcard advertisements, they've got a bit of a budget to work with. Here's what the postcard says:

Garfield Park Easter Giveaway
Hosted by Rock City Crusades

Giving away Easter baskets to the first 100 kids!
Free meal provided for everyone!

Sunday, April 12 from 11AM - 3PM
For information contact us at 909-622-2005

Garfield Park
801 E. Holt Ave.
Pomona, CA 91767

Past community events in Garfield Park have been a ton of fun, so I'm hoping we're in store for some great community building. Yes, Stew and I will have our Neighborhood Watch fliers in tow, hoping to raise awareness of efforts in the area. We'll probably get there around 12:30, after the 11:00 yoga class at Village Dance in Claremont.

Pomona's Finest

I must say, with the exception of one really awkward call to dispatch a few months ago, all of my interactions with the Pomona Police Department have been tremendously positive. And now this -- an off-duty Pomona police officer tackles a man who was assaulting a woman. Thank you, dear officer, whoever you are. Just one more piece of evidence that our police officers know their stuff.

Here's the story from the Daily Bulletin:

Off-duty officer nabs suspect

Jannise Johnson, Staff Writer

Created: 04/05/2009 06:06:25 PM PDT

NORCO - An off-duty Pomona police officer tackled and detained a man after he attempted to rape a woman Saturday morning and then stabbed a retired deputy.

Riverside County Sheriff's deputies responded at 10:25 a.m. to a business in the 3900 block of California Avenue to a report of a robbery and stabbing.

When they arrived, they found a man suffering from several stab wounds to his hands and legs, according to a sheriff's news release.

That victim turned out to be a retired Orange County Sheriff's deputy who along with an off-duty Pomona police officer ran into the business to help a woman they heard screaming for help.

The incident began when the two men who were in a business next door and heard a woman screaming. They ran into the establishment and found the woman manager being assaulted by a knife-wielding man.

When they ran to assist her, the suspect turned on them.

The retired deputy was stabbed several times during a struggle, according to the release. The suspect ran from the business with the Pomona officer giving chase. He chased the suspect south on California and then west on Sixth Street where he tackled him.

He was able to hold the suspect until Riverside deputies arrived.

The suspect has been identified as Gary Michael Olson, 47, of Eastvale. He was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder, one count of assault to commit rape, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of burglary. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

There was no information on whether the suspect knew the victim or if he is suspected in any similar incidents in the area.

Officials at the Pomona Police Department did not comment on the incident because they have not seen the sheriff's report.

However, the officer involved is a long-time veteran of the department and is assigned to the Patrol Unit, officials said.

The retired deputy was treated at a nearby hospital for his wounds Saturday and released.

Anyone with more information on this incident is asked to call Investigator Boyd at the Jurupa Valley Station at (951)955-9886.

Beautification Day

If your Neighborhood Watch group is planning to participate in our Third Annual Beautification Day, please email me at rdebruyne@msn.com.

The event is Saturday, May 9. Clean-up is 8-12, free lunch, entertainment, and health screenings for participants at the Fairplex, 12-3. We are hoping to get every Neighborhood Watch on board. Groups can select their own sites or help with an existing site.

Participants include: Western University, Pomona Valley Medical Center, YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, Parks and Recreation, City Department Heads, Cal Poly, Diamond Ranch Highschool Sports Teams, Fists of Gold, Young Men and Women of Tomorrow, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Fairplex, and Pomona Chamber of Commerce.

Last Call!

Are there any issues on your radar you would like the PD to address during the next community-wide Neighborhood Watch meeting (aka SARA meeting), which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers? Anything added to the list by Tuesday, April 7 will be included in a note to Cpl. Haggerty.

So far, we have:

1. [held over from last meeting] How does the community get access to Pomona PD press releases?

2. [from Ed, with Pride's paraphrase] How frequently do patrols pop into park restrooms to check for shady activity? Would it be possible to make checks a regular part of patrols by parks?

What else is on your mind?

Hooligan sorts

This afternoon I found myself behind a cop car hurrying off to somewhere. Come to find out, the cruiser's destination was Garfield Park.

As I pulled into the neighborhood, I saw the officer approaching a young lad who still held in his hand a can of white spray paint. It seems a neighbor called dispatch (woot!) while the youth took his sweet time to tag the storage building in the park. One neighbor tells me it took the kiddo a good 20 minutes to do his handy work.

Two tid bits about this incident strike me as particularly fascinating:

1. The tagging took place at 4:00 this afternoon. Broad day light. The park was hopping with activity. How very brazen.

2. The tagger used white spray paint on a beige building. I don't claim any expertise in the tagging business, but wouldn't one shoot for perhaps a bit more contrast?

A bit later, probably around 6:00, there was another incident in the park to which three or four squad cars responded. I'm not sure what that one was all about.

Rumor has it the cops arrested a couple in Lincoln Park the other day for having sex in broad daylight -- well, there was a little blanky involved. Good lord.

Let's keep calling dispatch.

Click-it or Ticket

"During the months of April and May Pomona police will actively enforce the seat belt laws."

Can someone please interpret this sentence for me? I'm not opposed to public safety campaigns, but could we use different language when we're describing it. If we are going to set aside two months for a seat belt enforcement season, when is the red light violator season or the speeding down Towne season? I'll settle for the speeding in a school zone season.

Sorry, I have a few festering issues, and this DB mini-column sent me over the edge. Hmmm, if not 'actively', how do you 'passively' enforce the seat belt laws? ....not enforcing them, perhaps.