BY DANIEL MCGLYNN //

2008 saw the usual spree of assaults, drugs, paper crimes, and shoplifting that are normal in El Cerrito. “The majority of crime in the city is property related theft,” said El Cerrito Police Commander Michael Regan, “usually burglarizing homes and autos.”

Statistically, according to the serious crimes reported by the El Cerrito police department to the State of California, there was roughly the same amount of crime in 2008 as in 2007. The reported offenses average a little over a hundred a month. One crime noticeably absent from the 2008 numbers was homicide. “There were no homicides last year, and that makes me happy,” said Regan. There were two homicides in El Cerrito in 2007.

One new policing approach that department implemented in 2008 was the community action response team. The team is designed to “address crime trends as they occur,” said Regan. If there is a rash of burglaries in one area of the city, the team will move resources to deal with it. The officers also investigate quality of life crimes, like kids loitering after school, or people drinking in the Target parking lot. In 2008, the team produced some “high quality arrests,” said Regan, “but we’re still feeling it out.”

Another crime prevention program run by the department is the school resource officer program. “The number of crimes reported at the school is dropping, every year the program continues to be more successful,” said Regan.

Other big news for the El Cerrito police in 2008 is that the department now has 42 officers; the result of a five-year effort to achieve high staff levels. Having 42 officers, “allows us to be more proactive,” said Regan.

Two parts of the department that benefit from high staffing levels, are the bicycle patrol and the traffic safety unit. Regan said the view of the department is that “if you take care of the little things, the big things take care of themselves.”

Sergeant Maples, the coordinator of the department’s bicycle patrol, said that in 2008 “1427 officer hours were logged from a bike, with 507 tickets issued and 45 arrests made by bicycle patrol officers.” One big benefit of having cops on bikes is that they are more accessible to the public. Sergeant Maples said that before he could sit at a corner in a car all day and not interact with the public, but on a bike people approach him regularly. Officers on bikes patrol the BART paths, pull cars over, and make pedestrian stops.

The bicycle patrol has been around for a while, but in 2008, Maples said the department started its own in house training. “By the end of 2009 every member of the department will be trained to work bike patrol,” said Maples.

The traffic safety unit was also busy in 2008. To answer a citizen request for pedestrian safety, the traffic unit issued 819 pedestrian-traffic related citations and 179 citations for cars failing to yield to pedestrians, said Sergeant Steve Bonini, head of the unit. There were also directed efforts at “speed as a primary collision factor in 2008,” he said.

The department also started a commercial traffic enforcement unit that weighs and inspects the big rigs that rumble down San Pablo. For 2009, Bonini said a new traffic unit goal is enforce laws against unlicensed drivers.

As previously reported by the El Cerrito Focus, one new community awareness tool implemented by the department in 2008 is the adoption of crimereports.com. This system replaces the posting of weekly crime reports by the department and also maps the crimes in the city, so that residents get a sense of where crimes are happening.

The El Cerrito Focus also plotted all reported felonies for 2008 in department’s press releases in a visual representation so residents can see the types and frequencies of crime in the city.

San Pablo Avenue is a major economic force in El Cerrito, supplying the community with everything from nail salons to novelty shops. Now, a new plan to regulate future development along this major thoroughfare is nearing completion.

Watch the slideshow below to learn more.

BY N’JERI EATON//

Silvia Figueroa worked at The Red Onion, a popular El Cerrito burger institution, for over 10 years before buying the restaurant with her husband Alfredo in January 2006. Just four months after they celebrated their first anniversary as owners, Alfredo was gunned down during an armed robbery.

Alfredo’s death was among several violent robberies in El Cerrito that prompted the city council to unanimously adopt the Video Surveillance Ordinance Act in October 2007. Businesses had until October 31 to comply with the law.  However, an influx of last minute orders created a backlog for local security companies.  El Cerrito Police Commander Mike Regan estimates about 40 percent of required businesses are still in the process of getting cameras installed. Those business owners have either a projected installation date or they have been given a 30 or 60-day extension for financial reasons.

Although the ordinance is for the safety of customers and staff, it can still be a financial burden. Regan believes that the new law has hit smaller owner-operated businesses hardest. The city’s redevelopment agency provides matching funds for businesses that need financial assistance. Even businesses that are exempted from the law are opting to install video surveillance equipment. The city offers matching funds for them as well.

The ordinance applies to specific businesses: convenience stores, check cashing businesses, firearms and second-hand dealers, liquor stores, shopping centers, banks and carry-out food restaurants.

A monitor displays the various security camera angles.

The law requires a continuous digital video surveillance system to provide high quality images for police. It also specifies the number and location of cameras dependent on the size of the store. The police department recommends that cameras be placed in entrances and exits, at each register, as well as in loading docks and parking areas.

Since her husband’s death, Figueroa has been extra cautious. She has two video surveillance system installed in her restaurant. She installed the first camera herself before the ordinance passed. Several months later, Figueroa had another system installed by ADT Home and Business Security Systems.

Besides providing a sense of security for her staff and customers, Figueroa believes the cameras have been effective in deterring some crimes. “I don’t have problems with vandalism because they know someone is watching,” she said.

Police have been enforcing the new law one business at a time. Each time a business installs a video surveillance system, a representative from the police department inspects it to make sure it is compliant with the ordinance. One of the key elements they examine is camera placement.  “We want to make sure camera angles are consistent with getting facial shots of people,” said Regan.

Failing to observe the new law will come at a price for owners. If the police department finds a business without a video surveillance system, they will issue a notice to the owner. The owner then has 30 days to provide proof of compliance or they will be issued a citation of up to $500.

Figueroa encourages reluctant owners to think of the El Cerrito Police Department when deciding to install cameras. “They just want everything they can get to prosecute criminals. They just want to help us,” said Figueroa.

Since the passing of the ordinance, the police department has had success in using video surveillance in connection with several ongoing investigations. “Video alone will not get a conviction but it will certainly help,” Regan said.

Silvia Figueroa watches over the customers in her restaurant.

In addition to the video surveillance cameras, Figueroa suggests that owners take extra steps to ensure their safety. She recommends keeping every light on during business hours, especially for employees who use the back exit, and calling the police if they feel threatened. Figueroa cites the help of the local police for getting through the tough times. “They are wonderful people.  They’re giving me all the support I need to keep going,” she said.

During the first year after her husband’s death, Figueroa frequently called the police and asked for a patrol car to survey the area if she felt unsafe. The calls are less frequent now, but she has remained impressed by the police department’s response.  “They always come, they’ve never denied me,” she said. “I thought I was going to be a bother, but it’s not like that. They’re really flexible.”

BY DANIEL MCGLYNN //

If you took 24 crimes that happened in El Cerrito in the past two weeks – broke them into categories like theft, burglary, sexual offense, etc., then color coded those crimes and stuck them on a map – you would start to see some patterns in the recent criminal activity.

Gone are the old school police logs, published weekly in the local paper, instead law enforcement agencies are putting crime information on the web. Using applications like Google maps and real-time data entry, police departments can use the Internet as a crime prevention and awareness tool.

El Cerrito, in the past month, has launched a new crime map link on the city website. The map, from CrimeReports.com, enables the El Cerrito Police Department to share crime data in “near real time,” according to the website.

Chief of Police Scott Kirkland said, “an informed community is a better community,” when talking about the value of the new crime maps system. The ability for El Cerrito residents to see what kinds of crimes are happening in their neighborhoods, around schools, and near local businesses, is part of the chief’s goal to “get the message out to the public.”

The new crime reporting system updates daily so “community members can access their neighborhood crime info for free, empowering them to make well informed decisions to help improve the safety of their family, friends, property, and community at large,“ the website says.

In early efforts to help people understand what’s going on in their neighborhood, the El Cerrito Police Department has been posting press releases about criminal activity on the city’s website since 2000. Later the format was slightly altered to a weekly posting of crimes, which the chief said, was “well received.”

Besides offering current crime data, CrimeReports.com also has features that allow citizens to interact with the information. The crimes, reported at the block level to protect victim’s privacy, are sorted by type. For example, the crimes reported last week in El Cerrito were a vehicle theft – with a green V symbol, breaking and entering – with a dark blue B symbol, theft – with a light blue T symbol, and sexual offense – with a red S symbol. All of these symbols are aggregated and placed on a Google map.

Chief Kirkland said that the website is a practical way for the public to stay informed and for small police departments, which are often overlooked by large media outlets, to interact with the public. That, and the service is cost effective, incurring a monthly expense of about $100. Other local cities that have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for similar services that don’t work as well, said the chief.

Two men were arrested early Monday morning in El Cerrito when their unrelated crimes coincided in a bizarre set of circumstances allowing a third suspect to escape.

It all started with a police stake out at the City Corporation Yard on Schmidt Lane, where two suspects were caught allegedly attempting to steal copper and other reusable metals, authorities said.

The undercover operation was informed by prior reports of copper theft in the city, according to Commander Michael Regan. Both the Corporation Yard and Stege Sanitary were similarly burglarized on Sept. 15, 2008. Their losses were estimated at $2,190 and $1,800 respectively.

“It’s a crime that we’ve seen increase over the last year as the value of these metals goes up,” Regan said.

One suspect, Alexander Itzigheine of San Pablo, Calif., was arrested when police confronted the two men inside the yard at approximately 2:30 a.m. The second suspect fled into the woods behind the yard with officers in close pursuit.

A California Highway Patrol helicopter with infrared equipment was called in to assist with the search.  The helicopter circled the crime scene looking for the suspect, but was forced to abandon the search when a green laser beam struck the craft and shone into the pilot’s eyes, temporarily disorienting him, officials said.

Authorities both in the air and on the ground suspended their search for the fleeing suspect to help locate the source of the laser. The helicopter crew was soon able to direct officers on the ground to a home near the corner of Moeser Lane and Seaview Drive after they spotted a man standing in a driveway.

The resident, 50-year-old Brian Butler of El Cerrito, was arrested when he was found in possession of a green laser pointer.

Commander Regan said police had no reason to believe that Butler was attempting to assist the burglary suspects when he shined the laser at the CHP helicopter. Regan called it “unfortunate” that Butler’s dangerous and illegal alleged actions had compromised the search for the second burglary suspect.

Both Itzigheine and Butler are being held at the county jail in Martinez, Calif. Butler is held on suspicion of discharging a laser at an aircraft – a potential felony – with bail set at $20,000. Itzigheine is held on suspicion of petty theft, with bail set at $15,000.

The second burglary suspect remains at large.

BY SWETA VOHRA //

In the past two years, statistics show that El Cerrito has put a significant dent in crime rates. The most significant reduction has been in larceny-theft crimes, which can include stealing personal property from unlocked cars or houses. Chief Scott Kirkland says this decrease in crime rates is due to “a myriad of factors.”

According to statistics compiled by the El Cerrito Police Department, from the year 2006 to 2007, the number of crimes reported in the city fell from 1,807 to 1,466, with the largest drop in theft offenses. The year-to-date crime reports in 2008 stands at 929.

One of the main factors for an overall decrease in crime, according to Kirkland, is the Police Department’s Bicycle Patrol Program, which deploys officers on bikes instead of patrol cars. “Last July, we really invigorated our Bike Patrol Unit,” says Kirkland, in an effort to combat crimes more effectively in the city.

The Bike Unit allows officers to monitor places that police cars may not have easy access to such as the parks, the Ohlone Greenway and El Cerrito Plaza. According to Kirkland, many residents believe the BART pathway is a dramatically less safe area compared to other parts of town, when in reality the crime statistics show it does not have a higher incident rate.

Therefore, this “perception of safety,” is the hardest thing to handle sometimes, says Kirkland. When officers on bikes ride up and down this area, it eases people’s fears as well as fights crime.

Another factor that has cut crime rates is the School Resource Officer Program. Two School Resource Officers are stationed at El Cerrito High School and according to Kirkland, “have established good relationships with students and more importantly, made clear what is acceptable behavior and what is unacceptable behavior.”

Kirkland says he hears daily from the resource officers, which helps him stay informed about the youth in the community. He stresses that listening to his officers and the residents is “paramount.” Kirkland adds, “How responsive can you be without listening to the community?”

One of the ways that Kirkland keeps in touch with his community is through the El Cerrito Crime Prevention Committee. Aside from appointing a police liaison, Kirkland also tries to attend meetings when he can.

Suzanne Iarla, the community outreach specialist for the committee, says the prevention committee “focuses on crime prevention and safety topics.”

According to Iarla, the committee consists of volunteer residents who meet the second Wednesday of each month. National Night Out as well as working closely with the police and fire departments are some of the key functions of the group.

National Night Out, which takes place annually in August, consists of several block parties around El Cerrito where neighbors can get together to discuss concerns with each other, as well as police officers and elected officials. The prevention committee also plans to host a “family friendly” event in the spring to help promote the Bike Patrol Program.

“It’s important to share success stories to help reduce crime,” says Iarla.

Kirkland also stresses that sometimes residents may not realize how the police are fighting crime in the city. During the string of take-over robberies in Oakland earlier this year, Kirkland says their department sent out officers in “plain clothes, unmarked bikes, and unmarked cars.” Even if residents are not aware of that, “it’s okay by me,” says Kirkland.

Kirkland says the biggest challenge facing his department today is getting a new department building. Built in the late 50s, the current building is “not functional for today’s modernization,” according to Kirkland.

He emphasizes new officers are in limited quantity and having an old, outdated department appears less attractive to new recruits. “I understand its expensive [to build a new department] but we should take the steps to improve,” says Kirkland.

In the meantime, Kirkland and his department will continue making efforts to cut crime rates and encourage residents to remain active in this effort. He constantly stresses for residents to contact the Police Department if they feel suspicious about something in their neighborhood. Kirkland says, “I would rather have an officer respond to such a report and find nothing amiss versus not being called and later learn that a crime did occur.”

Chart: El Cerrito Crime Breakdown

Line Graph: Crime in Past Five Years

BY N’JERI EATON //

Three Richmond teenagers were arrested in El Cerrito in connection with a series of strong-arm robberies on a path near the BART tracks last week. The teens – two 16-year-old boys and a 13-year-old girl – are suspected of six robberies in a three day period.

The paths behind the El Cerrito Plaza and Del Norte BART stations have been a prime location for robberies. According to the El Cerrito Police log, 17 robberies have been reported since March along these paths.

BART employee Victor Martinez has been working as a station agent at El Cerrito Plaza for the last five years. He said muggings are “rare” but when they do happen, they are always a shock.

At the Del Norte BART station just a few blocks away, robberies are a more common crime. An unidentified station BART employee at the station said robberies happen “all day, everyday.” Despite the presence of a BART police station at Del Norte, thefts seem to plague the area.

Martinez believes thefts, often perpetrated by teenagers, signify a larger problem.

“It’s a tragedy that you’re seeing teenagers do it. To me it’s a social tragedy,” he said. “It’s telling me that something is going on here where our youth are not being mentored or guided.”

The Del Norte station agent said that iPods and high-end cell phones are the most frequently stolen item because they have a quick resell value. BART has encouraged commuters not to wear the white earbud headphones that come with iPods.

Laptops are another hot commodity for thieves. Martinez says that he warns commuters to not buy easily recognizable laptop bags.

“I tell them, they’re better off getting a backpack with a pillow in it,” Martinez said.

For more safety tips, watch this slideshow.

Both the station agents and the official BART Safety Guide say that staying alert and aware of their surroundings is the best way for passengers to stay safe. The Del Norte station agent suggests that passengers pass through the station as quickly as possible.

“If you want to be unsafe then hang out at the station,” he said. “Its not a matter of if but when.”

For more information, click on the following links

Video Guide to Passenger Safety
http://www.bart.gov/news/barttv/?&cat=34&id=295

Contact information by zone for BART Police
http://bart.gov/about/police/contact.aspxBART Safety Tips

BY N’JERI EATON//

BART employees and commuters give tips on how to keep safe while riding public transportation.

BY N’JERI EATON//

Proposition 5, the Nonviolent Offender Drug Rehabilitation Act, or NORA, will let voters decide whether to send drug offenders to treatment facilities instead of prison. In El Cerrito, it is an issue that has sparked a debate especially between two groups. On one side, are drug policy advocates who believe NORA will provide a comprehensive treatment program. On the other side, law enforcement officials who fear that Prop 5 will prevent offenders from being prosecuted.

Although local law enforcement officials agree that there should be more emphasis on rehabilitation, they don’t think Prop 5 is the solution.

“We don’t need this type of legislation,” said El Cerrito Police Chief Scott Kirkland told The El Cerrito Focus. “We are having a big problem right now with drugs in society, we don’t need to need to decriminalize them.”

Kirkland said that there are daily drug arrests and that methamphetamine is the “drug of choice” in the area. While he expressed sympathy for those struggling with drug addiction, he also sees drug offenders as problem in the community. “Those are the people who are committing burglaries, robberies, and the like to maintain their habit,” he said.

Supporters of Proposition 5 say that an improved and expanded rehabilitation plan will provide nonviolent offenders with the proper treatment and a range of other support services. The proposition also requires prisons to offer the same services to those who are currently incarcerated and parolees.

“It will contribute to the health and well-being of all Californians,” said Margaret Dooley-Sammulie, the Deputy Campaign Manager for Yes on 5.

According to Dooley-Sammulie, the most needed aspect of Prop 5 is the potential to offer drug treatment to youth offenders, “This is the first time there has been support services offered for youth. Before this, there was really nothing for them.”

In addition to substance abuse treatment for youth, Prop 5 will include family therapy, mental health interventions, and education or employment stipends.

Chief Kirkland recognizes that there should be more services offered. “There’s no question in my mind that the current system is broken,” he said. “Currently the Department of Corrections has gone away from the rehabilitation side of the equation.”

According to Department of Corrections data, Contra Costa county jails have an estimated 2,000 inmates, with 75% incarcerated for a drug- or alcohol-related offense. Prop 5 would ask state prison and parole systems to invest money into drug rehabilitation programs that could reduce repeat offenders. According to a report by the Legislative Analyst’s Office, Prop 5 will require $300 million in new spending to provide the treatment but it will ultimately save the state $1 billion in prison and parole costs.

Regardless of the outcome of Prop 5, Contra Costa County is already taking steps towards increasing substance abuse treatment. The county’s Department of Alcohol and Drug services hopes to add 60 beds to the West County and Marsh Creek detention facilities for a 90-day in-custody treatment program. The county is waiting for a final decision from the Board of Supervisors.

For more information on the proposition, consult your sample ballot or the following links:

http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov
http://www.prop5yes.com/
http://www.noonproposition5.com/