As we close this year, I wanted to pass on some last minute information and some updates on recent news making incidents.  First, I’d like to pass on some of the great work being accomplished by your RPD officers.

1952 hours   PC 211 Robbery     24^th Street/Macdonald Avenue   

            Victim Andrew Snook was riding his bicycle on Macdonald/24^th when he was pushed off his bicycle by another bicyclist.  The victim fell down and another suspect approached him and demanded his bicycle.  Out of fear, Snook gave up his bicycle.  The victim received minor cuts to his hand as result of the fall.  Sergeant Mollenbernd and his Special Operations Team stopped two individuals at 23^rd/Macdonald who were subsequently identified by the robbery victim as the parties responsible for robbing him of his bicycle.  Suspects were two juveniles, arrested and transported to Juvenile Hall.  Outstanding response by all of the involved officers.

1558 hours   H&S 11359   (FoodsCo) 1250 Macdonald Avenue     

Officer Llamas and Officer Kaiser were working a two-person patrol car. They observed four individuals loitering in the FoodsCo parking lot, near a parked vehicle. As they attempted to make consensual contact with these individuals, one of them fled on foot with what appeared to be a handgun in his waistband. After a short foot chase, the suspect was detained on Bissell Ave., near 13^th St. The gun was located and turned out to be a pellet gun. All four individuals were eventually detained. Several small baggies of marijuana were found inside the vehicle. Two juveniles and two adults were arrested and transported to the Hall of Justice for booking.

2332 hours   PC 12025      Blume Drive            

Officer Palma affected a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle that was traveling the wrong way on Blume Drive at Richmond Parkway (attempting to pull into the Chevron gas station).  The driver of the vehicle was in possession of a provisional license, only.  Officer Palma inspected the interior of the vehicle and observed a handgun partially concealed under the driver’s seat.  It was determined to be a loaded Lorcin .380 caliber handgun.  The juvenile suspect apparently took his mother’s gun without permission.  He was subsequently transported to Juvenile Hall.

These are merely a few incidents during the last week showcasing the fantastic coordination and response by the hard working men and women of the department.

Of recent news making stories, it has now been widely released that the first driver suspect of our recent fatal hit & run incident over the weekend has turned herself in under the guidance of Reverend Shumake and Reverend Bernstein.  Although tragic, their assistance and community support has been extremely helpful.  One subject driver is still outstanding and the cries for help continue.

A tragic rape and assault occurred on December 13, 2008, where four suspects accosted and assaulted a single woman as she walked to her home.  With heavy community support and tireless hours being devoted by our investigators, we are closer to the possible identification of the suspects, who remain at large.  Interviews are still being conducted and leads are being followed; however, great progress has been made in what turned out to be a very tragic and involved case.

Not as recent, but a major headline case was the homicide of two Indian brothers while at their restaurant on San Pablo Ave.  Recently, our homicide investigators released the identity of a person of interest in the case.  Although it is believed that this person may have fled the area, a warrant still exists for his arrest.

These incidents, along with numerous others, all prove that the work of policing this community cannot be successful by the police alone.  It is with continued community involvement that we make progress in enforcing the law and bringing those to justice that violate the law.

In regards to personnel at the department, we have had our share of losing employees due to retirements and several to various training related issues.  We, of course, still feel the tragic loss of Officer Bradley Moody on October 4, 2008.  On a positive note, we have hired 33 sworn and non-sworn employees in 2008, and had the pleasure of swearing in eight new officers to our department this morning.  This brings our total sworn officer count to 170.

Finally, I want to reveal our year end statistics (as of December 29, 2008).  These statistics are but a mere snapshot reflecting numerous efforts by many at the entire department; the community; our city and elected leaders; and all of those wonderful non-profit groups that work to improve our community.

I hope that this email finds you all in good health and looking forward to a brighter new year.  Stay Safe.

Ed Medina

Deputy Chief

Richmond Police Department

(510) 620-6852 - Office

(510) 620-6880 – Fax