Greetings City Council and Community Members:

The start of a new year also means some new faces in different places across our Department, with annual transfers that occur each January.  This typically involves several employees moving into and out of specialty assignments, and some patrol officers opting for different work schedules from the previous year.  We also continue to refine our policing processes in order to improve our service to the public. It’s worth mentioning that our Policing Bureau captains have taken on added responsibilities designed to help step up our operational coordination throughout the Department and to improve communication across different functions.

We recently completed an extensive review and revision process that involved looking at our Department mission in terms of relating it to our current day purpose, and identifying what we aim to achieve moving forward. One of the outcomes of this process is a revised Richmond Police Department Mission Statement that also ties in more directly with the Oath of Office and Code of Ethics.  A mission statement should accurately explain why an organization exists and what it hopes to achieve. It articulates the organization's essential nature, its values and its work. Accordingly, the RPD Mission Statement is now up to date and in effect.  It reads as follows:

The mission of the Richmond Police Department is to prevent crime and to maintain order by providing Constitutional and professional police services that incorporate strategies grounded in community engagement and collaborative partnerships that address causes of crime and disorder, that help solve neighborhood problems, and that improve quality of life in Richmond. 

In compliance with professional standards established by the Oath of Office, Professional Code of Ethics and administrative directives; perform in a manner that promotes public trust, confidence and sense of safety and security.

Police officers balance the readiness required of an emergency responder with the motivation necessary to initiate and sustain ongoing problem-solving efforts in the neighborhoods on the beats that they are assigned to.  Here is a small sample of some of the recent incidents and activities involving RPD personnel during the first month of 2012.  As you will read, our men and women regularly confront complex, risky, and demanding situations with professionalism and courage.  Community members continue to make a difference by calling in to report suspicious activity, and by working cooperatively with officers.  Please contact me if you have any questions. 

A·B·

 

Allwyn Brown
Deputy Chief

 

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RESPONDING TO CRIME IN THE COMMUNITY …

Sunday Jan. 8, 16:05 hours: Patrol officers were on route to a disturbance in the roadway near 23rd St. and Garvin Ave when the victim of a Carjacking called into Dispatch from a cellular phone to report having just had his car stolen.  Officers spotted the stolen auto traveling on 23rd St. driven by the car thief, 6’7” 250 lb Dexter HOWARD. He was detained and arrested without incident, and the stolen car returned to its owner.  Howard faces a felony charge of Carjacking, PC 215 // 12-2415.

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Friday Jan. 13 10:05 hours:  Officer Marweg (Central District) investigated the report of an assault near 12th St. and Nevin Ave.  He learned that Anthony TURNER had been involved in a confrontation with Tatiana FORD nearby, inflicting an injury with an edged weapon.  Just over 4 hours later Officer Marweg learned that Turner was home at his residence on the 100 block of 17th Street, so he went there and arrested Turner on a felony charge of Assault with a Deadly Weapon, PC 245a(1) // 12-3773.  

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Tuesday Jan. 10, 18:46 hours: A family with two young children arrived home to the 3400 block of Fleetwood Drive with both of their children asleep in the back seat of the family car.  Dad carried one child into the house and returned moments later to remove the second child, only to discover that the family car had been stolen with his 5 year old daughter asleep in the back seat.  The panicked family immediately phoned 9-1-1. Officer Branch (Northern District) was first to the scene.  He soon located the parked, stolen auto not far away on the 3400 block of Grasswood Drive.  The small child was still inside and unharmed, asleep in the back seat. The family was united, but the car thief remains at large.

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2. Wednesday Jan. 18, 09:15 hours: RPD Dispatch broadcast a report that an armed robbery had just taken place on the 2400 block of Lowell Ave, and provided a thorough description of the lone suspect, said have fled the scene on a bicycle—armed with a handgun.  Officers Middleton and Reid (Traffic Unit/Motor) were on an unrelated traffic assignment near 20th St. and Gaynor Ave about a half an hour afterward when they noticed a bicyclist who matched the description of the robber.  They detained him and Officer Vinson (Northern District), who was investigating the crime arranged for witnesses of the crime to view the detainee.  The subsequently positive identification led to the arrest of Karibu WILLIAMS, 21 on a felony charge of Robbery, PC 211 // 12-5211. The property stolen in the commission of the robbery was recovered and returned to the victim.
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4. 12:20 hours: Officer Hernandez (School Resource Unit) was hailed by 3 people who were attempting to catch up to a male they saw break into a parked car.  Officer J. Pineda (Central District) and Officer Hernandez stopped Christopher WILLIAMS on the 1000 block of Macdonald Ave and arrested him on a felony charge of Burglary, PC 459 // 12-5244.
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6. 14:37 hours: Patrol officers raced to the 100 block of 29th St. to investigate reports of a woman screaming for help.  A short time later, reports of an auto versus pedestrian traffic collision at Broadway and Carlson Blvd came in to Dispatch.  Officer Baggett (Central District) made contact with the 73 year old female homeowner on 29th St., who was bleeding from the mouth.  He quickly he determined that a home-invasion robber had punched her in the mouth, and then rushed from the premises with stolen goods on a bicycle also taken in the robbery. The auto versus pedestrian traffic collision a short distance away turned out to be caused by a motorist ramming the suspect bicyclist to make a private person’s arrest.  Officer Anderson (Southern District) arrested Charles WRIGHT, 23 on a felony charge of Residential Robbery, PC 212.5 // 12-5281 at the scene of the collision.  The bicycle and other stolen items were returned to the victim.
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8. Thursday Jan. 19, 14:24 hours: Marriot Hotel staff reported a disturbance on the property involving two guest rooms.  An occupant of each of the rooms in question fled the premises before officers made contact, but a check at both rooms revealed an assortment of stolen goods, paraphernalia and other tools used to perpetrate identity theft and fraud.  Sgt. Williams and Property Crimes Unit detectives assumed the investigation.  The suspects; Ira NETHERLY, alias Barry Bell, 40, and Amit KANSUPDA, 32 are both being actively sought on felony charges.  PC 530.5 // 12-5531.
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Friday Jan. 20, 23:45 hours: A 21 year old male reported being robbed at gunpoint of cash and his automobile by someone he knows as Juan Carlos ZALDOVINOS, while he was hanging with friends at his Atchison Village neighborhood. Officer Brown (Central District) located the stolen car traveling near 4th St. and Bissell Ave a short time later.  The driver, 18 year old Zaldovinos and 3 other occupants were detained and arrested, though no firearm was located.  PC 215 / /12-5915.  

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DOMESTIC & SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS SERIOUS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR …

1. Friday Jan. 13, 14:25 hours:  Officer Jenson (Northern District/K9) was sent to investigate the report of a male versus female fight near Phanor Drive and McGlothen Way, Parchester Village.  He detained a male and female inside of a parked car at that location. The female’s traumatic facial injuries and her account of the events led to the arrest of the male, Timothy WILLIAMS on a felony domestic violence charge under PC 273.5 // 12-3861.

 

Saturday Jan. 14, 01:18 hours: Officer Cortez (Southern District) met with the family of a 12 year old female who was brought in by her family to police headquarters because she had just disclosed to them that she had been sexually assaulted by a family member.  Once Officer Cortez was able to substantiate the elements of the crime, a team of officers went to the Richmond residence and arrested the 34 year old male suspect without incident.  DSVU detectives were also notified. PC 288 // 12-4062.

1. Sunday Jan. 15, 16:55 hours: A female 9-1-1 caller asked for police help with her boyfriend, Dayton DAILEY inside of her 20th St. and Chanslor Ave area home.  Going in, responding officers knew that Daily had an outstanding felony warrant of arrest for a pending domestic violence case.  Dailey fled the residence just before officers made contact.  Officer Cantrell (Southern District/K-9) used his police dog “Arrow” to track Dailey’s flight path to the rear yard of a residence on the 1900 block of Ohio Avenue.  Dailey was arrested at that location, taken into custody without police canine bite contact.
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3. Saturday Jan. 21, 03:00 hours:    A female called 9-1-1 from her home on the 5000 block of Barrett Ave asking for police help with what begun as a husband and wife argument.   Officer Macrenato (Northern District) determined that the argument had escalated to physical violence resulting in visible injury to the spouse.  He arrested Nizar SAEIDAH, 38 years and booked him into the RPD Jail on felony domestic violence charges under PC 273.5 // 12-5654.  The female victim was taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
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5. Friday Jan. 27, 05:30 hours: A female 9-1-1 caller asked for police help because she was having problems with her soon-to-be ex-husband at their Columbia Ave residence.  Officer Bruce (Southern District) arrested 50 year old Robert MICKA on felony domestic violence charges and took custody of shotgun for safe keeping.  PC 273.5 // 12-7646.
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7. Monday Jan. 30, 13:00 hours: The Grant School principal learned from a student’s parent that another student’s parent was targeting a 12 year old Grant student in order to orchestrate a sexual encounter.  Officer Vinson (Northern District) interviewed the complaining parent, who had intercepted sexually suggestive text messages on her 12 year old, learning-disabled daughter’s cell phone, and substantiated the alleged plot.  Sergeant Ducharme and detectives of the Domestic & Sexual Violence Unit got involved immediately and arranged a pretext text message to the offender (under the control of detectives), that  brought 42 year old Francisco SERRANO-Cervantes to a predetermined location anticipating  an encounter with the 12 year old girl. Instead, he was met by waiting officers and promptly arrested.  Serrano was booked into the RPD Jail on felony charges including PC 311.11 Possession of Child Pornography, and PC 288.3 Lewd Contact with a Child // 12-8643.
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PRO ACTIVE POLICING REMOVES CRIME GUNS FROM OUR COMMUNITY …

Sunday Jan. 1, 00:50 hours: Officer Caine (Central District, K-9) was patrolling North Richmond near Fifth St. and Grove Ave when he heard the crack of gunfire, then saw a male firing a gun at the sky.  Officer Caine and other patrol officers chased, then apprehended the shooter, 19 year old Marcciano BRAZIEL, and recovered the firearm used. ShotSpotter confirmed a gunfire incident at the location.  Braziel was booked into the RPD Jail on felony charges including Firearm Possession by an Ex-felon—PC 12021; Probation Violation—PC 1203.2; and Negligent Discharge of a Firearm in Public—PC 246.3 // 12-0007

1. Saturday Jan. 7, 21:06 hours:  Officer Mendler (Traffic Unit/DUI) made an enforcement stop on a suspicious auto driven by 35 year old Pao SAECHAO on the 2500 block of Macdonald Avenue. A search of the vehicle cockpit yielded a loaded Sig Sauer pistol within Saechao’s reach.  He was arrested and booked into the RPD Jail on the felony charge of Firearm Possession by an Ex-felon—PC 12021 // 12-2203.  Saechao has an extensive arrest record that includes a recent (November 2011) arrest for evading police and possession of an illegal firearm assault weapon.  

 

Friday Jan. 13, 20:29 hours: Officer Brown (Central District) stopped a car on the 2300 Roosevelt Avenue for a broken tail lamp violation.  Driver Marc SIMPSON (37 yrs) was found to be in possession of a firearm, and passenger Shanae CHANDLER (29 yrs) was holding a quantity of methamphetamine.  The two were arrested and booked into the RPD Jail on a felony charge of Possessing Illegal Narcotics with a Firearm—H&S 11370.1 // 12-3657.

Monday Jan. 16, 16:30 hours:  Detective Reyna (Gang Unit) spotted an automobile driven by probationer Keyon WILSON, and also occupied by passengers Anthony BRANCH, and probationers Jeremiah STOVALL and Karea MORRIS.   With the help of Detective Anderson and Detective Lopez (Gang Unit), an enforcement stop was made on the car near the 3900 block of Fleming Avenue. A sawed-off .30 caliber Carbine rifle was inside of the passenger compartment of the automobile exposed to plain view.  All were arrested and booked into the RPD jail on felony charges including Illegal Firearm Assault Weapon Possession—PC 12280 and Probation Violation—PC 1203.2.

Tuesday Jan. 17, 22:22 hours:  Officer Domenici (Central District) stopped a car containing four males for a red light violation near 6th St. and Barrett Ave. His subsequent inquiries led to the recovery of two firearms from the vehicle’s passenger compartment; a Glock.40 caliber pistol and a Ruger 9mm pistol—both loaded with illegal high capacity magazines.  Richard JOHNSON, 23; Kevin CANAMORE, 32; Dorian MATHIS, 21; and a 16 year old juvenile were arrested.  Mathis also had an outstanding warrant of arrest for a pending illegal firearms possession case, and Canamore an outstanding warrant of arrest for a pending burglary case. 

Tuesday Jan. 24: Sgt. Monahan (Gang Unit) and Special Investigations Division detectives completed a series of compliance checks throughout Richmond, and as a result made one arrest of a parolee and confiscated 3 illegal firearms.

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2. Saturday Jan. 28: 14:30 hours: Officer Brown (Central District) made a traffic stop for a vehicle equipment violation on a car traveling on the 1500 block of Roosevelt Ave.  The encounter led to the arrest of the 17 year old driver for possessing a loaded firearm. PC 12031a(2)f // 12-8094.
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1. IMPAIRED DRIVING PUTS THE PUBLIC AT RISK …
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3. Monday Jan. 9 00:26 hours: Officer Mendler (Traffic Unit/DUI) investigated a drunken driving collision on the 2300 block of Maricopa Avenue following multiple 9-1-1 calls from neighbors reporting the multi-car accident.  Isabel OCHOA-Castillo, who reeked of alcohol, was behind the wheel of a severely wrecked BMW automobile.  She had collided with and destroyed 5 parked cars and several city signs along Maricopa Avenue.  One neighbor who was awaked by collision noise and a chorus of audible car alarms rushed to the accident scene, then wound up detaining Ochoa, preventing her from driving off before police arrived.  She was taken for medical treatment, and then released for booking on DUI charges. CVC 23152 // 12-2517.
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5. Wednesday Jan. 25, 22:37: Officer Sanchez (Traffic/DUI) and Officer Krug (Traffic/Motor) investigated a vehicle collision involving an auto that left the roadway and careened into the garage of a residence situated on the 2900 block of Birmingham Drive.  The extremely intoxicated driver, Raheem HANIF, 28 turned out to be on active parole for assault on a police officer.  His resistance to being arrested for impaired driving was overcome and he was taken into custody for felony drunk driving under CVC 23153 // 12-7305.  His three passengers; two females and a young child were taken by ambulance to local hospitals with minor injuries. The residents of the Birmingham home were uninjured.
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POLICE AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES …

Saturday Jan. 21: The Personnel & Training Unit organized and hosted a Career Readiness Fair for the local community. About 80 people attended and took in presentations from Tim Higares, Code Enforcement Manager and his staff on the code enforcement function; Byron Baptiste, Communications Manager and his staff on public safety communications; Officer Simmons and Office Aid Leticia Lopez regarding police officer and police cadet job requirements; and Detective Donovan Decious regarding physical fitness for police candidates. The attendees received a wealth of information and had all their questions answered by knowledgeable staff.  Police officer prospects were also invited to practice a physical agility test.

A planned shoe-release event at Hilltop Mall drew approximately 300 early-morning shoppers. Officer Moody (Northern District Foot/Bike) monitored the event. The plan, which involved pre-authorizing shoppers with color-coded wristbands worked very well.  The event was orderly with no reported problems.  Captain Sappal and his staff met with Hilltop Mall officials in advance of this event, following the debacle surrounding the last Jordan shoe release at Hilltop Mall where a firearm was discharged.  They helped to shape current plans to manage these types of events in a more orderly way moving forward.

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RECIPRICAL POLICING ACTIVITY …

Sunday Jan. 15, 02:26: The CHP and OPD patrol cars pursued two automobiles involved in car-to-car gunfire on Interstate 580 in Oakland. One of the cars was abandoned and its 3 male occupants fled to an adjacent Oakland neighborhood. That car is registered to an Overend Avenue address in Richmond. Our patrol officers were asked to check in at the Overend address, and we were asked for the assistance of a canine unit to assist with an area search. The Overend address was checked and secure—the canine was not needed.         

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2. Wednesday Jan. 25, 12:30: Detective DeOrian and Detective Hall (Property Crimes Unit) helped Marin County Sheriff’s investigators with a serial auto theft investigation connected with a Richmond residence on the 800 block of South 46th Street.  Frank ROBINSON, 38, was arrested without incident on felony charges out of Marin County.  A subsequent search of his premises pursuant to a warrant yielded an Intra TEC-9 assault pistol and a Walther PPKS semi automatic handgun—both guns belonging to ROBINSON.  12-7091.

 

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LETTERS FROM COMMUNITY RESIDENTS…

From: Nancy Coombs
Date: January 12, 2012 6:42:40 PM PST
To: msappal@richmondpd.net, cmagnus@richmondpd.net
Cc: rvinson@richmondpd.net
Subject: thank you from Nancy Coombs

To: Chief Magnus & Captain Sappal:

Yesterday, Jan 11th 2012 Wednesday, there was an attempted break-in at my house at XXXXX. Thanks to my alert neighbor, Shawn, who called the police right away, the police arrived quickly and caught and arrested the 3 criminals.  I cannot thank the police personal enough for responding so quickly!  Without that, those three would be casing another home today.

Each officer that spoke to me was sympathetic and sensitive to me & my situation such that I want to write to you both and let you know how wonderful they all were.  I'm going to list them all here and hope I have the correct spelling:

Officer Vinson
Officer Thomas
Sgt Russell
Det Hall
Det Witson
Det Rivera
Det Jackson

I hope I haven't left out the officer that came to collect the blood evidence.  I just don't remember his name.  You were all wonderful.  Thank you!!

The hero is my neighbor, Shawn, who took it upon himself to watch those 3 suspicious persons and then directed the officers to them as they were fleeing the scene.  Without him, the police would not have gotten to my house at all or at least not in time to make the arrest.

I also appreciate the tips the Officers gave me in order to make my house more secure.

Thanks again very very much!!!

Nancy Coombs
XXX 33rd St
510-847-XXXX

 

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I want to take a minute to commend two officers on your staff that just took a police report on a theft from two of my vehicles on XXX Seacliff Ct that occurred early Monday morning.

Officers Cantrell and J. Franco were both very professional, thorough and courteous in conducting their duties regarding this incident. As police officers in Richmond, I have little doubt their job has its fair share of risks and challenges, and I sincerely appreciate and respect the effort the police department puts forth to protect us, our property and the community.   

Please pass this compliment on to them personally for their outstanding service, which is much appreciated. They set an excellent example for the Richmond Police Department.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to support your efforts.    

Best regards,

Steven (Brad) Copper
XXX Seacliff Court
Richmond, CA.