New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: law enforcement

The OCDA is hosting a summer youth education conference for students interested in law enforcement

Posted on August 8, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, OCDA, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Date: August 8, 2016

OCDA HOSTS 17TH ANNUAL SUMMER YOUTH EDUCATION CONFERENCE FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Local high school students will have the opportunity this week to get a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be a prosecutor, defense attorney, police detective, and judge during the 17th annual Summer Youth Education Conference. This weeklong program began today and will include 35 to 40 hours of hands-on activities, culminating in a mock trial and a graduation ceremony on Friday, Aug. 12, 2016.

“This program is a great way for young people in our community to learn about the criminal justice system,” said District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. “Some of these students will one day serve our community as the next generation of prosecutors, police officers, and judges.” Continue reading→

Benavides, Reyna and Martinez rejected by two more law enforcement associations

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Alex Padilla, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Mirna Velasquez, Orange County, Paul Walters, Politics, Public Safety, Roman Reyna, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Both the Anaheim Police Association and the Peace Officers Research Association of California have rejected Santa Ana Council Members David Benavides and Michele Martinez as well as their colleague Roman Reyna, who is in the midst of an ill-advised Mayoral campaign.

This comes on the heels of rejections of these candidates by the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs. The Santa Ana Police Officers Association (SAPOA) also rejected Reyna and Martinez.

Reyna really stepped in it when SAPOA called him out after a picture of Reyna with two hard core gang bangers was posted on Facebook. He has since become toxic to the entire Santa Ana City Council majority, which recently splintered when Benavides attacked Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero. Continue reading→

Michele Martinez owes the Santa Ana Police Officers Association an apology

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Civic Affairs, Michele Martinez, Mirna Velasquez, Public Safety, Santa Ana 20 Comments

Santa Ana Councilwoman Michele Martinez was not endorsed this year by either the Santa Ana Police Officers Association or the Orange County Deputy Sheriffs Association but that has not stopped her or her friends from pretending otherwise.

Martinez is using a picture of herself with police officers on her campaign website and a PAC that supports her just sent out a mailer this week using the same picture – and the same message.

This is fraud. Martinez was rejected by our leading law enforcement associations for a reason – she has been on the wrong side of crime fighting and our police officers just don’t trust her any more. Nor should we. Continue reading→

OCDA to host 14th Annual Summer Youth Law Enforcement Education Conference

Posted on August 4, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, OCDA, Santa Ana

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: August 2, 2013

OCDA HOSTS 14TH ANNUAL SUMMER YOUTH EDUCATION CONFERENCE FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

SANTA ANA – Orange County high school students will have the opportunity next week to get a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be a prosecutor, police detective, and judge during the 14th annual Summer Youth Education Conference. This weeklong program will begin on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. and will include 35 to 40 hours of hands-on-activities, culminating in a mock trial and graduation ceremony on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013.

“This program is a great way for young people in our community to learn about the criminal justice system,” said District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. “Working with local teens is extremely important in helping these kids choose a positive path. Some of these students may serve our community and become the next generation of prosecutors, police officers, and judges.” Continue reading→

4th of July weekend DUI arrests were up from last year’s totals

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, NEWS
Contact: Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

Results of Independence Day Weekend Enforcement Operations

DUI arrests up from last year’s totals

SANTA ANA, CA (July 9, 2013) – The Independence Day Holiday anti-DUI enforcement operations has resulted in an increase in DUI arrests from local routine traffic enforcement and special ‘Avoid the 38’ DUIdeployments in Orange County.

From 12:01 a.m., Wednesday July 3, 2013 through midnight Sunday 7, 2013 officers representing 38 Orange County law enforcement agencies have arrested 247 individuals for driving under the influence of alcoholand/or drugs. (NOTE: These numbers are only provisional with some agencies yet to report). Continue reading→

O.C. Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony set for 5/29, in Tustin

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Orange County, Public Safety, Todd Spitzer, Tustin Leave a comment

SHERIFF-CORONER DEPARTMENT, COUNTY OF ORANGE, CALIFORNIA
MEDIA ADVISORY, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Jim Amormino, (714) 647-7042, Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

Orange County Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony
Law enforcement officers representing 40 Orange County agencies pay tribute to our fallen officers.

TUSTIN, CA – (May 24, 2013) – Charged with protecting those they serve, police officers put themselves in harm’s way to enforce the law. Unfortunately, some officers pay the ultimate price, laying down their own life in valiant service of others. In honor of these fallen heroes, the Sheriff’s Advisory Council and the Orange County Chiefs’ of Police and Sheriff’s Association (OCCPSA) have constructed a new Orange County Peace Officer’s Memorial Monument at the Regional Training Facility in Tustin. Continue reading→

RIP, Chief Greg Cooper

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

The man who served as Chief Paul Walters training officer when Walters first joined the Santa Ana Police Department has passed away following a prolonged battle with cancer. Retired Sanger PD Chief Greg Cooper (and former Santa Ana Police Lieutenant) passed away at his home in Tustin, CA on Thursday, May 26th.

Cooper, who served honorably with the Santa Ana PD from1967 to 1992, had been battling ocular melanoma and, subsequently, liver cancer for the past several years. He had recently been hospitalized but chose to return home on Thursday and was surrounded by family and close friends at the time of his death.

He left Santa Ana to become the Chief of the Sanger Police Department from 1992 to 1996. Sanger is located in Fresno County about 13 miles outside the city of Fresno and is known as “The Nation’s Christmas Tree City”.

In addition to his active duty policing career, many California Police Chiefs and Sheriffs interacted with Greg in a variety of other capacities. He was instrumental in furthering the outreach efforts and providing training and technical assistance as an Assistant Director in the COPS Office at USDOJ (1996-2002). He later served as the Chief Security Officer/Director of Security for FEMA and the subsequent integration of that agency into the Department of Homeland Security during his time there (2002-2008). Greg was also recognized as a subject matter expert and was often called upon by POST to provide training throughout the state in SWAT, the Incident Command System and Community Policing.

Greg was also a Sergeant in the USMC (1963-1967) and a Vietnam veteran.

A viewing will be held on Monday, May 30th from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at the Saddleback Mortuary, 220 East Main Street, Tustin, CA 92780.

Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, June 1st at 11:00 AM at Red Hill Lutheran Church, 13200 Red Hill Ave., Tustin, CA 92780.

Greg was originally from Minnesota so an additional service will be held in St. Paul, Minnesota on June 6th at 10:00 AM at the O’Halloran and Murphy Funeral Home, 575 Snelling Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55116. Final internment will be at 12:45 at Ft. Snelling.

Should anyone wish to make a donation in Greg’s memory, his family has indicated his charities of choice would be the Wounded Warrior Program and Habitat for Humanity.

Click here to read Cooper’s obituary, from the Aitkin Independent Age newspaper.