Zenith 12000 - Chp1010.com
Transcription
Zenith 12000 - Chp1010.com
V. 61 / 2014 real life memories pg.10 How Zenith 12000 Got its name pg. 4 photos from the field pg. 32 TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES 4 How Zenith 12000 Got Its Name 6 Zenith 12000: A Journey Back in Time by David Reynolds, Senior Volunteer (V1303) by Thora Chaves (A14584), Editor Commissioner Joseph A. Farrow Deputy Commissioner Ramona Prieto Assistant Commissioner, Field Warren Stanley Assistant Commissioner, Staff Jon Rodriguez ARTICLES 10 Real Life Memories from an Old Cardboard Box by Officer Mike Spicer (9020) retired, Senior Volunteer (V44001) 12 Centennial Club: Lieutenant Eugene Davidson by Greg Geeting, Senior Volunteer (V1301) 14 MAIT: Making Sense of the Mayhem 16 Louise Pankey: Four Decades of Dedication and Loyalty by Greg Geeting, Senior Volunteer (V1301) PEOPLE 17 Safety, Service, and Security 32 Photos from the Field Zenith 12000 Captain John Price Lieutenant Kelly Clarke-Cardoza Officer Evan Beaver Editor Thora A. Chaves Contributing Writers Verna Dreisbach Greg Geeting David Reynolds Mike Spicer The Zenith 12000 is the official publication for the California Highway Patrol (CHP), is the property of the CHP, and is not intended for the general public. Electronic Editions are now available from the Zenith staff. Send an electronic mail (e-mail) to Zenith@chp.ca.gov Timely, free, and healthy for the environment; a portable document file of the magazine will be sent to you via your e-mail. California Highway Patrol Office of Community Outreach and Media Relations (916) 843-3310 www.chp.ca.gov Zenith@chp.ca.gov CHP Headquarters P.O. Box 942898 Sacramento, CA 94298 H H H Commissioner’s Corner H H This issue of Zenith 12000 celebrates the magazine’s 60th anniversary. When Zenith 12000 debuted in 1954: • Dwight Eisenhower was President of a nation with 48 states and 163 million people; • Bernard Caldwell was Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol; • On average, a new car cost about $2,000, and a house about $20,000; • Gas sold for less than 30¢ per gallon, and bread for less than 20¢ per loaf; • A first class letter needed only a three-cent stamp! Joe Farrow, Commissioner Much has changed in 60 years. However, throughout political successions, economic upturns and downturns, and much social evolution, Zenith 12000 has remained a steadfast chronicle of our Department. It has covered events which were heartwarming, somber, stirring, mundane, and magnificent. Moreover, it has consistently reflected the CHP’s principles and values through reports and depictions of our officers and employees serving the public with distinction as they do every hour of every day. This 60th Anniversary issue of Zenith 12000 offers a journey into the past six decades through stories and pictures which highlight some unique individuals. And as always, this issue covers the excellent work being accomplished in each of our Divisions. Noted American historian David McCullough said, “History is who we are, and why we are the way we are.” In keeping with that thought, I present to you this special issue of Zenith 12000. For 60 years, Zenith 12000 has showcased who we are and has told the unfolding story of our history. C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Y e a r s 3 How Zenith 12000 By David Reynolds (V1303), Senior Volunteer Long before 9-1-1 became the nationwide phone number for emergencies, much of California was serviced by a different number: Zenith 12000. While telephone exchanges, which were commonplace in 1954, are relegated to the history books, the original emergency number lives on as the name of the CHP’s magazine, Zenith 12000. Since “Zenith 12000” was already well known at that time to many Southern California residents, including CHP Officer George Bessler, he suggested it as the name of the Highway Patrol’s official magazine. Then Commissioner Bernard Caldwell agreed and the name has stuck for 60 years, though the phone system that created it has faded into the mists of time. The CHP’s association with the emergency phone system started Got Its Name with Zenith 12000 and continues to evolve to this day. The CHP was founded in 1929 when telephone systems were in their infancy, but by 1954, telephone exchanges with human operators were common. When someone had an emergency and needed police, fire, or emergency medical assistance, they found a phone, Zenith cartoon from June 1955 which were far from common — and dialed a local the exchange name “Zenith”—and telephone exchange. According to the numbers “1-2000.” Wikipedia, telephone directories By February 1, 1954, the tolllisted numbers starting with free call to Zenith 1-2000 was the two letters indicating the made available statewide for exchange, followed by a five motorists encountering true traffic digit number. In Los Angeles, emergencies. the number residents used when disaster struck was ZE—short for Original logo from 1954 4 Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 Like the phone system, the magazine has also evolved over the past 60 years. The premier issue of Zenith 12000 was published on August 14, 1954. It was printed in black and white, contained five photographs, and was only eight pages long. The cover stories celebrated the 25th anniversary of the CHP and creation of the Zenith 12000 magazine. In the Logo from the 1970s cover article, then Commissioner Bernard Caldwell was quoted as saying, “Zenith 12000 is designed, prepared, and published as a source of information about the Patrol, its activities, and its people.” Los Angeles Switchboard exchange circa 1954. Much has changed in the 60 years since the first Zenith 12000 issue was published. The CHP’s commitment to rapidly respond to emergency calls, though, is unwavering and Thora Chaves (A14584), current editor of the Zenith 12000 promises “the memories of our works and deeds will continue in the pages of the Zenith 12000.” n Logo from the 1960s Replacing Zenith 1-2000 was a system that has its origins in 1939 Britain. Residents there dialed “999” to report emergencies. By 1967, President Lyndon Johnson and Congress agreed there was a need for a single emergency phone number. The 9-1-1 system began its nationwide rollout in 1968. The system has evolved over the years, and in 2012, the CHP received more than seven million emergency 9-1-1 calls. The look throughout the 1980s This logo was used during the 1990s and early 2000. C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Y e a r s 5 Zenith 12000: A Journey Back in Time August 1954 Embarrassing Moment A humorous, but embarrassing development occurred at the Winterhaven resident post. The officer climbed into his car one recent morning, started it up, shifted into gear… and nothing happened. It was one of the new experimental Olds that has been shuttling through the district, and the officer was quick to check for the difficulty. He found it. The two rear wheels were missing and the car was sitting on blocks! Zenith 12000 presents a gallery of excerpts, pictures and commentary from 60 years of publication.There are photos from historic events, classic CHP commentary and humorous moments cut from the pages of our magazine. In the end, we hope that this journey back provides readers with a sense of the highs and lows as well as the far more numerous daily trifles of the California Highway Patrol. September 1961 Baseball Brings Drop in Thefts Baseball and television may combine to reduce the number of auto thefts, reports an agent of the National Auto Theft Bureau in San Francisco, albeit tongue in cheek. Ordinarily, there are 25 to 30 car thefts daily in San Francisco. When the Giants televised two of their away games recently, auto thefts fell to 4 the first night, and 6 the second evening, or a 75 percent reduction. July 1965 Rollerskating Rampage San Jose Area Officer Jack Hodson located a nine-year-old blonde on the Junipero Serra Freeway after a frantic 15-minute search in heavy traffic. The youngster had roller skated on the four-lane freeway for about two miles vieing with cars. Although no citation was issued, the girl’s mother dealt a sound spanking on the spot. Dispatcher Geri Rush received the first of nine calls from alarmed motorists at 5:45 p.m. 6 First Quarter 1959 - Big Melee The newly opened “Big Cut” approach to the new Carquinez Bridge looked very much like an automobile “junkyard” for a few hours on Thanksgiving Day morning. Heavy fog was blamed for the first rear end collision that set off a chain reaction that resulted finally in 34 cars piling up on both sides of the divided highway, and at least 32 persons injured. The new road and bridge had been opened to traffic only two days before Thanksgiving Day. February 1969 - Mini-Skirts are Safety Aid Is a lady pedestrian safer in a mini-skirt after dark? The following statement from the American Automobile Association indicates that she is: “The headlights of modern cars aim downward and readily pick up the stockings or bare legs of women in the beam. Naturally, the more stocking or leg exposed, the easier it is for motorists to spot and thus prevent an accident.” Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 By Thora Chaves (A14584) February 1956 TV Series Captures Number One Spot Current television program ratings indicate that the show, “Highway Patrol,” is the number one spot television show in the Nation. spring 2000 - But the Sign Says “No Parking” Videodex lists “Highway Patrol” as showing in 18.7 percent of the Nation’s TV equipped homes for an estimated audience of 15,000,000 viewers. This 737 overshot the Hollywood Burbank Airport runway and ended up on a city street close to a “No Parking” sign. Altadena Area Sergeant Dan Hart (13580) and Officer Kris Holm (15619) are searching for the right section to cite. Photo taken by Lieutenant Alan Henderson (5932). Spring 2000 - Ventura Area and Alaska Flight 261 Alaska Airlines and the CHP will always remember January 31, 2000. It was on this day that Alaska Airlines Flight 261 plunged into the Pacific Ocean 10 miles off of Ventura Area coastline. Officer Dave Webb (12076) recalls the events surrounding this horrible accident. Officer Webb said CHP received the initial call about the plane crash. Subsequently, every available officer responded to the beaches to secure the scene and watch for survivors. Initially, small pieces of the plane and body parts were retrieved. A man’s torso and a baby were also found at sea. As personal items were located, they were categorized and laid in a hangar at Point Mugu Naval Air Base. The two pilots, three cabin crew members, and 83 passengers on board were killed and the aircraft was destroyed. Of the 83 passengers 81 were U.S. citizens. C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 October 1965 - Watts Riots Traffic Officer Paul Adams assists Los Angeles Police and National Guardsmen check a car and its occupants at a curfew area during the bloody Watts riots. Two suspects are being held while their car is being searched for stolen goods. The six-day unrest resulted in 34 deaths, 1,032 injuries, 3,438 arrests, and over $40 million in property damage. Adams, one of 70 CHP officers participating with other police agencies, is assigned to the Norwalk Area. Y e a r s 7 October 1961 - Loss of Pies May Have Saved Lives A sizable number of pies won’t be baked because of his actions, but the alert thinking of Officer Harry Hamill, Merced Area, probably saved many persons from death or serious illness due to insecticide poisoning. Hamill was working the scales north of Livingston on U.S. 99 when he discovered a vehicle with one axle overloaded. During the shifting of cargo he noticed that the contents were 14,000 pounds of pie flour, destined for a Fresno baking company, plus a quantity of toxic insecticides. Calculating the danger, he contacted Sergeant Frank Coburn, who summoned the health department, which agreed the flour should be tested. The truck was allowed to continue to Fresno, where it was met by the Patrol and health authorities. Tests showed the flour was contaminated and it was destroyed. January 1965 - First Quarter 1958 - A Horse of Course! If you lead a horse to water, that’s one thing – but when he takes the trip in your sports car, that’s another matter. “Impossible,” you say. “It just can’t happen.” But you better believe it, just ask the Ventura Area office about a pony named Gambler. Gambler showed up as a passenger not long ago right along side of a 29-year-old Santa Barbara motorist driving north on Highway 101 above Malibu in his foreign sports car. Somehow Gambler got out of his pasture and was galloping north on the freeway. No, the motorist didn’t stop and offer Gambler a ride. The horse ran in front of the car and got it in the rear at 65 miles an hour. He flew in the air and landed in the seat. The motorist swerved over and stopped. The horse got out and galloped away without even saying goodbye. ‘Copter Offers Assistance A Navy helicopter skipper’s offer to use the windmill blades of his “chopper” to blow out a fire that was consuming a wrecked pickup truck on Rindler Hill late yesterday afternoon was briefly considered, then politely declined by CHP officers. The unidentified pilot proposed that he take his craft aloft again, position it over the burning truck, then “give it a good blow,” by revving up the engine. “It may have been a good idea – we’ll never know,” said Officer Joe White, “because just then an East Vallejo fire truck drove up.” And just as the truck arrived, the gasoline tank on the pickup exploded with a muffled boom, spreading flames about 30 feet into the air, and perhaps giving the helicopter pilot reason to be glad he wasn’t hovering over the fire. 8 November 1955 - Why Me? A driver is still wondering why he was recently booked in the Placer County Jail so rapidly. He was driving at 60 miles per hour, according to witnesses, in the vicinity of Meadow Vista School where a 25 miles per hour limit is posted. A nearby farmer, Richard B. Langner, heard the sound of squealing tires while watering his pasture near the road, and then a crash. He hurried to the scene. The two had been injured slightly when their car left the roadway. The driver appeared woozy, so Langner asked if he had been drinking. “Yes, but please don’t call the cops,” the driver pleaded. Langner didn’t have to. He is Captain of the Roseville Area office of the CHP. Fourth Quarter 1957 New 650 IBM Machine With the push of a button CHP Commissioner B.R. Caldwell recently set into motion the patrol’s new IBM 650 magnetic drum processing machine, an electronic device, which will greatly reduce the tedious number of hours required to provide the statistical breakdowns so essential in the constant struggle to control the traffic on California’s vast network of rural highways. Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 May 1973 - Second Quarter 1959 Roseville Train Explodes and Shrapnel Strikes Patrol Car – A large explosion that sent flaming fragments across the front of the Roseville Area patrol car, bounced Motorist “Squawks” About Arrest The following letter was written to the CHP. Twenty-one dollars for 75 miles per hour! This is a squawk. That dratted so-and-so of an officer was so darned pleasant and pleasingly diplomatic that the charge and the fine were almost painless. Putting out twenty-one dollars is a very painful thing for me and then to have it done in such a pleasant way as to remove the sting is too-too much. back into the windshield, left the front corner post and rolled back over the roof stunned Officer Barnes momentarily but he continued assisting at the disaster scene. When the bombs started exploding in the railroad yard near Roseville, April 28, the CHP played a major role in providing emergency assistance. Emergency personnel participation included 107 officers and 64 vehicles. January 1965 What No Pencil? Officer Troy Doan, patrolling Highway 101 saw a man standing on the shoulders of another man spraying a telephone pole with a can of spray paint. “What are you trying to do?” asked Doan. “Pointing an arrow on the pole to point to a note I have written to the Highway Patrol that my car has stalled,” replied the motorist. C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 July 1973 Captain Richard Drolette (1773), summarizing the rapid mobilization effort required to handle the disaster scene, said “I can honestly say that I have never seen our personnel, the personnel of allied agencies, my superiors and the general public perform so well and coordinate so effectively as I witnessed during this disaster.” The officer walked to the roadway side of the car where he found this message sprayed into the pavement a foot high: “Broken down, will be back for it.” “No pencil?” asked the officer. “No,” said the driver. “Well, why didn’t you spray the note on your car?” “If I did that, I wouldn’t be able to get it off.” Doan gave the two men a ride to a garage for mechanical assistance after issuing a citation for defacing a public highway. n Y e a r s Critters Sacrificed Occasionally it becomes the duty of an officer to sacrifice the life of an animal – to ensure the safety of the officer and to eliminate any unnecessary suffering on the part of the critter. An unofficial survey indicates the number of critters shot in the line of duty from 1971-73 to be: deer-82, dogs-33, cows-36, horses-20, bulls-3, rattlers-4, burrow-2, sheep-2, coyote-1, eagle-1, rabbit-1, baboon-1, opossum-1, raccoon-1, and pig-1. 9 By Retired Officer Mike Spicer (9020), Senior Volunteer (V44001) Real Life Memories from an Old Cardboard Box I n a small hotel lobby in Lemoore, California, Sperry Morton looks on in stunned astonishment. “These are pictures of your father, Officer Bill Morton,” I say as tears well up in the 76 year-old Vietnam veteran’s eyes. The Morton family had been searching in vain for information about Officer Morton, only to have the trail turn cold. Gazing upon the pictures of Hanford Area’s first Highway Patrolman was the end of a frustrating journey. The Mortons had in their possession only one photo of an aging Bill Morton sitting on a couch. That changed in the summer of 2013 when Hanford Public Information Officer Adam Barresi (18493) came upon an item known as “the Box” neatly tucked away in the crevices of the Hanford Area office. The find revealed a treasure trove of photographs dating back to 1929. and others less so. In the case of the Morton’s, it’s a bittersweet story. Officer Bill Morton, being Kings County’s first motor officer, ruled the road and was both a legend and exemplar of the reputation that the patrol enjoys today. He married Ivy Morton and had two boys. In 1936, Ivy Morton was tragically killed in an automobile accident. It was the depression era; being a working single father of two was challenging at best and the boys were sent off to a Christian family farm in Porterville. Officer Morton was eventually married again to a nurse Genevieve Sperry. This union produced Sperry Morton. One question had always plagued Sperry Morton. How did his The find revealed a treasure trove of photographs dating back to 1929. parents meet? Digging through online newspaper archives, I discovered that Officer Morton was critically injured in an onduty motorcycle accident only five months after his first wife, Ivy, was killed. To the Mortons, the officernurse connection revealed that the two most likely met while he was convalescing. Although this would seem like a wonderful love story, Although the photographs are considered a great discovery, it is the stories connected to them that are most intriguing. Some reveal happy times PORTERVILLE 10 Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 tragedy was lurking just around the corner. When Sperry was sixyears old, his mother, Genevieve, contracted Polio and died, leaving the young boy to eventually join his older stepbrothers on the farm. for Hanford CHP Officer Dean Esquibel. Esquibel was killed in the line of duty on August 21, 1985. Proceeds will also benefit “Fernando’s Station,” a memorial at the Area’s gas pumps for the late Automotive Services Mechanic Fernando Hernandez, who died from cancer. n The story of the Morton family and Officer Morton’s service to the CHP has peaked the interest of the Area’s retirees and formed the Hanford CHP Historical Project. Using the photographic treasures from “the Box,” the group is currently working on a pictorial book with stories from 1929 to the present. Proceeds from the book will replace the aging office memorial C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Y e a r s 11 100 By Greg Geeting (V1301), Senior Volunteer Centennial Club: Lieutenant Eugene Davidson RESOLVED, by the Commissioner and the men and women of the California Highway Patrol that Lieutenant Eugene Davidson (705) is recognized and thanked for his many exceptional and dedicated years of service to the people of California, and is wished a happy and wonderful 100th birthday. Commissioner Joseph A. Farrow (9486) — September 4, 2013 1913 On a beautiful fall afternoon, seated comfortably in his recliner at his apartment in the Las Brisas Retirement Community in San Luis Obsipo, Lieutenant Eugene Davidson (705) graciously spent more than 90 minutes with Zenith 12000. Lieutenant Davidson, we know that you were born in Nova Scotia, Canada (September 4, 1913), but if you were telling your own life story, where would you begin? I would begin with my earliest recollection, which is of living in the family housing of an open pit copper mine in Nevada. This would have been somewhat before 1920. My father worked on horseback, as did many of the guys. I really admired how he could handle a horse. Many young people from Canada had been attracted to the Nevada copper mines. It was a hard life, particularly for my mother, as the housing was quite rough, but she always did the best she could for us. Later on, our family moved to Northern California where my father worked for a lumber company. Eventually your family settled in the Bay Area and you graduated from Castlemont High School in Oakland in 1930. What motivated you to get out on your own? A girl – said Davidson with a twinkle in his blue eyes – she became my 12 A retired Lieutenant Davidson traveling the globe on his sailing skiff the Island Childe. first wife, Elizabeth. We headed off for Reno on the train. My mother tried to stop us from getting married by calling the sheriff’s office in Reno, but we were determined. Later on (1935), we had a daughter, Martha. Living in the Great Depression and trying to pursue higher education at the same time must have been a real challenge. Tell us a little about those times. Yes, those times were difficult. I worked, when I could, as a golf caddy. I’d go twice around the course in a day if possible to make extra money. I sold hardware too. But I guess I was luckier than many guys because I was really good at one thing – believe it or not – that was window trimming. I had pretty regular employment with the F. W. Woolworth Company, including decorating the windows of their signature store in downtown San Francisco. I also attended Merritt Business School in Oakland and the University of California, Berkeley. I studied mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley, as best I can recall, and I also ran long distance on the track team. I was always a very good runner. Maybe that’s what helped me live this long! Now, you went into law enforcement initially with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office in 1941. What brought you to that decision? Actually, it was my mother’s advice. I had worked for a long time as a window trimmer. While I enjoyed that work, I was afraid I wasn’t going to find anything more meaningful. I was practically in tears when discussing the subject with my mother one day. She suggested that I follow in my stepfather’s footsteps and join a police department. Something about that advice just clicked with me, so off I went. The United States joined the Second World War at almost exactly the same time you joined the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, and we Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 Now, during my first assignment – to Visalia in the late 1940s – it was a major job to keep the roads running smoothly because so many motorists needed help changing tires. Tires in those days were cord ply and pretty easily punctured. Out in the central valley, of course, trucks carried produce from the fields to the canneries and processing plants in wooden boxes. Jiggling around on the trailer beds, many of the nails holding the boxes together came loose and fell onto the road. So, motorists had flat tires right and left, and we got pretty good at changing them! By far my most memorable assignment came later in Davidson’s CHP career when he served as coordinator for the Presidential Motorcade of President John F. Kennedy in Berkeley, 1962. President Kennedy had a very strong and definite handshake, said Davidson, grasping my hand to illustrate. Kennedy was a PT Boat commander during World War II, and he had a handshake to match! Once he shook your hand, you never forgot it. It was a privilege to meet him and to coordinate the motorcade. I’ll never forget that experience. In the 45 years since you retired from the CHP, you’ve done lots of interesting and challenging things. Tell us about some of them. Having lived much of my life in the Bay Area, I came to really enjoy sailing. So, one of the first things I 2013 know that you volunteered to serve in the Army in 1942. Tell us a little about your wartime experience. I was selected – along with several other police officers and insurance investigators who had volunteered for the Army – to attend specialized training at the FBI’s school. The FBI training was top notch. We were then assigned to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which was attached to the Army Provost Marshall’s Office. Now most GIs were men of integrity, but there were a few who – unfortunately – committed serious crimes, including major theft, embezzlement, counterfeiting, even murder. Our job was to investigate and bring these serious criminals to justice. We were quite successful. Just after World War II, I met and married my second wife, Annamae. Our daughter Sandy was born in 1947, about the same time I joined the CHP. Now you served as a CHP Officer for more than 20 years, including assignments in Visalia, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area. Tell us a little about those years. First, I do have to say that I’ve always had the highest regard for my fellow CHP officers. As a whole, they really embodied the qualities reflected in the seven-point shield: character, courtesy, honor, integrity, judgment, knowledge, and loyalty. I’m extremely proud to have been a part of the CHP. did was purchase a 35-foot sailboat – Island Childe – and spent more than two years sailing around the world. Island Childe, which is still in service, is a classic John Alden design, very stable and durable. It saw us through several scares in that long voyage. I had a number of different people crew with me, and I enjoyed every minute…well almost every minute! After selling Island Childe in 1973, I moved to Oregon and spent about 17 years acquiring and remodeling distressed houses. I have always been pretty good with tools, and working on houses was a great pleasure for me. The completed houses made great homes, and I enjoyed seeing families move in. During the past 20 years or so, I have continued to work with wood, but on smaller scale projects. So, in reflecting on 100 years, what’s the secret for a long and happy life? What message do you want to leave us with? Most important, I think, is to do what you’re interested in and to take pride in doing your best. It’s also important to take life as it comes. You can’t always control what will happen, but you can always control how you respond to what life sends your way. Finally, believe in yourself and maintain your personal sense of honesty and integrity. If you do those things, then your life will be happy and complete no matter how long it may be in calendar years. n Lieutenant Davidson served as coordinator of the Presidential Motorcade when President John F. Kennedy visited Berkeley in 1962. C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Y e a r s 13 MAIT Making Sense of the Mayhem On May 21, 1976, a charter bus carrying 52 people traveled off the roadway, plummeted 22 feet, flipped over, and landed on its roof causing the roof to collapse. Twenty-eight students from Yuba City High School and one teacher died in the collision. The collision occurred at an off-ramp south of the BeniciaMartinez Bridge near Martinez, California. Following this tragedy, it became apparent that the Department did not have the resources or expertise to manage and investigate such incidents. In 1978, the CHP formed a statewide team of highly trained experts to handle complex investigations. This was the beginning of the Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT). Despite federally mandated regulations, laws, and safety measures, motor vehicle collisions continue to take the lives of our nation’s citizens on a daily basis. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 34,080 people died in motor vehicle traffic collisions in 2012, an increase of 5.3 percent from the previous year. This increase in traffic fatalities in California ranks third highest in the country and it emphasizes the need for in-depth MAIT investigations. MAIT utilizes extensive training and state of the art technology to investigate collisions. Since the CHP established MAIT, there has been a substantial increase in the number of personnel assigned to the program, the number of investigations completed, as well as advancements in technology. In 1978, MAIT investigated 24 cases utilizing two teams; one in Valley Division and another in Southern Division. In 2012, the MAIT Program Valley Division MAIT unit: Officer Steve Ruppert (14530), Motor Carrier Specialist I Robert Gillerstrom (A15368), Sergeant Steve Day (14879), 14 Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 conducted 264 investigations with MAIT investigators assigned to every Division. The number of investigations increased 12.9 percent from 2011 to 2012 alone. The people of MAIT have repeatedly demonstrated their expertise in complex investigations, proving that they Southern Division MAIT personnel setting up the Leica High-Definition Surveying 3600 ScanStation at a large tunnel collision are indispensible involving multiple commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles. to the Department, allied agencies, and collision investigations, departmental shooting to the public. They utilize extensive training and state investigations, and allied agency investigations. of the art technology to investigate collisions. The Remember that MAIT is an asset for use by the technology used in the field of collision reconstruction Department when the needs of the investigation is ever changing. Data recording methods have exceed the expertise of field personnel. If the improved over time from physical tape measurements investigation requires the assistance of MAIT, run the to mechanical surveys to electronic surveys to Global request up the chain of command. Their job is to help Positioning Systems (GPS) and finally to electronic ensure a thorough and complete investigation, and to scans of an entire scene. provide closure to the families that have been greatly As a result of the training, the experience of team personnel, and the significant peer review, MAIT is continually requested to assist with departmental affected by such events. n Officer Jason Hamilton (14546), Officer Darrell Nishimi (13891), Caltrans Senior Transportation Engineer Jim Pursell. C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Y e a r s 15 Louise Pankey: Four Decades of Dedication and Loyalty By Greg Geeting (V01301), Senior Volunteer Louise Pankey (A2555), Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor II in the Los Angeles Communications Center (LACC), is the longest tenured of all current CHP employees. Pankey is a native of southern California, graduating from Pasadena’s John Muir High School in 1960. After attending Glendale City College, she was employed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena where she worked on the Ranger Program, a series of unmanned space missions that took the first closeup images of the Moon’s surface. Later, Pankey became the Business Office manager for a local car dealership before leaving the workforce to become a fulltime mother in 1965. In a recent interview for Zenith 12000, Pankey was kind enough to tell about her journey as an administrative employee with the CHP, a journey that now spans more than four decades. So, what brought you to the CHP? I had been a full-time mother for five years, but my first husband and I divorced in 1970, which caused me to reassess my life. I knew it would be necessary to return to work. My brother, who was a CHP officer at the time, brought me a CHP Radio Dispatcher testing announcement and encouraged me to apply. Although it seemed ambitious, I filed my application in December 1970. Much to my surprise, my application was accepted, and I scored high enough on the civil service examination to be reachable. Following the background check, I was hired in April 1971. I have spent my entire CHP career at the LACC, being promoted to public safety dispatch supervisor I in 1981, and then public safety dispatch supervisor II in 1983. We know that you jokingly say that you’re “just one bad day away from retirement.” On a serious note, though, what are your thoughts on retirement? I must admit that I do ask myself why I haven’t retired from time to time. 16 The answer is always pretty simple: I enjoy what I do. For me, this is not really “work” in the negative sense the word seems to have acquired. In fact, I regret that the word has gotten negative overtones, because I believe that how you feel about what you’re doing is entirely up to you. A person has to take charge of his or her attitude – try to make a bad situation better and a good situation great! I’m thankful that I have been blessed with excellent health. I actually look forward to getting up at 4:00 a.m. and getting each day on the move. What do you regard as the most significant event of your tenure with the CHP? Though I can recall a number of significant events, I believe the 1992 Los Angeles riots – often associated with Rodney King – had the most impact and influence on the community we serve. The danger to the public and the devastation were widespread. The CHP’s rapid response – mobilizing resources from throughout the state – was extraordinary. The LACC was one of the major staging areas for equipment and personnel and I was immensely proud to be part of that incredibly efficient and effective effort to protect lives and property. Over the 20 years since the riots, I have had the opportunity to reconnect with many of the CHP personnel who were involved with that response as officers or sergeants and who are now returning as captains and assistant chiefs. What would you say have been the biggest changes in the CHP’s operations over your career? By far the biggest changes have had to do with the broader availability and the increasing sophistication of technology to accomplish the CHP’s mission. Safety, Security, and Service are – and always will be – the focus of this agency, but the technological means and wherewithal to accomplish that focus are constantly evolving. For example, dispatchers formerly documented information from the field on “radio cards.” The Computer Aided Dispatch system now in place has made a huge difference in response time, thoroughness, and accuracy. The LACC alone now answers more than three million 9-1-1 calls each year. Handling that volume would simply be impossible using the old system. Moreover, think The Los Angeles Communications Center answers more than three million 9-1-1 calls each year. of it from the public’s standpoint. When I started in 1971, individuals in distress had to dial the operator and ask for Zenith 12000, then wait for the transfer. Now they are immediately connected with a knowledgeable dispatcher who quickly analyzes and responds to their emergency. What a remarkable improvement! So, in conclusion, what advice do you have for those who might be contemplating a career in the CHP’s administrative ranks? The best advice I can give anyone for any job – as I mentioned before – is to maintain a positive attitude and not fall victim to the negative work mind-set that may surround you. Also, it’s vital to learn to communicate effectively, be appreciative, be organized, and take time to recharge yourself. Always do your very best, but recognize at the same time that building your skills and abilities takes time. Even after all these years, I’m still learning, and I’m still having a great time! n Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 Think Tank for Youth Headquarters is Fit 4 Life The CHP attended the Youth Traffic Safety Summit in September 2013 to meet with young people from across the state. As summer approached, headquarters (HQ) arranged a campus wide weight loss challenge called CHP Fit 4 Life. For three months, nine teams of six worked out, ate right, and participated in the dreaded, weekly weighins. Lessons learned included: exercise can be fun, just being conscious of what you eat can help reduce weight, and body fat testing is humbling. In the end, team “Weapons of Mass Reduction” took the gold with a total loss of 60.5 pounds of fat. The top female loser was Information Officer II, Jaime Coffee (A13539), and top male loser was Clint Hightower (A16024) from the Commercial Vehicle Section. Weight loss coordinator Officer Cyndi Mitchell (16832) hangs with half of the winning team members from Weapons of Mass Reduction: Lieutenant Kelly Cardoza (13158), Information Officer II Jaime Coffee (A13539) and Sergeant Veronica Gonzalez (13191). Photo by Deputy Commissioner Mona Prieto (9009) Officers James Bettencourt (16149), Pandi Crandall (18141), Mary Bailey (18105), and Ralph Cervantez (18190) travelled to Anaheim for the summit. The annual event was spearheaded by Friday Night Live. The CHP shared ideas on what each student can do to stop distracted and drunk driving and what programs are available to help spread the safe driving message among teens. I-80 Challenge a Success The CHP joined 11 other state highway patrol agencies across the nation to participate in the “I-80 Challenge.” The goal was zero fatalities on the 2,900 miles of Interstate 80 from California to New York from July 24 through July 31, 2013. The final week of the challenge ended with Fit 4 Life participants joining thousands of walkers from across the Sacramento area at the Capitol for the American Heart Association State Capitol Heart Walk. Overall the weight loss challenge helped HQ lose more than 300 pounds. Women in Law Enforcement CHP Headquarters, along with Valley Division, hosted a Women in Law Enforcement seminar on September 7, 2013, at the Academy. Interested applicants learned about career opportunities from successful officers, sergeants, lieutenants, captains, and chiefs. Commissioner Joe Farrow (9486) is a keynote speaker at the I-80 press conference in Iowa. The eight-day challenge was a success in California, the Golden State’s Interstate 80 corridor was free of fatalities, however; two people died in crashes occurring in Nebraska and Ohio. C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 A photo opportunity not to be missed. CHP employees gather for the Women in Law Enforcement career seminar at the Academy, September 7, 2013. Y e a r s 17 Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security headquarters Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security northern division 101 Heroic Behavior Captures Medal of Valor The courageous actions of two Northern Division officers captured the attention of the California State Firefighters’ Association (CSFA). The actions of Officer Brian Henderson (19066), a helicopter pilot out of Northern Division, and Officer Adam Garcia (17128) from Clear Lake Area office were honored with an Award of Valor from CSFA in October 2013. Officers Henderson and Garcia displayed exceptional judgment and ability to maintain their composure during two separate critical incidents. On July 5, 2012, Officer Henderson and Officer Tony Stanley (16722) were conducting a remote rescue operation of an injured hiker at Big Bear Lake in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. Upon exiting the helicopter, Officer Stanley was struck in the head by the helicopter rotor. Henderson summoned the aid of the injured hiker, Jeremy Kilburn, who was also a U.S. Air Force On October 5, 2013, Officers Henderson and Garcia received critical care physician. accolades and a medal for their heroic deeds. Recognizing the gravity of Stanley’s condition, Henderson inspected the blade and deemed the helicopter airworthy, configured it for medical evacuation, and positioned Kilburn and camp counselor, Elizabeth Fitch, on board to provide on-going medical attention to Stanley during the flight to the hospital. Henderson demonstrated judgment, swift action, and composure throughout this critical incident that was exemplary. On January 27, 2013, a man was driving his pickup truck northbound on state Route 29. The pickup was also occupied by two other passengers. Golf for a Good Cause On June 7, 2013, the 11-99 Foundation Golf Tournament was held at Tierra Oaks Golf Course in Redding. The Redding Area Squad presented 11-99 Foundation Northern Division Coordinator Mike Elder with two awards for his willingness and commitment to support the Redding Area and Northern Division 11-99 Foundation Golf Tournament for the past 12 years. Pictured, Redding Area Captain Jerry Flavin (10813), Northern Division Assistant Chief Todd Chadd (11355), Contra Costa Area Captain Todd Garr (13312), 11-99 Foundation Northern Division Coordinator Mike Elder, and Retired Northern Division Chief Alan Wolochuk (7977). 100 Percent for 9-1-1 Calls The Yreka Communications Center (YCC) achieved a National Emergency Number Association (CalNENA) rating of 100% for 9-1-1 calls answered within 10 seconds. For their efforts and dedication, the YCC received a Commissioner’s Unit Citation. The driver attempted to pass another vehicle, but slid sideways off the road’s edge and careened end-over-end before landing in a creek bed. Officer Garcia was on patrol a short distance away and responded to the collision. When Garcia arrived on scene, the engine compartment was just starting to ignite and smolder. The driver was standing outside of the vehicle; however, the passengers were still inside. The engine compartment quickly became fully engulfed in flames and the heat was intense. The driver and passenger doors were jammed shut, which prevented immediate extrication. Despite the intense heat, Garcia managed to pull both passengers through the driver’s window and drag them to a safe location. Garcia likely saved the pair from massive burns or death. 18 At the area’s October training day, PSD Sharon Summers (A13860) accepted the citation from Captain George Peck (12690). Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 division 201 San Andreas CHP and Calaveras Sheriff Stop Large Grow On June 6, 2013, after a citizen reported seeing irrigation tubing and possibly a submersible pump in Lake Tulloch to the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Maritime Unit, an investigation was conducted which led to the issuance of a search warrant for a rugged and remote area near the southwest edge of Lake Tulloch, north of the Stanislaus River. Assistance was requested from the CHP for air support and additional manpower on the ground during the operation. After the entry San Andreas Area CHP Officers Charlie Riley (18459), Tim Hinkson (19011), and Josh team made announcements and entered the Hawkins (19643) assisted Calaveras Deputies and Angels Camp Police Department’s camp and grow site, the suspects fled on K9 unit with service of the warrant. foot along a ridge northwest of the grow site. Auburn Area Officers Greg Norrgard (14506) and Joseph Hagerty (14621) hovered overhead in CHP Helicopter-24 and tracked the suspects while issuing commands via their public address system and directing San Andreas Area officers and deputies on the ground. Two Hispanic males were taken into custody without incident and were transported from the scene via boat and booked into the Calaveras County Jail. A total of 11,965 immature plants were seized and eradicated. Fallen Heroes Memorial Celebrity Golf Classic September 21, 2013, marked the start of the 2013 Fallen Heroes Memorial Celebrity Golf Classic and Celebrity Food and Wine events put on by the Woodland CHP Squad Club. The three-day event was held at the Yocha Dehe Golf Club and included a celebrity golf clinic and comedy show on September 21. September 22 saw a celebrity nine-hole golf tournament, celebrity poker tournament and a food and wine event with Chef Tyler Stone. The Celebrity Golf Tournament kicked off on the morning of September 23rd with hundreds of guests and players watching opening ceremonies that honored the fallen heroes that gave their all in the line of duty. Following the opening ceremony, the golfers took to the course for a beautiful day of golf. A powerful foursome, Sergeant Brent Shultz (12881), Commander Andrew Menard (12912), Commander Ryan Okashima (13231), Officer James Giraudo (12704). C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Y e a r s The evening concluded with a Opening ceremonies included a memorial procession honoring our fallen heroes. dinner and auction at the Yocha Dehe Clubhouse, all in order to raise funds to support the families of the fallen heroes. The Woodland Squad Club, in conjunction with the 11-99 Foundation, will utilize the funds raised to provide financial assistance to law enforcement personnel who have suffered hardships due to unforeseen injuries and illnesses. The Woodland Squad Club will also provide fellowships and support to its members and strive to improve the quality of life in the local community through involvement in children’s sports, education, safety programs and scholarships for college bound youths. 19 Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, valley Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, valley Service, and Security division 201 CPR Saves CHP Employee on Soccer Field Telecommunications Systems Analyst Anibal Rubina (A15691), an employee at CHP’s Telecommunications Section, collapsed on September 8, 2013, from an apparent heart attack while playing soccer at the California State University, Sacramento campus. Gold Run Golf Tourney Honored Officer Kettwig The 2013 Gold Run Golf Tournament honored the memory of Officer Todd Kettwig (13230). The beloved husband, father of two, and friend to many died at the age of 45 on May 20, 2013, after a two-year battle Without hesitation, his teammate Daryl Junnila, a Rocklin resident and senior information technology with pancreatic cancer. His last assignment with the CHP was as analyst for the County of Sacramento, rushed public information officer at the Gold to Rubina’s side and began cardiopulmonary Run office. resuscitation. Junnila (right) provided CPR for five minutes to Rubina (left), prior to CSUS Police Officer’s arrival. Sacramento State Police Officer Thelma Matthews then used an automated external defibrillator to help keep Rubina alive until paramedics arrived. Neil Young and His All Electric Ride A Truckee Area officer came upon a stranded motorist who was driving a fairly odd looking car. Upon making contact with the motorist, the officer discovered the driver was singer/songwriter legend Neil Young who had broken down in his one of a kind, million dollar, all electric vehicle at the top of Donner Summit. The Truckee Area office came to the famed singers rescue as they were able to get him off the freeway to safety. Young related he drives his all electric Neil Young and his all electric vehicle at the office in vehicle all over Truckee. North America promoting green sustainable living and encouraging less dependency on oil. After posing for a few photos and autographs he was able to repair his all electric vehicle and get back on the road. Officer James Laplante (17777) tees up at the hole-in-one shot. The Gold Run Squad Club hosted the event on September 30, 2013 at the Ridge Golf Club and Event Center in Auburn. Proceeds benefited the Todd Kettwig Fund, 11-99 Foundation, and Widows and Orphans Fund. After Neil Young was helped off the freeway to a safe location, he took the time to sign a guitar for longtime fan Beverly Phelps (A6558), CHP public safety dispatcher. Safety First Each May, Valley Division holds a Tow Truck inspection day at Cal Expo. Officers Verna Dreisbach (12900), Jennifer Jones (12310), and Toni Griffin (14498) are all part of the inspection team at Cal Expo. 20 Officer Jason Lyman (15265) mans the grill at the midpoint of the Gold Run tournament. Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 division 301 Motor Officer Training Challenge Reaps Rewards In August 2013, the top Golden Gate Division motor officers were invited to compete in the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Motor Officer Training Challenge held at Giants Stadium. The SFPD Training competition attracted 52 motor officers from police, sheriff and highway patrol departments from California, Oregon, and Nevada. The friendly training competition included maneuvering motorcycles through timed obstacle courses. The SFPD two-day training event had the motor officers wowing the many spectators with precision riding skills and great sportsmanship. Competing officers paid a nominal entrance fee and all proceeds benefited the San Francisco Police Activities League. Wall of Honor Unveiled at Golden Gate Division On October 10, 2013, Golden Gate Division unveiled the “Wall of Honor,” containing the names, images and replica badges of 37 CHP officers whose “End of Watch” concluded within the Golden Gate Division. Some 250 people gathered for a memorial tribute including officers, retired officers, families of the fallen and dignitaries. The event was held at 10 a.m. October 10 because it represents the call sign, 10-10, signifying the end of duty. The Santa Rosa Area percision riding team walked away with numerous trophies. Bay Bridge Trail Opens to the Public For the first time in history, pedestrians and cyclists have the chance to travel across the new East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Commissioner Joe Farrow (9486) and Chief Teresa Becher (12877) view the memorial wall after the unveiling. Two-thirds of the Bay Bridge Trail opened to the public on September 3, 2013, allowing visitors to traverse just past the span’s 525-foot signature tower. Opening day on September 3, 2013, at the new East Span of the San Francisco - Oakland Bay Bridge pedestrians and cyclists trail. Photo by Officer Sam Morgan (15114) New Harleys for Golden Gate Above: The new display proudly includes the jacket of Officer Richard L. Bakker (1968), end of watch December 14, 1975. Below: Each fallen officer has a photo and badge on the wall. California’s Great America parking lot in Santa Clara became the training ground for the new Harley Davidson Motorcycles in December 2013. Officer Gary Schroeder (20195) runs the cone gauntlet and becomes certified on his Harley. C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Y e a r s 21 Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, and Security goldenService, gate Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security S central division 401 We Know Who the Real Heroes Are Hitting It Out of the Park The tragic events of September 11, 2001, were for most Americans a profound call to action. Nearly everyone across the nation felt compelled to do whatever they could to help in any way possible and express new-found patriotism. From the crackle of radio-dispatch calls to the bagpipes that wailed Amazing Grace, the event at Schneider Electric’s California Memorial in Clovis detailed the horrific day and its aftermath. CHP Night at Chukchansi Park was a great success on August 1, 2013. Over 70 CHP officers as well as family members attended a soldout Minor League baseball game, with Through it all, several hundred spectators and many more approximately 10,000 in every kind of uniform — from police to military — stood in attendance. Family memories were somber and quiet. Eva Carabajal (18824), Lisa Brazil made and friendships Officers (12814), and Graceila Torres (17712) were a strengthened. few of the over 70 CHP officers and family that attended the CHP night at Chukchansi Park. Spreading the Word Central Division Public Information Officers Johnny Fisher (17126) and David Singer (16570) infiltrated a Clovis West High School football game, on September 21, 2013. CHP motors from the Fresno Area prepare for their part in the 2013 Clovis 9-11 Memorial, Officers Gabriel Perez (18883), Johnnie Contreras (14547), Jack Graham (15387), Sergeant Gil Peirsol (15326), Officers Axel Reyes (15468), and Vance Wedeking (15106). Women In Law Enforcement Seminar Central Division held a Women In Law Enforcement seminar on September 9, 2013. Central Division invited women to “Expect a challenge and take charge of their future!” Officers Fisher and Singer attend the Clovis West High School football game. They successfully spread the safety message of the CHP. Before the rain and wind ensued, they were able to sign up 16 families for their next Start Smart class. Special Honor for Mariposa Officer Who Thwarted Suicide Attempt Women currently working in the CHP, ranging from the level On November 6, 2012, Officer Tony Lassos (13051) was of officer to lieutenant, provided valuable information and able to stop an attempted suicide by a young woman on tools on how to initiate and complete the hiring process. the Williams Sell Bridge on Highway 49. In September 2013, Lieutenant Commander Becky Hagen presented a Commissioner’s Commendation to Lassos for his dedication to Safety, Service, and Security. Lieutenant Becky Hagan (16393) introduces Officers Ana Carreon (16072), Lisa Morgan (13200), Lisa Brazil (12814), Graceila Torres (17712), and Traci Galian (15986) to the attendees of the September seminar. 22 Lieutenant Commander Becky Hagen (16393) presents the Commissioner’s Certificate of Commendation to Officer Lassos in front of the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors. Photo by Officer Steven Lewis (18018) Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 Police Officer Memorial Run Zoofari FUNdraiser Held by Fresno Area CHP This race was developed to honor the police officers from Stanislaus County who were killed in the line of duty. To honor each of these heroes the start line, finish line, and each mile of the run is dedicated to one of the 15 fallen officers from Stanislaus County. Fresno’s Zoofari, a summertime tradition for over twenty years, took place at Fresno Chaffee Zoo on Saturday, August 11, 2013. Everyone present beat the heat with this allyou-can-eat ice cream FUNdraiser. The 2013 Memorial Run was held in Modesto on September 22. The event consisted of a half marathon, a 5k, and a free kids run where the children had to chase the “bad guy.” Guests satisfied their sweet cravings with frozen treats while strolling through the Zoo and getting the latest scoop on their favorite animals. Fresno Area officers scooped some of their favorite ice cream flavors. Relay for Life At Relay For Life events, communities across the globe come together to honor cancer survivors, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against a disease that has already taken too much. On June 22-23, 2013, the Fort Tejon Area participated in the local Relay for Life in Frazier Park in honor of the late Officer James Biehl (10273). The Area team raised a total of $1,600 for the cause. Photo taken by Barry Ailetcher. After the race, the participants and family members could visit the safety fair where there were K-9 demonstrations, SWAT Team members, McGruff the Crime Dog, vendors, crime prevention officers, and safety information. Officer David Singer (16570) gave participants the CHP scoop; a scoop of vanilla, strawberry or chocolate that is. James Crabtree, Shannon Biehl, Diann Biehl (widow of James Biehl) and Sergeant Zack Emmons (16037) are just a few of the relay participants. A Tough Mudder On July 13, 2013, six officers from the Fort Tejon Area completed the Tough Mudder Challenge which took place near Lake Tahoe. The Tough Mudder consisted of a 10 mile course with obstacles like “mud crawl” and “electro shock therapy.” The run was a success for the team and the Fort Tejon Area plans to send a team to the Tough Mudder annually. Sergeant Tony Dominguez (17606) and his daughter Emmie await the start of the Police Officer Memorial Run on September 22, 2013. C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Tough Mudders; Dan Garrish, CHP Officers Kent Kniffen (18266), Kelley Walker (13402), Brandon Richards (18165), Brian Moore (16050), friend Byron Young, Tony Christolear (17241) and Frank Romero (17301). Y e a r s 23 Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security S Southern division 501 Crossfit for a Good Cause The Southern Division 501 Club hosted a CrossFit Fundraiser event to raise money for the California Association of Highway Patrol Widows & Orphan’s Fund on September 28, 2013, in San Gabriel Valley. The 48 CrossFit participants included Lieutenant Johnny Starling, Officer Juan Galvan (19188), and Officer Saul Gomez. Also participating was San Diego Police Officer Chappie Hunter who recently had his lower leg amputated from a motorcycle accident. Stephanie Fetterman, daughter of fallen CHP Baldwin Park Officer, Noreen Vargas (12532), kicked off the event with a speech to Lieutenant Johnny Starling talk to participants (11744), performs a CrossFit about her mother, kettle bell swing. the only female officer to die in the line of duty, and what the Widows and Orphan’s Fund means to families of the fallen. The day’s workout included wall balls, burpees, and overhead lunges, to name a few of the CrossFit exercises. Officer Saul Gomez (17946), performing a CrossFit wall ball. X Games for LA The X Games in Los Angeles was an action packed sporting event which took place from August 1–4, 2013. Southern Division had a booth at the event, which can attract 100,000 people. The X Games are known for a youthful audience so the Division chose to focus on the Start Smart Program. Photo right: The X Games booth stayed busy throughout the day. Here, Officer Ivan Sanchez (20291) answers road safety questions. 24 Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 National Night Out Activities for Baldwin Park Busted and Sent Home On August 6, 2013, the Baldwin Park Area joined LA County Parks and Recreation at its National Night Out event in Rimgrove Drive Park in the unincorporated area of La Puente. Approximately 2,000 people attended this family event. On July 31, 2013, Officer K. O’Toole (13729) initiated an enforcement stop on a Toyota Camry on Interstate 605 in the city of Lakewood for a carpool violation. During the course of the enforcement stop, O’Toole confirmed that the driver was unlicensed in California and suspended in his home state of Iowa. Officer Rodrigo Jimenez (19045) and Officer Roberto Reyes (18729) manned the safety booth. They competed against Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputies and Los Angeles County Firefighters in a small bicycle race and won second place. Officer Jimenez and Officer Reyes manned the CHP safety booth. Southern Division’s Officer of the Year On May 29, 2013, South Los Angeles Area Officer Curtis Bryan (11993) was selected to be Southern Division’s Officer of the Year. Curtis takes pride in having served South Los Angeles for the past 26 years working the road, including 23 of those years as a CHP Motor in South Los Angeles. South Los Angeles Area Motor Squad, Captain Troy Lukkes (13798), Sergeant Joseph Dominguez (16927), Officers Rickie Williams Jr. (17783), Jose Diaz (16441), James Brown (14661), Curtis Bryan (11993), Retired Southern Division Chief Ed Gomez (4795), Officers Scott Wall (11661), Joseph Phillips (15760), Luis Montes De Oca (16852), Gregory Oberle (14298), Jason Lopez (18984), Melissa Handley (14701), Hamilton Kim (18745), and Brett Bergstrom (19050). C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Officer O’Toole’s discovery of 48 pounds of marijuana. While conducting a vehicle inventory prior to impound, O’Toole discovered a large quantity of marijuana inside the Toyota’s trunk. Officer O’Toole arrested the driver. The driver was found to be in possession of 12 tightly packed “bricks” of marijuana weighing 48 pounds. It was also determined that the driver had an outstanding arrest warrant, with nationwide extradition, out of the state of Iowa for transporting marijuana. Slow for the Zone In August, Santa Fe Springs Area Captain Dan Minor (13318) advised the motoring public in multiple press conferences and radio spots to avoid state Route 60 due to road work. He encouraged the public to use alternate routes, and re-enforced the message to slow for the cone zone and not drive distracted. Y e a r s Captain Minor, speaking at a press conference about a series of 55-hour long closures on state Route 60 freeway. 25 Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, borderService, and Security S division 601 Support for Kids with Cancer In August 2013, officers from the El Cajon Area participated in the annual “Kids with Cancer” event held in Julian, CA. The four-day event is held each year for children afflicted with cancer who come from less fortunate homes. Lending a helping hand to Kids with Cancer; Officer Joseph Nielsen (15817), Sergeant Amado Macias (12371), Officers Michael Edwards (14501), “CHiPper” Gene Harris (14786), Derek Stowers (18672), Kevin Pearlstein (15410), and Jonathan Bradshaw (17389). 26 Years of Dedication Reynold Aces His Game After 26 years of dedicated service, Public Safety Dispatcher Mark Dickerson (A8100) retired. Dickerson worked in the Orange County Communications Center (OCCC) for most of his career. In 2013, he was chosen as the Public Safety Dispatcher of the Year for the OCCC and was chosen as the 2012 Border Division Public Safety Dispatcher of the Year. Photo by Officer Agustin “Jon” Latosquin (15260) Dickerson shares his last day at work with colleagues and friends, Mark Williams (A10152), Tammy LeBeau (A10981), Mike Ritchie (A14285), Kelli Francis (A9806), Mark Dickerson, Captain Don Goodbrand (14882), Irene Sanchez (A9390), Commander Lieutenant Ryan Shackleford (15878), Sharon Delawder (A12511), Andrea Nicolas (A15041), Kim Diamond (A16002), Scott Wagner (A11327), and Valerie Cardenas (A9989). 26 Practically a Pro Officer Hal Corbin (13648) of the San Diego Area won a gold medal at the World Police and Fire Games on August 10, 2013. The games were held in Belfast, Ireland, where Corbin dominated the competition in golf. Not only is Corbin a great golfer, but he takes time out of his own schedule Officer Corbin sports his gold medal for Zenith. to give back to the office. In 2005, he and Sergeant Robert Hoeffs (12490) started the San Diego Area’s 11-99 Foundation Golf Tournament. Hoeffs lost his courageous battle with brain cancer in 2009, but Corbin continues with others to make the tournament successful. Kiwanis Officer of the Year On June 22, 2013, El Cajon Area Officer John K. Holm (15619) was the recipient of the Alpine Kiwanis CHP Officer of the Year. Officer Kevin Reynolds (18526) won the 2013 World Outdoor Racquetball (WOR) championships in Huntington Beach for the men’s Military/Police/ Fire singles division. Officer Holm is being presented his award by El Cajon Area Sergeant Frank Lamb (14795). Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 Best of the Best Border Division held their annual Employee Recognition Luncheon in Temecula on June 19, 2013. The El Cajon Area nominated three employees: Officer Gordon O’Rear (13253) was selected as the El Cajon Area Officer of the Year, Senior Volunteer Dennis Volz (V1968) was selected as the El Cajon Area Senior Volunteer of the Year, and Automotive Technician II Louis Spaulding (A10162) was selected as the Civilian of the Year. Free at Last On August 29th, Sergeant Mark Crofton’s (11255) retirement party was held at the El Cajon Area office. A group of retired officers from the Area came by for the send off. From left: William Chamberlain (10770), William Kirby (11141), Mark Crofton, Stan Hruza (12204), and Rich Abels (10403). Public Safety Memorial Honors Hometown Heroes On July 4, 2013, the City of Beaumont held a dedication ceremony for their new Public Safety Memorial. The monument bears the names of more than 60 deceased firefighters and police officers who lived or served in the Beaumont area. Proudly displaying their awards are Automotive Technician II Spaulding, Officer O’Rear, and Senior Volunteer Volz, all from the El Cajon Area. Boys Scouts Team Up with CHP for Merit Badge Classes On August 10, 2013, the Rainbow Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility (CVEF) hosted a Boy Scout Merit Badge Day. This community outreach program is one of many aimed at introducing the community to the duties of a CVEF. The merit badge class was instructed by Rainbow CVEF Commander Lieutenant James Fonseca (13303). At the end of the class, each troop member received a Truck Transportation Merit Badge and a Traffic Safety Merit Badge. Division Chief Jim Abele (10130), Captain Gregory Peck (12947), Miss Beaumont Princess Tanya Rakestraw, and Assistant Chief Esmeralda Falat (12533) attend the ribbion cutting of the Beaumont Public Safety Memorial on July 4, 2013. Rainbow CVEF hosts a Boy Scout Merit Badge Day, August 2013. C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Y e a r s 27 Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security S coastal division 701 And the Emmy goes to… In Fall 2012, central coast news affiliate KION started a campaign titled “Txt Wiser” with the purpose of reducing distracted driving traffic collisions. With help from CHP and other organizations, the Txt Wiser team put together several PSA videos as well as a Web site that encourages viewers to take the pledge to stop distracted driving. The campaign received great Captain William Perlstein (13057) and Officer support from the community and KION Bob Lehman (17758) of the Monterey Area office was honored with an Emmy award for pose with Brooke Holmquist and Corey Sullivan Community/Public Service. from KION (CBS affiliate) NEWS and their Emmy Child Safety Seat Check Assemblymember Luis A. Alejo and the CHP partnered with local agencies to promote education on the proper installation of children’s car seats. On June 22, 2013, the CHP offered tips that could assist parents in selecting an age appropriate car seat for their child. Car seats were checked to ensure the seats selected were safe and compatible with their vehicle. Award. Birthday Fun Each month Coastal Division celebrates the birthdays from the office. During the June 2013 birthday celebration, Captain Sean McRae (13657) received a new cycling jersey. Santa Maria Hosts National Night Out The Santa Maria Area office participated in the National Night Out campaign on August 6, 2013. The event included a CHP educational booth and demonstrations. The night was a celebration of both law enforcement and community partnerships. Retired Sergeant Mike Hennessey (9249), Child Passenger Safety Coordinator, speaking with Channel 8 News. Monty Python lovers aside, Captain McRae’s new shirt is meant to intimidate other cyclists. Officer Daniel Mota (13267) presents Haley with a bicycle helmet and bicycle safety brochure. Network Administrator Rob Umphenour (A15456), Officer Larry Hockman (18338), and Sergeant Chuck Hoops (13229) are proud of a great days work checking and adjusting child passenger seats. Officer Craig Carrier (15915) takes a photograph with two children who attended the event. 28 Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 Educational Day Camp for Coastal Area Cub Scouts Coastal Division officers set aside June 17, 2013, as a special day to educate a group of Cub Scouts at the San Luis Obispo Cub Scout day camp. Hollister Goes All Out Locals from the Hollister area started arriving at 5 p.m. to the 2013 National Night Out, America’s Night Out Against Crime. It was a chance for the Area to participate in the neighborhood camaraderie and share with the community. Hollister joined 31 million people in 15,000 communities throughout the United States on August 6, 2013. McGruff the Crime Dog, Gilroy Inspection Facility Officer Helen Henderson (11948), Officer Scott Jensen (12513), Hollister Hay Baler Mascot, and Officer Herb Kellogg (20062). Gold and Silver for Coastal Area In San Diego, the week of June 15-23, 2013, was all about the United States Police and Firefighter Championship (USPFC). The USPFC is an Olympic style competition combining traditional and not so traditional events. Officer Ty Murray (16620) shares educational videos with the Scouts. The roll-over simulator was taken out to demonstrate the dangers of driving without a seat belt. All campers realized the importance of buckling up. The Blue Meanies won USPFC Gold in ice hockey. They were a mixed team including Coastal Area CHP, Oakland Police Department (PD), San Francisco PD, Walnut Creek PD, San Leandro PD, Stockton PD, and Richmond Fire. The Push Pull event is a dead lift and bench press competition by weight class and Sergeant Lance Hedrick (15213) pulled a silver medal with a dead lift weight of 533 pounds and a bench press of 281 pounds. Sergeant Hedrick competes in the deadlift, as part of his push pull lifting event. The scouts keep Officer Danny Maher (17269) busy with questions. The gold medal hockey team Blue Meanies included, far left, Oakland Area Officer Dave Hazelwood (20206), far right, Dublin Area Officer Rob Hazelwood (18246) and, second from the front left, HollisterGilroy Area Sergeant Brian Wittmer (14747). C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Y e a r s 29 Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Safety, inland Service, and Security S division 801 Medal of Valor for Officer Norem On October 25, 2012, while on duty, Officer Dane Norem of the Riverside Area office responded to a call of a suicidal subject attempting to jump off of a freeway overpass. Norem arrived at the scene and observed an adult male climbing the overpass fence. While attempting to save the subject’s life by preventing him from jumping, Officer Norem was stabbed nine times, including in the eye, with a utility knife. Despite his injuries, and continually being stabbed, Norem continued to hold onto the man’s leg until help arrived to take the man into custody. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. presents Officer Norem with the 2012 Governor’s Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor. On September 26, 2013, at the State Capitol, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. presented Norem with the 2012 Governor’s Public Safety Medal of Valor. CHP Arrows Flew Straight to the Target The United States Police and Firefighter Championship (USPFC), which began in 1967, is an Olympic style event for people in law enforcement and fire. Police and firefighters can compete in traditional Olympic group and individual events. Officers Jacob Public Safety Dispatcher Honored On August 20, 2013, Public Safety Dispatcher Aileen Munoz (A10150) was honored by the 9-1-1 for Kids organization for her outstanding efforts during a 9-1-1 call. On July 3, 2013, Munoz took exemplary actions that directly contributed to the safe recovery of an elderly veteran suffering from diabetes and post-traumatic stress disorder. He had become severely disoriented while driving to the Veterans Administration in Loma Linda. When concerned relatives called 9-1-1, Munoz acted quickly, and explored all available options. The gentleman was located in Arizona, incoherent Inland Communications Center Commander but otherwise in good condition. Lieutenant Kari Clark (14720), The actions Munoz took exceeded Public Safety Dispatch Aileen Public Safety Dispatch expectations and demonstrated a Munoz, Supervisors II Russell true dedication to Safety, Service, Kingston (A10372), and Ta Lisa Rodriguez (A9788). and Security. Paschall (18982), Dennis Cleland (17057), and retired Sergeant Joe Sobota’s (10139) USPFC sport of choice is archery. A great CHP showing aside, the heart of the competition each year is about camaraderie shared among those in public service. Archery consists of three events: 28 Target Field Round, 3-D Round, and 900 Round. Paschall competed in all three events in his class and brought home CHP gold for each. He also set new USPFC records for the 900 round and the field round. Three additional gold medals, also in all three categories, were brought home by Sobota. Cleland brought home two bronze medals. Officer Dennis Cleland takes aim during the Bowhunter Freestyle Unlimited category at the USPFC, while Captain Tim Lepper (12384) spys the target. One sample of the great grouping of arrows by team CHP. Officer Jacob Paschall at work with his three gold medals he earned for his sharp archer skills during the June 2013 competition. 30 Sharp aim scored retired Sergeant Joe Sobota three gold medals in his class for archery. Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 Safety, Service, and Security Safety, Service, and Security Senior Volunteers Safety, Service, and Security around the state Seniors are ‘unsung heroes’of Victorville Area Wellness Day a Win-Win Victorville volunteers perform a variety of tasks including office support, traffic control, and assisting with public events — duties that keep uniformed officers on the streets, according to CHP Officer Matt Hunt (15153) who oversees the volunteers. “I love these guys,” Hunt said. “They are unsung heroes of our Department and they deserve to be recognized for all that they do.” Volunteer Barbara Stumbaugh, 79, of Apple Valley, assists in many of the duties. She also enjoys keeping the officers fed. “There is no way an officer can stay in shape here,” Hunt joked. “Barbara brings all kinds Senior volunteers, from left, Barbara Stumbaugh (V0628), David Joseph (V85010), Carolina Larson (V0541), and Edna Walker of sweets.” Stumbaugh (V85018) stand near a patrol car. Behind them is a radar trailer. became involved in volunteering with the CHP because of her husband, retired Sergeant Skip Stumbaugh. “The seniors make a difference in the lives of the officers they assist,” Captain Todd Sturges (11778) said. “I like having the senior volunteers here because it lends to a family atmosphere at the office. They are like family to us and I think they feel the same way.” Hands-on Fun at San Carlos Airport’s First Airport Day On June 22, 2013, the Redwood City Area participated in the first San Carlos Airport Day. Many locals enjoyed airport tours, unique aircraft, and educational exhibits. Vistors experienced the thrill of flying as they buckled into the pilot’s seat, climbed through a Vietnamera Huey helicopter, and tested their skills at the controls of a real flighttraining simulator. The Castro Valley Area Wellness Day was a win-win. The Oakland Athletics beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 and the Castro Valley Area senior volunteers received some extra kudos on the electronic scoreboard. The June 26, 2013, game was attended by numerous officers, senior volunteers, and their families. Commissioner’s Citation for all Senior Volunteers The Senior Volunteer program throughout the state received a Commissioner’s Unit Citation in recognition of exceptional performance and contribution over the past two decades. The CHP booth at the San Carlos Airport Day was a successful educational experience for many. Senior Volunteers Lisa Moody (V33057), Jose Canas (V33061), and Norman Wood (V33025) were on-hand to help Officer Art Montiel (18798). C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Y e a r s 31 Photos from the field Officer Troy Meyers (18953) with a suspected driving under the influence driver who ran through a full freeway closure on Interstate 5. Photo by Officer Jonathan Jong (19089) San Juan Capistrano - August 2013 32 Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 Northern Division Commercial Unit Sergeant Bill Boyes (15682) provides traffic control at a road closure during the “Clover Fire” in Shasta County. The fire killed one person, injured six, destroyed 68 homes, and burned 128 outbuildings. Photo by Adam McAllister (KRCR-TV News Channel 7) - Shasta County - September 9, 2013 Photo by Mike Murawski (15892) San Gorgonio Pass Area August 2013 C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Y e a r s 33 Photos from the field Rush hour at Tom’s Place Resort. Photo by Officer Dennis Cleland (17057) Crowley Lake - August 2013 Calm can solve all issues. Photo by Officer Ericson Sherwood (16406) Redwood City Area - July 2013 34 Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0 While Officer Steve Johnson (13676) ran a traffic break along Interstate 80 near Auburn, a Caltrans employee was getting ready to walk out and remove a large sack of grass clippings that had fallen onto the roadway. “All of a sudden I heard this loud crash and the officer’s car was coming straight at me,” the Caltrans worker said. The loud crash was the officer using his patrol car as a shield between the worker and a red Subaru whose driver showed no signs of slowing down, driving 65 miles per hour less than 50 yards from where the worker was standing. Caltrans said the officer’s quick actions to block the fast moving car saved the worker’s life. Johnson suffered minor injuries, the Caltrans worker dove out of the way and wasn’t hurt. The 86-year-old Subaru driver also came away with no injuries. Auburn - September 17, 2013 A suspected driving under the influence driver is arrested as his little girl watches from the back seat. Photo by David Pardo (Victorville Daily Press) Victorville - May 2013 C e l e b r a t i n g 6 0 Y e a r s 35 CHP Provides Safety, Service, and Security What do you see? The sun begins to rise as Fresno Area motors prepare for their part in the 9/11 memorial. Memorial participants included Officers Gabriel Perez (18883), Johnnie Contreras (14547), Jack Graham (15387), Sergeant Gil Peirsol (15326), Officers Axel Reyes (15468), and Vance Wedeking (15106). Photos by Officer David Singer (16570) Clovis - September 11, 2013 Photography fits into an important realm of commemoration as it makes tangible the fleeting moments of our fast-moving day. Zenith 12000 wants to publish your photographs from the field. Send photos by electronic mail to Zenith@chp.ca.gov. 36 Z e n i t h 1 2 0 0 0