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San Diego County Sheriff’s Department San Marcos Station ANNUAL REPORT Growing with our Community 2008

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Page 1: San Diego County Sheriff’s Department San Marcos Station ...s3.amazonaws.com/zanran_storage/ · San Diego County Sheriff’s Department San Marcos Station ANNUAL REPORT Growing

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department San Marcos Station

ANNUAL REPORT

Growing with our Community

2008

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Sheriff’s San Marcos Station Profile 2008

The Sheriff’s San Marcos Station provides law enforcement and traffic enforcement services to the City of San Marcos and law enforcement services to the unincorporated areas around San Marcos and Escondido.

Total service area of 97.04 square miles 24.28 sq. miles - City of San Marcos 72.76 sq. miles - unincorporated areas

Service Area Population of 115,135

82,743 - City of San Marcos 32,392 - unincorporated areas

Station Authorized Staffing

95 - Sworn Personnel 8 - Professional Staff 71 - Volunteers 8 - Reserves

Calls for Service

2008 - 28,140 2007 - 28,716 2006 - 28,383 2005 - 27,760

2008 Crime Rates FBI Index Crimes per 1000 Residents

22.0 - City of San Marcos 11.4 - Unincorporated areas

Violent Crimes per 1000 Residents 2.6 - City of San Marcos 0.8 - Unincorporated areas

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section Page Introduction from Captain Crist……………….………... 4 Staffing Overview and Contract Compliance…..……… 7 Calls for Service…………………………………………. 14 Response Times…………………………………………. 16 Crimes and Arrests………………………………………. 17 Investigations……………………………………………… 21 School Resource Officer Program……………………… 23 Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving…. 24 Street Narcotics / Gang Detail……………………………. 26 Traffic………………………………………………………. 28 Professional Staff…………………………………………. 33 Crime Prevention…………………………………………. 34 Volunteers…………………………………………………. 36 Administrative Indices……………………………………. 38

The primary sources for information utilized in this report were the Sheriff’s Crime Analysis Unit, ARJIS, SanDAG, the City of San Marcos, and the CSUSM and Palomar College websites.

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INTRODUCTION FROM CAPTAIN DON CRIST We are pleased to report that 2008 has been another great year for the Sheriff’s San Marcos Station and the citizens served by its staff. We continue to receive exceptional support from the City of San Marcos. We enjoy an excellent relationship with the city’s citizens and those living in the surrounding unincorporated areas of San Marcos, Escondido, Deer Springs, Hidden Meadows, Jesmond Dene, San Pasqual, Elfin Forest, Harmony Grove, Del Dios, and Lake Hodges, all of whom are served by the deputies and staff of the Sheriff’s San Marcos Station. Working within a budget of 13.7 million dollars, the 70+ volunteers, 8 professional staff, 8 reserve deputies, and 95 sworn deputies, sergeants, lieutenants and captain of the Sheriff’s San Marcos Station provide law enforcement services to over 115,135 people who live in our communities; all spread over 97 square miles of our area of responsibility. As you read through this report, you will see that our personnel have worked hard to make San Marcos and the surrounding communities some of the safest places to live with one of the most consistently low crime rates in the county, year after year. Although it is the largest part of the city’s budget, the City of San Marcos’s law enforcement funding consumes a surprisingly low percentage of the city’s budget compared to other cities with higher crime rates. A strategic focus on crime suppression, coupled with the city’s dedication to providing the resources to preserve public safety (i.e., contracting for additional special units such as the School Resource Deputies, Street Narcotic and Gang Detectives, Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving deputies and sergeants), and effective teamwork by all of the diverse units and personnel in the station, are some of the principal reasons we are able to do more with less. The members of our staff partner with community and related social service personnel whenever possible. The Sheriff’s San Marcos Station Captain’s Citizen Advisory Committee is a very valuable source of informal feedback, information from the community, and advice on meeting the concerns of our citizens. It is made up of 15 leaders from the community, including representatives from religious groups, civic groups, service clubs, and associated student bodies of the local high schools, college, and university. We house representatives from other agencies within our station in order to maintain a close working relationship between those agencies and the deputies. This also allows us to transition citizens to the appropriate support agency representative expeditiously. Employees from San Diego County Child Protective Services, San Diego County Adult Protective Services, San Marcos

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INTRODUCTION FROM CAPTAIN DON CRIST, continued Crime Prevention, San Diego County Juvenile Probation, and the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team are easily accessible for consultation and can assume follow-up responsibilities from the deputies for circumstances that are better suited to social service agencies. The immediate availability of all of these agency representatives in our station allows deputies to get back to the streets quicker. We are tied to our senior community as well. A Senior Volunteer Patrol force totaling over 70 volunteers patrols the city and surrounding communities, acting as the eyes and ears of the Sheriff’s Department and providing a variety of necessary services which would otherwise have to be done by deputies. Additionally, Senior Volunteers conduct vacation house checks, regularly visit elderly shut-ins, direct traffic at accident scenes, and maintain photo albums, which help identify missing elderly adults who tend to walk away from their homes. Selected Senior Volunteer Patrol members also perform color guard duties at city and county functions. The civil gang injunction brought against members of one of the two criminal street gangs in our jurisdiction has proved to be an enormous success. The gang injunction capped over one-and-a-half year's worth of work by members of the Sheriff's San Marcos Street Narcotic and Gang Detail. This injunction has provided our deputies with additional tools to curtail this gang’s actions. Gang members can no longer congregate in three safety zones within the city. This prevents them from intimidating others. The gang injunction also allows law enforcement to arrest gang members for what would typically be considered legal actions except when committed by that particular gang's members. As a result, gang-related crime cases have decreased by 52% in 2008. Our Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving deputies attack neighborhood quality of life issues such as continuous nuisance houses. COPPS deputies also act as the city’s gang-suppression unit. They seek out and arrest both gang and tagging crew members who deface public and private property with graffiti. A new graffiti tracking system has helped deputies assign numerous graffiti crimes to the appropriate criminal which allows the city to recover full clean up costs in court. The Traffic Unit’s most significant achievement has been the reduction of pedestrian related collisions from 24 in 2007 to 10 in 2008. Traffic deputies have enhanced the “Driving While Under the Influence” enforcement index to triple the statewide standard for the second consecutive year – all without additional staff or increased costs.

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INTRODUCTION FROM CAPTAIN DON CRIST, continued The station’s detectives made many notable arrests in 2008 including arrests which closed a murder for hire case and an identity theft case in which over 50 victims had their identities stolen. The hard-working detectives assigned to the Sheriff’s San Marcos Station consistently have one of the highest issuance rates in the Sheriff’s Department for cases submitted to the DA’s office. Read more detailed accounts of these and other highlights in the report which follows. You will see that the personnel assigned to the Sheriff’s San Marcos Station provide the highest quality public safety services in partnership with our community. The Sheriff of San Diego County has been “Keeping the Peace Since 1850” in the unincorporated communities around San Marcos and for the City of San Marcos since it incorporated in 1963. We hope the citizens are pleased with our service as much as we are pleased to serve our citizens.

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STAFFING Population. The resident population in the unincorporated areas has increased 8% over the past five years. The City’s population increased 23%. This resulted in an overall population increase of 18% within the San Marcos command’s assigned area of responsibility. The continuing build-out of the San Elijo Hills development has been a major contributor to the City’s increased number of residents. Population growth in coming years is expected to correlate with additional home building, which is contingent upon economic conditions. Since we are located at the intersection of two major freeways (Hwy 78 & Interstate 15), and our municipal arteries offer commuters from North County inland homes a tempting shortcut to Interstate 5, the coast, and the greater metropolitan area, we have a significant transient population traversing the city each day. The extensive eating, shopping, and commercial outlets within the city also attract customers to the city from throughout San Diego and neighboring counties. California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and Palomar Community College are also major population factors. Between their combined faculty, staff and students, these two institutions alone add thousands of people to those making regular visits to San Marcos. Officer ratios. For the San Diego area, in general, fewer peace officers shoulder the burden of responsibility for accomplishing the law enforcement mission than in America as a whole. The most recent ratio of officers per 1000 residents for the United States was 2.3 per 1,000 population (with an average of 1.8 for those cities with populations of 25,000 to 249,999). SanDAG found that the number of sworn officers per thousand residents in the San Diego region averaged 1.42 in FY 07/08 (see CJ Bulletin “Public Safety Budgets in the San Diego Region”).

Population

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

City of San MarcosUnincorporated areasSan Marcos Command

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STAFFING, continued In cities with police forces, the ratio ranged from a low of 1.07 (Chula Vista) to a high of 1.92 (Coronado) officers per thousand. For most jurisdictions in San Diego County, the number of sworn officers per 1,000 population has not increased since FY 2003-04. Similarly, in San Marcos the officer staffing levels have not kept pace with local population increases, with the result that the ratio of officers to residents has decreased. The number of officers per 1,000 residents fell 11% from 2001 in San Marcos and 45% in the unincorporated areas. In the City the ratio is .99 officers per 1,000, while in the unincorporated areas, it is 0.52 officers per 1,000 residents. However, for the City of San Marcos such ratios do not provide the complete picture. The city has chosen to provide additional resources to enable its patrol deputies to spend more time on the streets being proactive and protecting citizens. For example, in addition to contracting with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department for its law enforcement and traffic enforcement services, the city invests in an additional ten Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) deputies and two sergeants. This unit attacks time-consuming neighborhood and community problems that would otherwise draw patrol deputies away from providing an immediate response to calls for service. Moreover, the city pays for four Street Narcotic and Gang detectives and a sergeant to combat street-level drug sales and concentrate solely on the eventual eradication of the city’s two gangs. The city also pays for half of the cost for two deputies assigned strictly to SMUSD schools. This frees patrol deputies from responding to mundane student-related problems during school hours. More information on these programs can be found in their respective chapters of this report. These programs, coupled with

Sworn Officers per 1,000 residents

00.20.40.60.8

11.21.41.6

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

City of San Marcos Unincorporated

Sworn Officers per 1,000 residents

San

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2

Esco

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San

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0

0.5

1

1.5

2

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STAFFING, continued the partnerships we have established with several social service agencies, allows patrol deputies more time to respond to calls for service and to be proactive in preventing crime. The prevention of crime is our primary mission since a low crime rate makes the greatest contribution to an enjoyable quality of life for our residents and their families. Spending. Over half of the San Diego region’s public safety budget is devoted to law enforcement, with the rest funding correctional facilities, prosecution, courts, probation, and public defenders. Different jurisdictions allocate different amounts to public safety. The chart to the right shows law enforcement budgets as a percent of the respective overall budget. It compares San Marcos’ budget to San Diego and other nearby cities for FY 2008. The provision of 30% of general funds for law enforcement is the regional average for municipalities. The range is from 19% (San Marcos and Carlsbad) to 41% for Escondido. The County allocates 28% of its budget to public safety (source: SanDAG). The City of San Marcos purchases law enforcement services from the Sheriff’s Department through a negotiated contract. The cost of providing law enforcement services includes not only patrol and investigation, but also local support staff, as well as shared regional services such as Search & Rescue, Special Enforcement (SWAT), detentions, helicopter and fixed wing aircraft, and numerous others.

19 19

36 3641

05

1015202530354045

% of city budget

Carlsbad

San Marcos

San Diego

Oceanside

Escondido

Law enforcement budgets vary

$159

.31

$171

.32

$171

.40

$164

.26 $1

71.6

6

150

155

160

165

170

175

FY 04 FY 05 FY 06 FY 07 FY 08

Per capita spending on law enforcement

in San Marcos

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STAFFING, continued Regionally, law enforcement budgets have increased 42% over the last ten years. The cost of providing law enforcement services to San Marcos residents has risen 34% since 2003. Nevertheless, law enforcement consumes a smaller percentage of the City’s budget this year (25%) than it did last year (27%). The Sheriff’s San Marcos Station. Paid staff and volunteers provide services to an area encompassing approximately 97 square miles. The population within the station’s area of responsibility currently numbers more than 115,000 inhabitants. Our goal is to provide these residents with the highest quality public safety services. To achieve this, the San Marcos Station was staffed as follows:

Staffing Levels Position Unincorporated Incorporated

Authorized Staffed Authorized Staffed

Captain .5 .5 .5* .5

Lieutenant 1 1 1* 1

Sergeant 1 1 9 9

Area Detective 4 4 5 5

School Resource Officer 2 2

COPPS 10 10

Narcotics 2 2

Gang 2 2

Traffic 8** 8

Patrol 17**** 13 32*** 32

Admin Sec II 1 1

Admin Sec I 1 1

Senior Office Assistant 1 1

Property and Evidence 1 1

Office Assistant 3 3

Departmental Aide 1 1 TOTALS: 23.5 19.5 79.5 79.5

COMMAND TOTAL Authorized Staffed 103 99

* These positions are not specifically purchased by the city contract, but are supplied as concomitant command level supervision. ** To deploy an average of about four Traffic Deputies per day. *** To deploy at least six Patrol Deputies in the city 24-hours per day, seven days a week. **** To deploy at least three Patrol Deputies in the county 24-hours per day, seven days a week.

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STAFFING, continued Staffing level changes. With very few exceptions, the positions contracted for by the City were manned during FY 2008. The few gaps that did occur were for limited periods due to injuries and temporary assignment to augment specialized units. Each instance resulted in full financial reimbursement to the city for the vacancy period. In the unincorporated area, about four patrol positions went unfilled due to personnel movement and department staffing issues. The county (unincorporated) area covered by the San Marcos Station personnel was authorized 17 positions, but averaged about 13 deputies each week. The Sheriff's Department has addressed its staffing shortage through extensive additional hiring and enhanced retention, with the result that by the end of 2008, our unincorporated patrol strength approached 16 deputies. We are nearing full strength, which should be achieved in early 2009. The Department has placed great emphasis on rebuilding after a period of retrenchment due to austerity measures put in place over the past few years. Unfortunately, recruiting deputies has a long lead-time because of the limited pool of candidates who are both interested and qualified to handle the responsibility, combined with the high cost of living in San Diego County. Regionally, agencies are taking a variety of steps to cope with this, including innovative recruitment strategies, converting sworn positions to administrative personnel, and enhancing salary and benefits. Even after interviews by skilled interrogators, extensive background investigations, and comprehensive screening during a six-month academy, the station conducts an additional five months of on-the-job training/ evaluation for each law enforcement candidate assigned here. This year during this final period of training, a quarter of the persons sent to San Marcos as replacements for our patrol strength of 49 deputies failed to gain certification by our training officers. The safety of the public is our highest priority. Consequently, only persons of the highest quality can be placed in such a position of responsibility with the authority to make potentially life-changing decisions for our citizens. Expanding the pool of law enforcement candidates by lowering standards has repeatedly been proven to be unwise, potentially dangerous, and quite costly in the long term, as numerous jurisdictions have discovered to their lasting regret. San Marcos has one K-9 unit assigned to patrol. K-9 deputies and their dogs conduct building and field searches, as well as track for articles, such as weapons or evidence. For crimes in progress and similar circumstances, K-9’s from surrounding cities may respond to assist patrol. Although not listed in the staffing level chart, we share the County Crime Prevention Specialist with the Valley Center Sub-Station. This position is

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STAFFING, continued responsible for providing Crime Prevention services to residents in unincorporated areas. She works closely with the Crime Prevention personnel employed by the City of San Marcos, who provide this same service to city residents. Also not listed, but working at our station, is a full-time crime analyst who supports patrol, community policing, traffic, and investigations. Contract compliance: The most important indicator of the quality of public safety services is “what does not happen,” since law enforcement’s primary goal is the prevention of crime and disorder within the community. This is difficult to measure and involves a number of forces, some of which are beyond the control of law enforcement agencies (e.g., obviously, the principal element that determines the crime rate is the moral quality of the people residing in, working within, and visiting the jurisdiction). However, historical experience has established that law enforcement staffing is probably the most controllable critical factor in ensuring that the law is effectively enforced and the peace of the community is preserved. “Adequate staffing” is a judgment made by the people’s elected representatives after careful consultation with law enforcement professionals. In reaching that judgment, the Mayor and City Council weigh numerous considerations. These may include the level of unrest and criminal activity in the city; the specific goals they establish to expand the safety, security, and peace of mind of the residents, businesses, and visitors; and the constraints imposed by their financial resources. After careful deliberation, they arrive at a prudent, balanced decision on what manning level is optimum in order for their constituents to enjoy a better quality of life. This year, the City of San Marcos contracted human resources from the Sheriff’s Department, as shown in the staffing level chart on page 10 and depicted in the following pie graph.

Traffic DeputiesMotorcycle Deputies

Special Purpose Deputies

Sergeants

Detectives

Detective Sgt. Support Staff

Patrol Deputies

The level of manpower shown in the chart above provides sufficient basic resources for the proper enforcement of the law and the maintenance of peace for the people of San Marcos. Overhead and a myriad of concomitant assets

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STAFFING, continued essential to the prosecution of high quality law enforcement operations is provided by the department as an adjunct to the contracted front-line positions. These include such critical items as command level supervision, administration, equipment, training, liability coverage, augmentation by specialized units (such as Homicide, Fraud, Child Abuse, Sexual Assault/ Domestic Violence, Bomb/Arson, and SWAT/SED), access to crime lab and data services expertise, helicopter support, and all the elements necessary to mount a modern crime-fighting operation. During unusual circumstances, such as disaster or widespread unrest, nearby cities and unincorporated communities cooperate through mutual aid protocols to provide a “surge capability” for each other’s jurisdictions. It is essential that the department deliver the service that the city residents’ taxes have paid for. Therefore, we carefully monitor these positions to ensure that they are properly staffed. Each month we report any vacancies to the Sheriff’s Contracting Division to effect reimbursement to the city for any lapse in personnel compliance with the contract. Although reimbursement occurred in 2008 due to recruiting shortfalls and specialized-position injuries, the station is almost fully manned so that such shortages rarely occur now in the city. For the rapid initiation of effective action in response to emergency calls from the public, the number of patrol deputies immediately available to respond is often the most crucial element. The number of contracted positions has a built-in relief factor to take into account those who are sick, injured, absent due to training, or taking earned time off. Nevertheless, since the safety of the public is our primary concern, when the city’s patrol manning level falls below what is designated as the “daily minimum staffing”, other deputies are shifted or overtime is authorized at department expense (i.e., no additional cost to the city) to ensure that we maintain adequate coverage. As a practical matter then, every day throughout the year the city’s citizens have the benefit of the necessary number of deputies out on the streets. In fact, in daily practice the city’s residents receive more than the contracted work force as a concomitant of the Sheriff’s decision to assign to this station all the deputies who cover the contiguous unincorporated area. Our non-contract deputies cover the area from the borders of Ramona and the City of San Diego in the south to the borders of Valley Center and Fallbrook to the north. Since their assigned station is located within San Marcos, as these deputies transit to and from it, they take enforcement action on violations they encounter within the city limits. Furthermore, as long as the unincorporated area is calm, city deputies can draw on these deputies to assist with manpower-intensive incidents or when calls for service from city residents are backing up due to volume.

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CALLS FOR SERVICE Calls for service are one indication of station activity. A call for service (CFS) is registered when a citizen or another unit or agency requests assistance for public safety services. Examples of calls for service include crimes reported by the public such as burglaries, assaults, thefts and so on. Most calls are to 9-1-1 or the non-emergency lines at the dispatch center. Calls for service can be an important measure of how busy deputies are.

Deputies also initiate numerous actions based on their own observations while patrolling or in support of their own projects. A deputy initiated action (DIA) does not require a request from the public or another agency. These events also include traffic stops, field interviews, prisoner transport, or other situations requiring action by a deputy.

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 CITY

Calls for service (CFS) 22,147 23,024 23,528 23,830 23,530 Deputy Initiated Actions (DIA) 15,579 16,588 18,492 20,349 20,026

COUNTY CFS 5,063 4,736 4,855 4,886 4,611 DIA 1,891 1,347 1,863 2,088 2,020

COMMAND CFS 27,210 27,760 28,383 28,716 28,141 DIA 17,470 17,935 20,355 22,437 22,046

TOTAL 44,680 45,695 48,738 51,153 52,195

Data Source: CAD Extractor

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CALLS FOR SERVICE, continued Over the past five years, we have seen San Marcos deputies take on a continuously increasing number of events. Within this timeframe, calls for service have increased about 3%, while deputy-initiated actions have increased 26% over the same time (28% in the City). Overall, the number of events handled by deputies increased almost 12% during the last five years. It appears that, while calls for service from the public are roughly the same despite significant population increases, deputies have greatly expanded their proactive performance. This can be an indication that deputies have managed to prevent potential criminal activities by early intervention, e.g., stopping casers before they commit a burglary or discouraging gang misconduct by aggressive patrolling of claimed turf. Calls for service and deputy initiated actions are presented in the chart below. This chart depicts law enforcement activity trends for the last five years.

0100002000030000400005000060000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Law enforcement activity in the San Marcos Command

County DIACounty CFSCity DIACity CFS

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RESPONSE TIMES Two common indicators of an agency’s ability to respond quickly to the needs of its community are “Received to Arrival” response time (R-A) which measures the time between when the dispatch center receives the call and the time a deputy arrives on scene, and, “Dispatched to Arrival” (D-A) which measures the speed with which a deputy responds once a call is dispatched. Increased population and traffic impede a deputy’s ability to reach an incident once dispatched. These times are reported below for different call priorities. Call priorities are assigned from greatest urgency (Priority 1) through non-emergency calls. Examples of Priority 1 calls: serious injury traffic collisions, officer needs help, foot or vehicular pursuit. Priority 2 calls include: injured person, robbery in progress, bomb threats, carjacking, rape, and stolen vehicles. Priority 3 call examples: assault, prowlers, disturbances, tampering with vehicles, and burglary alarms. Security checks, animal noise disturbances, traffic stops, harassing phone calls, illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles, and numerous other calls are included in Priority 4. In the following table R-A and D-A times are based on only those calls for service where times are available.

Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4City of San Marcos R-A 7.5 11.2 18.1 40.5 D-A 6.3 8.8 12.9 22.6 Unincorporated R-A 5.3 20.2 27.7 74.0 D-A 4.6 17.5 20.4 46.4 Command R-A 7.4 12.4 19.7 46.4 D-A 6.2 10.0 14.2 26.8

Overall response times in the San Marcos Command changed little from last year. Emergency calls (Priorities 1 & 2) were slightly shorter despite slightly longer average travel times. Non-emergency call (Priorities 3 & 4) response times were slightly longer, primarily a result of longer holding times for calls prior to dispatch. Within the City, response times for emergency calls were relatively unchanged, although Priority 1 response times were slightly longer both because calls took longer to dispatch and because travel time increased. Priority 3 response times were also longer as a result of longer travel times. In the unincorporated beats, emergency call response times were generally shorter, especially for Priority 1 calls. This gain came as a result of reduced dispatch-to-enroute times. On the other hand, non-emergency calls took longer mostly because of longer response times to Priority 4 calls.

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Annualized FBI Index Crime Rates per 1,000 population(Source: SanDAG)

43.58

40.83

40.25

39.65

34.72

33.12

32.91

32.06

31.76

31.75

30.88

27.85

26.45

26.07

24.90

23.65

22.02

19.00

18.23

0 10 20 30 40 50

National City

Del Mar

La Mesa

El Cajon

San Diego

Escondido

Imperial Beach

Lemon Grove

Chula Vista

Vista

Average, all jurisdictions

Oceanside

Coronado

Solana Beach

Carlsbad

Santee

San Marcos

Poway

Encinitas

CRIMES and ARRESTS Crimes: According to U.S. Department of Justice figures, the City of San Diego is one of the safest large cities in which to live. It had the fourth lowest violent index crime rate and the fifth lowest property index crime rate in 2005.

The FBI Index is a standardized method of reporting criminal activity. The Index includes four types of violent offenses (willful homicide, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) and four types of property crime (burglary, larceny theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson). Compared to 25 years ago, the San Diego region is a safer place to live in terms of both violent and property crime. However, an increase in the number of homicides and robberies, also faced by other jurisdictions across the country, remains a significant concern. Violent

crime increased slightly, nationally, according to the FBI. Regional crime figures for 2008 showed reductions in violent and property crime rates to 25-year lows. After five consecutive increases, the number of robberies decreased. Property crime in the region showed a decrease for the fifth year in a row. While the number of burglaries of unlocked residences declined in 2008, the number involving forced entry increased this year. Cities, communities and areas served by the San Diego Sheriff’s Department had a less than 1% increase in FBI Index Crime during 2008. Overall, violent crime was down nearly 8% while property crime rose just over 2%. Cities served by the Sheriff’s Department saw violent crime drop nearly 5%, while unincorporated communities and areas experienced a nearly 13% reduction in violent crime compared to last year.

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CRIMES and ARRESTS, continued While crime in San Marcos fell nearly as much and was 7% lower than in 2007, it was still slightly higher than four years ago. Violent crime decreased 26% during 2008. This was much more of a decrease than the average and one of the largest decreases in the region. Property crime decreased 4% this year.

Identity theft continues to be the fastest growing crime in the nation. Additionally, attractive retail targets, in the form of businesses and parking structures near freeway on-ramps that criminals seek out in order to make a rapid departure after perpetrating their crime, have a greater propensity for theft. Not surprisingly, then, in a city with numerous retail outlets where two of the major freeways in the county intersect (and the major surface streets are used as an alternate route to the third), the most frequently reported of all crimes in San Marcos is larceny/theft, accounting for half of all crimes reported in San Marcos. There were 934 cases reported last year, almost the same number as in 2007.

FBI Index Crimes City of San Marcos

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Homicide 1 0 2 2 1 Forcible Rape 14 15 18 12 8 Robbery 65 57 75 101 54 Aggravated Assault 139 165 186 172 149

Total Violent Crimes 219 237 281 287 213 Burglary 309 359 430 414 401 Larceny-Theft 790 989 910 936 934 Motor Vehicle Theft 286 282 321 318 274 Arson 5 9 11 11 2

Total Property Crimes 1390 1639 1672 1679 1611 All Crimes 1609 1876 1953 1966 1833

FBI Index Crimes Unincorporated

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Homicide 0 0 3 0 0 Forcible Rape 5 3 3 3 0 Robbery 2 6 10 4 4 Aggravated Assault 35 35 26 35 22

Total Violent Crimes 42 44 42 42 26 Burglary 158 146 119 103 118 Larceny-Theft 263 214 187 160 179 Motor Vehicle Theft 78 48 47 52 45 Arson 1 0 4 4 1

Total Property Crimes 500 408 357 319 343 All Crimes 542 452 399 361 369

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CRIMES and ARRESTS, continued In the unincorporated areas, violent crimes dropped 38% this year, after being steady for five years. Property crimes however, which had been declining for three years, ended their decreasing trend, and finished 2008 at 15% above 2007. Crime rates: Crime rates, usually expressed as crimes per thousand people, are convenient measures for comparing crime in places with different populations or in the same place over times when the population has changed. Shown in the graph below are FBI Index crimes (both violent and property crimes) per 1,000 residents for the City and unincorporated areas over the last 5 years. The City of San Marcos continues to enjoy one of the lowest crime rates in the region. In fact, only two of the eighteen San Diego County cities – Encinitas and Poway - had a lower crime rate this year.

Crime rates in cities are almost always higher than in less urban areas, both for violent crimes and for property crimes. However, the year-to-year changes in the rate of crime is not as dramatic as changes in the raw numbers of crimes would imply. By accounting for the growth in population, we can see a more relevant picture of the changes in the region’s crime, reflecting the differences in the changes in population of the respective areas. While changes in the numbers of crimes reported show differences between years, the rate of violent crime, which is already at historic lows, has not changed

FBI Index Crime Rates

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CRIMES and ARRESTS, continued significantly over the last five years, either in the City or in the surrounding unincorporated areas, because of corresponding population growth. The property crime rate in the City further declined in 2008. However, the rate of property crimes in the unincorporated areas increased slightly last year, reversing the trend of the previous four years.

Arrests: In 2008, there were 2,291 arrests made in San Marcos. This is an average of more than six arrests per day. Of these, 835, more than one-third of all arrests, were for felony charges. Arrests with less serious misdemeanor charges totaled 1,456. There were 501 juvenile arrests (26%). Adult arrests comprised 78% of the arrests, while last year 74% of arrestees were adults. Compared to previous years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of arrests, primarily in adults, and within adults, mostly for misdemeanor offenses.

Arrest trends in the City of San Marcos

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INVESTIGATIONS Staffing: There are nine Area Detectives (5 Contract City and 4 unincorporated positions) and one Detective Sergeant assigned to the Sheriff’s San Marcos Station. During the past year, one detective promoted to sergeant and transferred to another Command. This detective was replaced. One detective continued to be temporarily assigned to NetRMS (a project to create a modern crime reporting software program that was developed by the Department) throughout 2008. Major Cases: Throughout the year, detectives handled a variety of complex investigations, involving robberies, assaults, burglaries, identity theft, and sex crimes. In the course of these investigations, they served numerous search warrants, conducted fourth waiver and parole searches, and utilized specialized technical equipment during surveillance operations. Some of the more notable cases were:

In a coordinated effort, San Marcos Detectives, Vista Detectives, Oceanside Police and Escondido Police conducted a sting operation with local metal recyclers in Oceanside, Vista, and Escondido. The operation resulted in several recyclers in Oceanside and Vista being cited for violations. This enforcement and the falling price of recycled metals slowed theft of these materials significantly.

Detective Cruz has been working a “murder for hire” case since it was first

reported in 2004. With help from the FBI, Mexican authorities, and other San Marcos detectives, he was finally able to develop enough probable cause to arrest the victim’s wife for attempted murder and kidnapping. The shooters were also identified and arrest warrants have been issued for them. The wife pled guilty to the charges and the shooters are hiding out in Mexico.

Detective Craig, new to the unit, worked a case involving identity theft and

fraud with as many as 50 known victims. Aided by other San Marcos detectives, she served a search warrant, collected ample evidence, and arrested the suspects. This sharply reduced the number of local reports of identity theft.

Throughout most of the year, the Regional Auto Theft Task Force

concentrated their resources in North County which helped to cut reported auto thefts in San Marcos by one-third to one-half, depending on the month. Several crews who were taking cars to Mexico and Los Angeles for resale were eliminated.

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INVESTIGATIONS, continued Additionally, during the year, the Detective Unit was deployed in its ancillary capacity as the Mobile Field Force. The unit was deployed to Vista, Escondido, and the Del Mar Fairgrounds for demonstrations involving political issues and issues surrounding immigration. They were also activated for one large fire in the county area. Number of Cases: Crime cases are divided into two categories, workable and non-workable. During the calendar year 2008, Area Detectives were assigned 1,172 workable cases (a 10.9% increase over last year) and 2,536 non-workable cases (a 10.8% increase over last year). In 2008, the average caseload per detective was 148 workable cases and 317 non-workable cases. The clearance rate for workable cases was 54% (vs. 52.8% last year). From their cases, detectives made 207 arrests in 2008. Of all the cases submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review, criminal complaints were issued on 82% of them. The Sheriff’s San Marcos Station continues to have one of the highest issuance rates in the Sheriff’s Department.

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SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM Staffing: During 2008, the Sheriff’s San Marcos Station employed two School Resource Officers (SROs). The SROs are uniformed detectives who are assigned to schools in the city. Their areas of coverage include: Mission Hills High School, San Marcos High School, Twin Oaks High School (Continuation School), San Marcos Middle School, Woodland Park Middle School and San Elijo Middle School. Both SROs report to the elementary schools on an as-needed basis. Responsibilities: The SROs handle most law enforcement situations that occur at the high school and middle school level. In addition, they handle any incidents that occur during the students’ travels to and from school. During 2008, SROs made a total of 160 arrests, including 147 juvenile arrests. They also wrote 331 crime cases that were varied in nature, and 17 completed Field Interviews. Projects: The SROs attend School Attendance Review Board hearings where students have to answer for their attendance records. They help eliminate truancy problems by arresting those students that are truant. In some instances, the School District proposes expulsion. At an expulsion hearing, the SROs testify on behalf of the School District. SROs act as liaison between the School District and community organizations, facilitating programs that benefit students. As part of their daily duties, they walk the school campuses during nutrition and lunch breaks to increase visibility and act as a deterrent to crime or student fights. In addition to law enforcement, the SROs assist the school with emergency planning; provide instruction in such subjects as drug education, personal safety, gang identification; and present a positive role model for the students to emulate. Lastly, the SROs often help parents with solutions to behavior problems they are having at home.

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COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING AND PROBLEM SOLVING Staffing: During 2008, two sergeants and ten deputies were assigned to the Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) Unit. Each deputy is assigned to a specific geographic “sector” of the city. The COPPS Unit is a team of experienced deputies who offer a degree of flexibility to the City of San Marcos’ crime fighting effort. This significant capability ensures crime and “quality of life” issues are confronted at the earliest opportunity. The San Marcos COPPS Unit forms a major component of the station’s Mobile Field Force, a quick reaction platoon for emergency riot control, civil disorder, catastrophe response, etc. Projects: The San Marcos COPPS Unit promotes pro-active problem solving and police-community partnerships to address the root causes of crime and community quality of life issues. COPPS deputies, freed from the constraints of handling patrol calls, enjoy a wider latitude of operational tools and extended time horizons, and are given the opportunity to employ non-traditional strategies. Rather than responding repeatedly to the same complaint, the COPPS strategy brings together stakeholders to formulate an effective way to address the source of problems. Daily duties of COPPS deputies include the following: Maintain relationships with the area constituency; conduct community presentations; liaison with the public, schools, organizations, Drug Court, and other law enforcement agencies. COPPS deputies conduct graffiti investigations, alcohol and tobacco-related investigations, vice investigations, and compliance investigations of registered sex offenders. COPPS deputies perform gang enforcement, work closely with multi-family housing managers, conduct bicycle patrol, and participate in Mobile Field Force activations. Accomplishments: Faced with an influx in crime related to prostitution, deputies from the COPPS Unit became involved in a number of pro-active enforcement actions and follow-up investigations this year. In line with the philosophy of dealing with the root cause of an issue, deputies made arrests of the women involved, and then pursued cases against the “pimps” who run the prostitution operation, which is often connected to ancillary crimes such as thefts, drugs, and assaults. Deputies worked with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and pursued cases through the state and federal courts. Graffiti investigations are another area where the unit has had much success. During the past year, COPPS deputies assigned to handle these cases made significant strides in the identification and arrest of a number of suspects. Many of these cases have resulted in court ordered payment of restitution to the city.

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COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING AND PROBLEM SOLVING, continued We anticipate continued success in the coming year with the adoption of new technologies. The unit continues its on-going work with core community issues, such as gang, drug, and “series” crimes. Throughout the year, COPPS deputies participated in the enforcement actions funded through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, a federal grant aimed at reducing gang crime throughout northern San Diego County.

“Tip a Cop” Public Crime Prevention training

COPPS unit on bike patrol

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STREET NARCOTICS / GANG UNIT Staffing: The San Marcos Street Narcotics and Gang Detail (SNGD) consists of two narcotic detectives, two gang detectives, and one supervisor. All of the positions are contract positions fully funded by the City of San Marcos. Arrests: Narcotic detectives made 77 arrests, up from 24 in 2007. San Marcos gang detectives made 19 arrests of which 10 were San Marcos gang members, compared to 56 (46 of which were gang members) last year. 105 arrests were made by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent assigned to the San Marcos SNGD. These arrests were primarily criminal aliens with a gang or narcotic nexus. Investigations: There were 55 narcotic investigations initiated in 2008, up from 35 in 2007. Gang detectives investigated 133 cases in 2008, down from 271 cases in 2007. Seizures: The narcotic detectives seized 25.6 oz. of methamphetamine, 48.33 ounces of marijuana, 158 marijuana plants, 6.7 oz. of heroin, 29.4 grams cocaine, 137 miscellaneous tablets of controlled substances, indoor marijuana grow equipment, 13 handguns, 11 rifles, miscellaneous ammunition, miscellaneous drug paraphernalia, and $25,005 in cash. Overall seizures were up considerably over 2007. The gang detectives seized a 12 gauge shotgun, a .45 caliber pistol, and gang paraphernalia. Warrant Services/ Searches/ Assists: The narcotic detectives initiated 23 searches (10 search warrants, 9 probation searches, 2 parole searches, 2 consent searches), assisted other units or agencies on 28 searches, and assisted other units or agencies on 30 investigations. They were called out 12 times. The gang detectives initiated 2 search warrants, assisted other units or agencies on 38 searches, and assisted other units or agencies on 54 investigations. They were called out 11 times. Accomplishments: Based in part on citizen tips, the narcotic unit targeted numerous dealers operating within the City of San Marcos. Utilizing informants, they were able to obtain and serve 10 search warrants, resulting in 27 arrests and significant seizures. After receiving complaints of gang members from Southeast San Diego moving into an apartment complex adjacent to California State University San Marcos,

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STREET NARCOTICS / GANG UNIT, continued and selling controlled substances to college students, the narcotic unit initiated an investigation. A high risk parole search was conducted at one apartment where firearms and controlled substances were located. Additional identified gang members living within the complex were also targeted. Ultimately, 12 gang members relocated from the City of San Marcos. The narcotic unit continues to provide support to other SNGD units, as well as NTF, DEA, ICE, and various other law enforcement agencies. In addition, the narcotic detectives provided training to various civic groups, patrol deputies, and the Senior Volunteers. The gang unit spent considerable time and effort to complete the Civil Gang Injunction, which received its final approval in September of 2008. Since September, gang detectives continued to attempt to locate named defendants who had yet to be served. By the end of 2008, 82 out of 93 defendants had been served final injunction notification. Reported gang related crime cases in 2008 were down by 52% over last year. Gang related activity and the presence of gang members observed throughout the city have been significantly reduced. In 2008, 19 documented gang members were arrested and jailed for violation of various terms of the injunction. Three major cases involving carjacking and robbery by San Marcos gang members resulted in two suspects found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Despite spending considerable time and effort on the gang injunction, the gang unit initiated six gang suppression operations resulting in several arrests of documented gang members and their associates. The gang unit continues to work closely with the District Attorney’s Gang Prosecution Unit, as well as Probation and Parole, the San Marcos COPPS Unit, patrol, and other agencies throughout North County. As with the narcotic unit, the gang unit provides training to various civic groups, educators, community organizations, and Senior Volunteers. The San Marcos SNGD continues to benefit from the assignment of a Senior Special Agent from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to its unit. The ICE agent is involved in many of our investigations, as well as his own, targeting those individuals determined to be criminal aliens.

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TRAFFIC Traffic Overview The San Marcos Traffic Division is staffed with one sergeant, two corporals, four deputies, and two motor officers. They provide traffic enforcement for approximately 31 square miles and a rapidly growing population of over 82,000 residents. One of our most significant achievements in 2008 has been the reduction of pedestrian related collisions. Through assertive enforcement, pedestrian related collisions were reduced to 10 in 2008 (24 in 2007.) Additionally, in an effort to prevent drunken driving collisions we enhanced our DUI enforcement index resulting in triple the statewide standard, for the second consecutive year, without additional staff or expenditure. Other accomplishments during 2008: • Documented 598 collision investigations, issued 7,089 citations, and stored

approximately 1,307 vehicles. • In 2008, San Marcos City Engineering, San Marcos Department of Public

Works and the Sheriff's Department Traffic Unit met and collaborated on a monthly basis. We initiated and maintained consistent relationships with these departments resolving many difficult traffic issues.

• Participated in San Marcos City Traffic Safety Commission meetings where

various traffic-related issues were discussed and resolved efficiently. • Awarded California Office of Traffic Safety Grants for San Marcos resulting in

over $70,000.00 of funding for DUI and seatbelt enforcement enabling us to raise awareness, identify and arrest drunk drivers, and allow for a safer driving environment within the City of San Marcos.

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TRAFFIC, continued Enforcement Statistics This section presents traffic collision statistics for 2004 through 2008. In the City of San Marcos during 2008, total collisions increased 7%, injury collisions increased 6% and driving under the influence related collisions increased 19%. Trend of Traffic Collisions

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Fatal 1 4 4 2 3Injury 162 124 144 148 156Property 522 522 544 408 439TOTALS 685 650 692 558 598DUI Related 53 45 81 78 91

The overall enforcement goal is to prevent traffic collisions involving injury and fatalities. To accomplish this goal, the California Highway Patrol as well as Police and Sheriff’s Departments statewide utilize a standardized enforcement index of 20 hazardous citations for every 1 injury/fatal collision. We have attained a level of 22 hazardous citations for every 1 injury/fatal collision for the year 2008.

2004 24 citations issued for every 1 injury/fatal traffic collision

2005 32 citations issued for every 1 injury/fatal traffic collision 2006 34 citations issued for every 1 injury/fatal traffic collision 2007 25 citations issued for every 1 injury/fatal traffic collision 2008 22 citations issued for every 1 injury/fatal traffic collision

During 2008, the five intersections with the most traffic collisions within the City of San Marcos were:

Location of Accidents Number of CollisionsS. Rancho Santa Fe and W. San Marcos Blvd. 37

Via Vera Cruz and W. San Marcos Blvd. 23 S. Las Posas and W. San Marcos Blvd. 18

Descanso Ave. and S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd. 17 State Route 78 ramp and W. San Marcos Blvd. 16

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TRAFFIC, continued The intersection with the highest number of collisions in 2008 was S. Rancho Santa Fe and W. San Marcos Blvd. During 2008, approximately 25 million vehicles passed through this intersection with 35 collisions occurring. A major goal of the City of San Marcos and the San Marcos Station Traffic Unit is to reduce the number of victims killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes. The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) provided a grant in support of this effort. The grant resulted in approximately $70,000 of salary reimbursement for personnel to staff “Driving Under the Influence” checkpoints and saturation patrols in San Marcos in 2008. We also secured funding from OTS for several checkpoints and saturation patrols during 2009. An index used throughout law enforcement is the maintenance level of one Driving Under the Influence (DUI) driver arrested for every one injury/fatal accident. The DUI index for San Marcos in 2008 was 3.0. These results are over triple the statewide standard and reflect our most successful index for the second consecutive year (see chart below)

In 2008, we identified the intersections with the most collisions and directed our enforcement efforts toward these intersections. We are planning to continue this strategy in 2009 with monthly updates of results to ensure efforts are focused in the most beneficial manner. In May 2008, we received approximately $14,000 in grant funding from OTS to enforce seatbelt violations. We utilized traffic, motors, COPPS and patrol deputies to enforce applicable seatbelt violations. The deputies were assigned to roving patrols throughout the city, providing directed enforcement, conducting traffic stops and issuing citations for seatbelt violations and related offenses. We are currently utilizing all available resources for directed enforcement. Patrol deputies often assist with enforcement, issuing hazardous citations in high risk areas.

2004 1.8 DUI arrests for every 1 injury/fatal traffic collision 2005 1.3 DUI arrests for every 1 injury/fatal traffic collision 2006 2.3 DUI arrests for every 1 injury/fatal traffic collision 2007 3.0 DUI arrests for every 1 injury/fatal traffic collision 2008 3.0 DUI arrests for every 1 injury/fatal traffic collision

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TRAFFIC, continued The Senior Volunteer Patrol (SVP) has been extremely helpful to the Traffic Unit. The SVP provided a marked unit presence and traffic violation deterrent at various problematic locations throughout 2008. The countywide Sheriff’s Department Motorcycle Strike Team conducts operations in San Marcos twice per year resulting in approximately 300 additional citations at high risk locations throughout the city. Fatal Collisions

• On 02/23/08 at 2:32 a.m., a fatal collision occurred in San Marcos at the intersection of West San Marcos Boulevard and I-78 near the E/B on-ramp. An unlicensed 24-year-old male from Mexico was driving a 1994 Infiniti G-20 sedan E/B on West San Marcos Boulevard. As the Infiniti crossed the intersection with the I-78 eastbound on-ramp, it collided with a traffic control light pole on the southeast corner of the intersection. Paramedics transported the driver to Palomar Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. He died at Palomar Hospital @ 3:45 a.m. An autopsy revealed alcohol intoxication was a factor in this collision.

• On 08/06/08 at approximately 4:20 p.m., a vehicle vs. golf cart collision

occurred on S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd just south of Descanso Rd., in the City of San Marcos. An 84-years-old male, of San Marcos, was driving a country club golf cart eastbound across S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd when he was struck by the driver of a 1995 Buick Century. The driver of the golf cart fell out and was dragged by the golf cart, coming to a rest on the east sidewalk of S. Rancho Santa Fe Rd. with the golf cart falling on top of him. He was transported to Palomar Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

• On 08/24/08 at approximately 9:55 a.m., a vehicle collision occurred at the

intersection of W. San Marcos Blvd and Acacia Dr., in the City of San Marcos. A 2004 Jeep Laredo, being driven by a 36-year-old male from Escondido, was traveling eastbound on W. San Marcos Blvd. approaching the intersection of Acacia Dr. A 2007 Honda Pilot, driven by a 50-year-old female from San Marcos, was making a left turn from westbound W. San Marcos Blvd. to southbound Acacia Dr. The Jeep entered the intersection against a red light causing a collision with the Honda. The driver of the Honda had minor injuries and was treated by paramedics at the scene. The driver of the Jeep was transported to Palomar Medical Center where he was admitted with serious injuries. A passenger in the Jeep, a 19-year-old male from Encinitas, was pronounced deceased at the scene, along with a dog that was in the vehicle. The investigation revealed

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TRAFFIC, continued

the driver of the Jeep was under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He was convicted of Felony DUI and sentenced to prison.

Special Recognition Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) annually recognizes the work of law enforcement officers working to prevent deaths and injuries that are caused by impaired driving. In 2008, for the third consecutive year, they recognized Deputy Rosas for his superior work.

Captain Crist and Deputy Rosas

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PROFESSIONAL STAFF Staffing: The San Marcos Professional Staff consists of one Administrative Secretary II, one Senior Office Assistant, one Administrative Secretary I, one Property and Evidence Clerk, three Office Assistants, and one Station Aide, as well as three Office Volunteers. Responsibilities: The Professional Staff provides varied services to the public during normal business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. During this time, the staff provides support to the station and its specialized units (Traffic, Detectives, C.O.P.P.S., etc), and is responsible for the processing of all evidence and station payroll management. Data, such as pawn slips, field interviews, stolen or recovered property, purchased firearms, and parking cites are entered into Sheriff’s and regional computer systems. Traffic citations and crime reports are processed and also provided to the D.A.’s office and court. Requests for copies of crime reports are reviewed and provided, where allowed by law. The staff processes and issues stored vehicle releases. Hundreds of telephone calls from the public and outside agencies are handled weekly, as well as ink fingerprinting to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Summary: During 2008, there were 5,746 case numbers issued to the San Marcos Station. The staff processed thousands of items of property or evidence during the course of the year. Including parking citations issued by the Senior Volunteer Patrol, approximately 6,676 traffic citations were issued within the San Marcos Command. All citations are routed through the Professional Staff and checked for accuracy before being forwarded to the Traffic Court or D.A.’s office.

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CRIME PREVENTION SSSHHHEEERRRIIIFFFFFF’’’SSS DDDEEEPPPAAARRRTTTMMMEEENNNTTT Staffing: Veronica Martinez and Bebe Nares, with the City of San Marcos, provide Crime Prevention within the incorporated area of San Marcos. The close working relationship that has developed between the City Crime Prevention Unit and the Sheriff’s Department continues to strengthen both programs. Sheriff’s Department Crime Prevention Specialist B.J. Williams provides Crime Prevention for the unincorporated areas of San Marcos and Escondido. Her time is shared between the San Marcos and Valley Center Stations. Overview: The purpose of the Crime Prevention Unit is to develop and maintain programs that educate citizens on the most current methods of deterring and preventing crime in their communities. Crime Prevention serves as an integral part of a cooperative effort by citizens and law enforcement to recognize, anticipate, and evaluate the risk of crime in both the incorporated area of San Marcos and the unincorporated areas of San Diego that fall under the jurisdiction of the San Marcos Station. Residents are crucial to the success of crime prevention programs because they provide essential information to law enforcement by reporting suspicious activity, sharing information, and following recommended security precautions. Crime Prevention practitioners provide resources and education through neighborhood watch meetings, security inspections, community events, displays, and special presentations. The focus of these activities is to determine vulnerable areas and make recommendations that improve awareness and security by implementing crime prevention techniques.

National Night Out 2008 Community Walk

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CRIME PREVENTION, continued Events:

Crime Prevention Activities in 2008 City Uninc. Residential Security Consultations - 39 Commercial Security Consultations - 5 Neighborhood Watch Meetings 37 47 Crime Prevention Presentations (Child Safety) 22 37 Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and Crime Free Multi-Housing (CFMH) Assessments

14 6

Community Events / Displays 13 36

San Marcos Sheriff’s Station

KidzWatch Academy 2008

KidzWatch Class Finger Printing

Bike Rodeo – Kidz Watch

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VOLUNTEERS

RESERVES Staffing The San Marcos Station Reserve Unit consists of six deputies and two sergeants. The unit volunteered 1,805 hours of their time and drove 6,609 miles in support of patrol operations during 2008. Activity Statistics Sheriff’s Reserves serve to augment patrol and provide additional law enforcement personnel on special details or at special events such as:

• DUI and CDL Checkpoints • San Marcos Street Fair and 4th of July Celebration • San Marcos V.I.B.E. neighborhood improvement function • Assist C.O.P.P.S. on special details such as curfew sweeps • San Marcos Christmas Parade • San Marcos Chamber of Commerce Street Fair • Valley Center Western Days

Collateral Duties Several San Marcos Reserves have also volunteered their time to work at the countywide level assisting the Sexual Offender Management Unit, Off-Road Enforcement Team, and Regional Communication System. Training The San Marcos Reserves participated in 301 hours of training in 2008. This includes state and department-mandated training, as well as optional, professional self-improvement training.

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VOLUNTEERS, continued

SENIOR VOLUNTEER PATROL

Staffing: The Senior Volunteer Patrol (SVP) Unit in San Marcos formed in February of 1994 and consisted of 18 volunteers. In 2008, there were 68 members. They volunteered 6,482 hours in the unincorporated area and 20,513 hours in the City of San Marcos for a combined total of 26,995 hours. The total amount of volunteer hours since 1994 is 338,871 for the community and the Sheriff’s San Marcos Department.

Activities: The SVP Unit is non-confrontational and their radio is their tool to prevent crime. They are extra eyes and ears for the Sheriff’s Department. Applicants receive 2 weeks of SVP academy training, in addition to yearly training on various subjects. Radio procedures, bomb/arson situations, traffic and crowd control, and search procedures are just some of the areas of training they receive. Their assignments cover a variety of activities as they assist not only law enforcement personnel, but the community at large. Three units are deployed five days a week in the City and one unit on Saturdays. One unit is deployed five days a week in the unincorporated areas. They also assist with traffic control at DUI/CDL checkpoints, traffic accidents and major events, such as the Christmas Parade, July 4th, and the Street Fair. Throughout their patrol areas they enforce various parking regulations, including handicap parking. Assistance at the station is provided by staffing the front counter during the week, transferring vehicles to the County or City garage for maintenance or repairs, transporting evidence to the Crime Lab, and delivery and pick up of arrest reports at the Vista Court. They assist the community by performing vacation checks, You Are Not Alone welfare checks, and Project Care checks. They also monitor and update the Safe Return Program for Alzheimer’s patients. They provide fingerprinting of children at community events, conduct presentations on telemarketing fraud and assist with Neighborhood Watch presentations.

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ADMINISTRATIVE INDICES On-duty collisions: San Marcos Station personnel were involved in a total of 7 traffic collisions during 2008. This equates to a 61% decrease from 2007. There were 2 fewer chargeable collisions (with a total of 5) than in 2007, and there were 2 non-chargeable collisions compared to 11 in 2007. A chargeable collision is one in which the employee is responsible, while a non-chargeable collision is one where the employee is not at fault.

YEAR CHARGEABLE NON-

CHARGEABLE TOTAL 2008 5 2 7 2007 7 11 18 2006 5 7 12 2005 5 0 5 2004 7 0 7

Complaints: In 2008, Internal Affairs received nine complaints arising from actions within the San Marcos Station. Four complaints alleged violations of courtesy, one alleged a conformance to law violation, three alleged conduct unbecoming, and one Procedural violation was alleged. This total was six more than the number of complaints in 2007, which is an increase of 300% in the number of complaints against deputies compared to last year.

COMPLAINTS ALLEGATION DISPOSITION

Courtesy – 4 1 – Sustained 2 – Not Sustained 1 – Unfounded

Conformance to Law – 1 1 – Sustained

Conduct Unbecoming – 3 2 – Sustained 1 – Unfounded

Procedural – 1

1- Unfounded