Rialto-PD: July 2006

Saturday, July 29, 2006

Rialto Citezens Remeber to get out and Vote

Remember to vote for City Council...

Candidates Line up for shot at City Councils (Daily Bulletin 072906)

The time is upon the Rialto City once again & this Election is more important then any other, because we need to make sure that Joe Sampson and Robertson is moved out of the City Politics for ever. After they mis represented the city and spent or should I just say Waisted all that money trying to Contract with the Sheriff Department, a move that was not wanted by anyone. None of the citizens that live in Rialto wanted it after all they got a majority of signatures that signed the petition drive stating that the Police Department was the one that should be Patroling the city, but this was after they has wasited over a million dollars of City money. Now they are crying again about how they are going to pay bills without the utility tax!!

So, Robertson and Sampson must go, and Baca Jr. and Ferretiz should be voted in!! Remember all you that live in Rialto that are registered Voters get out to vote...

BSRanch

Candidates line up for shot at city councils
Those seeking council, school board seats are filing papers

By Mason Stockstill, Daily Bulletin Staff Writer...

Local elections more than three months away? Not to worry -- the candidates are already lining up.

Council seats in several cities across the Inland Valley will be contested in November, including seats in Chino, Chino Hills, Fontana, Montclair, Ontario, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto and Upland.

School board seats will be open in the following districts: Chino Valley Unified, Corona-Norco Unified, Fontana Unified, Jurupa Unified and Rialto Unified. Also, the San Bernardino County Board of Education has two contested seats.

Rialto Picks New Police Chief, But Why did Kling want to come to Rialto?

I hope that this is the team builder that they say that they have been looking for and wanting. I know that it says that he was credited with saving Baldwin Park Police Department. If you ask me Baldwin Park Police Department was already saved it was up to him to hire the people that he wanted to get the Department that was in his minds eye. Now, Baldwin Park is a city in the Greater Los Angeles County, so why would Mark Kling want to come to Rialto Police Department after only being Chief at Baldwin Park for 5 years. He was only a Chief at Baldwin Park for 5 years and if you ask me that means that he only build it up for the last five years the city has more to grow, and the Police Department has more to grow.

So, My question to everyone that might read my BLOG, is this, Why would Mark Kling just drop every thing and become Chief here in Rialto, seems that he still has much to do to make Baldwin Park a better place. There has to be a reason that Mark Kling is taking his leave from Baldwin Park and coming to Rialto, he might or might not be the answer to the questions at hand, I wonder how pleased people are in Baldwin Park that this guy is leaving there. There are so many questions that are not being answered here. I am wondering why Kling is coming to Rialto just seems weird to me when he was chief at a department of the same size.

BSRanch

Rialto picks new police chief
Mark Kling credited with Baldwin Park PD revival
Robert Rogers SB Sun Staff Writer...

RIALTO - Baldwin Park Police Chief Mark Kling will serve as this city's next top cop, City Administrator Henry Garcia announced Wednesday.

Kling built his reputation in part on rebuilding the Baldwin Park Police Department, which bordered on dissolution five years ago. The Rialto Police Department weathered a similar struggle after the City Council voted in September to disband it in favor of contracting with the Sheriff's Department. The council reversed its position in March.

"I look at this as an opportunity, and I see a city on the verge of explosive growth. The challenge motivates me," Kling said.

Garcia said Kling, who was chosen after a final round of interviews Monday and will be paid $153,000 yearly, was the best fit for the situation and the city.

"Mr. Kling and I share a serious commitment to reinventing this department," Garcia said. "He is the perfect leader to change the organizational culture from one that has been distanced to one that is integrated."

Garcia's decision does not require council approval. His selection followed recommendations from a seven-member interview committee that shaved a field of seven candidates to the two Garcia interviewed Monday.

Garcia sketched Kling as tough, principled and brainy, pointing to his success in leading the Baldwin Park Poliuce Department since 2001 and his doctorate in public administration from the University of La Verne.

"He shares with us a desire for a cultural change and a confidence and focus to lead the city into the future," Garcia said. "There is no Plan B because we will accomplish Plan A (rebuilding the department)."

Baldwin Park city and police officials, unaware their chief was stalking the Rialto position, were jolted Wednesday morning.

"It took me aback. It was totally unexpected," said Baldwin Park Mayor Manuel Lozano. "He's one of the most talented, innovative leaders I've ever met. He'll be tough to replace."

Kling "turned around" the Police Department in the 84,000-population city when he ascended from captain to chief in 2001, according to Lozano.

Kling helped revive a Police Department that some in city leadership at the time suggested be scrapped in favor of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Kling will be stepping up from a department with 124 personnel to Rialto's, which employs about 160 when fully staffed. Currently, staffing is down nearly 25 percent.

"In 2001, the Baldwin Park police was in roughly the same condition Rialto is in now," Kling said. "I'm ready to get in and develop a plan to return the department to premiere status."
Kling said he hoped to start his new job by late August.

Members of the seven-person interview committee that screened the top seven applicants July 6 overwhelmingly favored Kling. Councilman Ed Scott said Kling was "dynamite" in the interview, impressing his interrogators with his energy, communication skills and knowledge of Rialto's community and department.

"He clearly did his homework," Scott said.

Questions swirled among community members closely watching the saga unfold as to what would happen if Garcia flouted the committee's consensus and opted against Kling.
But it didn't happen, and virtually everyone seemed satisfied Wednesday.

"I'm just glad it's over and (Garcia) didn't mess it up," said resident Angie Consolo, who was a member of the citizen group that opposed Garcia and the council's since-abandoned plans to disband the Police Department.

Rialto police union president Andrew Pilcher said Wednesday Kling was a "wise choice" who would have the support of the force's rank and file.

During his tenure in Baldwin Park, Kling's major accomplishments included expanding traffic forces, launching a narcotics-enforcement team and a full-time gang-enforcement team and upgrades of communications and weapons and defense systems, according to a Baldwin Park police association presentation to the City Council in 2004.

"But most of all, Chief Kling has established an atmosphere of trust and fairness within the Police Departme nt," wrote Officer Mark Adams in the report.

Kling called the commendation one of his greatest personal achievements.
Kling, 48, was born in Montebello in 1957 and graduated from Montebello High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Phoenix and a master's degree and doctorate from the University of La Verne. He completed his dissertation and received his degree in 2003, moonlighting as a student between duties as police chief.

After serving as a police Explorer at age 14, Kling got a job as a reserve officer with Monterey Park police in 1981 and worked there until 1999, when he joined the Baldwin Park force.
Kling said he plans on staying in Rialto long-term.

"Rialto today is nothing like what it's going to be like in the future," Kling said. "I wouldn't come here if I didn't want to be a part of that equation, that future."

Friday, July 28, 2006

Buildings Getting Fixed (The Press-Enterprise 072806) Owners Face Fines or Receivership if Properties Don't Meet Code!!

Why doesn't Rialto City take the time to listen to the owners of the property and give them more time, or is it that Rialto City Administrator Garcia and City Council member Scott want their wives to be able to purchase the properties for their families to fix up and tear down only to replace it with some houses that will change the neighborhood, and stop the violence all together. It is proven that if they were houses that the violence would be a lot less.

But they are not houses, and they are apartments that are owned by people that don't have a great deal of money, so they are forced to fix the property on their own, and they are having problems making the predetermined date as foreseen by the city. well I say it is not fair for the apartment owners and they should be allowed the time to get the work done right the first time, no matter how long that ti takes, just don't allow them to rent them out!!

When they are out the money they will fix it pretty fast or as fast as they can.

BSRanch

Owners face fines or receivership if properties don't meet code

12:27 AM PDT on Friday, July 28, 2006

By Massiel LadróN De Guevara The Press-Enterprise

Jose Rodriguez doesn't live on Rialto's East Jackson Street, but spends more time there than some residents.

Carrie Rosema / The Press-Enterprise

Jose Rodriguez owns buildings on East Jackson Street in Rialto that must be brought up to code. He says repairing each building would cost $30,000 if Rialto officials don't add more violations and if police can limit vandalism. "The vandalism is really taking its toll," he says.

He is fighting the clock to bring seven buildings he owns up to code before the city asks a court to have a receiver take them over.

"I'm here every day, including Sunday, working on these buildings," Rodriguez said.

"My son and wife also help me. The whole family helps and we hire people from outside to do what I don't know how to do."

A deadline set by the city to correct code violations has come and gone for Rodriguez and 19 other East Jackson Street property owners, who were cited following high-profile raids in March.

Rialto officials are compiling a report outlining deficiencies in each building that didn't meet the deadline, said Chaz Ferguson, Rialto's building official. Once city attorneys review the report, the city will have a better idea about what to ask the court for each owner, he said.

There are two options. The first is to ask a receiver to take over the property. The second is to seek an injunction that would impose fines on owners if repairs aren't done by a set date, Ferguson said.

Property owners were given until June 1 to make repairs following the March raids. The deadline was extended to July for owners who got work permits.

Only one property owner will not be taken to court following the second inspections July 7 and 8, Ferguson said.

Because it will take about 90 days to finish the report, have the city's lawyers review it and set a court date, owners have more time to work on their buildings, he said.

Rodriguez said he will make the most of that time, but worries because he owns more buildings than anyone on the street.

"The city and inspectors need to know I own seven buildings and the time frame is the same for me as ... for people that own one building," Rodriguez said.

"We're talking big bucks, and this is a very bad street and they are trying to make this change into a very nice area very fast."

It should take about six weeks to get the repairs finished if competent professionals are doing the work, Ferguson said.

"And if money is an issue, the equity can be taken out on the buildings to help pay for their repair," he said.

Keeping the buildings in good condition has always been a priority, but it's been hard without the help of the city or Police Department, Rodriguez said.

"It's risky when you don't have the backup of the police because you're putting money and money into the buildings and things continue to get damaged," Rodriguez said.

"I didn't see the support of the Police Department and city. Now that I see it, I'm willing to make the expenses."

The Rialto Police Department's Multiple Enforcement Unit, created to patrol East Jackson Street, spends about 50 percent of its time there, interim Police Chief Frank Scialdone said.

Before the March raids, the street would be patrolled when officers had a chance to get there, but there is no way of knowing how much time that involved, he said.

The type of patrolling done before the raids was different, Scialdone said.

"It was more responsive to complaints or things of that nature," he said. "Now it's more proactive patrol."

When the Multiple Enforcement Unit was formed following the raids, the idea was to disband it after a few months when things were under control, he said.

"The unit has been so successful that we decided it will be a permanent one," Scialdone said.

It would cost about $30,000 to repair each building Rodriguez owns if the city doesn't add more violations and if police can curb vandalism, Rodriguez said.

"The vandalism is really taking its toll," he said. "Last week, I had to replace nine broken windows, and I'm replacing sprinkler heads almost every day that are kicked out by kids."

"Sometimes I think the Police Department needs to do more than just drive by."

On Wednesday, Rodriguez was putting new air-conditioning units into every apartment, costing about $13,000 per building, he said.

At the rate Rodriguez is going to fix his buildings, he is a candidate for receivership, Ferguson said.

"He's not getting it done in a timely manner, and it's not to say he doesn't want to or can't do it. It's just he isn't doing it fast enough," Ferguson said.

Other property owners also need to get more done, Ferguson said.

Rosa Mendez, who lives in a Rodriguez apartment, said she has seen him every day repairing his buildings.

But the condition of the apartments isn't a big concern, Mendez said.

"My concern is the violence on the street," she said.

"The way they come and inspect all the apartments is the way the police should come and inspect the street."

9 Arrested in Raid for Gang Members (Daily Bulletin 072806) Rialto Swat, Police Operations Yields Suspected Murder Accomplice...

Rialto did a great job in the warrant service, and Apprehension of the suspects, no one was hurt, and that is the main thing. Nine arrested is good, but they didn't get the main people that is not good. The Thing about South Side Rialto is that they have always been slippery, they slip away to Mexico, for a short vacation when it is a good time and they are too hot to visit Rialto, or the San Bernardino County area. I pray they catch the others soon.

BSRanch

9 Arrested in Raid for Gang Members
Rialto SWAT, Police Operations Yields suspected Murder Accomplice
By Roger Rogers, Staff Writer Daily Bulletin

RIALTO -- Rialto police and SWAT officers arrested nine people Thursday in multi-agency, multi-city daybreak raids, including a 16-year-old Rialto boy suspected of being an accomplice in a May 1 homicide.

The 6:15 a.m. raids on suspected gang lairs in eight separate locations in Rialto and Fontana were in response to a spate of homicides and armed robberies traced to Rialto's largest gang -- South Side Rialto.

New Video:

Rialto Gang Suspect Raid, 07/27
Photo Gallery: Police raid gang suspects' homes

Police say a .38-caliber revolver found Thursday at a home in the 270 block of East Alru Street in Rialto where they found the 16-year-old boy is similar to one used in the killing of 20-year-old Joseph Aragon , who was shot after a verbal altercation in front of a liquor store on Riverside Avenue on May 1.

"At this point, it looks like we took big steps toward solving some very serious crimes today," Rialto Police Sgt. Andrew Karol said of Thursday's raids, during which authorities also gathered pictures, letters and gang paraphernalia.

Aragon was just one casualty in a string of crimes earlier this year that police believe all tie back to 20-year-old South Side Rialto gang member Manuel "Daffie" Espinoza, who was shot and killed by narcotics officers June 8. Police believe the 16-year-old and Espinoza may have been responsible for Aragon's death.

Police say Espinoza fired on Rialto police, who were chasing him, on June 8. Police returned fire, hitting Espinoza, who died later at the hospital. A .38-caliber revolver was recovered at the scene. Police say they will conduct ballistics tests at the county sheriff's crime lab on Espinoza's gun and the one found Thursday to determine whether either was the weapon used to kill Aragon.

The officer-involved shooting is still under investigation by the department and independent sheriff's investigators, which is normal protocol when police use deadly force, Karol said.

Police believe the crime spree quieted with Espinoza's death, but said countering the brazen violence with a broader gang crackdown is critical to keeping the peace.

"Today's operation had two main objectives," Karol said of the raids, which were spearheaded by the narcotics unit tracking South Side Rialto gang members. "One was to gather valuable intelligence and evidence in connection with local crimes, and the other was to send a message, to rattle the cages."

In the 600 block of South Olive Street, Rialto's SWAT van rolled in with 10 heavily-armed officers clasped to ridges and rails on the side of the vehicle.

Jumping off near an alley behind a two-unit condominium, officers gelled into a single-file line in a crouched run and snaked tightly around the structure before forking at the two front doors.

Behind the building, an officer let fly a concussion grenade, the deafening sound serving as the cue for SWAT members to use their battering ram to smash through the front doors.

The heavily armed strike force was assembled because two suspected South Side members reside there. But all police found initially were startled parents and children and pictures of Espinoza. Moments later, echoing pops were heard from another raid nearby.

Despite the anticlimactic entrance, police said the raid was a moderate success. The chances that young gang members will be a certain place at a certain time is a crapshoot, Karol said.

"With the information we're gathering here and at the other locations, there's no telling how many crimes we'll solve or how much more information we'll get that will help us against these gangs," Karol said.

After rifling through both units, police left with multiple cameras and a sophisticated surveillance unit, stacks of photographs and caches of written correspondence between people in the homes and California prisons.

A force of about 75 officers representing nine different area agencies served search warrants on eight separate residences in Rialto and Fontana, all of which were hit simultaneously just after 6 a.m. to ensure surprise.

Det. Johnny Partida said South Side Rialto is the city's largest gang, and like others in the region, has stretched its influence into nearby cities. Sgt. Paul Stella said the department has about 130 South Side members profiled in its database.

"The South Side has been around forever, but recently they went from being more of a nuisance to getting bigger, bolder and causing more problems," Stella said. "So we've assembled a broader force, hitting back in multiple locations, multiple cities."

Interim Police Chief Frank Scialdone looked on in street clothes during the early-morning raid on South Olive Street. After serving as the impetus behind the last major multi-unit raid on East Jackson Street in March, he this time left more of the work -- and the credit -- to the rank-and-file.

"This is good and smooth," Scialdone said outside while his SWAT officers searched the residences and conducted interviews. "This is a monthlong process to plan and coordinate for a few short hours, and I'm pleased with what I've seen."

After the initial round of morning search warrants, police met back at the briefing room where detectives sorted and processed evidence and interviewed people taken into custody. The second phase of the operation was a midmorning parole and probation sweep across Colton, Rialto, Fontana and San Bernardino.

Karol said it is too early to quantify the net gain from Thursday's raids.

"There are a lot of additional cases and crimes in cities all over the area that we potentially may be able close out with what we gathered today," Karol said.

Thursday, July 27, 2006

For a department that is 25% undermaned it sure is doing a great job. Rialto Police has done Gang Search Warrants, Drug Warrants and just kept over all busy through the whole thing ever since the Interim Chief came on board. Scialdone does not take the B.S. of regular people and is a great chief of Police, it is too bad that he wants to just retire and let it all go. He would be great for Rialto, and has been great for Rialto.

I really am hoping that this Kling is just as wonderful as Scialdone has been!!

BSRanch

9 Arrested in Raid for Gang Members
Rialto SWAT, Police Operations Yields suspected Murder Accomplice
By Roger Rogers, Staff Writer Daily Bulletin

RIALTO -- Rialto police and SWAT officers arrested nine people Thursday in multi-agency, multi-city daybreak raids, including a 16-year-old Rialto boy suspected of being an accomplice in a May 1 homicide.