SMILE!! Equipping Cops with Body-Mounted Cameras Gains Steam in California, New York. By Douglas Ernst (The Washington Times).

Smile: Equipping cops with body-mounted cameras gains steam in Calif., N.Y.More Sharing Services

By Douglas Ernst

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The Washington Times

Friday, March 14, 2014

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The idea that cops should wear video cameras as they interact with the public is catching on, with police departments in California and New York leading the way.

“It’s groundbreaking, it’s starting to build up some steam, and I think it’s truly the wave of the future,” Tony Farrar, the chief of police for Rialto, Calif., toldCNN.

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SEE ALSO: Chicago goes ‘Minority Report’: CPD big on predictive policing

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Since implementing the body-mounted cameras, Rialto's policedepartment saw a drop in the use of force from 60 incidents in 2011 to 25 the following year, CNN reported. Citizen complains went from 28 to three within the same time period. The city has 115 officers for a city of roughly 100,000 people.

While the new technology does face hurdles among civil liberties groups (e.g., when and how members of the public can access video of their interactions with cops) advocates say that the devices stop police officers from deviating from appropriate behavior.

CNN reported that American Civil Liberties Union’s position is that the technology currently “places too much power in the hands of officers and not enough in the hands of the public,” but supporters say such concerns are overblown. Its advocates say body-mounted cameras are incentive for cops to be on their best behavior.

It appears as though with enough time both sides will come to a consensus.

Donna Lieberman, executive director of the ACLU’s New York City branch, told CNN that she believes that if implemented under the right framework, the technology could be a good tool to hold officers accountable for their actions.

The technology isn’t just being explored in the United States, either. Mr. Farrar told CNN that he’s received inquiries about his program from countries that include Brazil, Japan and the United Kingdom.

“This truly is a tool that helps law enforcement increase the level of legitimacy in policing,” the police chief told the network.

© Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.

Rialto Police To Offer Electronic Home Surveillance To Residents On Vacation

March 11, 2014 6:03 PM

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RIALTO (CBSLA.com) — Rialto police will soon implement a new electronic home surveillance program called “Safe House” to protect residents’ personal property while they are away on vacation.

“It’s an officer, pretty much like an invisible officer, there for us,” Rialto police Det. David Padilla said.

Starting in May, residents leaving their homes for an extended period of time will be able to contact the Rialto Police Department and arrange for an officer to place a small tracking device on valuable items that are particularly attractive to burglars, such as electronics and safes.

The motion-sensitive device will activate as soon as the resident leaves the property and will set off a signal that sends a text message to both the resident and police if motion is detected.

If any of the property is stolen, officers can use tracking software on the device to locate the item, as well as the thief.

KCAL9’s Jeff Nguyen reports that a computer system traces the movement of the tracking device through cellphone towers, and dispatchers can see it on a mapin real-time.

“So we can see on a map where it’s going, how fast it’s going, and we can determine if someone’s walking, if they’re running or if they’ve just jumped in a vehicle or where they’re going with the property that we want back,” Emergency Dispatch Supervisor Angela Haddad said.

Resident Jean Sharp said burglaries are on the rise in the area. She said her grandchild’s car was recently stolen from their driveway.

“People having their homes broken into…it has been more often than there used to,” she said.

Sharp said the technology may prevent a crime and make criminals think twice.

“If you can deter something from happening, you don’t have that worry of somebody coming into your home,” she said.

Rialto residents wishing to take part in the program can contact Lt. Dean P. Hardin at (909) 820-2634 or email dhardin@rialtopd.com.

RIALTO: False alarm evacuates high school

MARCH 3, 2014 BY PETER SUROWSKI

A faulty fire alarm triggered the evacuation of threeclasses at Rialto High School, according to a city fire official.

The incident was reported at about 8:30 a.m. Monday, March 3, at the school at 595 South Eucalyptus Ave., according to fire Capt. David Allen.

“The students were evacuated to the football field as a precaution,” said Ricardo Carlos, a spokesperson for the Rialto Unified School District.

Nobody was injured, no fire was found and the rest of the classes were uninterrupted, the fire captain said.

This story is developing. For updates, check back on this page or follow the author on Twitter @PeterSurowski and like him on Facebook.

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Rialto Police Dept. Partners With Private Social Network To Communicate With Residents « CBS Los Angeles

Rialto Police Dept. Partners With Private Social Network To Communicate With Residents « CBS Los Angeles

RIALTO (CBSLA.com) — The Rialto Police Department announced Tuesday it will integrate a private social network that will allow officers to communicate online with the city’s neighborhoods.

The purpose of the free website, Nextdoor, will be for residents and police to be able to work together toimprove safety and strengthen neighborhood watch efforts.

“We have always invested in innovative ways to increase safety for our residents,” Rialto Police Chief William Farrar said in a statement. “With Nextdoor, we can help empower neighbors to keep their community safe and connected, and give them the ability to collaborate on virtual neighborhood watch efforts.”

Rialto residents can join to share information, including neighborhood public safety issues, community events and activities, local services and even lost pets.

Six Rialto neighborhoods have already started Nextdoor websites.

Neighborhoods establish and self-manage their own Nextdoor accounts, while the police department does not have access residents’ websites, contact information or content.  Information shared on Nextdoor is password protected and cannot be accessed by search engines.

Cellphone GPS Helps Nab 3 Robbery Suspects in Rialto.... KABC News, Feb. 13, 2014...

Cellphone GPS helps nab 3 robbery suspects in Rialto

Thursday, February 13, 2014

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RIALTO, Calif. (KABC) -- A cellphone's GPS helped lead to the arrests of three armed suspects following a robbery spree in two cities Wednesday night, officials said.

Rialto police say the three suspects robbed people at knifepoint. Their first victim was a college student walking on Eucla Avenue near Arrow Highway in San Dimas. Lt. Andy Karol said the suspects grabbed the victim's backpack, which contained his laptop computer, cellphone and other personal items.
Before fleeing in a white Scion XB, they yelled out their street gang, according to investigators. The suspects -- identified as 19-year-old Mark Fernandez of San Bernardino, 18-year-old Jeffery Henriquez of Los Angeles and 18-year-old Roberto Morales of Los Angeles -- then hit the road, unaware that one of the items in their possession was tracking them.
"At this point, the victim is working with the LASO detectives since he has a location GPS on his cellphone," said Karol.
The trio's next known crime happens in a Ralphs parking lot in Rialto. A security guard called 911 after seeing a father with his two young children dragged out of his car, placed in the suspects' white Scion, and robbed. The suspects took the victim's wedding ring and other valuables.
Ten minutes later, less than two miles away, the suspects hit again. This time, it was at the parking lot of the Farmer Boys restaurant.
"There is a gentleman by himself, sitting in his vehicle waiting for his girlfriend to get off work, and he gets robbed at knifepoint," said Karol.
Minutes later, nearly out of gas, the suspects stopped at a Chevron station. Police quickly moved in and made the arrests. The stolen goods were recovered.
Authorities believe there may be more victims. Anyone with information was asked to contact the Rialto Police Department at (909)820-2550, or the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, San Dimas Station, at (909)450-2700.

(Copyright ©2014 KABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

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Rialto Police make Two DUI Arrests at Checkpoint. By Canan Tasci, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Nov. 23, 2013.

Rialto police make two DUI arrests at checkpoint

By Canan Tasci, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Posted: 11/23/13, 9:17 PM PST |

RIALTO >> Two DUI arrests were made Friday night during a checkpoint, police said Saturday.
The Rialto Police Department Traffic Unit conducted a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint at 1243 S. Riverside Ave, screening northbound traffic north of San Bernardino Avenue.
Of the 990 vehicles that entered the checkpoint, 830 persons were screened further for possibly driving under the influence or being unlicensed, according to a Rialto Police Department news release.
Two DUI arrests were made and two others were arrested on warrants, police said.
Funding for this and other checkpoints is provided to the Rialto Police Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Reach the author at Canan.Tasci@inlandnewspapers.com or follow Canan on Twitter: @ChinoValleyNow.

Rialto car shooting death probe underway

Saturday, November 09, 2013

A man in a car, seen crashed into a fence in the 1000 block of North Willow Avenue in Rialto, was shot and killed on Friday, Nov. 8, 2013. (KABC Photo)

  

RIALTO, Calif. (KABC) -- An investigation is underway after a man was shot and killed while driving a car in a Rialto neighborhood.

According to Rialto police, the shooting occurred shortly after 5 p.m. Friday in the 200 block of West Jackson Street.
Investigators say the driver was shot multiple times, and then his car crashed into a fence outside a home in the 1000 block of North Willow Avenue.
Police found the driver slumped behind the wheel of the car. He was rushed to the hospital but died from his wounds.
The victim was later identified as Richard Santoscoy, said to be in his mid-40s.
Shortly before 5 a.m. Saturday, police arrested a suspect in the case. Investigators say the suspect and victim knew each other, and the shooting was not gang related.
The suspect, identified as Ingram Hoadena, was arrested at a relative's apartment in Rialto.

(Copyright ©2013 KABC-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

Rialto Officals Test Emergancy Communications for 'The Big One' by: Melissa Pinion-Whitt The Sun..

Rialto officials test emergency communication for ‘The Big One’

Rialto police Lt. Bill Wilson, acting as operations center liaison for the Rialto Police Department, marks an emergency location on a map during an earthquake drill Thursday in Rialto. (By Melissa Pinion-Whitt) 

By Melissa Pinion-Whitt, The Sun

POSTED: 11/07/13, 3:44 PM PST |

Chino Valley Independent Fire District Capt. Tom Lemoine updates an emergency incident sheet during an earthquake drill in Rialto on Thursday. (By Melissa Pinion-Whitt) 

RIALTO >> Buildings and bridges collapsed, a train derailed and hazardous chemicals spilled in the wake of a 7.5-magnitude earthquake.

None of these things actually happened.

But about 50 employees from Rialto and other cities in Rialto’s Emergency Operations Center acted as if they did.

It was part of the city’s California Specialized Training Institute workshop, which began earlier this week and culminated Thursday in a realistic communications drill.

“If we have any deficiencies in the city, this gives us the opportunity to address those before a real incident happens,” said Rialto firefighter/paramedic Matt Payne.

San Luisa Del Mar, a fictitious city of 100,000 people, was the focus of the training.

“Rialto will be significantly better prepared, and not necessarily because they worked for San Luisa, but because they worked together,” said Joe Costello, instructor and coordinator for the institute.

The drill didn’t include people posing as dead or wounded victims. And it didn’t have paramedics rushing them off to hospitals.

Instead, it focused on communication among local, county and state emergency officials.

Workers from various city departments relayed disaster information as it was reported, then organized and prioritized how to respond to incidents. It’s a system involving phone banks, city mapping and charting incidents. “I think it kind of helps organize the chaos,” said Chino Valley Independent Fire District Capt. Tom Lemoine.

The drill even involved West Covina police spokesman Rudy Lopez, playing the role of a television news reporter.

“It’s interesting because I’m able to use my personal encounters with the media to act out this role,” he said.

The drill was funded through a $24,000 federal Emergency Management Performance Grant, said Rialto fire Battalion Chief Frank Bekker.

San Bernardino County regularly distributes such funds to cities for use in training, hiring employees and purchasing equipment.

Rialto Fire Chief Mat Fratus said by the time “The Big One” hits the Inland Empire, Rialto will have key players identified and assigned to particular tasks for when the emergency operation center is opened for real.

“We’ll have people put together to take care of the citizens of Rialto,” Fratus said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melissa Pinion-Whitt covers breaking news and public safety for The Sun. Reach the author atMelissa.Pinion-Whitt@inlandnewspapers.com or follow Melissa on Twitter: @IEcrime.

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Fort Worth Police Leading the Charge Locally in Usage of Body Camera's by Monika Diaz WFAA.com/News

Fort Worth police leading the charge locally in usage of body cameras

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Posted on October 24, 2013 at 10:46 PM

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FORT WORTH -- It's the future of policing; a tiny camera attached to an officer's collar or sunglasses, designed to record every move not captured on patrol dash-cam video.

In Rialto, California, body cameras are mandatory for 70 officers. According to the department, complaints against officers have dropped 80 percent. Use of force went down 67 percent.  The numbers are from a study conducted at the department when the cameras were first introduced.in February 2012.

In North Texas, law enforcement agencies are also deploying these high-tech cameras.

The Fort Worth Police Department leads the effort. It recently got a new shipment of body cameras -- 195 of them. 113 are already on the street, in use, recording encounters and confrontations between officers and citizens.

The voluntary program was launched last year. The video from the cameras is downloaded into a server. It cannot be edited or manipulated.

“This makes it so much easier to understand exactly from the officer's point of view, maybe a justification, a quick decision, or something that can't be explained in a police report or an interview, [that] when you see it on film, it can change your perspective of what was really going on at that date, at that time,” said Fort Worth Police Chief Jeff Halstead.

The Fort Worth Police Officer's Association (FWPOA) supports the body cams, because it believes it will help officers.

“It is a way for us to, one, record events when they happen, and also, a lot of times we have allegations made against us, and they are not always true,” said FWPOA President Stephen Hall.

But for Hall, the cameras also raise questions.

“I'm surprised we don't have a well-defined policy,” Hall said. “There is some policy, but there is not a well-defined policy on how the videos will be used, utilized, and reviewed.”

Without it, Hall believes officers will begin to distrust the technology.

"Then they become suspicious and become more reluctant to use it or rely on it,” he said.

Chief Halstead told News 8 a new version of the body cameras policy is on the way.

“I want that draft finalized by the end of the year,” he said.

He also mentioned that officers’ concerns are being addressed.

“Some of those concerns are what has to be taped and what should be taped, and my position is, the easier the policy is to understand, the more it will be adopted by our employees,” Halstead said. “No one is just going in and kind of like having a free reign of 'Let's see what officer Jones is doing tonight.' We don't do that and we will not allow that.”

Halstead wants the policy to be clear to his officers and the public. Citizens will be on camera, too. He plans to take the policy to community forums and organizations.

“I'm going to review it with a community advisory board that works closely with the chief's office and the police department,” he said.

Additional training for the officers is also part of the plan.

“You have to give them training on how to police on film, 'cause it's different,” Halstead said.

The chief also expects other revisions in the future as the technology changes, including the possibility of random audits.

“Are they being turned on during traffic stops?” he said. "Are they being turned on during critical interviews during the officer's shift? Those kind of audits."

For the chief, the goal is to build best practices that will increase professionalism. The body cameras can be effective in building trust and much more.

“This is going to change our profession,” he said. “But for the better.”

E-mail mdiaz@wfaa.com