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First round of Rialto Police Area Command meetings for 2016 review

04 Feb 2016 Leave a comment

So 2016 is underway and with that comes the first round of Area Command meetings held by the Rialto Police department. With recent retirements and promotions the program has gone through some major changes. Normally change would be bad but these changes have moved key people into great leadership roles. The Area Command program is now anchored once again by to great and passionate leaders in Lt. Kurkusky in the south and newly promoted Lt. Smith in the north.

We missed the first Area Command Meeting on the south end but covered the Area Command meeting in the north and since they share the same info this is a great breakdown of what happened.

Over 50 residents filled up an assembly room at the Sunrise church on north Riverside Ave. The program began with newly promoted Lt. Smith introducing himself.

After Lt. Smith’s introduction he had officer Wilson come up and talk about the Operation Lifesaver Program. Though the programs ideas sound good some are leary of it. One reason that people are leary of this program is the fact that we’re tracking people and creating a regular access point into someone’s home (“to change the battery”). Second is the style of equipment used it’s very old tech and reminds us of what was innovative back in the 80’s. Finally getting grants are good but with every grant comes a long list of rules you must follow and some out there don’t trust Washington at all.

Next up was Cpl. Marquez who had the original task of overseeing the Rialto Reentry Program but now has a long list of other programs that have been added to his plate. The Reentry program is the first thing Cpl. Marquez spoke about:

Next Cpl. Marquez spoke about the next program that he oversees which is the Crime Free Multi Housing Program. This is a program that is aimed at keeping multi housing projects safe:

Next Cpl. Marquez spoke about the Nixle Program a program where you can get direct information from the police department. He also goes over the Text to Tip portion of the program.

Next Cpl. Marquez talks about the Homeless Outreach program and explains what him team will do in this program.

Next up Councilman O’Connell goes over his first quarter Rialto Rap Up. This is where he talks about what is important to the community and he makes himself available to questions from the community. Here is a copy of the Press Release he is reading from:

Officer Anderson was next up to talk to the community about the Inland Regional Center Terrorist Attack in San Bernardino. Officer Anderson is a longtime SWAT Officer and former K9 Handler. He and his team were in the main fight when the two ISIS Terrorists were shot and killed.

Rialto Fire on scene at the San Bernardino Terrorist Attack.

Officer Anderson also talks about the Foundation that makes the Rialto Police K9 program possible The Friends Of Rialto Police K9 he invites the community to interact with the K9 program through their Facebook Page.

Next the Terrorism Detective from Rialto Police gave us a terrorism threat assessment training of some sort that was a little confusing. We have heard this Detective give presentations before and they seemed to flow better. The title of the powerpoint and a lot of the information that was given didn’t seem to match up.

Run Fight Hide

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Rialto High School Cheer Squad Wins 1st Place At State

25 Jan 2016 1 Comment

by rialto-now in Andy Carrizales, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Ca, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Colton, Fun, Inland Empire, Rialto, RUSD, San Bernardino, youth

The students of Rialto High School put our city on the map today and it was for something positive.

Rialto High Cheer just placed first at the CheerPros State Championships today which were held at the Citizens Bank Arena. They also won a full paid bid to the “Best of the West” Invitational in Long Beach. The Best of the West is on March 6th at CSULB and Nationals is March 18-20th at the Anaheim Convention Center. Below is a tweet from the Cheer Pros Twitter account that shows the top five finishers.

The team has placed first at their regional competitions for the past four years and will once again be representing Rialto at the USA Nationals Cheer Competition this March. The team is made up of incredible athletes and students.

More than just the first place team they support at every football and basketball game, pep rally, Rialto Family Festival, other community and school events all while training and competing in their own right.

Join us in recognizing this awesome team and their ability to represent for the city of Rialto.

Go Knights!!!!!!!!!

Rialto Police Honors 12 Officers for their Promotions At Council Meeting

13 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

Police Chief Randy Deanda Sworn in as Rialtos’s new top cop photo credit Rialto Network

As the city moves further into the next chapters of its history the Police Department has also turned a page and moved into a new chapter in providing police services to the community of Rialto. Up until recent history we have looked outside of our own Department and Even County looking for the person that will lead one of our most vital Public Safety agencies. Now as City Council moves to hire the next Police Chief we see yet another strong man coming from within our Police Department ranks. Replacing outgoing Chief Tony Farrar is former Police Captain Randy Deanda a long time officer within the Rialto Police Department. Chief Deanda is a man of strong Character and resides locally but not only since taking the helm but has lived for a long time and raised his family locally so he understands what we as a community are going through. Even though we have not always seen eye to eye Chief Deanda has always been willing to speak to those in the community in his previous roles listen to others opinions. We are lucky to have Randy Deanda as Rialto’s Top Cop.

The full Promotion class photo credit Rialto Network

Another awesome part about Chief Deanda taking the helm is that there was a flurry of Promotions from within our own department twelve sworn promotions. We will start with the Corporals and work our way up, all of these officers are fine people. You will see comments next to some of the names. Some we know a lot about others we only know by the badge they wear on their chest.

Photo from the Rialto Police Promotion Ceremony Photo Credit Rialto Network

Corporal Pouching – Cpl Pouching is a long time officer of Rialto Police Department we know him from his work on Patrol, as a former K9 Officer and most recently as a member of our traffic division a great guy with knowledge to lead the next generation of Police Officer.

Corporal Hince

Corporal Russo on his Police Bike

Corporal Russo – Corporal Russo has been for as long as I can remember one of Rialto’s finest Traffic Cops. He has won multiple awards for his work with Under the Influence drivers and has made himself available to many community groups and our youth to stress the importance of safe driving habits.

Corporal Farmer – Quiet, strong man from a Rialto blood line who’s father is a Former Police Chief, Council member and Mayor. Corporal Farmer most recently was working in the Detectives Division and has been part of closing out some of Rialto’s most notorious Cold Cases.

Sargent Nelson posing for a picture at Rialto’s National Night Out with Former Traffic Sargent Shepard

Sergeant Nelson – Sargent Nelson is almost a carbon copy of probably one of our most favorite Police Officers. Sargent Nelson who now oversees the traffic Division was the Corporal that brought the Community Policing vision back to Rialto. When he was tasked with overseeing Community Policing I wondered when he slept. He made himself available what was almost 24/7 he was a valuable resource and a workman to help make residents feel safe and heard. He was the ultimate advocate for the community.

“Sgt. Muir on-duty taking the time to interact with some kids in our community by buying them an ice cream at George’s Burger.” Photo Credit Rialto PD Facebook

Sergeant Muir – Now Sargent Muir has been a Sargent for a few months now but we are not at all upset at him being included in this batch of promotions. Sargent Muir can’t be thanked or honored enough for what he has done for this community. Rialto is a better place because of the hours of dedicated work he has put in. To the criminal he is your worse nightmare, to the child he is a welcomed face in the midst of tragedy and to a victim he is your knight that will work diligently to see that justice is done. Our owner David Phillips tells us stories all the time of this living legend. David has gone on countless ride-a-longs with Sargent Muir when he was a Corporal and tells us how Sargent Muir would adapt to each call effortlessly and seemed to be a master of each situation. Our favorite story is when a local African American community member told Sargent Muir that someone had drawn a swastika in her wet cement and she didn’t notice until it was dry Sargent Muir came to her house on his personal time and patched her driveway. Dedicated Father, Friend, Cop and Solider there is no other like Sargent Muir (Sargent Muir is who we refer to when we’re talking about Sargent Nelson)

Sergeant Balawag

Sergeant Gerard

Lieutenant Lane

Lieutenant Smith – Is a great guy with a lot of passion and heart. The former Sargent of the Traffic Division and Risk Management he is a great person to step into this promotion. He is also the new area commander for the northern section of the city. He is probably the best person to fill the shoes of the three people that have held that job before him. Most recently Kathy Thompson, Andy Karol and Craig Crispin. A great promotion and a awesome show to the community that Rialto Police wants to see the Area Command program live on.

Captain Wilson – Another great guy who has a very easy way about him. A former Area Commander and a person that will listen and talk to anyone that asks. He and Captain Karol have always worked so well together they will be an awesome team that helps launch Rialto PD as one of the Top Law Enforcement agencies in California.

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Your 2016 Update On The City Care Of Councilman Shawn O’Connell

11 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

Councilman Shawn O’Connell continues his track record of meeting all of his campaign promises and keeping the community informed with his 2016 Rialto Year Update. Councilman O’Connell is the only elected official to who not only worked diligently to make good on what he said on his first run on the good ole campaign trail, he has done everything he promised with a year to spare in his political career.

To top it off Councilman O’Connell one of Rialto’s most influential people in Rialto in 2015 has just released his yearly update for 2016 which you can see below is an update of what is vital to residents, what has been done and what is coming up. Councilman O’Connell normally releases these Press Releases before each area command meeting as a way to give the community an honest and unbiased look at what is vital to the community.

So as we said Councilman O’Connell releases these Press Releases before each Area Command meeting series and tonight kicks off the first Area Command for the South Part of the city. They will be discussing things to consider during an “Active Shooter” incident. Several Rialto Police Department SWAT officers who responded to the Inland Regional Center incident in San Bernardino will be in attendance and provide insight on their experiences that day.

Join Rialto PD and Various City Department heads this week to get your information for 2016.

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What Happens When The City Can’t Follow Their Own Rules?

08 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

Ever since the city of Rialto took on the Water Reductions from the State of California we have been threatened with massive fines if we did not follow the new strict water rules. Even families that ripped out entire lawns were fined by the city and to get anyone to listen to their plight they had to go to a city council meeting.

The city does everything it can to make sure you know what your not supposed to be doing with your water use even to go as far as use http://www.nextdoor.com to beat residents over their digital heads reminding them not to waste water but who is keeping an eye on the City Officials? Even Mayor Deborah Robertson is caught on video claiming that “every drop counts” but does it really?

The park above Flores Park on Etiwanda Ave has long been a park that the city has ignored and left things up to the local residents to make changes. The disdain for this local community made up of all races, young and old, cops/teachers/business owners/laborers has had their speed limit jump up almost 20 MPH, told no on a stop sign, forced to band together to get more police help and protect their children from Fire Ant Infestations and Play ground Equipment that is boarded up and falling apart. Now they want to flood the grass and waste water. The local Community Group Flores Park Group a collection of community members have invited the Mayor and Park Councilman Joe Baca Jr. to many events but they have never came out to see what the community deals with everyday.

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Is this hate speak or not

03 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

Mississippi Democrat Kenneth Stokes urged his community this week to hurl rocks, bricks and bottles at police.

A Mississippi councilman has sparked controversy after calling for dramatic action against police. Kenneth Stokes, a councilman in Jackson Ward, says he wants his constituents to send a message to police officers from other jurisdictions who chase misdemeanor suspects through their territory. “What I suggest is we get the black leadership together, and as these jurisdictions come into Jackson we throw rocks and bricks and bottles at them. That will send a message we don’t want you in here,” he said, reported WLBT.

This elected official is out of control and off his rocker. Normally no elected official would ever be brazen enough to say this publicly let alone to a reporter on camera but thanks to the #blacklivesmatter protesters and our current sitting president saying these types of things are ok and expected. Obama has done very little to protect the Men & Women who put on a uniform and defend this countries laws. Obama’s lack of action on the side of law enforcement has brought a rise in police officer deaths and leaves police in some areas questioning every single step they take putting themselves in danger.

Listening to Councilman Stokes talk about how police from other jurisdictions should not be able to pursue suspects into his city because of county or city boarders reminded me of one of Rialto’s Top Cops at a community forum. At a Coffee With The Chief event held some years ago someone asked about Rialto Police and their ability to keep Marijuana Pot Shops out of Rialto. The resident asked if Rialto Police had Jurisdiction to inforce Marijuana laws (since most of the law against its use were federal). This high ranking Rialto Police official said:

The law against having Marijuana Shops within the City of Rialto limits was an ordnance that was within the prop 215 law passed by the State of California allowing Medical Marijuana uses but still allowed cities to regulate if pot shops were allowed in Rialto.
He pointed at his badge and said do you see the California Seal on my badge? As a sworn police officer here in California I have the ability to enforce the law State Wide.
He ended saying that in the USA there were no boundaries that kept him from enforcing the laws of this country.

I don’t have this recorded but I remember it so vividly because he wasn’t rude or over bearing but he clearly explained his right to enforce the laws of this land to protect good law abiding citizens. I also loved the clear and concise way his legal right to enforce laws was explained.

So where does this Councilman get off telling cops that they cant pursue a suspect into his city if they are under suspicion of committing a crime? He wants to turn his city into a safe haven for criminals? This isn’t 3rd grade and were not playing tag there is no safe zone from answering for your crimes.

This councilman is part of a ward system and as we have come to see the ward system is a system that hurts cities because each council person isn’t responsible to the entire cities success, only their small section of the community. Also in this case I’m sure that this councilman’s ward is largely minority and as we have seen races of people that consider themselves minorities have bought the concept that there is a race of people out to get them. Yes there are some racist idiots that make this look that way but those of us who were raised in areas with a lot of different races of people represented we just don’t get it.

Moral of the story here is that this type of hate speak (to hurl rocks, bricks and bottles at police) is way out of line and it only puts more lives in danger. Those police are doing their jobs and they have families too. Don’t the police deserve the same right as any person to get home safe at the end of their day? Were lucky here in Rialto that we have a Police Department that has worked over the years to have a positive respectful relationship with the City of Rialto and it’s guests.

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Register Today for the Rialto Police Memorial 5K/3K Run & Save Money

31 Dec 2015 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Andy Carrizales, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Ca, City Clerk, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, Colton, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Flores Park Neighborhood Watch, Fontana, Freinds of Rialto K9, Friends of Rialto K9, Grand Terrace, Inland Empire, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto Police Department, San Bernardino, SCAT, Shawn O'Connell, SWAT, Tony Farrar, youth

https://my.racewire.com/event/3408

Sign up before January 1st and register for only $35 (plus racewire fee). After January 1st the cost goes up to $40 (plus racewire fee).

Rialto Police Officer Remembrance Day The City of Rialto has declared that January 31st of each year will be “Rialto Police Officer Remembrance Day” to honor those Rialto Police Officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Members of the Rialto Police Department and the Rialto Police Benefit Association are working toward building a permanent memorial to these officers.

On January 30, 2016, we are holding our second annual Memorial 5K & 3K Run/Walk Fundraiser. The monies from this run will help fund the memorial and future Remembrance Day events. Join us on Saturday, January 30, 2016 to partake in this wonderful event. An awards ceremony and festivities will take place after the race.

Location: Ferguson Park, 2395 Sunrise Drive, Rialto, CA Sign-up begins at 6:30 a.m. Race starts at 8:00 a.m. Follow the link to register.

RaceWire Timing has graciously provided Chip-Timed Technology for our event. All paid participants will receive a Finisher Medal and a “Swag Bag.” Medals will be given to Top-Three Finishing Males and Top-Three Finishing Females in the following divisions: Ages 14 & Under, Ages 15 through 54, and Ages 55 and Over. Trophies will be given to the Top-Three Finishing Teams.

If you are unable to run/walk or form a a team for the run/walk, please consider making a donation to help sponsor a participant and/or a team.

Rialto Community Coalition Seeks To Take Away Community Rights

27 Dec 2015 Leave a comment

Join the only conversation that the community gets

on defending against people using tax money to steal your rights.

On December 1st 2015 the Rialto Community Coalition took a vote to move down the road of creating a city ordinance that would take away legal rights of law abiding adults. The organization that oversees the Rialto Community Coalition a group of community residents and leaders focus was Drug and Alcohol Prevention has now been given approval from the County of San Bernardino to also focus on Tobacco use. So Mental Health Systems the organization that oversees the Rialto Community Coalition has decided to partner with the Lung Association and IPS another private company tasked with drug and alcohol prevention to take away peoples right to smoke cigarettes outdoors. In documents we have received from Mental Health Systems the organization works county wide with a contract that is over $1 million to provide services to various cities throughout the county. Couple that with the $150 Thousand that the Lung Association and IPS are working though and it seems like that money should be better spent helping people off the addiction to Tobacco, provide education on the dangers of E-Cigarettes and leverage more retailers to not sell the product within the city limits. But no they sat down at Brothers Pizza in a Strategic Planning Meeting that was not open to the public looking at how they can further restrict the legal rights of people 18 years of age and older.

The meeting was held in a back room of Brothers Pizza that was set up for 15 people and only had 10 if you include all the paid staff employees from the various organizations looking to spend their government grant money. Now members like Pat from Rialto Unified School District Public Safety claimed that the meeting was open to the public yet only if you agreed with smoke free parks law. The communications with Michael Townsend asked that only those who supported the issue to attend. The email notifications also asked that members NOT distribute openly with the public.

David Phillips was basically the lone member speaking out against this effort and advocating for the community. Leader and Facilitator of the Rialto Community Coalition from Mental Health Systems said that this was not an attempt to go behind the communities backs and that the city leaders would solicit the communities opinion on weather Tobacco Free Parks were something that the community wanted. What is funny is the city never surveys the community when they are going to create yet another Ordinance to further restrict people by creating their own set of laws. Pat a self identified public safety officer with the school district claimed that this Ordinance would also deal with marijuana use in the parks. What is funny isn’t marijuana use already illegal? Why would we need a separate city law to deal with this?

I am not a fan of Tobacco use but I also know that if we make something legal and then make engaging in this very practice illegal we are heading down a slippery slope of government control and abuse. If this is so good for the community why is there no talk of how to first involve the community. The meeting was to look at ways of leveraging various elected officials to see things their was verses what the community really wants. What was very sketchy was the way the Rialto Unified School District Public Safety Officer made it clear that she would during work hours speak to her boss Eisenhower High School Principal and new Parks and Recreation Commissioner Scott Sparks about this effort to see where he was leaning on an issue that the public HAS NOT EVEN BEEN POLLED ON.

If they have worked this hard to avoid your opinion do you think they really care???????

This video we recorded for them says they care about what you think, is that true???????

Video by rialto-now

Young Rialto Resident Shows The True Spirit Of Christmas

26 Dec 2015 4 Comments

Tyler and his family as they drop off the boxes of toys at the Rialto Fire Station

Via the Rialto Fire Department Facebook Page we came across a young man who took his own time to plan a party that not only showed that he understands the meaning of Christmas but he took the time to share this with his classmates as well.

Tyler Nguyen is a 4th grader at Simpson Elementary School in Rialto. He comes from family who does volunteer work locally and in Downtown LA’s Skid Row district. His Christmas party was a toy drive also to benefit SoCal Firefighters’ Spark of Love. Tyler’s Mother coordinated with Rialto Fire to have Tyler visit the station and collect a box for his drive. Instead of getting presents for himself, all guests brought toys and sports equipment for undeserved kids for the holiday. Tyler and his friends enjoyed holiday crafts and home-cooked Vietnamese food. He helped with decorating, cooking, and entertaining his guests. With the generosity of family and friends, Tyler was able to collect 3 boxes full of toys. This was his first community service project and his family were very proud of him. On Monday, after his party, Tyler, his mom, and grandma went to deliver the toys to the fire department. The goal was to introduce Tyler to serving others and we brainstormed to find a creative way. This was also a great way for Tyler’s friends to get involved. Tyler and his family plan to continue this new tradition because they received great support from friends and family.

Tyler is just one of the many young people that are part of our community. This young man and his family are part of what makes Rialto great. It is people like these that show us what is of value and proves it is up to us the people in the community to support our fellow man.

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Congressman Pete Aguilar Wont Stand By His Websites Statement

26 Dec 2015 Leave a comment

This photo was found at http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2014/05/race-for-inland-empire-congressional.html

Well here we go again we have another example of what today’s elected official calls being moral, ethical leaders in today’s society. Instead of saying yes I said that yes it is on my website he trys to explain away a conversational statement by saying that wasn’t on my Congress Website it was on My Campaign Website? Wait so were only supposed to be honorable and fourth right on our official websites? Does the Campaign Website give him the opportunity to split the baby? What makes matters worse is the statement in question is Pete Aguilar calling out Republicans for their Campaign tactics when he wont follow the same rules for himself.

Sorry Congressman you can’t split the baby.

Video by rialto-now