How to resolve AdBlock issue? Lakeport Police Department lauds volunteers in annual report
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Volunteers continue to provide an important, cost-saving service to the Lakeport Police Department, according to a report given this week to the Lakeport City Council.
Lakeport Police Lt. Jason Ferguson presented the annual volunteer hours report to the council at its regular Tuesday night meeting.
Ferguson was accompanied by Greg Scott, a retired Cal Fire employee who has been one of the police department's most dedicated volunteers.
Ferguson said it was important to recognize the volunteers. “They're instrumental in us being able to function everyday.”
The volunteers carry out many tasks for the agency, Ferguson said – from handling parade duty, traffic control generally and around the schools, and transporting evidence to the Department of Justice for processing.
All of that work means officers can stay on the streets, Ferguson said.
In 2015, Lakeport Police's six volunteers provided 1,169 hours of service, for a net savings to the city of $23,380, Ferguson said.
He said during the Valley fire, the department's volunteers provided around-the-clock patrols at the Lake County Fairgrounds, where hundreds of fire personnel and their vehicles were stationed, as well as at Westside Community Park, where additional apparatus and personnel stayed.
“They did a great job maintaining security there,” Ferguson said, adding that the fire departments and Cal Fire all were appreciative of the work Lakeport Police's volunteers did.
“Greg was one of those working around the clock to make sure that all that was protected and safe,” Ferguson said of Scott.
He added, “This volunteer group is a very dedicated group of individuals who provide these services at no cost to the city, but certainly at personal and financial cost to themselves.”
Mayor Marc Spillman came down from the dais to shake Scott's hand and thank him for helping the city during difficult times. The council and staff rose to give Scott a standing ovation.
Councilman Martin Scheel said the security at the fairgrounds arose from a discussion with Cal Fire and local officials about security concerns.
Scheel said Police Chief Brad Rasmussen was present for the discussion, and Rasmussen responded by offering to have his volunteers conduct the patrols.
It turned out that the Lakeport Police Department received some compensation for those services, which is going to equipment and uniforms, said Scheel.
Scheel said he knows some of the volunteers, and they have day jobs yet worked overnight shifts at that time. “That’s asking a lot of any citizen.”
The city is glad to have the volunteers, Scheel said, adding that Cal Fire appreciated having them there.
In addition to the 1,169 volunteer hours reported for 2015, volunteers gave 2,473.5 hours in 2014, 1,360 hours in 2013 and 1,950 hours for 2012, according to previous Lakeport Police Department reports.
Regarding the difference in hours in 2015 versus past years, Rasmussen told Lake County News that is attributed to the fact there are now about four fewer volunteers than in past years.
Even so, he said some of the current volunteers tend to work more hours than the average.
Also, in past years reserve officer hours were counted in the annual total, but Rasmussen said his agency did not have any reserve officers in 2015 as the two volunteer reserves were hired on full-time by January.
“And our remaining reserve is now part-time paid,” Rasmussen said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Clearlake Police Department to focus on bicycle safety for children
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department is preparing to roll out two new programs focusing on juvenile bicycle safety.
The programs will begin on Monday, April 11, according to Sgt. Rodd Joseph.
In the first program, Joseph said Clearlake Police officers will begin handing out bicycle safety vouchers to children found wearing bicycle helmets while riding bicycles on city streets, with the goal of encouraging safer bicycle riding practices.
In 2015, there were three traffic fatalities in Lake County involving children not wearing bicycle helmets while riding bicycles, Joseph said.
Wearing an approved bicycle helmet during a collision can prevent or minimize injury to the head and brain.
Pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 21212(a), all persons under the age of 18 years of age riding a bicycle or a skateboard upon a street are required to wear an approved bicycle helmet, Joseph said.
Joseph said this Vehicle Code section of law also allows parents and/or guardians to be held financially liable in situations where children are found in violation of the law.
The safety vouchers handed out by officers will entitle the child to receive one free donut at Castle Donuts, located at 14370 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake. Joseph said the child will need to present the safety voucher to claim their free donut.
To further help this mission, the Clearlake Police Department will begin handing out free bicycle helmets to children in need who reside within the city of Clearlake, Joseph said.
Joseph said children and young adults under the age of 18 years of age, preferably accompanied by a parent and/or guardian, can come to the Clearlake Police Department at 14050 Olympic Drive between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday to pick up a free bicycle helmet from School Resource Officer Joseph Myers or property and evidence Technician Nicki Burrell.
He said the child will need to be present to be properly sized.
These helmets were purchased by the Clearlake Police Department using asset forfeiture seizure monies, said Joseph, adding that the helmets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis and quantities are limited.
The Clearlake Police Department thanked Castle Donuts for its generous donation to this bicycle safety program.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Lake County Sheriff's Office to host latest citizens' academy beginning in May
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The 18th session of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Academy is scheduled to begin May 26 in Lakeport.
Since the academy’s inception in January of 1998, more than 300 members of the community have successfully completed the program, according to Lt. Corey Paulich, the academy's director.
Paulich said the citizens’ academy has proven to be a highly successful endeavor to educate residents of Lake County on the operations of the sheriff’s office, as well as the issues relating to law enforcement and the judicial system in general.
The citizens’ academy has brought the communities of Lake County closer to their sheriff’s office with each graduating class and in 2002, the program received the “Stars of Lake County” award for best idea of the year in Lake County, he said.
While the program is primarily intended for members of the community simply seeking to become more informed on law enforcement issues, those contemplating a career in law enforcement are also welcome to apply, Paulich said.
The curriculum and teaching methods are similar to that of a basic law enforcement academy. However, Paulich said the overall focus of the program is to provide a better understanding of the policies and procedures of the sheriff’s office, as well as the approach taken to provide law enforcement services to Lake County communities.
Subject matters for the academy include: The history of the office of the sheriff; the selection and training process for new employees; field training program; central dispatch operations; the role and responsibilities of the uniformed deputy; gang enforcement; criminal investigations; crime scene investigations; elder abuse investigations; sex crimes investigations; jail operations; use of force; marine patrol services; narcotics investigations; the civil process; coroner’s investigations; press relations; tactical (SWAT/SERT) operations; school resource deputy; search and rescue operations; K-9 enforcement; internal affairs investigations; marijuana investigations; the sheriff’s chaplain program; the judicial process in the courtroom; and the budget process.
The program consists of 14 three-hour classes offering classroom and “hands-on” instruction by deputy sheriffs, custody staff, supervisors, civilian employees and command staff whose assignments are specific to their respective subject of training.
Classes will be held on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. A graduation ceremony will conclude the academy on Thursday, Sept. 1.
There is no cost to those attending the academy. However, applicants must meet the following minimum qualifications:
– Resident or employment in Lake County;
– At least 18 years of age;
– No felony convictions;
– No misdemeanor convictions within three years;
– Able to attend all 14 sessions.
Anyone interested in becoming a more informed member of the community is encouraged to participate.
Those wishing to enroll can do so by visiting the sheriff’s office Web site at www.lakesheriff.com , where there is a link for the application and instructions.
Applications must be received no later than May 16. Class size will be limited to 25 students.
Qualified applicants who are not selected for the summer 2016 academy will be given priority in future academies.
For additional information, contact Paulich at 707-262-4200.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Authorities identify man fatally shot by Clearlake Police officer
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Authorities have identified the man who died after being shot by a Clearlake Police officer early Tuesday morning.
Joseph Louis Melvin, 46, of Clearlake was shot after he struggled with an officer who was attempting to detain him during an early morning burglary, according to District Attorney Don Anderson.
Anderson's office is conducting the investigation into the shooting according to the Lake County critical incident protocol.
On Friday Anderson said he was not releasing the name of the officer involved, as it's his policy to not make that information public until the investigation is complete and his report is final.
He said the investigations usually last about six months.
According to the initial Clearlake Police reports on the incident, officers were dispatched just before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to a burglar alarm at a location in the 3200 block of Park Street in Clearlake Park.
Minutes later, the first officer on scene – and the one who would be involved in the shooting – confronted Melvin, who appeared to have been burglarizing the property, and attempted to detain him in a nearby wooded area, according to the report.
A fight ensued between the two men, with the officer deploying his Taser, which didn't end the struggle, police said.
During the fight, Melvin struck the officer in the head, injuring him. As for what Melvin used to hit the officer, “We're surmising it was a steel flashlight,” Anderson said.
The officer subsequently drew his service weapon and shot Melvin, who was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
Anderson said the officer was taken to the hospital for treatment of a large laceration on his forehead from being struck during the fight. “He was released from the hospital that night.”
Regarding Melvin's criminal history, Anderson said the reports were still being done, but added, “He is well-known in Clearlake.”
According to a review of local arrest records, Melvin, a Clearlake native whose occupation was listed as a carpenter, had been arrested by the Clearlake Police Department in 2003 for misdemeanors including driving on a suspended license and obstructing or resisting a peace officer.
In December the Lake County Sheriff's Office arrested Melvin for misdemeanors including possessing burglary tools, receiving stolen property and controlled substance paraphernalia.
Lake County Superior Court records showed that Melvin had been scheduled to be in court on the day before he died in two separate criminal cases.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Sheriff's office plans additional weather radio giveaways for fire survivors
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff's Office still has NOAA weather radios available to Valley fire area residents.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office/County Office of Emergency Services received grant funding from the State Farm Insurance Co. to purchase approximately 333 of the Midland WR120 desktop weather alert radios, as Lake County News has reported.
In addition, the agency purchased some visual alert-strobe lights to give out with radios for those residents who have hearing difficulties, officials said.
On Thursday, the sheriff's office held a giveaway of the radios at the Middletown Library.
Undersheriff Chris Macedo said approximately 220 of the 333 NOAA weather radios were given out at that time.
Macedo said the following criteria was used to establish to determine who would be eligible for the aforementioned equipment:
– Those residents who currently were residing in the footprint of the Valley fire;
– Residents were required to provide proof of residency by showing either a valid California Driver’s License or California Identification Card that listed the physical address; or
– Utility bill such as a water, phone cable or energy that has the service (home) address listed
post office box addresses were insufficient and were not be accepted as proof of residency.
Since there are still approximately 113 of the radios left, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office/County Office of Emergency Services will schedule additional dates and times until all of the radios are issued, Macedo said.
Macedo said that once all of the radios are given away, the sheriff’s office will have exhausted all of the funds they received from State Farm Insurance and no more radios will be available.
If homeowners or residents are interested in more information about the NOAA weather radios, they are urged to visit http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/info/nwrrcvr.html#buy .
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
