LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department said it is rolling out its use of body cameras for officers.

The agency began issuing body cameras to officers and training them in their use this past Friday, according to Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.

Earlier this year, the Lakeport City Council authorized funding to purchase additional and replacement mobile audio video units – known more commonly as “MAVs” – to deploy in all marked Lakeport Police vehicles and body cameras for all sworn Lakeport Police Department staff, as Lake County News has reported.

Rasmussen said his department has been using MAV units in vehicles for a number of years. However, the body cameras are new equipment for department personnel.

Rasmussen said the body cameras will extend and enhance the department's ability to capture video footage of officers conducting their work when outside of their vehicles and not in range of the MAV units. 

Additionally, the use of body cameras is intended to enhance the mission of the department by accurately capturing contacts between members of the department and the public, Rasmussen said.

“We believe that the cameras will be particularly beneficial in those situations where officers are being threatened or physically assaulted or situations where persons are resisting arrest or being confrontational with officers,” Rasmussen said. “This year we have had numerous incidents of officers being assaulted and subjects resisting arrest.”

Lakeport Police management worked with the Lakeport Police Officers Association in implementing department policies and procedures for use of the body cameras, which is separate and has differences from the agency's current policies and procedures covering MAV units, according to Rasmussen.

After researching different camera systems, the department elected to purchase body camera units known as BODYCAM by PRO-VISION of Byron Center, Mich.

These units have a 170-degree, wide-angle view, infrared night vision, 1080P high-definition video with audio, 32 gigabytes of video storage and wireless remote control activation, Rasmussen said. Further information on the units can be found at www.bodycameras.com .

Rasmussen said his department thanked the Lakeport City Council and City Manager Margaret Silveira for their support of this program.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police have arrested a father and son alleged to have assaulted a police officer early Sunday morning during a downtown bar check.

Roman Hanson Rose, 24, and Michael Dale Rose, 51, both of Lakeport, were arrested on felony charges, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.

Roman Rose was booked for resisting an officer with force and violence, battery on a peace officer with injury, fighting in a public place, threatening or attempting to prevent a peace officer from performing his duties and escape from custody, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said Michael Rose was arrested for resisting an officer with force and violence, battery on a peace officer causing injury and battery. 

At approximately 12:16 a.m. Sunday a Lakeport Police officer, accompanied by a ridealong, entered TJ’s Downtown Bar and Grill, located at 370 S. Main St., to conduct a bar check, Rasmussen said. The officer observed approximately 100 customers in the bar at the time.

During the bar check a male subject, later identified as Roman Rose, grabbed the back of the officer’s duty belt. Rasmussen said the officer turned around and contacted Rose, who immediately became verbally abusive and threatened to assault the officer. Roman Rose also was showing signs of intoxication. 

The officer called for backup and continued to observe Rose while waiting for the backup unit.  Rasmussen said a second Lakeport Police officer arrived a few minutes later. 

Both officers then approached Rose and asked him to step outside due to his hostile behavior. Rasmussen said Rose refused and continued to be verbally abusive, hostile and threatening toward the officers and used both hands to push the initial officer.

The officers attempted to take control of Rose and he violently resisted and the second officer used a Taser to control him so he could be handcuffed, Rasmussen said.

While being taken outside to a patrol car, Rose escaped from an officer and ran across S. Main Street before being detained again, according to Rasmussen.

During the arrest of Rose a second male subject – later identified as his father, Michael Rose – came to his aid, interfering with the arrest and also assaulting the initial officer by grabbing him around the neck and attempting to place a “choke” hold on him, Rasmussen said.

During the incident, Michael Rose also assaulted the ridealong, who was not injured. Rasmussen said the initial officer received minor injuries as a result of the assault and resistance from both of the Roses.

The second officer, with the assistance of the ridealong and three bar customers, was able to take Michael Rose into custody, Rasmussen said.

During the incident other bar customers were becoming hostile towards the police officers who also requested emergency backup from allied law enforcement agencies, according to Rasmussen.

Six Lake County Sheriff’s Office units and two California Highway Patrol Officers responded and arrived at the scene to assist a short time after the call. Rasmussen said the Clearlake Police Department also responded a unit but they were canceled while en-route after on-scene officers determined no additional resources were needed. 

Both Roman Rose and Michael Rose received minor injuries during the incident and were transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for medical clearance prior to booking, Rasmussen said.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Modesty does not top the list of tennis instructor Don Purdy’s traits.

But when you’re as good at teaching the game to children as Purdy is, it doesn’t need to be.

So when Purdy talks about a 13-year-old prodigy who he says is going to set the standard for Lake County’s junior tennis players, you’d best listen.

“He is going to be a freshman this year and he has a long way to go, but mark my words everyone will follow him to me because of what I’ve done with him,” Purdy said resolutely.

For the time being, Purdy is not revealing the young phenomenon’s name – only that he is beginning his freshman year at Kelseyville High School.

Purdy, himself, needs no introduction. Not in Northern California anyway, where he has coached dozens of youngsters and coaxed from them the best of their talent.

Indeed, the challenge is finding a Northern California town in which he hasn’t instructed.

Now, as the director of the Downtown Tennis Academy based at Quail Run Athletic Club in Lakeport – but also serving Upper Lake and Middletown – Purdy is setting out to make Lake County a spawning ground for young players. This summer's tennis camps at the Academy had more than 40 participants.

“I’m here because I want to get some kids who can move on and maybe play some college tennis,” said Purdy, who is certified as both an adult and Junior Player Development instructor. “That’s kind of my goal, but I need to get 5- or 10- year-olds.”

What he aims to teach them is “tennis really comes come down to a handful of points or a handful of mistakes ... Proper shots and footwork.”

You could almost hear Meredith Wilson’s “Music Man” Professor Harlan Hill recruiting youngsters for his “76-Trombone” River City band. But Purdy’s credentials are real.

He is the former teaching pro at Discovery Bay Athletic Club and head pro at Manteca Regional Tennis Center. He was president of the board for Future Stars 2,000 Inc., which he claims is the largest grassroots tennis program in the United States.

Last summer he headed a tennis camp at Clear Lake Riviera.

Earlier he worked eight months a year, conducting camps from 9 a.m. to noon in one city and from 1 to 4 p.m. in another city and followed that with lessons from 5 to 8:30 p.m.

Another position had him giving lessons to 125 children on a 12-hours-a day, seven-days-a-week, 12-week basis.

“When I first came to Lake County it took me almost a year to get a contract that included the Upper Lake and Middletown tennis courts because the attorneys didn't understand how to deal with my program,” said Purdy.

“I showed them contracts I had with other cities to provide insurance and so forth,” added Purdy, who has written letters authorizing him to provide his services in 23 different cities.

“I’m probably the most fingerprinted guy in the country,” he said.

Standing a broad-shouldered 6 feet, 4 inches tall, if the 61-year-old Purdy called people “pilgrim,” he would be John Wayne reincarnate. He gives the Lake County News reporter who mentioned that his most menacing “Hondo” stare, then laughs and said that’s been said many times before.

Fact is, Purdy is a little different than the rank and file tennis coaches. Like Wayne, he’s not afraid to shoot from the hip.

As examples are the following comments.

… “I’m not a lah-de-dah guy. I mean they wanted me to go on a wine tour. I told them I don’t drink wine; I’m a beer guy.”

… “I have a really large personality on the court. Other people are kind of calm and subdued. That’s not who I am. I never did so well in that world. But at the same time that’s why everybody knows me – because of my personality. A lot of local guys like it, but as you start going up the ladder there’s certain rules, there’s boxes you have to be in and I don’t want to be in that box.”

… “I have a very unfriendly kind of game. I’m bloodthirsty. I just go after ya. I can’t get into rallies. I’m too big, and too tall big. I have a big serve. Point over. That ball’s only going to go over the net three or four times with me.”

… “I’m trying to get some adults involved in Lake County, but teaching tennis to adults is really hard. Everybody’s got their mind set. They just like doing their own thing.”

Purdy is surprisingly skilled for a man who came to coaching and instructing tennis late. That was after he dallied in other industries, including selling used cars at three different locations.

“I was a very good junior player,” said Purdy. “I was going to be like the next big thing. I was raised in Alameda and I grew up playing with Whitney Reed, who was the pro at the (Alameda) Beach and Tennis Club in the '70s, and Tom Brown.

“Long story short, I thought I would go from Alameda to (playing tennis at) Stanford. Didn’t happen,” he said.

He didn’t go back to tennis until 2005.

“It just so happened at Discovery Bay a fellow came in to do a clinic,” Purdy said.

“I hadn’t hit a ball in 25 years. In a way that was good because he instructed me in the modern way of playing tennis. I spent many hours with him.”

Most recently Purdy received a letter inviting him to join several other coaches and instructors on an international staff. If he accepts the invitation it would put him in company with Lindsay Davenport, a winner of three Grand Slams and former No. 1 woman player internationally, and Stanford’s Dick Gould, who has coached 17 NCAA champions.

“I’m not sure what I’m going to do with this yet,” said Purdy. “For starters, I want to make sure my wife Carolyn’s gonna go. If she’s not going I’m not going.”

John Wayne would never have said that.

Those interested in Purdy's Downtown Tennis Academy can contact him at 707-245-0443 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to register for lessons.

Email John Lindblom at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .