Vacaville Reporter // Friday Jan 27
By Reporter Staff
Six Suisun City police staffers have been singled out for departmental honors, including Officer of the Year for 2005.
In receiving the award as Police Officer of the Year, Officer Andrew White's achievements, officials said, included filling in as a dispatcher, initiating a large-scale community policing project in the Cedar Glen/7-Eleven area and, in an overtime capacity, serving as the department's information technology administrator.
In that position, officials said, White developed an electronic timesheet system, a field-based reporting system, digital imaging project, code enforcement management system, property and evidence bar coding system and an automated reporting system.
Officer Michael Davis and Detective Matt Eleopoulos were named officers of the quarter for Oct. to Dec. 2005. Davis was chosen for his proficiency in enforcing anti-DUI laws in making more than 40 DUI arrests and assisting in numerous other DUI investigations. He is considered a resource for field sobriety training, officials said.
Eleopoulos was recognized for preventing a child-abuse suspect who was out on bail from fleeing the country to avoid trial, for testifying at the trial of two rape suspects just days after undergoing abdominal surgery and for being instrumental in the prosecution of a suspect in a stalking case, officials said.
Officer Michael Urlaub was named Reserve Police Officer of the Year for his willingness to assist on any assignment, such as filling in as a dispatcher, for seeking out and financing an impressive selection of training, and more.
Communications Technician II Amber Kent was designated Dispatcher of the Year for the second consecutive year, and is Support Services Person of the Quarter for Oct. to Dec. 2005. Among her many accomplishments, officials said, Kent developed policies and procedures in less than 48 hours, which allowed the department to unveil an electronic subpoena program on Jan. 1; trained a new dispatcher while working the dispatch center by herself; and revamped the dispatch training program, which a staffing consultant called "years ahead" of that of other agencies.
Police Aide Jesse Rutland, named Support Services Person of the Year, was acknowledged for numerous achievements, including the six-month overhaul of the Property and Evidence Program.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Suisun lighthouse still on schedule
From Daily Republic // Jan. 31, 2006
By Ian Thompson
SUISUN CITY - The 45-foot-long pilings are in and the rest of the foundation is expected to be put down in the near future as Suisun City's Old Town lighthouse moves closer to reality.
"We are still on schedule to have it completed by the Fourth of July," said Dan Kasperson, the city's chief building inspector and the lighthouse project's manager.
Workers from Blackshear Construction were on the lighthouse site near Mike Day Park earlier this month, pounding the pilings into the ground.
Suisun City leaders have lauded the 52-foot-tall lighthouse as a distinctive symbol of the downtown area's continuing transformation into a destination spot for shoppers.
The idea for the lighthouse came out of a series of community forums held in late 2004 as a landmark that could be easily visible from Highway 12.
The council awarded Blackshear a $623,000 contract in early December to put up the structure, which was designed by ROMA Design Group.
The lighthouse's steel structure is now being fabricated by Delta Steel in its Benicia facility and will be transported to Suisun City on a large truck and put into place by cranes some time in March, according to Kasperson.
"The lighthouse's dedication ceremony will be coordinated with the Fourth of July celebration," Kasperson said.
By Ian Thompson
SUISUN CITY - The 45-foot-long pilings are in and the rest of the foundation is expected to be put down in the near future as Suisun City's Old Town lighthouse moves closer to reality.
"We are still on schedule to have it completed by the Fourth of July," said Dan Kasperson, the city's chief building inspector and the lighthouse project's manager.
Workers from Blackshear Construction were on the lighthouse site near Mike Day Park earlier this month, pounding the pilings into the ground.
Suisun City leaders have lauded the 52-foot-tall lighthouse as a distinctive symbol of the downtown area's continuing transformation into a destination spot for shoppers.
The idea for the lighthouse came out of a series of community forums held in late 2004 as a landmark that could be easily visible from Highway 12.
The council awarded Blackshear a $623,000 contract in early December to put up the structure, which was designed by ROMA Design Group.
The lighthouse's steel structure is now being fabricated by Delta Steel in its Benicia facility and will be transported to Suisun City on a large truck and put into place by cranes some time in March, according to Kasperson.
"The lighthouse's dedication ceremony will be coordinated with the Fourth of July celebration," Kasperson said.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Suisun City police bestow honors
From The Vacaville Reporter // Jan 27, 2006
By Reporter Staff
Six Suisun City police staffers have been singled out for departmental honors, including Officer of the Year for 2005.
In receiving the award as Police Officer of the Year, Officer Andrew White's achievements, officials said, included filling in as a dispatcher, initiating a large-scale community policing project in the Cedar Glen/7-Eleven area and, in an overtime capacity, serving as the department's information technology administrator.
In that position, officials said, White developed an electronic timesheet system, a field-based reporting system, digital imaging project, code enforcement management system, property and evidence bar coding system and an automated reporting system.
Officer Michael Davis and Detective Matt Eleopoulos were named officers of the quarter for Oct. to Dec. 2005. Davis was chosen for his proficiency in enforcing anti-DUI laws in making more than 40 DUI arrests and assisting in numerous other DUI investigations. He is considered a resource for field sobriety training, officials said.
Eleopoulos was recognized for preventing a child-abuse suspect who was out on bail from fleeing the country to avoid trial, for testifying at the trial of two rape suspects just days after undergoing abdominal surgery and for being instrumental in the prosecution of a suspect in a stalking case, officials said.
Officer Michael Urlaub was named Reserve Police Officer of the Year for his willingness to assist on any assignment, such as filling in as a dispatcher, for seeking out and financing an impressive selection of training, and more.
Communications Technician II Amber Kent was designated Dispatcher of the Year for the second consecutive year, and is Support Services Person of the Quarter for Oct. to Dec. 2005. Among her many accomplishments, officials said, Kent developed policies and procedures in less than 48 hours, which allowed the department to unveil an electronic subpoena program on Jan. 1; trained a new dispatcher while working the dispatch center by herself; and revamped the dispatch training program, which a staffing consultant called "years ahead" of that of other agencies.
Police Aide Jesse Rutland, named Support Services Person of the Year, was acknowledged for numerous achievements, including the six-month overhaul of the Property and Evidence Program.
By Reporter Staff
Six Suisun City police staffers have been singled out for departmental honors, including Officer of the Year for 2005.
In receiving the award as Police Officer of the Year, Officer Andrew White's achievements, officials said, included filling in as a dispatcher, initiating a large-scale community policing project in the Cedar Glen/7-Eleven area and, in an overtime capacity, serving as the department's information technology administrator.
In that position, officials said, White developed an electronic timesheet system, a field-based reporting system, digital imaging project, code enforcement management system, property and evidence bar coding system and an automated reporting system.
Officer Michael Davis and Detective Matt Eleopoulos were named officers of the quarter for Oct. to Dec. 2005. Davis was chosen for his proficiency in enforcing anti-DUI laws in making more than 40 DUI arrests and assisting in numerous other DUI investigations. He is considered a resource for field sobriety training, officials said.
Eleopoulos was recognized for preventing a child-abuse suspect who was out on bail from fleeing the country to avoid trial, for testifying at the trial of two rape suspects just days after undergoing abdominal surgery and for being instrumental in the prosecution of a suspect in a stalking case, officials said.
Officer Michael Urlaub was named Reserve Police Officer of the Year for his willingness to assist on any assignment, such as filling in as a dispatcher, for seeking out and financing an impressive selection of training, and more.
Communications Technician II Amber Kent was designated Dispatcher of the Year for the second consecutive year, and is Support Services Person of the Quarter for Oct. to Dec. 2005. Among her many accomplishments, officials said, Kent developed policies and procedures in less than 48 hours, which allowed the department to unveil an electronic subpoena program on Jan. 1; trained a new dispatcher while working the dispatch center by herself; and revamped the dispatch training program, which a staffing consultant called "years ahead" of that of other agencies.
Police Aide Jesse Rutland, named Support Services Person of the Year, was acknowledged for numerous achievements, including the six-month overhaul of the Property and Evidence Program.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Talks move ahead to raze old Crystal school site
From Daily Republic // Jan. 19, 2006
By Ian Thompson
SUISUN CITY - The Suisun City Council approved entering exclusive negotiations with the local developer Main Street West Partners for plans to raze the old Crystal school site and turn it into residences.
The council, sitting as the city's redevelopment agency, wants the developer to move quickly redeveloping the vacant school into a high quality residential development.
The Fairfield-Suisun School District closed the school a few years ago and moved the students to the new Crystal Middle School which sits across the Suisun Slough.
Main Street West Partners is still in talks with city officials over how to carry out the city's plans for developing several vacant parcels in and around the harbor as part of its campaign to economically revive the Old Town.
Mayor Jim Spering told Main Street West Partners Tuesday he wants to be sure the Crystal School redevelopment plans will include putting in some affordable housing.
Developer Mike Rice of Main Street West told councilmembers he will move as fast as possible and hopes to break ground on the project some time later this year.
By Ian Thompson
SUISUN CITY - The Suisun City Council approved entering exclusive negotiations with the local developer Main Street West Partners for plans to raze the old Crystal school site and turn it into residences.
The council, sitting as the city's redevelopment agency, wants the developer to move quickly redeveloping the vacant school into a high quality residential development.
The Fairfield-Suisun School District closed the school a few years ago and moved the students to the new Crystal Middle School which sits across the Suisun Slough.
Main Street West Partners is still in talks with city officials over how to carry out the city's plans for developing several vacant parcels in and around the harbor as part of its campaign to economically revive the Old Town.
Mayor Jim Spering told Main Street West Partners Tuesday he wants to be sure the Crystal School redevelopment plans will include putting in some affordable housing.
Developer Mike Rice of Main Street West told councilmembers he will move as fast as possible and hopes to break ground on the project some time later this year.
Suisun City hires three new cops
From Daily Republic // Jan. 20, 2006
By Audrey Wong
SUISUN CITY - Suisun City police hired three officers Tuesday and may reach their authorized staffing level of 22 officers in February.
Suisun City Police Chief Ron Forsythe said Thursday he will ask the City Council in February to hire three additional officers and terminate its contact with the Solano County Sheriff's office.
With a full staff Suisun City police will respond to calls faster, increase their level of service and patrol the city around the clock, Forsythe said.
"Right now we're straining the shifts with overtime," Forsythe said.
The police department is finishing background checks on three candidates. Department officials offered an operations commander position to a Los Angeles police sergeant, Forsythe said.
A mix of retirements, an injury, pregnancy and officers leaving for other jobs stretched the small department thin. The department placed a minimum of three officers on the street per shift.
For two years, city officials contracted with Solano County Sheriffs for two deputies to patrol Suisun City during early morning hours. In 2004, Mayor Jim Spering suggested contracting out the city's police services completely.
In 2005, the department hired two retired police officers - Lt. Charlie Heitz from Hayward, an interim operations commander, and Larry Profitt, who heads investigations. One of Heitz's job duties is finding his replacement, who might be the LAPD sergeant.
"I think we've actually turned a corner," Heitz said, of the new hires. "Hopefully we'll be returning to a 24 hours-a-day operation."
One of hires is new to law enforcement while another is a 12-year veteran of the San Francisco Sheriffs office who served as a bailiff and doesn't have street experience, Forsythe said.
The officers will train with a senior officer for 14 to 16 weeks, Heitz said. The department also hired a sergeant, who has 13 years of experience.
Forsythe said the police force has many levels of experience and would like someone with mid-level experience to train the young officers.
If the city council decides to terminate the sheriff's contract, it would take three to four months to make the transition and may carry some additional costs, Forsythe said.
Reach Audrey Wong at 427-6951 or awong@dailyrepublic.net.
The new members of the Suisun City Police Department are:
By Audrey Wong
SUISUN CITY - Suisun City police hired three officers Tuesday and may reach their authorized staffing level of 22 officers in February.
Suisun City Police Chief Ron Forsythe said Thursday he will ask the City Council in February to hire three additional officers and terminate its contact with the Solano County Sheriff's office.
With a full staff Suisun City police will respond to calls faster, increase their level of service and patrol the city around the clock, Forsythe said.
"Right now we're straining the shifts with overtime," Forsythe said.
The police department is finishing background checks on three candidates. Department officials offered an operations commander position to a Los Angeles police sergeant, Forsythe said.
A mix of retirements, an injury, pregnancy and officers leaving for other jobs stretched the small department thin. The department placed a minimum of three officers on the street per shift.
For two years, city officials contracted with Solano County Sheriffs for two deputies to patrol Suisun City during early morning hours. In 2004, Mayor Jim Spering suggested contracting out the city's police services completely.
In 2005, the department hired two retired police officers - Lt. Charlie Heitz from Hayward, an interim operations commander, and Larry Profitt, who heads investigations. One of Heitz's job duties is finding his replacement, who might be the LAPD sergeant.
"I think we've actually turned a corner," Heitz said, of the new hires. "Hopefully we'll be returning to a 24 hours-a-day operation."
One of hires is new to law enforcement while another is a 12-year veteran of the San Francisco Sheriffs office who served as a bailiff and doesn't have street experience, Forsythe said.
The officers will train with a senior officer for 14 to 16 weeks, Heitz said. The department also hired a sergeant, who has 13 years of experience.
Forsythe said the police force has many levels of experience and would like someone with mid-level experience to train the young officers.
If the city council decides to terminate the sheriff's contract, it would take three to four months to make the transition and may carry some additional costs, Forsythe said.
Reach Audrey Wong at 427-6951 or awong@dailyrepublic.net.
The new members of the Suisun City Police Department are:
- Sgt. Ted Stec, 42, has 13 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career with Red Bluff police in 1992. He was an investigator with the Shasta County District Attorney's Office for eight years. For several years he served as a boating safety officer for the Shasta County Sheriff's Office. Stec has a bachelor's degree in business and human resources from Simpson College and master's degree in public administration from National University.
- Officer Sean Smagalski, 32, was a deputy with the San Francisco Sheriff's Office. He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Indiana University in 1997 and is a certified emergency medical technician.
- Officer Phillip Steemers, 25, is new to law enforcement. He worked for WestAmerica Bank in Suiusn City. He is a Fairfield resident and attended local schools. He graduated from the Napa Valley College Criminal Justice Training Center where he was recognized for his commitment to physical fitness.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Suisun City most prepared for storms
From Daily Republic // Lead Editorial Jan. 12, 2006
Say what you want about Suisun City - that its lighthouse idea is a waste of money, that it needs more viable business, that it too often sits in Fairfield's shadow.
But next time the rain pours down and the water starts to rise, we bet a lot of people will wish they lived in Suisun City.
Of all the Solano County cities affected by the recent New Year's Eve flood, Suisun City was most prepared and had its act together when preparing for the worst.
The city staved off much of the flooding with a three-day campaign before the rains to clean out every catch basin and pick up every type of debris crews could find that may block drains. Its Public Works Department also called in eight extra men to stand by all night armed with pumps and generators to handle any problems during the storm, not just afterward.
Sandbags were also handed out before the heavy rains, with police calling residents to make sure they knew they were available and where to get them.
It could be argued their proactive response helped prevent a lot of damage in the city, which has been plagued by flooding in the past. It certainly helped Suisun City respond to problems faster, and allowed them to be more prepared.
Granted, flooding in Suisun City earlier in December that drew some criticism that the city wasn't prepared probably had officials more sensitized to further damage. There are also other geographical reasons that may have contributed to heavier flooding in Vacaville and Fairfield.
But Fairfield and Vacaville could take a lesson from their smaller neighbor about anticipating problems before they happen and learning from the past.
If the next time a flood hits, they are as sensitized and proactive as Suisun City was, they will probably avoid a lot of angry citizens complaining after the storms.
Say what you want about Suisun City - that its lighthouse idea is a waste of money, that it needs more viable business, that it too often sits in Fairfield's shadow.
But next time the rain pours down and the water starts to rise, we bet a lot of people will wish they lived in Suisun City.
Of all the Solano County cities affected by the recent New Year's Eve flood, Suisun City was most prepared and had its act together when preparing for the worst.
The city staved off much of the flooding with a three-day campaign before the rains to clean out every catch basin and pick up every type of debris crews could find that may block drains. Its Public Works Department also called in eight extra men to stand by all night armed with pumps and generators to handle any problems during the storm, not just afterward.
Sandbags were also handed out before the heavy rains, with police calling residents to make sure they knew they were available and where to get them.
It could be argued their proactive response helped prevent a lot of damage in the city, which has been plagued by flooding in the past. It certainly helped Suisun City respond to problems faster, and allowed them to be more prepared.
Granted, flooding in Suisun City earlier in December that drew some criticism that the city wasn't prepared probably had officials more sensitized to further damage. There are also other geographical reasons that may have contributed to heavier flooding in Vacaville and Fairfield.
But Fairfield and Vacaville could take a lesson from their smaller neighbor about anticipating problems before they happen and learning from the past.
If the next time a flood hits, they are as sensitized and proactive as Suisun City was, they will probably avoid a lot of angry citizens complaining after the storms.
Suisun gives go-ahead to Twin Sisters sale
From Daily Republic // Jan. 12, 2006
By Ian Thompson
SUISUN CITY - Suisun City's effort to sell its land on Twin Sisters got its final nod Tuesday night and is expected to close escrow today - with Jelly Belly head Herman Rowland getting the land and Suisun City getting $2.39 million.
"The council authorized us to close escrow," Interim Redevelopment Director Al daSilva said.
Councilmembers wrapped up the final details of the sale, which included allowing neighbors around the property access to the reservoir there for a year, giving them time to find another water source.
Suisun City put the land, which overlooks Suisun Valley, on the market two years ago as part of its efforts to raise money for its fiscally ailing general fund budget.
The council initially hoped to get as much as $5 million from the land, but that number dropped as talks with two earlier potential buyers fell apart.
The amount the city is getting is close to its assessed value and the market was just not there to get a higher price for the land.
"This will be a good infusion of capital that the city needs," daSilva said. Rowland will make payments during the next five years.
Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or at ithompson@dailyrepublic.net.
By Ian Thompson
SUISUN CITY - Suisun City's effort to sell its land on Twin Sisters got its final nod Tuesday night and is expected to close escrow today - with Jelly Belly head Herman Rowland getting the land and Suisun City getting $2.39 million.
"The council authorized us to close escrow," Interim Redevelopment Director Al daSilva said.
Councilmembers wrapped up the final details of the sale, which included allowing neighbors around the property access to the reservoir there for a year, giving them time to find another water source.
Suisun City put the land, which overlooks Suisun Valley, on the market two years ago as part of its efforts to raise money for its fiscally ailing general fund budget.
The council initially hoped to get as much as $5 million from the land, but that number dropped as talks with two earlier potential buyers fell apart.
The amount the city is getting is close to its assessed value and the market was just not there to get a higher price for the land.
"This will be a good infusion of capital that the city needs," daSilva said. Rowland will make payments during the next five years.
Reach Ian Thompson at 427-6976 or at ithompson@dailyrepublic.net.
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