2020 American Canyon Police Annual Report by City of American Canyon

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

Message from the Chief

Department Overview

K-9 Unit

Community Outreach

School Resource Officers

Police Technicians & Administrative Clerk

Training Review

Traffic Data

Crime Statistics

Significant 2020 Cases & Events

Additional Resources

Animal Services

Other Topics of Interest

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF It is my honor to present the 2020 American Canyon Police Department YearEnd Report. As a profession, a community, a nation, and as human beings, 2020 certainly challenged us all. Through it all, however, the police department’s men and women have been serving and continue to serve with pride and commitment. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted all of us. Still, we continue to appreciate the wonderful relationship between our residents, our business community, and our department. We have been and will continue to be there for you, just as you have been there for us during the challenges of 2020. Tragically, beyond the pandemic, 2020 also brought us the first homicide since 2015, three fatal traffic collisions, along with other significant cases that you will see in this report. Our community has risen to the challenges of shelter-at-home COVID economic impacts, protest and looting attacks to the south, devastating firestorms to the north, closed schools, canceled community gatherings, food insecurity, and a very divisive election. Through it all, we continue to be just that ... a community. I witnessed incredible generosity from both our residents and our businesses. We saw our Parks and Rec, along with our local non-profits, host socially-distanced, safe events to “gather” and raise money, food items, personal protective equipment (PPE), and, more importantly, ... spirit. American Canyon Police Department is proud to be a part of this community. We now look to the future, and 2021, for some sense of normal. As a police department, we will continue to seek ways to partner with our residents, partner with our businesses, improve, and do our part to keep American Canyon a safe place to live, work, and play. I am confident that together with your help and continued support, we can do just that. Chief Oscar Ortiz

COMMUNITY SNAPS

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW The City of American Canyon incorporated in 1992. Prior to that, as an unincorporated area of Napa County, the area was policed by Napa County Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol (for traffic enforcement). In 1992, when the area became an incorporated city, the new City elected to contract with the Napa Sheriff’s Office for all municipal police services. The American Canyon Police Department, a division of the Sheriff’s Office, has since grown in size as the City grew. In 2019, the City and County entered into a new three year agreement to continue this service. The 2020/21 contract with Napa County is $6,953,700. The City provides an additional $447,900 to cover the two Police Technicians (non-sworn positions), the Administrative Clerk, and other operating expenses. The current 3-year agreement expires on June 30, 2022, with two additional option years for an eventual agreement expiration of June 30, 2024. The City of American Canyon and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office plan for cost projections and anticipated future expenses when drafting these agreements. In the event of significant changes during the term of the agreement, an amendment may be done to reduce or expand the agreement. American Canyon Police Department is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are several officers on duty at any time of the day. Staffing levels vary depending on the time of day and peak call volume hours. In the event a situation arises that requires more officers than the ones already working in American Canyon, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office deputies are quick to respond and assist. The Sheriff’s Office headquarters is just up the road, near the Napa Airport. Additionally, whenever there is an opening for a position in American Canyon, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office offers a pool of trained deputies who are familiar with our community and familiar with working in the American Canyon Police Department. For FY2020/2021, the American Canyon Police Department was staffed with 23 sworn officers, 2 police technicians, and 1 administrative clerk who is shared with the Fire Department. Breakdown of sworn staffing: 1 4 2 2

Chief Sergeants Traffic Officers K-9 Handlers

2 1 11

School Resource Officers Community Resource Officer Patrol Officers

Additionally, the Napa County Sheriff’s Office investigations division has a Lieutenant, a Sergeant, and 7 Detectives. These Detectives carry a significant ACPD caseload for follow-up investigations. The American Canyon Police Department prides itself on the use of Community Policing strategies. We engage our community to help prevent crime through programs like Coffee with the Cops, Neighborhood Watch, Facebook, Twitter, DARE, and participation in numerous community events throughout the year. Enrollment and followers of our social media and Neighborhood Watch program all expanded during 2020, despite limited opportunities for in-person outreach due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HIGHLIGHTS The officer to resident ratio is 1.1 (based on a population of 21,000). We have a School Resource Officer (SRO) at both American Canyon High School and American Canyon Middle School. During 2020 school closures, both SROs served as juvenile officers around the city and handled calls for service involving juveniles that would otherwise be in school. They also maintained campus security during school hours.

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

K-9 UNIT Officer Erik Olson has worked with the Sheriff’s Office since December of 2005 and has been assigned to ACPD since January of 2013. In May of 2014, Officer Olson was paired with his K-9 partner, Chase. Chase is an 8 year old Belgian Malinois with almost 7 years of service to the citizens of American Canyon. Chase weighs a fit-and-ready 85lbs. Chase was born in Holland and came to the United States when he was about a year old. When not at work, Chase is part of Officer Olson’s family and goes home with Officer Olson at the end of every shift. Chase is trained in handler protection, suspect apprehension, narcotics detection, and article search. In 2020, Chase had 15 narcotics related deployments and 38 patrol deployments, including 8 felony suspect apprehensions. Due to COVID conditions of 2020, Chase was only able to participate in two K-9 Demonstrations, but did participate in several birthday celebration “drive-by” parades for people sheltering at home.

CHASE HIGHLIGHTS In mid-October, Officer Olson and his K-9 partner Chase responded to assist Officer McLeod who was pursuing a pick-up truck that had fled through the Walmart parking lot. The subject eventually sped into oncoming traffic on Highway 29 before heading west on Green Island Road, crashing through a security gate, and jumping out of the still rolling pick-up (which was stolen), then running towards some heavy foliage near the railroad tracks where he found a place to hide. Once arriving on the scene, Chase began using his tracking skills and led Officer Olson and assisting officers along a fence, towards the area the suspect was attempting to hide. Chase found and held the suspect until officers were able to reach him and get him into handcuffs. The suspect later pled guilty to the felony pursuit, stolen vehicle, and resisting arrest charges. In early December, ACPD officers responded to a shooting call on the west side of town. The shooting involved two roommates. The roommate that was shot was transported to an area hospital for injuries and the suspect was contacted outside the home. The suspect, who ACPD officers feared was still armed with a firearm, was generally non-compliant with the officer’s commands. After several attempts to gain compliance through negotiations, the officers used 40mm less lethal impact munitions and Chase was deployed to apprehend the suspect. Officers were able to gain control of the suspect and safely take the suspect into custody. The shooting victim was treated for his injuries and released from the hospital.

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT

K-9 UNIT Officer Stephen Tong joined the Napa Sheriff’s Office in July of 2017 after serving 2 years at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Officer Tong was assigned to ACPD in June 2018, and was paired with K-9 Mavric in October of that year. Mavric is a 4 ½ year old German Shepard that comes to us from the Czech Republic. He is trained in handler protection, apprehension, and narcotics detection. Mavric is one of the smaller K-9s on the department K-9 team, weighing approx.. 73lbs, but what he lacks in size, he makes for in energy! Like his veteran partner K-9 Chase, K-9 Mavric has spent his police K9 career in American Canyon. In 2020, Mavric also trained and became certified for work with the SWAT team. During 2020, Mavric had 5 narcotics finds in vehicles, 1 residential burglary deployment, 1 suspect track & find, 1 fleeing felon criminal apprehension, and 1 felony apprehension. When not at work, Mavric goes home with Officer Tong and spends time chewing on toys, exercising, and training for his work week.

MAVRIC HIGHLIGHTS In mid June, Officer Tong and his K-9 partner Mavric were dispatched to a shooting at the Vineyard Crossing Apartments. Upon arriving on scene, Officers found the victim had been transported to a nearby hospital for a gunshot wound to the head. Learning the suspect had since fled in a vehicle, Napa Sheriff’s Detectives working the case were able to identify and locate the responsible driving in Vallejo. As Detectives conducted surveillance and attempted to coordinate a stop on it, the suspect fled the vehicle and began running through a residential neighborhood. Detective’s located a firearm and a police scanner inside the vehicle. The suspect was located at a nearby park but continuing running and jumping fences. With help from CHP Air Operations overhead, Officer Tong and Mavric arrived and despite announcements and warning, the suspect attempted to flee from Mavric. Mavric apprehended the dangerous suspect while a team of officers were able to catch up and safely handcuff him. The shooting victim survived his injuries and the suspect was arrested for attempted murder, kidnapping, multiple firearm offenses and resisting. In late May, ACPD Officers were dispatched to a residence on Rio Del Mar for a subject attempting to break in with an ax. While en-route, officers learned the suspect (who was well known to law enforcement from prior contacts involving an extensive drug history) had been terrorizing his neighborhood when high on methamphetamine and was retreating to his house. The suspect was on active local probation with search and seizure supervision terms and as officers attempted to investigate him at the house, they found the suspect had barricaded himself and was still armed with an ax. After several warnings, Officer Tong sent his brave K-9 partner Mavric. Mavric and Officer Tong were able to apprehend the suspect as a team before he was able to injure anyone with his weapon. This suspect was charged with exhibiting a deadly weapon to resist arrest, felony obstruction, vandalism, and violation of probation.

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMMUNITY RESOURCE OFFICER Community Resource Officer Jeff Scott (CRO) has a varied and long list of responsibilities, including:

• • • • • • • •

Crime Prevention – Educating the public about crime trends, giving tips on how to secure their homes or businesses, assisting neighborhoods with setting up their own Neighborhood Watch group and conducting Crime Prevention through Environmental Design reviews. Property Managers Association – Monthly meetings with the managers of the majority of the multi-housing complexes to share information about crime on their property and how to make improvements. Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program – This program allows property managers to add a crime-free addendum to leases, making it easier for them to evict tenants involved in criminal activity. Homeless Outreach – Identifying our homeless and trying to connect them to services. Gang/Graffiti – Work with probation to identify gang members and conduct probation searches to reduce gang activities and working with Public Works and property owners to have graffiti removed. Local Business Outreach – Working with local businesses to access and use their security surveillance cameras to solve crime and protect businesses, and offer crime prevention strategies and tips to discourage crime. Community Outreach – Conducting a variety of presentations to various groups and the schools when invited, hosting Coffee with the Cops, Citizens Academy, Senior Shadow Day, posting items on Facebook, and much more, are just some ways the CRO reaches out to the community. Community Events – In normal years, the CRO is one of the ambassadors of the police department to community members at local events, parades, and festivals. Due to COVID, 2020 was far from a “normal year.” Officer Scott was able to participate in the 2020 COVID-safe “Trunk or Treat” event with his partner, Lobo the Mascot, along with several Zoom calls and a couple of Virtual Coffee with the Cops events.

LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS The Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is a great event for our local officers to help raise money for a great charity. The torch started in Calistoga and made its way south, carried by various members of Napa County Law Enforcement. This year, Napa County Law Enforcement raised thousands of dollars for this worthy cause. Several ACPD officers participated by running from the Napa Sheriff’s Main Office on Airport Boulevard, to the American Canyon Public Safety Building.

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT

COMMUNITY OUTREACH NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH In early 2017, the Police Department and the City Manager’s Office partnered to expand upon and formalize, the Neighborhood Watch (NW) Program. In May of 2018, ACPD launched the Neighborhood Watch Lobo Campaign, introducing our community to a new ACPD NW Mascot, Lobo, our Weapon of Crime Destruction. After the Lobo introduction on YouTube and Facebook, the Lobo mascot made several appearances at community events, gatherings, and social media to boost NW enrollment in the city. During Lobo’s first year, NW enrollment went from 150 to more than 500 residents. By the end of 2019, American Canyon Neighborhood Watch enrollment climbed to 1,200. Despite major events such as the 4th of July and National Night Out being canceled in 2020, NW enrollment climbed to just over 2,635.

YEAR

2020

# of residents signed up

2,639

2019 1,200

2018 Just over 500

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Sadly, we did not have a National Night Out (NNO) in 2020. NNO is normally a great community gathering to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness and strengthen neighborhood spirit. Gatherings, however, proved too dangerous and contrary to Public Health’s efforts to stop and slow the spread of COVID.

DIGITAL OUTREACH The Police Department utilizes various forms of mass-messaging. For urgent, emergency notifications, Nixle (powered by Everbridge) continues to be our best tool. Sign up for mobile phone or email alerts by downloading the Everbridge app on your mobile device’s app store or by texting 94503 to 888777. We primarily use the Napa County Sheriff’s Office Nixle Account, which has approx. 30,000 email subscribers and over 170,000 text message subscribers. In 2019, working closely with our City staff, we began growing the list of subscribers for more surgical, American Canyon, alerts. We also train to use traditional media, door-to-door, high-low sirens, and bullhorn notifications in the event of an emergency. We also use a Twitter account to send out notifications to followers. Many of our Twitter followers are Bay Area news media reports who often amplify our messaging on their accounts and traditional news sites around the region. SOCIAL MEDIA

2020

Facebook # of Followers

8,453

Twitter # of Followers

711

2019

2018

6,327

Approx. 4,500

420

Approx. 150

CAMERA REGISTRY PROGRAM OF NW In 2019, ACPD and NW created a home surveillance camera registry program. Through the city website, residents are able to register their home video surveillance with the police department. This database simply lets the police department know (not access) what addresses have cameras and provides officers with contact information for the homeowner. In the event of a crime near that neighborhood or where the suspects direction of travel may have been captured to and from the crime scene, officers can check the camera registry and reach out to the NW member to have them check their footage and see if it can help solve the crime. Another example of partnering with our community to fight crime! There are currently 97 residents who have joined the NW Camera Registry (up from 62 last year). Visit www.CityofAmericanCanyon.org/NeighborhoodWatch to register your camera.

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS School Resource Officers (SROs) are on both the American Canyon High (ACHS) and Middle School (ACMS) campuses to provide a safe school community and help youth through some difficult challenges. They work with the schools to help provide kids with the tools and understanding they need to grow into successful adults. With young residents in our community, they truly become the “friendly neighborhood officer.” A full-time officer is assigned at ACHS since it opened in 2010. The current SRO, Officer Adam LeCount, gets along great with the kids and has seen at least one generation grow from 9th grade through graduation. Officer LeCount still gets occasional appreciative messages from kids who are now entering their 20s, cementing the concept that SROs can serve as lifelong mentors and establish positive relationships with kids that last beyond the high school years. In 2015, we added an SRO to ACMS. The current SRO, Officer Michael Williams, has established an amazing relationship with the students and continues to provide a trusted resource for them to report concerns to. In 2018, the City and Napa Valley Unified School District (NVUSD) agreed on a new contract in which the City and NVUSD share the cost of the SRO program in American Canyon 50/50: Fiscal Year 2018/2019: Fiscal Year 2019/2020: Fiscal Year 2020/2021:

NVUSD $115,022.00 NVUSD $116,747.00 NVUSD $118,498.00

City $115,022.00 City $116,747.00 City $118,498.00

School in 2020 looked different. For a significant portion of the year, students received instruction through distance learning online. The SROs, however, continued to function in a “juvenile officer” role throughout the workdays, in addition to patrolling the often empty campuses and talking to kids out around the town (including hours when they should have been online receiving instruction). Generally, the SROs try to work with parents and juvenile probation officers to find the best way to change negative behavior patterns. Typical SRO duties include organizing and implementing programs to promote a safe school environment, prevent alcohol and drug abuse, prevent violence, and early intervention of disruptive or criminal behavior. The SRO program is a great example of a Community Policing Strategy at work. The City and NVUSD will work towards a new agreement so that the program can continue in the upcoming school years.

Officer LeCount congratulating a graduating ACHS senior at the 2020 drive-through graduation.

OFFICER ADAM LE COUNT American Canyon High School

Total Calls for Service at ACHS: 35 Total Police Reports taken at ACHS: 11 Besides the obvious community relationship that SRO LeCount builds by being at the campus, and the campus safety his presence provides, Officer LeCount was able to handle the majority of the investigations initiated at the campus. Calls include: campus patrol checks, runaways, trespass calls, welfare checks on absent students, mental health calls, truancy, suicide threats, child custody complaints, and assist with drive-through graduation.

OFFICER MICHAEL WILLIAMS American Canyon Middle School

Total Calls for Service at ACMS: 33 Total Police Reports taken at ACMS: 7 Officer Williams continues to have great rapport with the students at this critical age group. On several occasions students were comfortable reporting potential problems to him before they turned into a bigger problem. Calls include: juvenile fight, marijuana possession, lost property, sexual battery, campus patrol checks, mental health calls, and assistance with food distributions.

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT

POLICE TECHNICIANS & ADMINISTRATIVE CLERK While the sworn officers in American Canyon are actually employees of Napa County, American Canyon Police Department also has three civilian staff positions: City of American Canyon employees. The City employees are two Police Technicians, Kim Stallcop and Lindsey Foster, and an Administrative Clerk position who staffs the front office and reception area. For most of 2020, the Administrative Clerk position was vacant and subsequently frozen in the fiscal year 2020-2021 due to reduced revenue projections related to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Police Technicians Kim Stallcop and Lindsey Foster, along with administrative staff from the Fire Protection District, filled in on the vacant front office tasks. In addition to front office tasks, including phone and lobby reception, the release of police reports, processing of accounts payable, etc., the Police Technicians also have additional duties in the field. Outside the office, the Police Technicians do parking enforcement, abandoned vehicle towing, property and evidence processing, assistance with traffic at schools, traffic controls during large incidents, community outreach, and other special projects that may come up. They are also specially trained to be Child Safety Seat Technicians and assist residents with proper fitting and installation of their child seats.

HIGHLIGHTS Child seats installed or inspected: 16 Child Safety events: 0

Abandoned vehicles tagged: 333 Abandoned vehicles towed: 33

The Police Technicians also write parking tickets. In order to keep disabled parking spaces available for the people who need them, they check people who park in those designated spaces to make certain they have a placard and if they have a placard, that they are the proper person to be using the placard.

HIGHLIGHTS Result: 32 tickets (handicap). Misused placards are returned to DMV.

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

TRAINING REVIEW Having a well-trained police force is an important factor in accomplishing the overall goal of quality law enforcement services that protects the quality of life and keeps our community safe. Follow-up investigations for felony cases, and some misdemeanors, are handled by the team of highly trained and experienced detectives at the Investigations Bureau of the Sheriff’s Office. The uniformed patrolmen and women of the American Canyon Police Department also train continually throughout the calendar year. The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) requires every officer to have a minimum of 24 hours of Continuous Professional Training (CPT) every two years. POST also identifies certain skills a perishable and requires refresher training in those skills every two years, known as POST Perishable Skills Program (PSP). The PSP skills include firearms, weaponless defense, driving, tactical communications, and first aid. ACPD officers in 2020 are all up-to-date on these POST requirements. In addition to the POST minimum requirements, ACPD officers also attend several POST-approved training courses in areas such as DUI investigations, leadership, drug influence investigations, traffic collision investigations, interviewing techniques, crisis response, communication skills, among others. Due to the COVID pandemic, many of these training opportunities were either canceled or offered online. In total, ACPD had over 740 hours of POSTapproved training during 2020. The Sergeants at American Canyon Police also facilitate line-up training to the officers in their charge several times a month. Line-up trainings are an informal opportunity to review new laws, new court decisions, developing trends, incident debriefs, and general police skills. More than 3,500 minutes of line-up training were conducted in 2020. During 2020, line-up and POST trainings included such topics as:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Public Health/COVID Human Trafficking Case Law /Legal Update Pursuits /Vehicle Driving Active Shooter Response Interview & Interrogation Breathing & Airway Crowd Management Identity Theft Field Training Traffic Collision Investigations Domestic Violence Incident Debriefs Use of Force laws & Policy Sovereign Citizen Extremist Courtroom Testimony Suicidal Subjects & Less Lethal Tactic Tactical Communications Personnel Skills/Supervision

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT

TRAFFIC DATA KEEPING OUR STREETS SAFE IS A PRIORITY Our Traffic Unit subscribes to the three E's: Education, Enforcement, and Engineering. In addition to traffic enforcement and traffic collision investigations, the Traffic Enforcement Unit reviews collision reports authored by other officers. They schedule their directed enforcement based on community traffic concerns, collision trends, construction areas, and complaints. They also partner with the Fire District and City's Engineering staff on a traffic working group. Citizens can report traffic safety concerns to the group by calling (707) 647-4558 or at www.CityofAmericanCanyon.org/Traffic. The COVID-19 pandemic related shelter-at-home orders, economy shutdowns, and traffic court closures impacted roadway conditions and traffic/parking enforcement. While traffic court shut down and people were encouraged to stay at home, parking enforcement in residential neighborhoods and traffic enforcement, in general, shifted their focus to education and warnings. This is noticeable in total citations, both for traffic and for parking. Like trends seen around the state and around the country, fewer cars on the roadways translated to fewer collisions. Still, the collisions that occurred were at faster speeds with more serious injuries. Tragically, 2020 saw ACPD respond to and investigate three fatal traffic collisions. - Sunday, May 3, at night: An unlicensed juvenile on a motorcycle was fatally injured when he crashed into a passenger vehicle while traveling southbound on Flosden, as the sedan was making a left turn into a residential neighborhood. Yielding, inattention, and speed of the motorcyclist were determined to be contributing factors in this collision. - Saturday, May 16, at night: A 19-year-old driver from out of state veered off the roadway on Newell drive and crashed into a tree in the center median in front of the high school. The 19-year old sustained fatal injuries. Drunk driving was determined to be the cause of this collision. - Monday, June 22, daytime: A 47-year-old American Canyon resident traveling southbound on SR29 towards Vallejo crossed over the center median just north of Kimberly Drive and collided head-on with a northbound vehicle. The 47-year old sustained fatal injuries. The reason for the crossing over the dirt median and oncoming traffic is unknown but suspected to be a medical event.

Photo taken pre-COVID during 4th of July Parade

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

TRAFFIC DATA TRAFFIC

2020

2019

2018

2017

Traffic Citations Traffic Citations - Local Roads Traffic Citations - SR29 Stop Sign Violations Speeding School Bus Stop Driving with Cell Phone Open Container - Cannabis Open Container - Alcohol

294 261 139 194 15 71 9 1

382 219 101 104 80 61 10 5

774 662 397 88 116 276 44 7

522 427 201 174 91 147 3 4

Parking Citations Disable Parking Citations - Inf. Disable Parking Citations - Misd.

218 32 0

559 29 4

633 41 4

344 48 3

DUI Arrests (All) DUI Cases Involving Drugs

83 22

59 11

90 13

79 6

Total Collisions Collisions - Local Roads Collisions - SR29 Fatal Injury Non-Injury

136 72 64 3 59 67

137 79 58 0 43 94

164 89 80 0 56 113

175 97 78 0 42 133

Child Safety Seat Inspection/Install

Helmets, Free

CITATIONS BY HOME CITY

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT

CRIME STATISTICS California Department of Justice lists the 2019 clearance rate for violent crime at 45.7% and property crime at 10.7%. American Canyon’s 2019 clearance rate for violent crime is 81.1% and property crimes is 43.2%.

• • • • •

39 of the stolen vehicles have been recovered, usually out of town (Solano and Contra Costa Counties) 13 Residential burglaries were reported (down from 15 in 2019) 16 Vehicle pursuits were initiated by ACPD 33 Incidents required the use of force 35 Individuals were taken into temporary custody for mental health evaluations

2020

STATISTICS Crimes Homicide Rape Robbery Assault Burglary Larceny Auto Theft

2018

Total % Solved

2017

2016

2015

2014

1 4 16 142 60 281 45

0 6 6 130 56 346 23

0 8 13 107 49 315 41

0 5 14 141 88 279 57

0 7 14 118 58 298 56

1 7 21 91 98 501 44

0 2 16 117 100 441 31

549 54.2%

568 52.8%

533 48.2%

584 43.8%

551 43.4%

763 54.7%

707 55.5%

2020 Value of Property Stolen 1,090,056 Percent Recovered 38%

OTHER DATA Calls for Service Reports Arrests Citations: Misdemeanor Pursuits

2019

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

552,034

572,431

1,046,405

1,008,587

801,395

674,075

505,467

19%

20%

22%

30%

40%

30%

33%

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

16,972 1,747 522

18,381 1,972 561

18,644 1,946 509

18,041 1,946 532

18,698 1,965 523

17,057 2,035 475

17,604 1,971 665

18,537 2,005 765

259 16

328 17

535 23

384 14

427 16

612 7

474 16

499 5

CALLS FOR SERVICE Sheriff Total - 49,973 ACPD - 16,972 (35% of total calls) Yountville - 3,691 (7.5%)

In total, 115 suspects received Cite-and-Release tickets for cases involving meth, cocaine, or opiates. In 2020, there was 1 citation for possession of cannabis under the age of 18 and 21.

Theft from Vehicle Residential Burglary

2020

2019

2018

114

168

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

CRIME STATISTICS HIGHLIGHTS 20 Firearms were seized by ACPD from criminal investigations (car searches, people searches, etc.). # of Firearms

2020

2019

2018

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT

CRIME STATISTICS METH VS NARCOTIC OPIATES

Methamphetamine is still the more prevalent of the “hard drugs” encountered in the field. Heroin, Fentanyl, Ecstasy, Cocaine, and prescription opiates are less common. In most occasions where opiates such as heroin or narcotics such as cocaine are seized, suspects usually also possess methamphetamine.

ARRESTS BY HOME CITY

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

SIGNIFICANT 2020 CASES & EVENTS VIOLENT PHYSICAL ASSAULT RESULTS IN ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGES On February 23, at about 4:45 AM, paramedics and officers responded to a “person down” call in the La Vigne neighborhood. A female adult at the residence was found to have major injuries and transported to a hospital for treatment. Upon further investigation, officers and detectives with the Napa County Sheriff’s Office learned that a male relative had violently attacked the woman at the house after a small family party. The attacker, 54-year-old Fakaofilani Akaola of San Rafael, had already returned home while ACPD was still investigating what happened. Later that morning, with San Rafael Police’s assistance, Akaola was taken into custody and returned to Napa County, where he was booked on attempted murder charges. Akaola remains in custody on those charges, and the case is making its way through the court system.

MAN THREATENS NEIGHBORS AND OFFICERS WITH AN AX On the evening of May 30, ACPD officers were dispatched to a residence on the west side of town for a man threatening neighbors. Officers arrived, and their investigation led them to the home of 34-year-old Dominic Cerasoli, who was awaiting officers and had added soap and water on the floor of the entrance to his home as a mechanism to make the surface slippery for the arriving officers. As officers attempted to negotiate with him and de-escalate him, Cerasoli armed himself with an ax. Officers, assisted by K9 Mavric, safely apprehend Cerasoli and take him into custody in what was a violent and dangerous encounter. Cerasoli was prosecuted for his assault on the officers and ultimately convicted and sentenced to four years in state prison.

DRUGS AND GUN CHARGES LEAD TO FEDERAL CASE On the afternoon of Sunday, June 7, an alert citizen called in suspicious activity in a local hotel's parking lot. An ACPD officer responded and found 39-year-old Andre Bryant, who had an outstanding warrant, in a vehicle. Further investigation yielded almost a pound of heroin, almost a half-ounce of cocaine, a half-ounce of methamphetamine, and a semi-automatic handgun. Bryant is currently facing federal prosecution on charges related to this arrest.

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT

SIGNIFICANT 2020 CASES & EVENTS AREA CIVIL UNREST, VIOLENCE, LOOTING, AND A LOCAL CURFEW BETWEEN JUNE 1 AND 3 Nationwide and around the Bay Area, otherwise peaceful protest related to the George Floyd incident turned violent at times, with mass looting, vandalism, and violence in various cities. Of significance to American Canyon, however, on June 1st, Solano County cities and, in particular, Vallejo experienced coordinated mass looting incidents. As nightfall came, the mass looting attacks seemed to spread throughout Vallejo. ACPD officers and other agencies responded to provide mutual aid. Many of the offenders apprehended during that night were not Solano County residents and, in fact, residents of Contra Costa, Alameda, and other Bay Area counties. ACPD also up-staffed locally to help keep our city safe while still providing requested mutual aid to Vallejo. We experienced one homeinvasion robbery incident on June 1st, involving five suspects from Contra Costa County who broke into an occupied residence in the southwest part of American Canyon. The residence was a fully converted clandestine marijuana cultivation site. All rooms and the garage used to cultivate hundreds of cannabis plants. The occupants were held captive while the five suspects grabbed as much cannabis as possible and stuffed it into their get-away-car. ACPD officers arrived and interrupted the robbery, however, taking the suspects into custody. The suspects are currently out of custody, and the matter is making its way through the criminal court process. This incident, the Vallejo mass looting, along with intelligence on open-source social media accounts of possible further incidents in the region in the days to come, led to a city emergency response and establishment of a local curfew order, along with further up-staffing by ACPD. The following days remained peaceful, and the curfew was lifted after just two days. Later in 2020, the City of American Canyon passed a local ordinance to address the black market of large indoor cannabis cultivation in residential neighborhoods.

SHOOTING AND ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING AT VINEYARD CROSSING APARTMENTS On June 17, ACPD responded to a shooting at Vineyard Crossing Apartments. Officers arrived and learned the victim had already been taken to the hospital, where he was eventually treated and released. ACPD and Napa County Sheriff's Detectives continued the investigation. They learned that the shooter, who was known to the victim, also attempted to kidnap him. Detectives spotted the shooter, 41-year-old Frederick Valentine of Vallejo, in Vallejo and attempted to coordinate a traffic stop. Valentine fled on foot through residential backyards. With the Vallejo Police Department and CHP helicopter overhead assistance, ACPD officers found Valentine in a yard. As Valentine attempted to avoid apprehension, ACPD K9 Mavric was deployed to apprehend him and quickly caught up and held him until officers secured him. Officers recovered a firearm inside the vehicle Valentine abandoned. Valentine was booked on attempted murder, attempted kidnap, and gun-related charges at the Napa County jail.

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

SIGNIFICANT 2020 CASES & EVENTS SHOOTING IN SAFEWAY PARKING LOT RESULTS IN CITY'S FIRST MURDER SINCE 2015 On Sunday afternoon, August 16, 18-year-old Nathan Garza, a Safeway employee, was outside the store handling deliveries to drive-up customers. For reasons still unknown and under investigation, 24-year-old Christopher Young of Martinez shot and killed Nathan then fled in his vehicle. Garza, a recent High School graduate with a bright future, and Young, a suspected drug user, have no known connections. While officers worked the crime scene and gathered information from witnesses, ACPD was dispatched to a report of a subject jumping through back yards on the west side of town. Napa County Sheriff's deputies from the Valley Patrol Bureau responded to this call and eventually arrested Young. However, his association with the Safeway homicide was still unclear. Detectives eventually gathered sufficient evidence linking Young to the murder. He was booked and later arraigned on those charges. The case is still pending in the criminal courts.

STABBING INSIDE THE SAFEWAY STORE, NEAR THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLE SECTION On Sunday evening, Sept 13, ACPD responded to a report of a fight inside the Safeway grocery store. Officers arrived and separated the parties, including 32-year-old Jerome Leonard of San Pablo and a 50-year-old victim who is a resident of American Canyon. As officers separated the involved parties, they noticed the victim was bleeding and that Leonard was armed with a knife. Officers were able to take Leonard into custody safely, and he was booked for charges related to the stabbing. The case is still pending in the criminal courts.

FIRES IN NAPA COUNTY Unfortunately, 2020 brought another year of "mega-fires" to our County. ACPD officers assisted with evacuations and patrols in evacuated zones during both the LNU Lightning Complex fire and the Glass Fire incident. ACPD and Napa Sheriff's Office patrol units, along with patrol units from throughout Napa County (St. Helena Police, Calistoga Police, Napa Police, Napa County Probation, and Napa County District Attorney's Office), in addition to mutual aid from the City of Berkeley Police, patrolled throughout unincorporated areas of Napa County in the north and eastern areas of the County that were impacted by these fires.

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES In addition to the services you receive from the 26 personnel working in American Canyon, there are many services that are provided by the Sheriff’s Office. Those additional services include hiring, training, worker’s compensation, Honor Guard, SWAT, crisis negotiation, civil process, Coroner’s Office, investigations, records, NSIB, sUAS (“drone”) Team, Mobile Field Force, and problem oriented policing. A few of these services are described in more detail below.

SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICS The SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team is utilized in critical incidents to minimize dangers to the public, employees, and suspects. A critical incident refers to hostage situations, armed barricaded subjects, sniper situations, other incidents that present a high degree of danger to life or property, search and rescues, crowd control events, and any event requiring the response of specially trained personnel to resolve the situation. The SWAT Team is comprised of 12 deputies who are trained in the use of special weapons, anti-sniper tactics, methods of capturing armed barricaded suspects, rescuing hostages, search and rescue, crowd control, disaster assistance, and other tactics and skills necessary for resolution of critical incidents. The Sheriff’s SWAT team is made up of deputies with patrol experience, who must pass an interview process, a rigorous physical test, and a Basic SWAT Academy. Each SWAT member participates in approximately 144 hours of additional tactical training per year. The Sheriff’s SWAT team frequently trains with the Napa Police Department. Both SWAT teams respond together to most critical incidents. Both teams utilize Crisis Negotiators (8 trained members) to assist in bringing peaceful resolution to hazardous situations.

NAPA SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU (NSIB) The Napa Special Investigations Bureau is a county-wide drug task force comprised of employees from Napa County Sheriff’s Office, Napa Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Napa County District Attorney’s Office, and Napa County Probation Department. They also specialize in investigation of human sex trafficking cases.

HIGHLIGHTS Total Drugs Seized • Marijuana Bud Product: 13.29 grams • Marijuana Edibles: 2 ounces • MJ Plants: 2,509 (indoor) • Meth: 29.4 grams • Heroin: 34.46 grams • Cocaine: 0 grams Additional Highlights • Firearms Seized: 1 • Total Search Warrants: 3 • Total Other Searches: 1 • Asset Forfeiture Currency: $1,240 • Human Trafficking/Pimping Cases: 1

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES sUAS TEAM The mission of the Napa Sheriff’s Office small Unmanned Aerial Systems Team (sUAS Team) is to use this resource to protect the lives and/or property of citizens of Napa County and first responders in a constitutionally and legally sound manner and in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. The use of a sUAS has been utilized in circumstances that could save lives and/or safeguard property in circumstances where other means and resources are unavailable or less effective. The ability to detect possible dangers that could not otherwise be seen represents an inherent safety benefit in support of the Sheriff’s Office mission. The sUAS Aerial Observation Platform has supported first responders in many hazardous incidents during the program’s first year. These incidents have included, but are not limited to, Search and Rescue, disaster response, barricaded suspects, high-risk tactical operations, hazardous materials spills and natural disasters. The sUAS have provided additional value in support of the Sheriff’s mission through community outreach and crime scene preservation and documentation. Aerial photography and vantage point documentation for traffic accident investigations has been useful in determining causes of collisions. The Napa Sheriff’s Office sUAS pilots of unmanned aircraft systems have a responsibility to not infringe on the rights or property of the citizens of California. Any data, information, photographs, video, or recordings of individuals, both in public and private, are minimized and retained in a manner consistent with current privacy standards. The program operates under the guidelines of the FAA and 2 Certificates of Authorization, which allow flight of sUAS in specific airspace for the purpose of public safety concerns and the Napa Sheriff’s Office mission. All pilots undergo strict training prior to flying, including obtaining a FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot License and Certification through the Napa Sheriff’s Office sUAS training program. Monthly training is required of all Remote pilots. The team currently consists of a Captain, 2 Sergeants, and 6 Deputies.

DEPLOYMENT HIGHLIGHTS Total Deployments in 2020: 121 Out of County Requests and Deployments = 19 Napa Police Department Deployments = 30 Search and Rescue and Missing Person = 9 Crime / TC Scene Documentation = 7 Public Demonstration and Media Requests = 12 Requests by Other Napa County Agencies = 1 Reportable Incidents to FAA = 1 (Drone malfunction and lost in rural Mt. St. Helena area) Reports or Complaints of Misconduct or Privacy Violations = 0 Other deployments included over watch for tactical operations, clearing of residences and buildings, article searches over large areas, searches for fleeing suspects and assist with SWAT operations.

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES HAZARDOUS DEVICES TEAM (BOMB SQUAD) The Napa County Sheriff’s Office Explosives Ordinance Disposal Team, commonly referred to as the Bomb Squad, responds to calls for service related to suspicious packages, unexploded ordinance, Improvised explosive devices, homemade devices, and labs within all areas of the county of Napa. Additionally, they provide the same services for the counties of Solano and Lake. They are assisted by EOD K-9s from Napa and Solano Counties with explosives sweeps for large public events and dignitaries when visiting the Napa Valley. Additionally, they provide demonstrations and education to patrol deputies both at the agency and academy level. Team members are responsible for the inspection and compliance overview of blasting permits in Napa County. Team members attend an intensive 6-week training course. They are governed by FBI guidelines for training and readiness. They are required to maintain a minimum 16 hours of related training per month and a 40-hour course per year. It should be noted that after almost 20 years of service as a Bomb Technician to the citizens of Napa County, Deputy Chris Roberts (also our ACPD motorcycle officer) will be hanging up his EOD suit in Spring of 2021. Thank you, Chris, for your dedication to the community. The Bomb Squad consists of one Lieutenant, a sergeant, and 2 deputies. In 2020, the team also added a 2020 Remotech F6B bomb robot, replacing an older generation robot and improving the team’s speed, agility, and versatility while maintaining safety for the team members and community.

HIGHLIGHTS • • •

11 Call-outs for suspicious packages, military ordinance, hoax devices, explosives recovery and disposals, including calls in Napa, Solano and Lake Counties. 5 Explosives and suspicious package sweeps at public events. Explosive K-9s were utilized on 7 of those sweeps. 2 Public demonstrations and law enforcement education and training classes.

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES HONOR GUARD The Napa Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard was formed to perform official remembrance ceremonies and funeral details for law enforcement professionals who have passed away in the line of duty. The Honor Guard also performs flag raising duties at various civic events that require a dignified display and presentation of our nation’s flag. The Honor Guard is trained in the aspects of drill and ceremony, flag presentations, and funeral details. The Honor Guard provides both a symbolic and professional display of respect and gratitude for officers who have died either in the line-of-duty, while an active member of the department, or after their retirement from the department. By participating in memorials, parades and other special events, the Honor Guard provides a positive image as ambassadors of the Napa Sheriff’s Office, the County of Napa and the Community. 2020 provided many challenges for everyone, including the Honor Guard. Despite the challenges, members of the Honor Guard attempted to represent the community and the Sheriff’s Office in the most professional manner. The Honor Guard was originally scheduled to attend 13 events throughout the year, but most were canceled due to COVID precautions. The Honor Guard did attend:

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3 Law Enforcement Funerals (with face coverings and social distancing measures) 9/11 Memorial in American Canyon: A recorded flag folding ceremony for video and social media posting, no audience in attendance due to COVID precautions 3 Color Guard (Presentation of the Flags) at smaller events

MOBILE FIELD FORCE The Napa Sheriff’s Office trains and equips a Mobile Field Force (MFF) team. The team is made up of 25 Deputies and 3 Sergeants (many of whom are assigned to ACPD). All of the MFF team members attend a 40-hour training course through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), along with refresher trainings throughout the year. The Lieutenant that oversees the team can also call upon the MFF to fill mutual aid request for areas impacted by disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or fires.

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU (DETECTIVES) The Investigations Bureau is responsible for all criminal investigations and works closely with the crime lab. The Bureau has a Lieutenant, a Detective Sergeant, 7 Investigators, and a Secretary. In the Evidence Bureau, there are 2 Evidence Specialists, and an Evidence Technician. Investigators perform follow up on crimes against persons, such as sexual assaults, child abuse and neglect, elder and dependent adult abuse, domestic violence, murder, manslaughter, questionable deaths, mayhem, kidnapping, as well as all criminal offenses committed within county correctional facilities. They also investigate major property crimes, including frauds, embezzlements, forgeries, computer crimes, and runaway juveniles/missing persons. All investigators are part of the Napa County Major Crimes Task Force.

HIRING Applicants face a rigorous hiring process. They file an application, go through an oral interview, complete a pre-background packet, complete waivers and a 25-page background packet, and go through another interview about information contained in the packets. A thorough background investigation is then conducted (friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors are contacted, credit and criminal history checks are completed). Applicants must pass a physical agility test, as well as complete a polygraph packet and exam. If the applicant has not been disqualified, they may receive a conditional job offer. The conditional part means that they have a job if they successfully pass a physical exam, psychological exam, and Sheriff’s Interview. That is not all. The new hire must then successfully complete a 16-week long field training program with experienced deputies. The Sheriff’s Office Administrative Lieutenant oversees recruitment, testing, and background investigations.

TRAINING The Administrative Lieutenant is responsible for ensuring department wide compliance with POST requirements. POST has established training and hiring standards for law enforcement in California. Deputies must attend a 664 (minimum) hour basic academy, and then successfully complete a field training program after being hired. After completing their probationary period, Deputies must attend regular training that includes a minimum of 24 hours of perishable skills training every two years and 24 additional hours of continuing professional training every two years. The perishable skills training includes driving, firearms, defensive tactics, First Aid/CPR, and Tactical Communication. As described in page 9, the Sheriff’s Office Administrative Lieutenant ensures officers assigned to ACPD meet their POST training requirement. In addition to minimum requirements, the Lieutenant works with the Chief of Police to ensure officers attend training that aligns with the officer’s assignment at ACPD.

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

ANIMAL SERVICES The City has a separate contract ($51,401 for FY20/21) with Napa County Sheriff’s Office for Animal Services. Animal Services Officers work out of the main Sheriff’s Office, on Airport Blvd. The officers are supervised by a Napa Sheriff’s Sergeant. There is one Senior Animal Services Officer and five Animal Services Officers. There is at least one Animal Services Officer working 7 days a week, between 6am and 11pm. After 11pm, an officer is assigned to be on call for emergencies only; emergencies primarily consist of vicious or injured animals. Animal Services (officers) is separate from the Animal Shelter, which is run by Napa County Environmental Management. Animal Services Officers do not investigate noise complaints (usually barking dogs); those complaints are handled by the American Canyon Police Department. Generally, Animal Services Officers deal with domestic animals; California Fish and Wildlife handles wild animals. The Animal Services Officer’s primary mission is to prevent the spread of rabies. They investigate dog bites and dangerous animals, capture stray or injured animals, and investigate the abuse or neglect of animals in unincorporated Napa County, and the Cities of Napa, American Canyon and Yountville. Officers deal with a variety of types and sizes of domestic (mostly) animals. In addition to dogs and cats, they have handled cows, horses, roosters, llamas, emus, goats, rabbits, skunks, snakes, and bats.

DESCRIPTION OF CALL

Loose Dog(s) Animal/Confined Pick-Up Animal Welfare Check Vicious Animals Injured/Sick Animals Dead Animal Pick-Up Follow Up Detail Phone Detail Agency Assist General Service Animal Bites Wildlife Removal TOTALS

NAPA

UNINCORPORATED

AMERICAN CANYON

377 149 165 19 101 77 14 355 22 86 45 15

181 58 83 9 76 46 159 307 37 58 42 1

123 60 30 7 28 14 11 109 2 12 7 3

9 1 1 0 2 1 1 2 4 3 0 0

690 268 279 35 207 138 185 773 65 159 94 19

1,425

1,057

406

2,912

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT

YOUNTVILLE

TOTALS

OTHER TOPICS OF INTEREST NEXTDOOR The City participates in Nextdoor to provide information to the community. While Nextdoor is a popular site for local residents, the Police Department is not able to monitor it. We cannot see the messages you post. If you are reporting a crime or want to get a message to us, Nextdoor is not the way to do that! The phone is still the best way to contact the police department. If you would like to sign up, visit www.Nextdoor.com.

CONTACT US Information about the American Canyon Police Department and our services may be found on the City’s web site: www.CityofAmericanCanyon.org. We are also on Facebook and Twitter!

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Facebook: www.Facebook.com/American.Canyon.Police.Department Twitter: www.Twitter.com/AmCanPolice

To see crimes reported in your neighborhood go to www.CommunityCrimeMap.com.

EXPIRED/UNUSED COLLECTION BIN Did you know that we have a drug collection bin in the lobby of the public safety building? Drop your unused or expired prescription medications in the bin and we will have them destroyed. It’s FREE. Place your medications in a plastic bag and then drop them into the bin. Throw your plastic bottles into your home recycling container. It’s easy! NO NEEDLES and NO LIQUIDS. American Canyon Police Department 911 Donaldson Way East American Canyon, CA 94503 Our lobby is open Monday - Friday, from 8:30am - 5pm

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

AMERICAN CANYON POLICE DEPARTMENT 2020 ANNUAL REPORT CONTACT US | FOLLOW US | JOIN THE PACK CONTACT US Public Safety Building 911 Donaldson Way East American Canyon, CA 94503 Emergency - 911 Non-Emergency (707) 551-0600 Dispatch (707) 253-4451

JOIN THE PACK Be a part of Lobo’s Pack! Our Neighborhood Watch Program helps build safer neighborhoods. www.CityofAmericanCanyon.org/LobosPack