Law enforcement news and photos from around the San Jacinto Valley

Compiled from the Hemet Sheriff’s Station, San Jacinto Police Department and Hemet Police Department

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Hemet Sheriff’s Station

Hemet Sheriff’s Deputies Graham, Stoyer, and Waters recently participated in a training session with southern California’s REACH Air Medical Services. RSO deputies never miss an opportunity to train and learn something new!

Deputy Rutigliano recently made a new friend! Who could ever resist a face like that? #puppylove that? #turner&hooch2

Deputy Weber is all smiles – and mustache – on a recent beautiful Monday morning. He’s always eager to get out there and serve our community. #Motivated #Monday#Mustache

Deputy Tully starts every shift by loading up all the gear and equipment he will need to effectively serve our community. A Deputy Sheriff is always prepared! #Dayshift #Prepared  

Deputy Parsons had to stop and take a picture during a recent patrol through Keen Camp Summit on Highway 74 in Idyllwild. Definitely looks like another tough day at the office! ❄❄❄#whataview #mountainlife

The Hemet Sheriff’s Station recently bid farewell to Corporal Cadenhead, who has proudly served the San Jacinto Valley since 2007. During his tenure, he served the residents of Hemet and San Jacinto as a patrol deputy, a corporal and as a School Resource Officer for Hamilton High School and Dartmouth Middle School. On behalf of the Hemet Sheriff’s Station and the entire San Jacinto Valley, we wish you the best of luck with your new assignment! #youwillbemissed #bestofluck#hemetsheriff #RSO

Community Service Officer (CSO) Funkhouser begins every shift by returning phone calls and following up on his investigations. His dedication to his job makes him a valuable asset not only to the sheriff’s department, but the entire valley as well. #CSO #RSO #Paperwork

Deputy Waters recently hosted a community based active-shooter training in Idyllwild. Some community members who helped pack the house included representatives from local campgrounds, community schools and area churches. A big thank you to Deputy Parsons for coordinating this educational and informative event. #RSO #Training

Sidney with Girl Scout Troop #146 recently stopped by the Hemet Sheriff Station and the always hungry and willing to help deputies and other staff were more than happy to show their support and fill their stomachs! Cops like cookies almost as much as donuts! #girlscouts #yummycookies

Sergeant Frank Tiburzio, Captain Purvis and others recently recognized and honored Hemet Sheriff’s Posse Member Bill Tracy for his thirty years of service to the Hemet Posse. Congratulations Bill!

San Jacinto Police Department

With gift cards in one hand and his ticket book in the other, Deputy Cortez heads out into the community to make sure everyone is driving safely and obeying the traffic laws. Many of those caught driving safely were rewarded with a gift card but those caught driving not so safely were given their own reward – in the form of a warning or ticket.

The San Jacinto Police Department and San Jacinto Unified School District recently hosted an Active Shooter Training Exercise at San Jacinto High School. Deputies from the Hemet Sheriff’s Station and San Jacinto Police Department along with Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department personnel presented the training, which brought together emergency first responders from throughout the San Jacinto Valley and beyond. To add to the realism and training The excercise and demonstration featured simulated gunfire as well as “bloody and injured” student actors who needed protection and rescue.

The event was not only a chance for officials from multiple area law enforcement, fire and rescue agencies to train together, it was also an opportunity for emergency first responders to demonstrate to district administrators and faculty members what to expect to see during a potential school crisis to better prepare them for an actual event.

(Click link below to view full article and additional photos.)

Active-shooter training at SJHS brings together multiple area police, fire agencies

Following the simulated Active-Shooter scenario training at San Jacinto High School, Captain Purvis and Deputy Waters presented a plaque to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department’s Battalion Chief Bill Lawe thanking him for his participation and partnership in the successful day of training.

Congratulations to Sergeant Reichle, who was recently honored by the City of San Jacinto and San Jacinto Police Department as San Jacinto PD’s Officer of the Quarter. Keep up the great work!

Celebrating #NationalComplimentDay, deputies assigned to San Jacinto PD show they have great smiles and positive attitudes and are always working hard to keep San Jacinto safe. #GoSanJacinto

Some local Cub Scouts recently paid an impromptu visit to the San Jacinto Police Station and K-9 Officer Wallace happily took some time to give the boys and their parents a tour of the facility. The tour included the station’s briefing room where deputies receive their daily assignments and discuss ongoing investigations, the report writing room where deputies spend hours filling out reports and paperwork, the station’s secured motor pool area where all their official vehicles are kept when not in use as well as other parts of the station.

The Scouts got to check out a police motorcycle, sit inside a police car – both the front and the back! – and they even got to handle some of the tools and toys Deputy Wallace uses while training with his K-9 partner Wyatt.

Newly promoted Corporal Eckenrode was recently welcomed into the San Jacinto PD family. Corporal Eckenrode has worked for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for many years as a deputy and comes to San Jacinto from his most recent assignment at Moreno Valley PD.

During a recent DUI/Drivers License checkpoint, San Jacinto PD’s Traffic Unit screened more than 1,100 vehicles that passed through on the rural but heavily traveled two lane road.

The operation ended with the arrests of three drivers, including two for DUI and another for an outstanding felony warrant, and cited 19 additional drivers for operating a vehicle unlicensed or while suspended and/or revoked.

The purpose of the checkpoints, which are fully funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is to educate drivers about the dangers of driving under the influence and that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If caught driving while impaired, whether by alcohol, prescription medications, marijuana, or illicit drugs, motorists can be charged with driving under the influence.

Deputies and staff at San Jacinto PD celebrated Valentine’s Day in style, with homemade guava juice, heart-shaped sweets, chocolates and more! But some of the deputies later got caught inside the card aisle of a local supermarket, making some last minute card selections!

The training never stops at San Jacinto PD and deputies recently honed their skills at handling and deploying spike strips. Spike strips are used to slowly deflate the tires of a pursued vehicle and with row upon row of hollow, razor-sharp, metal quills, knowing how to quickly and safely handle and deploy them is an essential part of their use.

Even on Mondays K-9 Wyatt is always ready, willing and able to handle his work week!
#SJPD #K9Wyatt #GoSanJacinto #MondayMotivation

Getting their good TGIF vibe on, San Jacinto PD deputies are always ready to get out and serve their community. #TGIF #SJPD #GoSanJacinto #FriYay

Sergeant Ken Reichle was recently recognized as San Jacinto PD’s “Officer of the Quarter” and he was honored with a plaque from the San Jacinto City Council. Congratulation Sgt. Reichle! #GoSanjacinto

Lieutenant John Salisbury, San Jacinto Rotary Club President Shari Fox, and Captain Leonard Purvis recently honored Deputy Paul Munoz (pictured second from left) as City of San Jacinto’s Officer of the Year for 2017. The award was presented to Munoz by the San Jacinto Rotary Club during a dinner at Emilio’s Restaurant in San Jacinto. Congratulations Deputy Munoz!

San Jacinto PD officials recently enjoyed Coffee with a Cop with a crowd of community members at a San Jacinto Starbucks. During the two-hour event, deputies, CSO’s, volunteers and station staff recruited for San Jacinto PD’s volunteer program, handed out badge stickers to children both young and old, presented crime prevention tips, answered citizen’s questions, and enjoyed a few cups of delicious coffee of course!

#CoffeeWithACop #GoSanJacinto #CopsAndCoffee, #SJPD #TogetherWeCanMakeADifference 

San Jacinto PD recently bid farewell to one of the station’s long-time volunteers during a luncheon and going away party at the police station.

During more than two years as a volunteer, Volunteer Catanghal received Volunteer of the Year and gained a reputation around the station and throughout the San Jacinto Valley as being one of San Jacinto PD’s hardest working, most dependable and most dedicated volunteers.

Although everyone at the station was saddened to see one of their best volunteers go, the entire staff wishes Catanghal the best of luck and said, “You will be missed and will always be part of the San Jacinto Police Family!”

Rabbi Erick Peretz, from the Simchat Yeshua Synagogue in San Jacinto, recently stopped by the San Jacinto Police Station to proudly introduce the churches new Torah to the community and offer blessings and prayers for the hard-working law enforcement officers who serve this valley. 

Hemet Police Department

Lieutenant Dickson recently gave a presentation to a group of business owners and managers during the City’s First Friday-Business Crime Prevention Tips event.

During the event, which was hosted by Hemet PD, Salvation Army Hemet Corps and the Hemet San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce, Dickson provided tips on business crime prevention and answered questions from an audience at the Hemet/San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce.

Hemet PD recently had the opportunity to recognize and congratulate Sergeant Mike Mouat when he graduated from the prestigious Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute in Los Angeles.

Lt. Brock and Lt. Dickson recently brought Hemet PD’s 1954 patrol vehicle to a car show at Golden Village Palm RV Park in Hemet. As always, it was an instant hit!

Hemet PD recently welcomed three new officers to their department. Hemet PD’s newest recruits, Officer David McDonough, Officer Alexander Lee and Officer Steven Alvarado.

McDonough (a highly dedicated and motivated man I worked with for several years – first while assigned to Temecula PD and later while assigned to the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station – and have nothing but respect for,) is a Hemet High graduate and joined Hemet PD with 17 years of prior law enforcement experience. Lee and Alvarado graduated from the San Diego Regional Police Academy after spending 22 rigorous and grueling weeks learning the basics of law enforcement.

Welcome to Hemet PD Officers McDonough, Lee and Alvarado!

Chief Rob Webb recently thanked the Hemet Elks Lodge and the Hirn family for their on-going and unwavering support after Hemet Elks held an Italian themed dinner/dance fundraiser to help Hemet PD’s K-9 and Explorer Scout youth programs.

During the fundraising dinner, Hemet PD K-9 Officer Andrew Reynoso and his K-9 partner “Duke” gave a live “bite” demonstration and Hemet PD’s K-9 Handlers, Officers Reynoso and Gomez, later presented Paula Hirn with a well deserved plaque honoring her for her continued support.

The Women’s Ministry at Cornerstone Hemet recently sent a package to Hemet PD that was chock-full of cards that included hand-written thank you notes, well wishes and positive messages addressed to the department’s recently promoted Chief Rob Webb, who later said, “One of our goals at the Hemet Police Department in 2018 is to be a positive force in the community. Thank you for the reminder and the awesome messages ladies!”

Hemet PD’s School Resource Officer Wassouf recently gave a fun and informative presentation to area 5th graders at Hemet Unified’s Bautista Creek Elementary. The presentation about bullying, making and keeping friends, and making good choices was a hit with the kids and teachers alike! #bullying #NewFriends #MakeGoodChoices

Hemet PD’s Property/Evidence Tech Mugica and Crime Scene Tech Castro recently had a blast at Hemet Unified School District’s #STEAM Night. Mugica and Castro brought static displays, answered every kind of law enforcement-related science question you could imagine and met “lots of awesome” Science, Tech, Engineering & Math students as well as their enthusiastic and appreciative parents.

Pictures from around the valley.

 

Contact the editor: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.