The Orange County Sheriff’s Department responded to priority one calls in Rossmoor in less time during the second quarter of 2012 than the same time last year.
That was the good news from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s quarterly report to the Rossmoor Community Service District board Tuesday, Aug. 14.
Lt. Robert Gunzel told the board that when agencies report response times, they report the time from when the unit is dispatched to the time the unit arrives at the scene.
Gunzel, however, preferred to report response times based on time time between the call to 911 and the arrival of the unit.
He said on average, it was taking two-and-a-half minutes for a dispatcher to send a unit.
Gunzel said that was unacceptable, but until recently no one knew there was a response time goal of five minutes for priority one calls.
According to the written report to the Rossmoor board, the time between a unit being dispatched and the time it arrived decreased by 56 seconds for priority one calls from May to June of this year. The dispatch to on-scene time was 2 minutes 38 seconds. The time between the Sheriff’s Department receiving a call and the arrival of a unit was 4 minutes 33 seconds.
There were six priority one calls in Rossmoor during the second quarter of 2012.
In 2011, there were five priority one calls during the same period.
The time between a unit being dispatched and the time it arrived during the same period last year was 5 minutes 29 seconds.
The time between the Sheriff’s Department receiving a call and the arrival of a unit in 2011 was 7 minutes 25 seconds.
The report showed response times had improved for all service calls. Deputies responded to 435 calls in the second quarter of 2012. The average response time from receipt of call to the arrival of a unit was 11 minutes 55 seconds.
During the same period of 2011, the response time from receipt of call to arrival of a unit was 15 minutes 8 seconds. Deputies responded to 337 calls during that period.
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Crime Log Compiled
by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Monday, August 6
Graffiti/Vandalism—8:06 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said someone used a marker on the walls in the walkway to the beach. Dispatch notified Public Works. Report taken.
Stray Animal—12:20 p.m.—Marina Drive and 4th Street—The caller reported a stray female German shepherd. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services. A second caller told police the dog was last seen at Pacific Coast Highway and 5th Street. Message delivered to ACS.
Seal—7:40 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said a dead seal had washed up in front of tower #8.
Found Property—7:58 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller found a switchblade in a vehicle that they had towed from the red zone. The switchblade was located in the driver’s seat of the vehicle, which was reportedly registered to a Leisure World resident. (Identifying information about the individual was blacked out in the log.) Report taken.
Animal Information—9 p.m.—Candleberry and Landing—The caller said raccoons were running in the street and almost getting hit by vehicles. Message delivered to Long Beach Animal Care Services. ACS personnel told Seal Beach dispatch that one raccoon was injured and another was dead. ACS said they would send someone as soon as they could. Message delivered.
Tuesday, August 7
Vehicle Burglary—7:33 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Loss: a stereo and miscellaneous tools. Point of entry: a pried driver’s side door. Report taken.
Welfare Check—10:36 a.m.—911 Seal Beach Boulevard (Seal Beach Police Department Headquarters)—The caller said there was a 4-year-old child in a car alone on the east side of the street. An officer was standing by, trying to call the front desk. It turned out the child’s father was sleeping in the front seat of the car and no further police services were necessary. The call was cancelled before a unit was dispatched.
Disturbance—3:07 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said individuals who did not live in the complex were swimming in the pool and wearing clothing. Police unit 107 advised the individuals to stop what they were doing and they said they would comply.
Counseling—6:49 p.m.—10th Street—Between noon and 4 p.m. that day, a woman came to the caller’s home and took the caller’s dog. The woman accused the caller of abusing the dog and identified herself as a member of an animal rescue organization. The woman also verbally abused the caller. Fortunately, the caller got the dog back. The caller requested counseling. Report taken.
Open Door—9:24 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—Police unit 207 while on service observed an open door. However, it turned out that employees were working in the back. No further police services were needed.
Welfare Check—9:38 p.m.—Lampson Avenue and Seal Beach Boulevard—A girl (the caller apparently did not provide an estimate of her age, but said she was a minor) was walking eastbound on the center media east of Lampson. The caller was concerned for her safety.
Wednesday, August 8
Petty Theft Report—1:55 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Someone took the caller’s iPad from the caller’s car in the parking lot. The caller apparently left a window rolled down. Report taken.
Suspicious Vehicle—4:53 p.m.—12th Street and Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a Suburban occupied by three men ran multiple stop signs and was now parked in the side parking lot of the location. The doors of the vehicle were all open. The caller thought this was suspicious.
Injured Animal—7:15 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said a seagull with a fish hook in its beak will be in a box at a local address. Message delivered to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Hazard—9:42 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said a power pole was sparking. The pole was located in the parking lot near the Seal Beach Pier. Message delivered to Southern California Edison.
Thursday, August 9
Disturbance, Juveniles—1:55 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said two teenagers, both boys, were grabbing onto cars as they left the parking lot.
Health and Safety Violation—2:23 p.m.—A Row, Surfside Colony—The caller said two men were smoking marijuana in front of the residence.
Hazard—7:30 p.m.—Crestview Avenue—A limb from a parkway tree fell and blocked the caller’s sidewalk. The limb was partially in the street. The caller said she left a message on City Hall’s voice mail. Police unit 207 placed cones around the branch and left a message for Public Works.
Friday, August 10
Suspicious Circumstances—4:14 a.m.—Dogwood Avenue—The caller said a man knocked on the caller’s door and said he was jumped. The caller did not open the door to the man. Police unit 206 spoke with the man who was uncooperative and very suspicious. The man was unwilling to provide police with the necessary information about the incident and did not desire a report. Field interview.
Smell—11:30 a.m.—Main Street—The caller reported a strong smell of gas on Main Street. The Orange County Fire Authority was en route. A second caller on 15th and Electric reported the smell. The log contained speculation that the smell might be coming from something off shore.
Petty Theft Report—1:13 p.m.—Old Ranch Parkway—The caller was a secretary for the victim. The victim’s iPhone, valued at $600, was stolen. Report taken.
Prowler—10:20 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller was walking to her residence after parking her car when she noticed a man following her. After she went inside, she saw him looking through her window. The suspect was described as a white man in his 20s, approximately 5 feet 6 inches, with dark hair, wearing a light colored T-shirt and jeans.
Saturday, August 11
Disturbance—2:18 a.m.—Ocean Avenue and 4th Street—The caller said a group of 10 or so individuals were involved in a physical fight that was now a verbal dispute. A second caller said there were 10 individuals in the group and described them as men in their 20s.
Aggressive Driver—1:29 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard and Westminster Avenue—The caller said a driver was swerving into lanes and driving aggressively. Police unit 107 stopped a vehicle matching the caller’s description and advised the motorist about his driving.
Counseling—5:36 p.m.—1st Street—The caller said multiple individuals were using the facility/patio for a bathroom and taking showers at the drinking fountain. Police unit 207 responded. The owner had left for the day. The officer spoke with an employee who said the some individuals were using the drinking fountain to wash their dog and their feet. The employee was advised to call the police if the individuals returned.
Possible Drunk—6:38 p.m.—Main Street and Ocean Avenue—The caller said a man was howling at passersby. Police unit 207 contacted the suspect. He had been drinking and was uncooperative, but the officer determined that he was not drunk in public. No further police services necessary.
Disturbance—6:59 p.m.—Crystal Place—The caller said a pregnant woman just pulled up, dumped her boyfriend’s clothing and drove off.
Animal Noise—11:58 p.m.—Dogwood Avenue—The caller said a dog had been barking for the past few hours. Log entry.
Sunday, August 12
Coyote—4:49 a.m.—Yale Lane—A coyote entered the caller’s yard and took her small dog. Dispatch contacted the Long Beach Police Department, which relayed the message to Long Beach Animal Care Services. Police unit 207 checked the back yard. The coyote was gone. Police were unable to locate either the coyote or the small dog.
Pelican—2:02 p.m.—Ocean Avenue and Main Street—The caller said there was an injured pelican on the beach near the public parking lot on the north side of the Seal Beach Pier. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
Sunday, August 12
Family Disturbance—5:37 p.m.—Walnut Street—The dispatcher heard yelling and screaming. A female voice said: “You better get someone here now.” A second caller, the daughter, said that there was a family argument and then hung up. Patrol determined that the disturbance was a verbal argument between a father and daughter. Matter solved.
Tuesday, August 14
Hail By Citizen—8:45 p.m.—Green Avenue—A patrol unit was flagged down by a citizen who reported hearing an explosion. The reporting citizen found an exploded bottle under a staircase and saw two juveniles running out from the rear of the complex, laughing. A check found no additional explosives or damage.
Wednesday, August 15
Suspicious Circumstances —2:50 a.m.—Midway Drive—The caller said that she thought she heard footsteps in her backyard. The caller did not want to look, but said she heard them again. Dispatch requested that the caller answer the front door because patrol units could not get into the back yard. The patrol unit found a large skunk walking around in the back yard.
Wednesday, August 15
Counseling—5:52 p.m.—Mindora Street—The caller was upset over his neighbor’s son, who plays video games late at night and also antagonizes the caller’s dog. The caller said it is an ongoing dispute and was demanding an officer. Both parties were counseled and both parties agreed to a truce and to be civil.
Thursday, August 16
Suspicious Person—2:12 p.m.—Katella Avenue—The caller said that a man was standing at the bus stop, yelling at passing cars and using his hand as a gun to shoot at cars. The caller phoned back to report that the suspect had left on the bus.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, August 13
Prowler—1:26 a.m.—Rowena Drive.
Criminal Threats Report—9:16 p.m.—Huntley Drive.
Tuesday, August 14
Burglary in Progress—3:01 p.m.—Foster Road.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:01 p.m.—Blume Drive.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—7:59 p.m.—Blume Drive.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9:54 p.m.—Druid Lane.
Thursday, August 16
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—1:02 a.m.—Harrisburg Road.
Fraud Report—3:17 p.m.—Weatherby Road.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—4:52 p.m.—Salmon Drive.
Traffic Stop—5:59 p.m.—Los Alimitos and Katella—An individual was arrested as a result of this traffic stop. According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website, he was released on a bond of zero dollars the next day. The Sheriff’s Department does not make information about the charges against an arrestee available on line.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8 p.m.—Inverness Drive.
Friday, August 17
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:45 a.m.—Aceca Drive.
Welfare Check—7:59 p.m.—Oak Knoll Drive.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:05 p.m.—Piedmont Avenue and Kensington Road.
Saturday, August 18
Petty Theft Report—8:19 a.m.—Copa De Oro Drive.
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
