The California Public-Safety Radio Association recently named a former Seal Beach Police Department dispatcher Southern California Dispatcher of the Year.
West Cities Police Communications dispatcher Joshua Goldmark was selected for the honor out of a field of more than 200 police, fire and emergency services dispatcher, according to Lisa Barr, dispatch administrator for West-Comm.
According to the agency’s own Web site, West-Comm was formed by a joint powers agreement between Seal Beach, Cypress, Los Alamitos
and Seal Beach to provide dispatch services to the Orange County Parks Rangers.
West-Comm has provided 911 police dispatch services to West Orange County since 1997.
According to a West-Comm memo that Barr sent to the Sun Newspapers, Goldmark “will be recognized for his accomplishment at the CPRA 22nd Annual Telecommunicator Awards Banquet to be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2010, at The Quiet Cannon at the Montebello Golf Course.”
In her letter nominating Goldmark, Dispatch Supervisor Kristen Berry said, “His knowledge of the various law enforcement computer systems is exceptional.”
Berry also wrote that Goldmark has volunteered to teach radio communications to other members of the West-Comm Joint Powers Authority.
In a Jan. 13, 2009 memo addressed to West-Comm Administrator Barr, then Seal Beach Police. Sgt. Bob Mullins credited Goldmark with using “a multitude” of law enforcement databases to identify a bank robbery suspect.
Goldmark became a Seal Beach Police dispatcher in 1995. He joined West-Comm in 1997. He left West-Comm the following year to become a dispatch supervisor in the Irvine Police Department.
“Joshua is a communications operator in charge, a communications training officer, a tactical dispatcher for the West County SWAT team and a terrorism liaison officer,” Barr wrote.
“He is also a reserve police officer with the La Habra Police Department. Joshua was the 2009 Dispatcher of the Year for West-Comm, as well as the Dispatcher of the Year for the Seal Beach Police Department,” Barr said.
According to the West-Comm Web site, “West-Comm dispatchers answer approximately 21,000 911 calls annually.”
West-Comm is located at 911 Seal Beach Blvd. in Seal Beach.
Checkpoint takes three drunk drivers off streets
The Seal Beach Police Department arrested three people for driving under the influence at a checkpoint that was held this weekend. Police ran the checkpoint from 8 p.m., Saturday, March 13 to 3 a.m., Sunday, March 14, on Pacific Coast Highway between Anderson and Seal Beach Boulevard.
Sgt. Steve Bowles, public information officer for the SBPD, said police also towed three cars either because the drivers were under the influence or because they were driving without licenses.
Bowles said the department is hoping that people will think twice about drinking and driving.
The checkpoint, the third held this year in Seal Beach, issued 12 traffic citations.
Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
The crimes listed in the Sun Newspapers were reported to Seal Beach Police Department, Los Alamitos Police Department and Orange County Sheriff Department between March 1 and March 13, 2010.
Only street names are used; times given are reported times, not incident times. Crime Log entries are based on preliminary information. Space limitations make it impossible to publish every incident. Until proven guilty in a court of law, all suspects are considered innocent.
IN SEAL BEACH
Monday, March 1
Counterfeit Money—1:23 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—A citizen told the Seal Beach Police Department that she received a fake $10 bill with her change from a business transaction.
Tuesday, March 2
Burglary Report—10:40 a.m.—14th Street—Loss: a purple mountain bike. The time when the crime apparently occurred was redacted (blacked out) in the log.
Wednesday, March 3
Extra Patrol Checks Requested—6:32 p.m.—Electric Avenue—The caller requested extra patrol checks for possible transients loitering at night in the caller’s complex. Log entry.
Thursday, March 4
Counseling—4:25 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A citizen reported being approached earlier in the day by two men who said they needed a ride so they could distribute church money in the area. This struck the citizen as suspicious.
Friday, March 5
Counseling—11:36 a.m.—Main Street—Between 8 and 8:30 a.m. that morning, a citizen was at an ATM when a white man in his 40s approached the citizen. The citizen feared a possible robbery attempt and began screaming for help. The suspect fled in a car. Counseled.
Sunday, March 7
Pedestrian Check—9:25 a.m.—Anaheim Bay Bridge—While on service, patrol unit 117 checked on a pedestrian who was apparently wanted on two warrants.
According to the police log, the suspect kicked out the window of the unit during the arrest. Additional charges of resisting arrest and illegal possession of tear gas were added to the warrant arrest. Unit 117 requested Long Beach Animal Care Services respond to look after a pet gopher snake.
IN LOS ALAMITOS
Tuesday, March 9
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—12:55 a.m.—Green and Noel—Two people got out of a vehicle with flashlights and looked into a vehicle. Officers found the men who were part of a repossession crew waiting for someone.
Wednesday, March 10
Counseling—6:42 p.m.—Green Avenue—A citizen received mail with a disturbing message from a friend. No one saw who dropped off the mail. The citizen was counseled.
Friday, March 12
Person Down—10:18 a.m.—Katella and Lexington—Police received a report that a man was slumped over in a wheelchair. Officers found a man who was taking a nap while waiting for the bus.
Saturday, March 13
Transient—9:27 p.m.—Katella and Los Alamitos—A transient yelled at passersby. Officers found the man, who said he would stop.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, March 8
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—7:47 a.m.—Kensington Road.
Suspicious Vehicle—8:18 a.m.—Ruth Elaine Drive and Donnis Road.
Tuesday, March 9
Illegal Peddling—11:55 a.m.—Bradbury Road.
Wednesday, March 10
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—9:21 a.m.—Ruth Elaine Drive and Wallingsford Road.
Thursday, March 11
Petty Theft Report—4:27 p.m.—Montecito Road.
Friday, March 12
Petty Theft Report—2:52 p.m.—Foster Road.
Saturday, March 13
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—3:09 p.m.—Hedwig Road and Pemberton Road.
IN SUNSET BEACH
Monday, March 8
Stolen Vehicle—5:21 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and 7th Street.
Tuesday, March 9
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—3:51 a.m.—Pacific and 5th Street.
Saturday, March 13
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—8:59 a.m.—N. Pacific Avenue and 23 Street.
Brian Smith of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
