Criminal

This is a tragic day, one that has become far too common. A gunman opened fire last night at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks. The shooter killed 12 people, including Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. Sgt. Helus was a 29-year law enforcement veteran, who was set to retire soon. Helus entered that bar with the intention of saving lives and sadly lost his own life in doing so. He is a true hero and will always be remembered as such.

The general election is less than two weeks away on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. When you cast your ballot, please remember to keep law enforcement in mind. Here is a list of the candidates and measures AOCDS is endorsing:

“We stand by our deputies.

The video released to the public by criminal attorney Scott Sanders shows an incident that occurred in the city of Stanton in August. Two deputies were responding to a citizen complaint. The brave actions of the deputies prevented the criminal defendant, who was obviously intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, from driving a 5,000-pound vehicle and potentially crashing into a family on their way to church on a Sunday morning…”

Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. has signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1749 into law. AB 1749 clarifies that fully sworn peace officers can file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits if, while in the midst of pursuit, apprehension, protection or preservation of life or property within or out of the state, the officer suffers injury, disability or death. This is a bill AOCDS proudly sponsors and has been fighting for in the legislature since the Las Vegas mass shooting nearly one year ago.

After an extended and potentially dangerous squabble over which agency is better equipped to handle air rescues, Orange County fire and sheriff’s officials said Wednesday they’ve come up with a plan that emphasizes teamwork and will enable safer and more efficient emergency responses.

Today, we are grieving the tragic loss of Captain David Rosa, a 17-year veteran with the Long Beach Fire Department. He and other firefighters responding to an early morning report of an explosion and smell of gas at a Long Beach senior housing facility were fired upon soon after they arrived on scene.

California Senate Bill 54, which took effect on January 1, 2018, placed restrictions on collaboration between local custody operations and federal law enforcement authorities. These communication restrictions have resulted in 45 criminals with federal detainers re-offending following their release back into the community.

Several Orange County sheriff’s deputies were honored Friday with awards for their courage in 2017, including some who helped victims and were wounded during the deadly Las Vegas shooting in October.

The Medal of Valor ceremony was held at the Hotel Irvine where 27 deputies were honored, 14 of whom got the Medal for Lifesaving and six who received the Medal of Merit.

The deadly deputy shooting on Sunday in Douglas County, Colorado hits closer to home than we first realized. Deputy Zackari Parrish, the deputy killed, was actually the area partner of former Orange County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Steve Maracine.