Orange County
Special Deputy Alice Chandler turns 91-years-old today! Who’s Alice Chandler? We’re glad you asked. Here’s an article that appeared in AOCDS’ official magazine, the Courier, in 2017.
An Orange County Superior Court judge has rejected an attempt by the union representing sheriff’s deputies to block the release of disciplinary records under a new state police transparency law. Judge Nathan Scott ruled Thursday that public accountability trumped the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs’ fight to protect the privacy of its members. Scott, however, let stand the seal on personnel documents until March 15 to give the association time to file an appeal.
One of our members has experienced the tragic loss of both his sister-in-law and niece in a multi-vehicle accident on the Garden Grove (22) Freeway. Deputy Anthony Alvarez and his family are mourning the loss of 33-year-old Jolene Castillo and her nine-year-old daughter, Payton Castillo. Jolene’s young son survived the crash and was not hurt but he and his older brother are now left without a mother and sister.
Tonight on NBC’s “Dateline,” correspondent Keith Morrison reports on the 2010 murder of San Juan Capistrano businessman, Chris Smith. Edward Shin, Smith’s then business partner, was convicted of first-degree murder one week ago today. Shin, who sent emails to Smith’s family and friends pretending to be the 33-year-old after he was already dead, was found guilty of special-circumstances murder for financial gain.
The AOCDS Pipe Band has been incredibly busy performing at all kinds of events. The band is currently looking for new members to help them accommodate all the requests. Do you have what it takes? Watch our recruitment video at https://www.facebook.com/AOCDS/videos/1964894493553769/ for what you need to know… and be sure to share it with all your law enforcement and civilian acquaintances.
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.
First Responders and Law Enforcement Week at the OC Fair takes place from August 8-12. Free admission is being offered to active-duty and professional staff of the police, sheriff, fire and emergency services departments.
When I was a wee lad, park rangers built big bonfires, led marvelous sing-alongs and in Yosemite — and I am not making this up — dumped massive amounts of burning embers over Glacier Point. Ah, those were the good ol’ days. Or not, especially with today’s kindle-dry wildfire conditions. But closer to home and a half-century ago, Orange County rangers worked their keisters off rushing around and doing everything from maintenance to animal control to helping control floods.