Sheriff and City - Partners in Public Safety
The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station is working in partnership and support of Mayor Bob Kellar's 2008 Public Safety Months in the City of Santa Clarita. In an effort to keep us all better prepared for any emergency and keenly aware of ways we can live a safer life each and every day, Mayor Kellar has made public safety a top priority by launching a proactive plan and approach to all aspects of public safety. In conjunction with the program, the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station will issue a variety of safety awareness messages and related programs, directly correlating with the mayor's plan to promote a clean, safe and healthy community. Captain La Berge looks forward to this opportunity to bring direct focus to all aspects of public safety and awareness in the Santa Clarita Valley. Learn more about the program below or visit the City of Santa Clarita website at www.santa-clarita.com.
2008 Public Safety Months in Santa Clarita
2008 PUBLIC SAFETY MONTHS IN SANTA CLARITA
by Mayor Bob Kellar
Public safety is everyone’s business and is a top priority for the City of Santa Clarita. During 2008, the City, the Sheriffs Department and Fire Department will be launching a monthly series of public safety awareness programs and messages, aimed at promoting a clean, safe, and healthy community.
The 2008 public safety awareness programs will focus on important aspects of home, personal, and community safety of importance to Santa Clarita residents and businesses.
Through local radio, print, and television, residents and businesses will learn how to improve their personal safety and quality of life in the City of Santa Clarita.
During the month of January, the City/Sheriff’s “Every 15 Minutes” program will commence at Saugus High School, on Thursday, January 24, through Friday, January 25. This innovative and hard-hitting program provides a graphic wake-up call for high school students regarding the realities of drinking and driving. Also in January, the City/Sheriff Business Alliance is holding a “Business Retail Fraud Theft Prevention Program.” This free program is being offered to assist businesses with theft prevention efforts.
February in Santa Clarita is Motorcycle and Bicycle Safety and Awareness month. Residents and the motoring public will be presented with a series of safety messages in conjunction with the AMGEN Tour of California event, including the message to wear helmets when riding bicycles and motorcycles, to share the road with motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, to look for riders, and remind riders to always wear reflective gear. The focus of this month is to promote safe motorcycle and bicycle riding on City streets, as well as promoting the message of “sharing the road” with bicycle and motorcycle riders. Over the last year, we have lost a handful of young people to tragic motorcycle accidents, something we would like to prevent in 2008 through this comprehensive awareness campaign.
>>> Read More About Motorcycle Safety and Awareness Month <<<
>>> Read More About Bicycle Safety and Awareness Month <<<
March is Traffic Safety Awareness month in the City of Santa Clarita. Traffic safety is a high priority to the City and its residents. During this month-long campaign, the City will promote messages, including the “pull to the right” message, driving safely and within the posted speed limits, wear seat belts at all times, and others. Letting residents know about new laws that go into effect in 2008, including cell phone use while driving, as well as educating motorists about some little-known traffic laws, including knowing the speed limit in school or residential zones, is planned. It will also be a time to promote the STTOP program, which provides a call in phone line to report bad drivers.
>>> Read More About Traffic Safety Awareness Month <<<
April in Santa Clarita is Emergency Preparedness month. As part of the City’s popular Emergency Preparedness Expo, (held April 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at College of the Canyons), information will be provided to residents about being prepared at home, work, and in the car, while also promoting attendance at the Expo. Messages will especially focus on preparing our children for an emergency by promoting exit drills, practice getting in and out of windows, and learning how to shut off their home gas and water valves in an emergency.
>>> Read More About Emergency Preparedness Month <<<
May is a special month in Santa Clarita, with the focus: Keep Santa Clarita Clean. The City’s Pride Week will be held Monday, May 5, through Friday, May 9. This long-standing program includes a community-wide litter pick-up day, and promotion of the City’s Graffiti Hotline, 25-CLEAN. Additionally, on Saturday, May 10, a community “Graffiti Wipe-Out Day” event will be held to eradicate graffiti city-wide.
>>> Read More About Keep Santa Clarita Clean Month <<<
June 2008 is Personal Security and Safety Awareness month. The City will promote various aspects of crime prevention, including being proactive, locking the doors at home and in the car, being vigilant and careful to lock windows, etc. Also included in this awareness campaign will be information about pool safety and vacation home checks. The City will additionally be focusing upon providing information city-wide about preventing residential and business burglaries.
>>> Read More About Personal Security and Safety Awareness Month <<<
July 2008, the City and Sheriffs Department will be promoting Identity Theft and Senior Safety Awareness Month. During July, speakers programs and public service announcements will help promote ways to avoid identity theft, especially for seniors, and what to do if you suspect your’s might be stolen. The City’s Sheriffs award winning FITE (Fraud Identity Theft Education) program will be an integral part of the month. FITE is a program developed by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriffs station to prevent identity theft.
>>> Read More About Identity Theft Awareness Month <<<
>>> Read More About Senior Safety Awareness Month <<<
August in Santa Clarita will be Gang Awareness month. During August, public service messages will communicate understanding gangs, how to use your cell phone to call 911 if you feel threatened by a gang member, how to be a witness to a gang related crime, and the importance of being ever-vigilant.
The City’s Anti-Gang Task Force and Gang Outreach Committee members, as well as local law enforcement, will host two “Community Gang Awareness” meetings. Information will be provided about the anonymous crime hotline, and other ways to combat gangs. Youth and parents will be provided with resources and positive alternatives. “Save Our Youth,” a violence prevention group, will make presentations to high-risk youth about the dangers of joining gangs. Presentations will be made at the Newhall Community Center, and the Canyon Country and Val Verde Boys and Girls Clubs. Also, at the August “Valle del Oro Community Committee” meeting, City staff and law enforcement will provide gang prevention information to attendees.
>>> Read More Gang Awareness Month <<<September is Parenting and Teen Awareness month in Santa Clarita. This will coincide with the City’s popular Teen Scene Unplugged program for teens and their parents. Also included this month are parenting classes and “do’s and don’ts” for those with teens. Messages will also include: “how to get help,” “how and where to obtain resources,” and “how to parent.” The City is also planning a public safety workers appreciation day on Thursday, September 11, in conjunction with the Red Cross “Heroes” program.
>>> Read More Parenting and Teen Awareness Month <<<In response to the increasing amount of fires in our Valley, the month of October is Fire Safety and Smoke Alarm Awareness Month. The City and the Fire Department will work with local businesses to obtain free smoke alarms to distribute to those in need. Other fire related messages during October include “candle with care.”
>>> Read More About Fire Safety and Smoke Alarm Awareness Month <<<November is Kid Safety month and the focus will be on how to keep our kids safe, including preventing accidents, having the right car seats, medicine chest safety, toy safety, and obtaining Kid Print identifications. This is also the month the City hosts its Blue Ribbon Task Force, and the City’s preventing use of prescription drug campaign, called “Don’t be Your Teens Drug Dealer.”
>>> Read More About Kid Safety Awareness Month <<<Finally, in December, the City, the Sheriff and Fire Department will put the focus on a DUI Awareness Month/Protecting Yourself During the Holidays campaign. The campaign for the month will utilize the City’s award-winning DUI prevention program, called “The cost of drinking and driving,” via television, radio, and newspapers. The City will also be promoting holiday shopping safety, including being aware of your surroundings, as well as not leaving valuables in view in the car.
At the first City Council meeting of every month, I’ve asked a representative from the Sheriff or Fire Department to address the council for a few minutes to discuss important information, including new laws, ordinances and programs that are occurring during the month which may be of interest to you with regard to the public safety campaign. These City Council meetings are televised on Channel 20, beginning at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. Additionally, I would like to encourage you to become involved in community safety. The Sheriff Department offers an anonymous crime tip line, 284-2TIP (284-2847) to report crime. Also, you may report graffiti to the City for quick clean up at 25-CLEAN.
On behalf of the City of Santa Clarita, I am very proud to join with our fire and Sheriff Departments to help bring these important public safety programs and messages to our community. My goal is to help improve our personal and community safety and to work together on issues of concern in our City.
