The Seal Beach Police Department’s Second Annual Public Safety Awards Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, April 10, at the Old Ranch Country Club.
Seal Beach area police officers, lifeguards and fire fighters will be honored for their work next month.
Tickets are $40 each. The price covers the cost of food for all attendees. Invitations will be sent to participants from past award events and to individuals who work with public safety officers.
To purchase tickets, call Chief Stilinovich’s Executive Assistant Amanda Webber at (562) 799-4100, extension 1129.
Sgt. Phil Gonshak, public information officer for the Seal Beach Police Department, said there were two differences in the 2014 event from last year.
“1) A greater focus on other public service agencies, i.e. the SB Lifeguards, OC Fire Authority, and WestComm Dispatch,” Gonshak said.
WestComm provides 911 services for Seal Beach, Los Alamitos, and Cypress, as well as the Orange County Parks Ranger service.
“2) Our guest speaker will be the shooting victim/survivor from the Christopher Dorner standoff/shootout a while ago in Big Bear, CA. He is a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy and his name is Alex Collins,” Gonshak said.
Dorner was a former Los Angeles Police Department officer accused of multiple homicides in 2013.
The manhunt for Dorner culminated in a shootout in Big Bear. Dorner ultimately shot himself.
Last year’s event was the first of what organizers intended to be an annual event.
Last year, Chief Joe Stilinovich used the opening ceremonies to praise police volunteers and thank the families of his officers.
Police Chaplain Don Shoemaker prayed for the first responders to the Salon Meritage shootings of 2011 as well as the families of the victims.
Awards to be presented on April 10 will include: Officer of the Year, Professional Employee of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, the Marksman Award, Tower Lifeguard of the Year, Unit Lifeguard of the Year and Junior Guard of the Year.
Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL BEACH
Monday, March 10
Suspicious Circumstances—12:34 a.m.—Central Avenue—The caller heard noises at the side of her house. The caller said it sounded like someone was trying to get into the house. At 12:35 a.m., the officer in police unit 241 was on foot in the alley. The caller said the noise was coming from the side of the house opposite of the side that the light that was on. The officer from unit 241 found a skunk on the east side of the house.
Burglary Report—7:39 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller, a passerby, reported the window of a business had been smashed. It appeared the interior might have been ransacked. Police unit 106 checked the interior, which was clear. Police contacted the office manager. Report taken.
Illegal Peddler—8:08 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a woman was panhandling in front of the store. Police unit 141 contacted her and advised her to stop panhandling. She told police she would comply.
Trashdigging—10:59 a.m.—Fifth Street and Marina—The caller said a man and a woman with a GMC truck were going through the trash in the Fourth Street/Fifth Street alley. They were taking recyclables. Police unit 141 contacted them. Neither had a valid California Driver’s License. The officer advised them to leave the car until a licensed driver could move it for them. Matter solved.
Vandalism Report—11:34 a.m.—Heather Circle—The caller said someone ripped a branch off the papaya tree in the caller’s front yard. Counseled.
Illegal Peddler—11:58 a.m.—Main Street—The caller reported two well-dressed men came into a store, trying to sell cologne. Police unit 107 contacted one man. The man was interviewed in the field and advised to get a business lincense.
Fugitive Iguana—3:12 p.m.—Ocean Avenue and Electric—The caller’s pet 4-foot iguana had gotten loose. The caller, who was now outside, last saw it going up a tree. The caller tried notifying Long Beach Animal Care Services, but was unable to reach the agency. A message was delivered to ACS by 3:14 p.m. Animal control officers arrived by 3:33 p.m.
Long Beach animal control officers captured the iguana by 3:38 p.m. Assisted.
Tuesday, March 11
Municipal Code—7:19 a.m.—Ocean Avenue and Second Street—The caller said an idnvidiual was walking adog without a leash and not picking up after the dog.
IN LEISURE WORLD
Wednesday, March 12
Burglary Report—3:54 p.m.—Annandale Drive, Mutual 1—The caller reported the burglary of an unlocked parking storage area. Loss unknown. The caller would call back when the loss was determined. Counseled.
IN ROSSMOOR
Tuesday, March 11
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—2:52 a.m.—Wallingsford Road—A deputy looked for a sedan occupied by a man that the caller thought was following her.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—10:42 a.m.—Kensington Road—The caller said an older man wearing a fedora, dark sweatshirt and jeans was knocking on doors in the neighborhood.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—1:59 p.m.—Yellowtail Drive—A deputy searched for a man in a sedan. The caller said the driver tried to hide his face behind his arms and hands as the caller left.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9:47 p.m.—Orangewood Avenue and Los Alamitos Boulevard—Two Orange County Sheriff’s Department units searched for a vehicle occupied by two individuals that kept moving around the area.
Thursday, March 13
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—6:42 a.m.—Hillrose Drive—A deputy searched for a man in a hooded sweatshirt, who had been sitting in a dark car at the location for at least 40 minutes. The resident was out of town.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—8:12 a.m.—Walker Lee Drive—The caller said a car occupied by a man had been parked for 40 minutes and was unfamiliar to the area.
Vandalism Report—9:58 a.m.—Tigertail Drive—The caller reported that a vehicle had been hit with a baseball bat. The caller would not be standing by.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9 p.m.—Davenport Road—A deputy looked for three individuals in a car who were reportedly loitering in front of the caller’s location for a few minutes. The caller said they were not known to the area.
Saturday, March 15
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—8:35 p.m.—Weatherby Road.
IN BELMONT SHORE
Thursday, March 13
Assault—8:04 p.m.—East Second Street—The Long Beach Police Department received a report of an assault and battery. No further details were available.
Friday, March 14
Assault—11:34 a.m.—Belmont Avenue and E. Ocean Boulevard—An assault and battery was reported. No further details were available.
Saturday, March 15
Assault—1:34 a.m.—East Second Street—An assault and battery was reported. No further details were available. The March 14 and 15 incidents were apparently unrelated.
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
