Last week, West Cities Communications, which is the dispatch center located at the Seal Beach Police Department, promoted two of its dispatchers.
Melissa Wintersole was promoted from lead dispatcher to Dispatch Manager and Michael Berry was promoted from communications operator in charge to a lead dispatcher.
West-Comm is the Sun Region’s 911 dispatch service, created by a joint powers agreement between the cities of Seal Beach Los Alamitos and Cypress, that also provides contract dispatch service to the Orange County Parks Rangers.
Melissa Wintersole has served the law enforcement profession for more than 14 years. In 2000, Wintersole was slected as an entry level dispatcher for West-Comm. She became the first entry level dispatcher to complete the West-Comm training program, and did so in only five-and-a-half months. In 20014, Wintersole was selected not only as a communications training officer but also as a commuinications officer in charge.
In 2007, Wintersole became part of the tactical Dispatch Team for West County SWAT. She was also selected by her peers as the 2007 Dispatcher of the Year for her positive attitude and willingness to assist the agency and outstanding work ethic.
The California Public Safety Radio Association chose Wintersole as the 2008 CPRA Dispatcher of the Year Runner-up for performance and dedication to duty.
Wintersole has served as a lead disptacher for West-Comm since 2010.
During her career, Wintersole has received enumerable Positive Performance Logs and Meritorious Service Awards for her outstanding performance during various critical incidents, including two officer involved shootings. She has also served on the exective board of the West Cities Employee Association.
Wintersole will receive her associate’s degree in December, continuing her education towards her bachelor’s degree. She has been married to Cypress Lead Police Officer Michael Wintersole for eight years. Together, they enjoy a large, blended family that includes seven children, ages 13 to 35, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Michael Berry began his career with the Seal Beach Police Department volunteering as a Police Explorer in 1994 and was hired as a police aide in 1999, working in Records as well as the Parking Enforfcement bureau. He began dispatching for West-Comm in 2001, shortly after marrying his high school sweetheart Lisa. Since then, he has fathered three children —Kathryn, Matthew and Jonathan, who Berry describes as wonderful.
Following a three-year hiatus dispatching for Colorado Springs Police and Fire, Berry returned to West-Comm and has called Seal Beach his home since 2007.
When he isn’t in the dispatch center, Berry can usually be found volunteering his time for one of the local youth sports leagues or jogging around town.
Berry is a member of the West County Mobile Command Post Team.
He was recognized as the 2009 Disptacher of the Year and has received multiple awards for meritorious service and shift teamwork.
IN SEAL?BEACH
Monday, June 9
Computer—1:17 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A citizen reported that someone hacked into the citizen’s Internet and computer. Counseled.
Municipal Code—7:48 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said five or six boys and girls were firing BB guns into glass bottles.
The caller described the 14- to 16-year-old juveniles as “gang member” types.
Another citizen told police that they had seen the suspects more than an hour earlier near the end of the bike path, firing what looked to be a black .45 handgun at birds.
Police unit 207 found a gray tent, but no one was inside it.
Tuesday, June 10
Welfare Check—10:37 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller reported two large dogs left in a vehicles with closed windows.
Police unit 141 found that the car’s engine was running and the air conditioner appeared to be on. Both digs appeared to be fine with no sign of distress.
No further police services were necessary.
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
Tuesday, May 27
Burglary Report—11:40 a.m.—Reagan Street—The caller reported a burglary occurring between 8:15 a.m. to 11:40 a.m., and that the residence had been ransacked. Possible point of entry was a rear door. The approximate value of jewelry lost was $50,000. Report taken.
Wednesday, May 28
Auto Theft Report—5:44 a.m.—Howard Avenue—The caller said his company’s vehicle, a white Ford E350, was taken, and that he got a call from work tracking the vehicle to Los Angeles County. The theft took place overnight between 9:45 p.m. and 5:40 a.m. The caller requested that the police enter it as stolen and have officers go out to where it has been tracked. Los Angeles Police Department agreed to send a unit out to where it is located. Report taken.
Wednesday, May 28
Illegal Peddler—1:48 p.m.—Reagan Street—The caller reported a white male with blonde hair last seen going door-to-door. Patrol made contact with the individual and advised him against illegal peddling and he said he would comply.
Thursday, May 29
Disturbance, Family—3:39 a.m.—Howard Avenue—The caller reported her husband was breaking items but didn’t have weapons. The caller said there was a 13-year-old child in the house. Then the husband was outside, slamming the garage door. Patrol contacted the man and counseled him.
Thursday, May 29
Disturbance, Family—7:11 p.m.—Howard Avenue—The caller reported a man and woman fighting and said that it sounded like the fight was getting physical. Police were out previously. The caller heard the man say “hit me” and heard things being thrown. The caller said the woman was known to be the aggressor, although both could be heard throwing items in the home. The woman was advised to leave with her thee children to her mother’s home. Patrol counseled.
Friday, May 30
Disturbance, Family—6:30 p.m.—Green Avenue—The caller reported arguing with her father and that she had locked herself in the bathroom.
She was 16 years old and had run away from home. Her father was trying to pick her up. The father agreed to let her stay at the location for that night, and she would be driving home the next day. Patrol counseled.
Saturday, May 31
Animal Information—11:58 p.m.—Humbolt and San Mateo—The caller reported having two baby opossums at his residence, and that the mother and other siblings are at Humbolt, north of San Mateo about 50 yards away. The call was referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, June 9
Keep the Peace—9:19 a.m.—Woodstock Road—The caller asked for a deputy to keep the peace. A family gave the caller a dog, then asked for the dog back for a day. But now they refused to give the dog back to him.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—2:57 p.m.—Cortese Drive—A deputy searched for an individual who appeared to be under the influence of drugs seen sitting in a sedan. The caller said he kept laying down in the vehicle, then got out and walked around, acting suspicious.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—7:44 p.m.—Tigertail Drive—The caller said a vehicle parked in front of the residence had been unlocked since that morning and the caller thought that was unusual.
Tuesday, June 10
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—12:18 p.m.—Silver Fox Road and Hillrose Drive—The caller said two men had been looking in vehicles.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:43 p.m.—Kempton Drive—A deputy searched for multiple juveniles who jumped a fence at the nearby flood control channel.
Thursday, June 12
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—8:31 p.m.—Martha Ann Drive and Foster Road—A deputy looked for a vehicle driven by an elderly man who had been seen driving at high speeds through stop signs in the neighborhood.
His vehicle was reportedly unknown to the neighborhood.
Friday, June 13
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—12:35 a.m.—Tigertail Drive—The caller said he smelled a strong chemical odor outside. He said it smelled like lithium batteries that would explode when he was in the Army. The log provided no further details.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—11:22 a.m.—Brimhall Drive.
Burglary in Progress—9:31 p.m.—Mainway Drive—The caller said she thought someone was inside her home. She was present. A dog was barking. The back door was open for the dog and she saw bushes moving.
Burglary Report—10:12 p.m.—Christy Lane—The log did not say if this was a residential or automobile burglary.
Saturday, June 14
Disturbance, Music or Party—12:08 a.m.—Yellowtail Drive.
Sunday, June 15
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—3:17 a.m.—Pemberton Road.
Burglary in Progress—7:29 a.m.—Hedwig Road.
Fraud Report—1:49 p.m.—Yellowtail Drive.
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
