Current Issue - Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego County

station reports
Cajon Zone
El Cajon Courts by Cydney King and the gang
Best Dinner Dance E-V-E-R! I’ll get back to that
in a minute. First, I’ve got some congratulating
to do.
For some of you that have already taken the leap
into retirement, you may have experienced an
initial hesitation of taking that leap. Everyone
wants to make sure they are going out at the
right time, that all your ducks are in a row, and
that—well doggonit—that you’ll have enough
ducketts to enjoy the same style of living you
have now. Before I continue, I must tell you
there has never been anyone who told me things
did not end up being just grand.
Any-who, our most recent inductee into the
“Hall of Retirement” was planning to head out
last year, but did the hesitation dance (Patty
Hall, not sure if it resembles the pee-pee one you
showed me years ago) and extended his date;
we gave him a good hearted hard time about
it. He then paid us back by giving a two-week
notice. Deputy Roy Hartnett was number one
on our seniority list for about 12 months. Now
Dep. Kim Van Abel holds that honor, with yours
truly on her coat tails.
I have been involved with planning many of
the parties out here in The Zone. This time
Ronny D., Damien V., and Willy P. stepped
up to the plate and did most of the festivity
planning. They did a great job! I want to say
a special thank you to Chris Henshaw, who
was kind enough to open the Elks Lodge for
our celebration. Everyone there was so helpful
and accommodating. A special thank you once
again to the Elks; they evidently “do rule.”
Like many of you, I have been to several of
these retirement celebrations now. I have never
heard such an eloquent speech. Roy’s heartfelt
words of appreciation and thankfulness of
having worked with so many wonderful people,
including judges, deputies, clerks, and reporters
brought many to tears; mostly to his wonderful
18 Silver Star May 2013
family of girls and “the man.” I’m
sure they are so happy to have more
of dad each day now. Roy-Boy, you
deserve many happy days out on the
field and up in the stands. We will
miss you, but know you are not far
away and will stay in touch. You are
a warrant sweep legend. I know there
are many people out there with active
warrants that are resting peacefully
tonight, knowing you are not hunting
them down. Roy also became another
lucky recipient of a John Fisher
original badge display case.
We had some other movement in
April as well. Sgt. Shimmin headed
out east to handle the Alpine crew
and Deputies Maxin and Petruse
received their call-up (or is that callout)
to their patrol assignments. You each have
become a part of our family and we hate to see
you go, but (and I mean BUT) we know you are
leaving for new experiences and more feathers
in your caps. Be safe, be strong, be great, and
kick ass.
With all the departings we, of course, have some
arrivings. Welcome to Sergeant George who will
be filling the boots and many offices of Sergeant
Shimmin; he did tell you there was more than
one, right? Also we have added three new names
to our daily deployment. Steven Block, Tyler
Muzic, and Matthew Tobolsky are now going to
be working their shifts in the only tall building
in the City of El Cajon. Welcome to each of
you. Hope you learn some skills that will come
in handy when you make it out to the street.
We also had a player trade. Ernest Jones and
Mike McCormick switched places, one going
south, the other coming east. Good Luck and
Welcome. This time we called on the BBQ (yes
Matt I know your opinion) services of Phil’s in
Santee. You know our motto: all events should
include food of some sort!
Roy Hartnett receives a John Fisher badge display case.
Now back to the big dance news. Thank you to
the member events committee for planning a
great night at the Hyatt. There were some fun
twists and props, gifts and money, and dancing,
dancing, dancing. Who knew we had so many
hams on the department. The festivities
included some very special attendees: Det. Ali
Perez, Dep. Colin Snodgrass, and Sgt. Craig
Johnson. There truly are moments when you’re
so proud to be a part of this special family. One
other special guest received a standing ovation
as well; Staff Sergeant Richard Turkett. Thank
you for your service to the United States of
America. (And may I say thank you for wearing
your dress uniform! Wink-wink.)
Whoa, now wait just a minute. I almost forgot
to speak of some very special people. Here’s to
all the moms, bio and presumed. (Perhaps I’ve
been in Juvenile Dependency too long!) I hope
you got to spend some special well deserved
time on yourself and with the loved ones that
call you mom.
That’s it for this report. I will leave you with some
positive thoughts: Gratitude has been linked to
increased levels of happiness and life
satisfaction. Giving thanks is one of
the most powerful ways there is to
increase your well-being.
We are grateful for the freedom we
have from those who are willing
to serve. You continue to be in our
thoughts and hearts until you are
home safe and sound.
Deputy Roy Hartnett celebrated his
retirement with the Zone and his family.
view
from above
ASTREA by Scott Bligh
No birds…only bees
We had just discussed what a great day it was.
The usual marine layer that takes forever to
clear hadn’t even begun its march in from the
coast. A light breeze and sixty five degrees had
us flying with both front doors off. This worked
until we got to the Proctor Valley area (South
County) where the temperature dropped and
the jacket I had in the back seat was needed for
continued ASTREA 1 crime fighting comfort.
Jacket on, we were strapped in and airborne,
passing through 100 feet altitude, about 65
knots airspeed, and into the cloud. Not the
kind rain comes from, but the dark cloud made
up of thousands of bees. There was no time to
avoid it. We were plunged right on in like we
belonged there.
It sounded like somebody was playing drums on
the windshield. I think we both leaned forward
trying to minimize the number of bees that
would actually impact our bodies through the
door opening, but the cockpit, nonetheless,
quickly became a tension filled environment.
We were so glad we wear flight suits, which
cover pretty much everything. I spotted two
on my arm, one on my chest, one on my seat
between my legs, a couple flying in front of my
face and several more down near the pedals. I
didn’t know it at the time but the back seat had
filled up nicely as well.
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Abraham Lincoln said, “I don’t like to hear cut
and dried sermons. No—when I hear a man
preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting
bees.” Me too, but I’d rather fly like I’m giving
a cut and dried sermon and not flailing about
wildly.
After the drum solo on the windshield subsided,
my partner Bill Liniewicz informed me he was
allergic to bees. “Great, so should I head for the
hospital now in anticipation of the stings or
just get it on the ground before I start getting
stung and we crash?” The landing was quick
and without the usual attempt at finesse and
unbelievably neither of us was stung. We spent
the next few minutes ushering bees out of the
helicopter and checking ourselves and each
other for stragglers.
Yes, crisis averted, but Billy—listen to your
wife—get your EpiPen.
Misplaced K-9 article?
Although not specifically related to ASTREA,
I felt this story very worthy of a mention.
For those of you who have been on the law
enforcement side of the department for a while,
the name Dan Settle is very familiar. Even if you
didn’t know him personally, he was one of those
guys you knew about; his name mentioned in
many a story of suspect apprehensions especially
when it came to his K-9 work. Unfortunately, on
Jan. 18, 2003, Dan’s K-9 partner, Urk, was shot
and killed as Dan and his explorer partner Brent
Tracy were ambushed responding to a report of
gunfire near Hacienda Avenue in Vista.
Fast forward several years…
Deputy Minh Nguyen had recently said
goodbye to his dog Tianna. He asked me if I
knew retired sheriff’s deputy Dan Settle. I told
him I knew who Dan was but had never met
him. Minh told me about Dan’s pet cremation
DIVORCE
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RONALD A. HAUSER
Attorney at Law
(619) 206-3811
(619) 741-3961
National City ♦ San Diego ♦ La Mesa
DRO/QDRO $500
DISCOUNT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT
station reports