Tag Archives: Deputy Myers

Tips From Deputy Myers

Dear Deputy Myers:

How can I become more involved with my community and the Sheriff’s Department?

Did you know the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has numerous volunteers that assist the department with many different aspects of their day to day operations?  It’s true, and there are hundreds of volunteers department wide that are vital to assisting the department in various ways. Being the volunteer coordinator, as well as many other things, I get to see just how valuable the volunteers are to us every day! I directly supervise the Explorers, Mounted Posse, and Citizen Volunteer Patrol.

Not everyone can be an Explorer (due to age restrictions), and not everyone can be a member of the volunteer Mounted Posse (due to not having interest in horses), but nearly anyone over the age of 18 can be a Citizen Volunteer. The Citizen Volunteer Patrol meets once a month (the fourth Wednesday of every month) at 700pm at the Jurupa Valley Station. They have the opportunity to work hand in hand with deputies on patrol, assist with major incidents, DUI checkpoints, provide an added level of eyes and ears on the streets, logistics, and assist with community events (just to name a few). The station Volunteer Citizen Patrol helps in the contract cities of Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, and the outer lying unincorporated county areas. The Volunteers are a vital part of operations throughout the department.

If being a volunteer sounds like something that may interest you and you have the extra time, please come out to one of our meetings, learn about our program, meet some of our current volunteers, and possibly pick up a background packet to get started in something that can provide you with free training and a sense of community.

Deanna Myers is the Volunteer and Programs Coordinator for the Jurupa Valley Station of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department that services the Eastvale Police Department.  She has been with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for about nine years, and most recently was assigned to patrol within the City of Eastvale before moving into her current position where she is in charge of the Neighborhood Watch program for the City of Eastvale.

 

Deputy Myers Tips

EV - Deputy Myers.jpgDear Deputy Myers:

Bicycle/Skateboard Helmet requirements…what is the law?

The California Vehicle Code  Section 21212, which pertains to helmet laws, is as follows: (a) A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.

Did you know every year in California alone, over 100 people are killed and thousands are injured in bicycle collisions? All too often these injuries are head related and could have been prevented. Where there is a responsibility on both the bicyclist and the motorist to maintain control and stay alert, the devastating injuries could be prevented by just wearing a helmet.

As the operator of the bicycle/skateboard and being under the age of 18, it is your responsibility to not only wear your helmet, but to also wear it properly. Consult the packaging of the helmet or your local first responder for assistance if you are unsure. Also consider taking a bicycle safety course to learn the proper hand signals to effectively communicate your intentions to other drivers on the road. Know that wearing a properly fitting helmet is the law and you could be cited for not wearing one. Don’t get caught without it!

There are four basic safety tips to follow when operating a bicycle or skateboard while on the street or in an enclosed skate park. 1) Maintain control of your bicycle/skateboard; 2) Protect yourself – Always wear your helmet; 3) Be visible, alert, and communicate your intentions clearly; and lastly 4) Ride with traffic. We at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department are committed to your safety and encourage you to continue to keep yourself and your families safe.

Deanna Myers is the Volunteer and Programs Coordinator for the Jurupa Valley Station of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department that services the Eastvale Police Department.  She has been with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for about nine years, and most recently was assigned to patrol within the City of Eastvale before moving into her current position where she is in charge of the Neighborhood Watch program for the City of Eastvale.

 

Dear Deputy Myers:

Dear Deputy Myers:

What is Jaywalking exactly? 

Deputy Myers

Deputy Myers

California Vehicle Code defines “Jaywalking” as travel between intersections controlled by traffic signal devices or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the roadway at any place except in a crosswalk. Ok, so what does that really mean? Basically, if you are crossing an intersection outside of a crosswalk or controlled intersection then you would be considered “Jaywalking” and could subject yourself to receiving a ticket from a law enforcement officer.

Now, as a pedestrian you also have a responsibility to yourself and the drivers on the road. You must show due diligence for your safety and the safety of the drivers on the road and check the intersection before stepping off the curb into the crosswalk. If you step off the curb directly in front of a vehicle, it is not then the drivers fault for hitting you. You have a responsibility to look before you step. All too often individuals believe the pedestrian always has the right-of-way no matter what and that is just not the case.

Drivers have a responsibility too when it comes to pedestrians in a crosswalk. California Vehicle Code states; “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.” So, if you are in a vehicle approaching a crosswalk, slow down to look for pedestrians before you drive through it. You could save someone’s life and/or prevent yourself from getting a ticket.

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of everyone on the road, whether inside of a vehicle, riding a bicycle, operating a scooter, or simply walking to watch out for one another and stay safe.

Cited sections of the vehicle code referred to are the following 21955CVC and 21950(a)CVC.

Deanna Myers is the Volunteer and Programs Coordinator for the Jurupa Valley Station of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department that services the Eastvale Police Department.  She has been with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for about eight years, and most recently was assigned to patrol within the City of Eastvale before moving into her current position where she is in charge of the Neighborhood Watch program for the City of Eastvale.

 

Tips from Deputy Myers

Dear Deputy Myers:

Deputy Myers

Deputy Myers

An oldie, but a goodie…

All too often I hear people that are victims of crimes, such as vehicle burglaries or package delivery theft, post the incidents on social media but do not report the crimes to local law enforcement. I cannot begin to tell you how important it is to REPORT REPORT REPORT!!! If local law enforcement in your area does not know the crime occurred, they cannot be a part of the solution to preventing it from happening again.

Neighborhood watch meetings and social media are great ways to advise your neighbors of what is happening to keep them informed so it doesn’t happen to them; but reporting to law enforcement, will assist in making the crimes stop altogether. This is especially important if you have video surveillance of the possible suspect.

The following is a list of what to do if you fall victim to a property crime (i.e. burglary, theft, vandalism, etc.). 1) Try to avoid touching the vehicle, door, or area around where the item(s) were taken from. This will assist the officer when they arrive to possibly obtain prints. 2) Develop a timeline as to when the last time you saw the item, when you last used it, how/when you secured it, and when you noticed it missing. 3) Contact your local law enforcement!! The non-emergency number to report past crimes is (951)776-1099. Even if you are in a hurry to get to work or have to pick up/drop off a child at school, many reports can be taken over the phone. 4) After you have reported the crime and given necessary details, feel free to reach out to social media, neighbors, etc. to assist with catching those who may have committed the crime. Please note: posting to Facebook forums DOES NOT automatically inform your local law enforcement with what is going on in your neighborhood, you still need to call and report the crimes and suspicious activities as they occur to help prevent them from happening in the future.

It is incredibly important to report crimes, no matter how insignificant, as they affect the statistics regarding current crime trends in the area. The statistics also provide much needed information to law enforcement in crime prevention for the future.

Deanna Myers is the Volunteer and Programs Coordinator for the Jurupa Valley Station of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department that services the Eastvale Police Department.  She has been with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for about eight years, and most recently was assigned to patrol within the City of Eastvale before moving into her current position where she is in charge of the Neighborhood Watch program for the City of Eastvale.

 

Tips From Deputy Myers

School’s out, kids are out, protect yourself

Deputy Myers

Deputy Myers

By Deanna Myers

 

Is it July already?! Seems like we were just having end of the year parties and graduation celebrations. Well, the extra daylight and heat tends to bring more criminal activity. Make sure to keep your eyes open for suspicious activity. If you see a vehicle or person in your neighborhood that seems to be out of place or acting strangely, SAY SOMETHING!! The best way to protect yourself and your community is to be vigilant at contacting law enforcement.

Be sure when you call to have some very important information handy.

1) Your location. If we don’t know where you are we can’t get to you to help you.

2) What’s happening. We need to know what’s going on so we know what kind of help to send.

3) Description of individuals or vehicles that may be suspicious. The best way to get all the descriptive information you need to the dispatcher is to do it the same way every time; you have a better chance of remembering what to look for if it becomes routine. For example, describe a person from the top of their head to the bottom of their feet; male/female, race, hair color/eye color, clothing, shoes, direction of travel. When it comes to a vehicle, describe it from the rear to the front; make/model/color/license plate number, approximate year, type truck/SUV/sedan, direction of travel.

Also, the summer months are a great way to re-connect with your neighborhood watch groups with BBQs and block parties. Summertime is the best time to have your neighbors come together to protect each other as many travel away from home during this season. Let your close neighbors know when you are leaving and when you will be home so they can keep an extra eye out for your property. Let everyone know the proper contact numbers for law enforcement: emergency-911; non-emergency 951-776-1099.

Stay safe out there Eastvale! An important date to remember is August 9th for the next National Night Out!! It will be in your neighboring city of Norco this year at 1290 Hamner Ave. in front of the Target store. Hope to see all of you out there as the cities come together with Law Enforcement and first responders to provide information to all of you about safety!

Deanna Myers is the Volunteer and Programs Coordinator for the Jurupa Valley Station of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department that services the Eastvale Police Department.  She has been with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for about eight years, and most recently was assigned to patrol within the City of Eastvale before moving into her current position where she is in charge of the Neighborhood Watch program for the City of Eastvale.

 

Tips From Deputy Myers

Summer travel safety

Deputy Myers

Deputy Myers

By Deanna Myers

Can you believe summer is just about here? The year has flown by and many of you are gearing up for a fun-filled couple of months of day trips and vacations. Summer is statistically higher in crime, all the more reason to be diligent in protecting your families and your property.

Take the few extra steps prior to leaving your residence and check the door locks, the garage door, the lights, your security cameras and/or alarm systems. Make sure everything is in working order and protected to the best of your ability. Check in with your neighbors and let them know when you will be away so they can keep an eye out for suspicious people and/or vehicles near your home.

Also, don’t forget about your furry four-legged family members in the summer months. If you must leave them outside, make sure they have plenty of shade and water. If they have the opportunity to be indoors while you are away, check to make sure doggie doors or other access points to your home are not able to be accessed by two-legged potential predators.

Lastly, take care of yourselves out there in the heat! Remember to hydrate frequently. If you are feeling thirsty, you are already dehydrated! Use sunscreen and light fabric that allows your skin to breathe but still have protection from the intense UV rays. Ultimately, enjoy the longer days and extra time with your families! Be safe!!

Deanna Myers is the Volunteer and Programs Coordinator for the Jurupa Valley Station of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department that services the Eastvale Police Department.  She has been with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for about eight years, and most recently was assigned to patrol within the City of Eastvale before moving into her current position where she is in charge of the Neighborhood Watch program for the City of Eastvale.

 

Tips from Deputy Myers

Deputy Myers

Deputy Myers

By Deanna Myers 

 

The Internet, Smart Phones, and your teens…

Lately, the internet and smart phones have become quite a hot topic when dealing with young teens. Quite often as parents, we want to trust our children to make good decisions with the freedom we provide them with technology. But, the internet is a huge web of temptation for young minds. Especially when those young minds are flooded with encouragement from other young minds.

Keep in mind the smart phone you hand over to your child is the property of the person providing it (MEANING THE PARENT). You have every right to know all applications that are on the phone, and all passwords to access the information stored on the phone. Despite what your child may tell you, this is NOT an invasion of their privacy it is specifically to keep your children safe from potential predators that flood the internet and social media. It is incredibly important for parents to be up to date on the latest and greatest trends when it comes to technology. There are new applications created almost daily that assist with the concealment of information on cell phones.

Don’t be afraid to have the conversation with your child about appropriate vs. inappropriate material on the internet. Don’t be the parent that gets caught off guard when approached by a school official or law enforcement officer when it is found out that your child has been involved in inappropriate sharing of cyber material via social media or the internet. Let your child know the dangers of sending private/confidential information via Wi-Fi and the internet. They need to know once its sent its out there for anyone to grab a hold of and use. Just because it was only meant for one person, and they trust that person to delete the material, it could have been sent to ten others (or more) prior to being deleted. Also keep in mind, just because it was deleted off of a device does not mean it cannot be retrieved via electronic clouds and Wi-Fi. All in all, just keep open communication and educate yourself about the recent trends in technology.

Deanna Myers is the Volunteer and Programs Coordinator for the Jurupa Valley Station of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department that services the Eastvale Police Department.  She has been with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for about eight years, and most recently was assigned to patrol within the City of Eastvale before moving into her current position where she is in charge of the Neighborhood Watch program for the City of Eastvale.

 

Tips From Deputy Myers

Deputy Myers

Deputy Myers

How can I start or join a Neighborhood Watch near my home?

By Deanna Myers

This is still a hot topic, so I thought a refresher would be beneficial. There are six basic steps to getting a neighborhood watch program started within your community.

Step 1- Create Awareness. Start a buzz in the neighborhood about keeping it safe. Many people nowadays, with all the modern technology, have started to disconnect from their neighbors. Communication starts with a wave and a smile, followed by starting to talk about your concern for continued safety within your community.

Step 2- Organize Volunteers. Once you have started a buzz, neighbors often begin sharing their personal information in order to become more involved. Gather their information and set up a neighborhood meeting with them.

Step 3- Coordinate with Law Enforcement- this is where I come in. I will provide a short Power Point presentation and an activity for your neighbors. I will give them the tools they need to combat current issues in the neighborhood and keep those issues from returning.

Step 4- Identify Concerns, Issues and Problems. Once the group has been formed and they have had time to think about the new tools they have been given, it’s time to discuss where the problems are in your neighborhood. It is best to prioritize the concerns of the volunteers so they can all get addressed in a timely manner.

Step 5- Develop Strategies. Six heads are better than one. As your group comes together, you can start to come up with ways in which to deal with issues. Having additional people from different backgrounds that come with different resources can be invaluable in eradicating problems in your neighborhood.

Step 6-Action Steps.  Depending on the severity of the problems that arise in your neighborhood, there are several different ways to attack the issues. Planning activities such as clean-up days, neighborhood patrols, and joining social groups such as www.nextdoor.com are just a few of the ways to bring your neighborhoods closer and keep people involved. IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING!

 

Deanna Myers is the Volunteer and Programs Coordinator for the Jurupa Valley Station of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department that services the Eastvale Police Department.  She has been with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for about eight years, and most recently was assigned to patrol within the City of Eastvale before moving into her current position where she is in charge of the Neighborhood Watch program for the City of Eastvale.