Cops and Courts: July 26, 2008 - Santa Cruz Sentinel

Wow a nice full day of action in little ol' Santa Cruz County....

It is just getting worse and worse.

In a way it is commendable that the boys were so organized and farseeing to cultivate marijuana. They had their act together. Next time they might use their talents legally.

When will people learn NOT to leave valuables in their cars ?

Sorry but anyone leaving a computer or camera or whatever in a car (especially in Wats) deserves to be ripped off !

Seems to be a trend. Young guys come from out of town to Santa Cruz to burglurize and rob. Don't walk Mission street after 11pm. Don't walk High St. after 11pm. And DON'T go to Pacific Ave after 11pm. And Santa Cruz, I hope you're ready for the gang violence a la Salinas. It's coming. I'm leaving. See Ya.

Thanks Watsonville police. Good job.

It is stupid to leave valuables in your car but you dont deserve to be ripped off. It is the thief lowlife that chooses to steal, they are the criminals.

so many burglaries! the horror..

This so out of control. It is disgusting. I notice cops all over town opulling people over for talking on there cell phones etc.. It seems to be there focus and now people are being robbed at gunpoint & knived shot...HELLO

Here's a message to the SCPD from a concerned citizen who's a big taxpayer -

Quit spending your valuable time dealing with trivial crimes such as pot gardens and talking on cell phone while driving...why don't you spend your time rather protecting us from gang members and making sure the streets are safe?

Set your priorities straight already! How 'bout a little help?!

I agree with Samantha who states, "this is so out of control" and "it is disgusting". The Sheriff's department is so low staffed, micro-managed and only focuses on heroin dealers in Pogonip Park. Things are only going to get worse, until there is a massive change of guard in the Sheriff's departmnent. It should start with the Sheriff himself, as well as his Chief Deputies. I am leaving this place before I become a victim too.

Worried wrote:

I agree with Samantha who states, "this is so out of control" and "it is disgusting". The Sheriff's department is so low staffed, micro-managed and only focuses on heroin dealers in Pogonip Park. Things are only going to get worse, until there is a massive change of guard in the Sheriff's departmnent. It should start with the Sheriff himself, as well as his Chief Deputies. I am leaving this place before I become a victim too.

Just some of the reasons we left S.C.

Worried wrote:

I agree with Samantha who states, "this is so out of control" and "it is disgusting". The Sheriff's department is so low staffed, micro-managed and only focuses on heroin dealers in Pogonip Park. Things are only going to get worse, until there is a massive change of guard in the Sheriff's departmnent. It should start with the Sheriff himself, as well as his Chief Deputies. I am leaving this place before I become a victim too.

Well, you managed to get pretty much nothing right. We are low staffed but we rarely focus any attention on Pogonip. If we do make arrests there, I can imagine we are preventing those same folks from stealing from you or others that day to support their habbits. We try to respond to all residents complaints, which include a variety of concerns, not just what's important to you.

Some folks actually don't want heroin and meth dealers having their way in their neighborhood, or users trashing an area with needles and garbage others enjoy with their friends and families. By the way, we are by far the least micro-managed department in the area. I'm not really sure where you pulled that information from. The Sheriff overwhelmingly has our support. He's done an excelent job and will continue to do so. I'm not sure if you actually pay attention to the news, but we end up arresting pretty much every one of the subjects in the cases you seen here in the papers. An increase in the crime in the area isn't due to the Sheriff or his staff, it's due to the wonderful folks of the area who fail to control their sons and daughters and the bleeding hearts who allow our DA's office and judicial system to not file cases or let suspects off with little or no consequence. I encourage you to do a ride along with a local law enforcement agency before you leave the area.

To: John from the BL; Either you are new to LE or you are not from this planet. Terry and his boys have been focusing on the Pogonip, levee areas and downtown since the early 1990's. I understand your attempting to be PC with your comments, but this forum is for people who are real. Your office staffing problems are at a CRITICAL stage because of top heavy management, good ole boy attitudes and lack of pay parity. Steve Robbins does not have have every deputies support and his reign is EXACTLY like that of Al Noren's. There is no forward thinking and your DSA has never been united. Your only truths, are that most deputies do respond to all resident's complaints. Every one of you have always stepped up to the plate when forced to work overtime and odd shifts for many different task forces, code 5 assignments etc. This has been your downfall. Maybe the Board of Supervisors in SCC would think twice about loosening their purse-strings for better pay etc. for you folks, if deputies did not show up at their door when they call. It's high time for a change in management in the Sheriff's Office. Someone should mention retirement to Terry, Steve, Don, Len and the others. Or maybe your thinking one of your CD's or LT's is reading this blog and you need to make a good showing to get promoted. Good luck with your fantasy!

Worried wrote:

To: John from the BL; Either you are new to LE or you are not from this planet. Terry and his boys have been focusing on the Pogonip, levee areas and downtown since the early 1990's. I understand your attempting to be PC with your comments, but this forum is for people who are real. Your office staffing problems are at a CRITICAL stage because of top heavy management, good ole boy attitudes and lack of pay parity. Steve Robbins does not have have every deputies support and his reign is EXACTLY like that of Al Noren's. There is no forward thinking and your DSA has never been united. Your only truths, are that most deputies do respond to all resident's complaints. Every one of you have always stepped up to the plate when forced to work overtime and odd shifts for many different task forces, code 5 assignments etc. This has been your downfall. Maybe the Board of Supervisors in SCC would think twice about loosening their purse-strings for better pay etc. for you folks, if deputies did not show up at their door when they call. It's high time for a change in management in the Sheriff's Office. Someone should mention retirement to Terry, Steve, Don, Len and the others. Or maybe your thinking one of your CD's or LT's is reading this blog and you need to make a good showing to get promoted. Good luck with your fantasy!

Ouch, you sound like a disgruntled/ lazy deputy or a disgruntled/ lazy deputy's significant other, and your concerns just about fit every department around the nation. There will always be problems and complaints about every department. So the drug cops focus on drug areas. Amazing! The pogonip and surrounding areas continue to be a problem and also provide a great training spot for the new guys.

I don't need to worry about promotions since I'm in my current assignment as a K9 handler for several more years. I don't want to promote anyway. I'm not new to LE, unless 6 years is new so be it. Our staffing is getting much better or have you not heard that yet. By the way, almost every department in the natrion has had critical staffing issues recently. Cops have always had long hours and tough assingments. That's a part of the job. If it's too much for people, they can go flip burgers. I never said Robbins has every deputies support. Overwhelming doesn't mean everyone.

Yeah, I wish our DSA was stronger and yeah, I wish we had pay parity. There are a lot of things to complain about but there are also a lot of good things. You want to spout your BS unchecked, it ain't gonna happen. If you want to complain and yell at me, call the Sheriff's Office and ask for Odin's K9 handler. I ain't arguing with you ont the forum.

Good choice (not arguing here)-- there are wolves here and they don't respond to German commands. ;^)

John from BL really stuck his boot in his mouth. Did anyone notice how he backed off of most all his original statements replying to "Worried"? Sounds to me like a new cop trying to defend his office. Maybe Odin's handler should have kept his mouth shut. Am I missing something, or was "Odins handler" trying to fling arrows at someone who is simply telling the truth. "Worried" didn't sound to me like a disgruntled lazy deputy or significant other, he sounded like an insider who knows what he or she is speaking about.

hmmm is right wrote:

Did anyone notice how he backed off of most all his original statements replying to "Worried"?

Yeah, I picked up on that too. Interesting "discussion" though...

grow more pot

Jeff wrote:

Here's a message to the SCPD from a concerned citizen who's a big taxpayer -
Quit spending your valuable time dealing with trivial crimes such as pot gardens and talking on cell phone while driving...why don't you spend your time rather protecting us from gang members and making sure the streets are safe?
Set your priorities straight already! How 'bout a little help?!

It was park rangers who arrested the kids growing 40 pot plants on public property. Not the police.

Should they have just turned away and ignored them?