In 1981, Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office decided it was time to celebrate and thank police dispatchers. From Anderson’s idea grew National Public Safety Telecommunicators’ Week, a celebration that runs from April 9 to 15 this year.
The festivities began early for many dispatchers who attended the 32nd Annual Alameda County Public Safety Dispatcher Recognition Banquet last Saturday, April 8. While this was a special night for some, other dispatchers stayed behind at their respective agencies and held down the fort.
The Alameda Free Library, in collaboration with Alameda Fire Department, Alameda Police Department, Alameda Public Works Department and Alameda Municipal Power, invites families to spend an afternoon exploring some of the city’s big trucks. The Big Truck Bonanza is slated for Saturday, April 8, from noon to 3 p.m. in the City Hall parking lot, located on Oak Street, between Santa Clara and Lincoln avenues.
According to a recent press release from the Alameda Police Department (APD), 70 out of 78 sworn officers (90 percent of the force) completed an eight-hour training course recently. The officers acquired skills that can help them build trust and improve public and officer safety. The training focused on procedural justice, police legitimacy and implicit bias.
An Alameda resident fatally shot a teenager after the teen broke into his home last Wednesday, Feb. 1.
The incident occurred at 10:45 a.m. on Buena Vista Avenue. Authorities identified the deceased as 19-year-old Marquez Warren of Vallejo. Alameda Police Department (APD) Lt. Hoshmand Durani said Warren broke a rear glass door to enter the home. He then forced his way into one of the bedrooms. There he was confronted by the owner of the residence, Vedder Li, an off-duty Contra Costa County sheriff’s deputy.
Alameda resident Donna Marie Qualls will stand trial on murder and elder abuse charges in 2017. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Larry Goodman ordered Qualls, 55, to return to court for arraignment on Jan. 5, when her trial date will be set.
Qualls is accused of allegedly murdering her boyfriend Emmanuel Lewis Christy, 73, on Dec. 3, 2015, (“Local Murder Case Looms” Dec. 10). Qualls pled not guilty to the charges at a preliminary hearing on Dec. 7, 2015.
The Alameda Police Department (APD) was able to identify a man who was found in public alone and unresponsive Saturday, Dec. 10.
APD identified the man on Monday, Dec. 12, with the help of a lcaol resident who recognized the man after seeing a photo of him in a news alert. He later notified first responders.
The unresponsive man was identified as an Oakland resident. APD sent out a message on its Facebook page notifying the public they have discovered the man’s identity.
According to the Alameda Police Department, just before 10:15 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 22, an 85-year-old man came into the Crown Bay Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 508 Westline Drive, and shot a relative, an 85-year-old woman.
Police said that the man shot the woman to ease her pain and suffering, and then turned the gun on himself. Both the victim and the perpetrator survived.
The Alameda Police Department (APD) is investigating an alleged sexual assault that took place during a men’s water polo match between Encinal and Berkeley high schools on Oct. 11 at the Encinal Swim Center on the school’s campus.
According to reports, a Berkeley student is accused of sexually assaulting a player on the Encinal team in the pool during the match. Alameda Unified School District spokeswoman Susan Davis said there were accusations from multiple Encinal students that a player from Berkeley was behaving inappropriately in the water.
Last April, an Alameda resident involved Mayor Trish Spencer in a dispute with the Alameda Police Department (APD). Spencer contacted APD Chief Paul Rolleri, asking to set up a meeting about the incident. “I would like to discuss this ASAP,” Spencer stated in an email. Rolleri politely deferred to City Manager Jill Keimach, telling Spencer that he will share whatever he learns. Spencer had little choice but to abide by Rolleri’s decision.
On Sunday, Oct. 9, an armed robber fled an AC Transit bus on Blanding Avenue. Alameda Police Department (APD) officers arrived on scene and spotted the suspect. The robber’s timing was scarcely in his favor.
Fleet Week was underway. Not only was an East Bay Regional Parks Police helicopter flying nearby, but an Alameda County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol and a BART K-9 unit were in the area. APD set up a perimeter, and, with help from BART and APD’s K-9, conducted a thorough search.
