Patch Goes to the Citizen Police Academy: Week 1

The question was simple: What do you know about the ?

As I considered the question, along with 20 others who are taking part in the Newark Citizen Police Academy, past experiences crowded my mind.

My first clear memory of Newark police was heading to the police station after someone had hit my mom’s Ford Aerostar. I was 4.

We filed a report with a smiling officer at the police station on Newark Boulevard, and because a good citizen followed the driver who hit us, Newark police were able to cite the offender.

My thoughts then turned to D.A.R.E. classes with Officer John Boga, who likely taught hundreds of kids attending Newark schools (as I did) about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

But I know there’s much more to a police department than these short childhood recollections.

The first thing to learn was about the people who run the department, and I was impressed with how long the department’s personnel have been a part of the Newark community.

Chief James Leal has been an officer in the department since 1988. He is the eighth police chief for Newark and was appointed to that position in 2008.

Community Service Officer Deborah Cabness, who led most of our class, has worked for the department for 23 years.

Two of Newark’s dispatchers who were working the graveyard shift on Sept. 14 have 35 years of experience between them. And they had a lesson for us.

When do you call 9-1-1?

Their answer: For life-threatening emergencies and crimes that are in progress or have just occurred.

Make sure you answer their questions quickly and correctly. Dispatchers might be short with you while they ask questions, but it's because they are — at the same time — answering officers' questions and dispatching them toward your location.

Calls about minor issues can delay another call in which the situation could be a matter of life or death.

Do not call 9-1-1 if you find an injured butterfly (which has happened). Do not call 9-1-1 if somebody needs a store-bought Band-Aid (which also happens).

Instead, call the department’s non-emergency number: 510-578-4237.

And file police reports instead when it’s not an emergency and there are no known suspects. Police reports can even be filed online when it comes to the following incidents: lost property, identity theft, theft, vehicle burglary, harassing phone call and vandalism.

If you have a tip on an incident but would rather leave your name out of it, call Newark’s Anonymous Tip Hotline at 510-578-4965.

The tour

We even got a tour of the police station. Here are some fun facts we learned:

• Kick plates are devices an officer can activate at any given time if they are trying to detain someone who is resisting an officer.
• We looked at three holding cells with plain white walls and a cement bench. It did not look comfortable at all. (Newark does not have a jail. Prisoners are taken to Fremont Jail or Santa Rita Jail, which is in Dublin.)
• There are up to 54 sworn police officers in the Newark Police Department.
• Most officers work 12-hour shifts for three days a week. Other officers work 10-hour shifts for four days a week.

But the highlight of the night was a crash course on the department’s Investigations Department.

• Newark has 10 detectives, but two of them are part of regional task forces, working on cases that may extend outside Newark.
• Typical detectives work on robberies, sexual assaults, child abuse, child molestation and murder, while detectives on the Street Enforcement Team handle investigations of gangs, drugs, neighborhood issues and schools.
• The two regional detectives sit on the South Alameda County Major Crimes Task Force and they head long-term investigations, particularly dealing with gangs and drugs.

So what do I know about Newark Police Department?

Not much yet, but I learned a lot in three hours. I’m certain I’ll learn much more, and I’ll share my experiences with you along the way.