News

Hot Topics

email icon Subscribe to Ukiah Police Department Hot Topics by Email

feed icon Subscribe in a reader

A Thank You Letter

As you might imagine, I receive many letters, emails, and phone messages here at the department. Most letters include complaints or concerns that range from neighborhood nuisances to safety issues that require our quick action. Recently, most complaints have been about transients and their bad behavior in parks and... (Read more →)

Memorial Day

With Memorial Day coming this weekend, I’ve been thinking a great deal about the men and women who have served our nation in the military, and what it means to serve others. Military service is one incredibly important way to serve others. Being in the military is all about serving others. We even refer to our... (Read more →)

Thank You Peace Officers

On Tuesday, May 13, thousands of peace officers stood together at the National Police Officers’ Memorial in Washington, D.C. for a candlelight vigil to honor officers lost in the line of duty in 2013. They honored one hundred and two officers, including eight from California. Since President John F. Kennedy first... (Read more →)

Teacher Appreciation Day & Bike Month

Did you know that May 6 was National Teacher Appreciation Day? Dan Rather once said, "The dream begins, most of the time, with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you on to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth." I have to say that few other professionals... (Read more →)

Bike Safety

May is National Bike Month and I was thinking that, whether you’re a kid or an adult, riding a bike is a healthy way to get around. This week I thought I’d write about some safety tips for riding your bike (and sharing the road while driving alongside of bikes), and next week I’d like to share some of the great... (Read more →)

Driving Blind

Daily people tell me that they often see drivers, especially teens, using their cell phones to send text messages while driving. I can’t begin to explain how dangerous this practice is for the driver who is texting—and for the rest of us! Driving a vehicle while texting is six times more dangerous than driving... (Read more →)

Thank You, 911 Dispatchers!

This week is Dispatcher Appreciation Week. Emergency (911) dispatchers are the first people you talk to when you call with a crisis. Even though dispatchers can't see what’s happening, they are the eyes and ears of emergency responders—our guiding angels who ensure that the right responders get to an emergency as... (Read more →)

Kids, Drugs and Senate Bill 1014

In the first week of March, you may have read about several students from River Community Alternative Program who were suspended after bringing cookies containing marijuana to school. An investigation started at the school after the students showed signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance. During... (Read more →)

Difficult, But Not Impossible

On Friday, March 14, 2014, Ukiah Police Sergeant Rick Pintane was at work in Superior Court, standing with the Williamson family to witness the sentencing of Jerred Hernandez, who received 32 years to life in prison for killing Michael Williamson. This sentencing was the final step in a difficult – but not... (Read more →)

A Favorite Place

In many ways, Teresa is a typical third grade student. If you ask her what she likes best, she’ll say hanging out with her friends on the playground. But, until recently, when it came to doing her homework, Teresa struggled more than most. So much so that she was in danger of not completing enough work to pass the... (Read more →)

Deputy Rickey Del Fiorentino

Our County lost a dedicated law enforcement servant, Deputy Ricky Del Fiorentino, a man who served the people of Mendocino County and the City of Fort Bragg for the last 26 years.   We should all be thankful for each and every first responder who commits their career (and sometimes their life) to protecting our... (Read more →)

Great Things

The Ukiah High School campus is a busy place, especially in the center of the campus between the main buildings and the quad. As you walk through this area, you’ll see kids walking from class to class, visiting with each other, and hanging out in small groups. Student art projects, murals, and busy bulletin boards... (Read more →)