Almost every weekend, the San Carlos Police Department devotes a great deal of manpower and resources to quell fights and drunk-and-disorderly conduct at some of San Carlos ’ drinking establishments. Mind you, I’m not a teetotaler – I like a glass of wine or a Mojito or a Corona now and then. Nor am I a killjoy about parties.
But, at a time when we have a greatly reduced staffing situation with our police department, the issue with unruly people at some of the city’s bars and nightclubs warrants a closer look. Why should we be concerned about this? Because when the police are responding to bar brawls, they are not patrolling our neighborhoods. This was the case when vandals slashed the tires of 45 vehicles in White Oaks earlier this year.
Last Friday night, a dustup at one watering hole required a response by the entire police night shift AND a call to Belmont Police Department for backup. If you count the cost of engaging 8-10 police vehicles for this fracas, and writing up reports, are we into some serious expense here?
One might ask: Is it fair for one segment of our business community to create such labor-intensive oversight by our publicly-financed and undermanned police department?
From staff and wire reports
Posted: 10/27/2009 02:20:25 AM PDT
Updated: 10/27/2009 02:20:26 AM PDT
San Mateo County prosecutors charged a San Carlos man Monday with two felonies for allegedly shooting at an acquaintance during an argument Saturday night.
Thaddeus Reece, 60, pleaded not guilty to assault with a firearm and recklessly discharging a firearm, said Assistant District Attorney Karen Guidotti. If convicted, he faces up to four years and eight months in prison.
Reece remained in custody Monday at the San Mateo County jail on $50,000 bail.
A San Carlos man was arrested for attempted homicide for allegedly shooting at an acquaintance in an alley in San Carlos on Saturday night, San Carlos police Sgt. Eric Stanley said Sunday.
Officers received a call to report gunshots in the 1500 block of Cowgill Alley at 7:34 p.m.
The officers also learned that a person had just shot at another person, and that there was a man with a gun in the alley, Stanley said.
Arriving units detained Thaddeus Reece, 60, of San Carlos in front of 1559 Laurel St. who matched the description of the person with a gun, according to Stanley. Belmont Police Department provided mutual aid on the scene.
The victim was found uninjured except for minor scrapes he received while running away. The gun was located as well.
An investigation revealed that the two men had become involved in a verbal fight while driving home. When they stopped in the alley just short of their residence, the suspect pointed a handgun at the victim and fired the gun, missing the victim, Stanley said.
Reece was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide, 664 PC and 187 PC and was booked into San Mateo County Jail.
Police said that had the suspect disappeared into the White Oaks neighborhood, they would have activated an SMC alert, which is a rapid notification that triggers automated phone calls to all land-based telephones in the area.
White Oaks Neighborhood Organization sent a cub reporter to San Bruno with 2 San Carlos Public Works employees on Wednesday to see San Mateo County’s first installation of a natural flood control system.
San Bruno implemented the system in April in a school parking lot to control the deep ponding occurring after heavier rains. The curb extension is 75 feet long, filled with pea gravel and designated plants. Water enters through an opening on one end, filters through the plants and pea gravel, and ultimately trickles out the other end, leaving cleaner storm water drainage to the Bay.
San Carlos is considering these systems in White Oaks to help with localized flooding.
Some of the latest technology for safeguarding homes and neighborhoods – including “smart” video cameras — will be discussed Tuesday, Oct. 13, at a meeting of the White Oaks Neighborhood Organization. Open to the public, the session starts at 7 p.m. and will be held in the multipurpose room of White Oaks Elementary School, 1901 White Oak Way, in San Carlos.
The meeting will explore new electronics that can detect burglars and vandals, as well as the concept of linking several homes into a wired or wireless network that can be accessed by police in case of a crime. Heading up the presentation is Ojo Technology (www.ojotech.com) of Fremont, a systems integrator that has installed video cameras in businesses, schools and housing developments. Among Ojo’s Peninsula clients are the Atherton Police Department and the Sequoia Union High School District. Ojo works with a variety of partners and hardware vendors to create customized systems. Continue reading 'Electronics to Protect Your Home To Be Shown on October 13'»
Comments (0) 
