The newest members of the Santa Monica Police Department family take the oath of office during the swearing-in ceremony at City Hall on Thursday, November 19, 2009. SMPD officers (left to right) Maricela Perez, Armando Gomez, Kevin McInerney and Peter Zamfirov swear-in at City Hall on Thursday.

(top) Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL) Officer Jennifer Sekera helps PAL member Juliana De La Cruz to ice skate during the opening of the ice skating rink, ICE at Santa Monica, on Tuesday, October 27, 2009. (above) Kate Corsmeier helps her daughter Ondine, 4, ice skate for the first time during the opening of  ICE at Santa Monica, on Tuesday, October 27, 2009. ICE at Santa Monica is an 8000-square-foot outdoor ice rink in Downtown Santa Monica. ICE at Santa Monica will remain open daily through January 31, 2010, and admission is $10 and includes rental skates. For hours and more information, please go to http://www.downtownsm.com/about/winterlit.html.

Santa Monica Police Captain Alex Padilla and Carla Barrett build toys  during a Kiwanis Club of Santa Monica program by Free Arts For Abused Children  at the Santa Monica Family YMCA on Wednesday, September 16, 2009.

Free Arts for Abused Children is dedicated to helping children who have been abused, are homeless or are at-risk of falling through the cracks of the system, as well as families living in crisis.  In Los Angeles County alone, more than 32,000 children live under the protection of the courts. These children have been removed from their homes after suffering abuse, neglect or abandonment.

Kiwanis International is an organization of service clubs. Members of Kiwanis place special emphasis on service to children and youth, both through international initiatives intended to improve the quality of life of children around the world, and through their Service Leadership Programs, made up of about 7,000 youth clubs with about 320,000 youth members. Today, Kiwanis International has more than 600,000 members in more than 13,000 clubs, located in more than 90 countries around the world.

(TOP) Police Activities League (PAL) officer Jennifer Sekera helps PAL members Yaser Garmakani, 14, (center) and Marvin Rodriguez, 17, write photo captions during Santa Monica Human Relations Council's 'Kids with Cameras' writing workshop on Tuesday, August 15, 2009, at PAL. (CENTER)  PAL members Gaby Martinez, 13, (left) Rachel Tello, 13, (center) and Brianda Maldonado, 16, (right)  write photo captions during the writing workshop on Tuesday. The students photos will be featured at Kids With Cameras' Community Art Show at McKinley Elementary School on Saturday, October 3.

KIDS WITH CAMERAS – An Exhibition of Photos and Community Dialogue

’Kids with cameras’, a program launched by the Santa Monica Bay Human Relations Council in May 2009 involving mid-city youth, will culminate in a photo exhibition and community conversation at McKinley School on Saturday, October 3 2009.

With the goal of reviving the Mid-City Neighborhood group, the only one of six original neighborhood groups in Santa Monica that has been dormant since 2004, the project was designed to create an awareness of civic responsibility among mid-city youth by encouraging them to explore their community and document their views through the lens of a camera.

The participating youth recruited from local non-profit agencies (e.g. the Police Activities League) met once a week for eight weeks to take pictures and share their perspectives on their neighborhood. They were supervised by City staff members Eula Fritz and PAL officers and coordinated by Fabian Lewkowicz, a professional photo journalist who also played the role of a mentor. Lewkowicz led  fifteen youths in a photo essay project focusing on the Mid-City Neighborhood, using photojournalistic style. At the finale on October 3, the youth will exhibit their work and share their narratives with the community at large. The community photo exhibit is being curated by Lewkowicz.

The Santa Monica Bay Human Relations Council, a partnership of local community organizations, individuals, institutions and businesses, endeavors to improve human relations and advocates a socially just community through its various projects, i.e. community dialogues, Literature and Arts and Community Heroes Programs. The Chief of the Santa Monica Fire Department Jim Hone is the current Chairperson of HRC and Tim Jackman,  Chief of Police, is the Chair of the Dialogue committee, coordinators of the Kids with Cameras project.

(TOP) Santa Monica Fire Paramedic Jason Walker lowers the flag to half mast during the 911 Remembrance Ceremony at SMFD headquarters on Friday, September 11, 2009. (ABOVE)  Santa Monica Fire Chief Jim Hone addresses his department during the 911 Remembrance Ceremony. "This is a special day for our nation and our public safety agencies.  A day where the importance or impact will not diminish in the years to come," he said.  The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va. and in Shanksville, Pa. resulted in the deaths of more than 2,700 people.  Of those killed, 343 were FDNY Firefighters.  In recognition of those who perished on that tragic day, the Santa Monica Fire Department will annually conduct a brief and solemn remembrance ceremony consistent with the International Association of Fire Chief's recommended protocols.

(TOP) Retired Captain from Anaheim Police Department Marc Hedgpeth rides Blaze, 8, through an obstacle course during California Mounted Officers Association's (CMOA) Mounted Patrol Police Horse Sensory Training and Horse Mounted Baton Course at Will Rogers State Park on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009. Thirty-five Mounted Police officers from ten departments from San Diego to Santa Francisco participated in CMOA's Mounted Patrol Police Horse Sensory Training and Horse Mounted Baton Course Training program at Will Rogers State Park. The class included 8 hours training exercises and drills in the area of sensory training. The officers and their mount were subjected to various types of sensory distractions often seen in day to day policing. The officers were placed in crowd control type scenarios throughout the course.

(1) Nicholas Rosenberg, 10, shakes the paw of McGruff, the crime fighting dog during the 26th Anniversary of National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 04, 2009. (2) Kids play on a Santa Monica Police SWAT Hummer during  National Night Out. (3) Santa Monica Police Sergeant Thomas lands his helicopter at Santa Monica City Hall's front lawn for National Night Out.

National Night Out 2008 involved 37 million people in 15,449 communities from all 50 states, U.S. Territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide. National Night Out 2009 is expected to be the largest ever. The goal of the Santa Monica Police Department is to build upon the good relationship our police and community share along with celebrating that partnership which makes the city of Santa Monica such a safe place to live, work, and visit. National Night Out is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime efforts and strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships.

This year’s event theme is “Back to Basics” and the SMPD is highlighting the efforts of  their Homeless Liaison Program and the City’s “Project Homecoming.” This program is available to homeless individuals and families currently receiving services from City-funded homeless agencies, individuals in the process of discharge from the criminal justice, health, mental health or substance abuse systems in Santa Monica who will be homeless upon discharge. The goal of the program is to reunify individuals with their family members by arranging and providing travel assistance.

The event featured carnival games with prizes, the ballet folklorico dance recital, and the Police Activities League ( PAL ) martial arts demonstrations. Free food and drinks was provided and everyone had an opportunity to win a raffle prize.

Some of the sponsors for this year’s event include the Santa Monica Police Officers’ Association, 7-Eleven, Famima, MP Urban Marketing-Jarritos, Ocean Park Pizza, Bookmark Café, and Bud’s Deli.

(top) Police Activities League (PAL) officer Jennifer Sekera (center) leads a group of PAL members on a bicycle ride along Broadway ave. on Thursday, July 30, 2009.  PAL is a unique community organization that fosters trust between youth and the men and women of the Santa Monica Police Department in a safe and nurturing environment. Through outstanding educational, cultural, recreational, and outreach programs, PAL helps develop skills and self-esteem, encouraging youth to reach their full potential. PAL provides free educational, cultural, and recreational programs for youth ages 6 - 17 years. Activities offered include homework assistance, computer classes, cooking, creative dramatics, arts & crafts, dance, karate, basketball, excursions, and special events. A slate of activities, including trips, sports leagues, specialized classes, and computer instruction is available to teens ages 14 - 17 years. Coaches and instructors for the PAL program come from the Santa Monica Police and Community and Cultural Services Departments and from community members who volunteer their time. The PAL Youth Center is open Monday through Saturday.