Santa Monica Police Chief, Timothy J. Jackman presents Eric Uller, SMPD Information Technology System Analyst, with Rotary Club of Santa Monica's 2009 Public Service Recognition Award in honor of his service and commitment to the community of Santa Monica on Friday, March 13, 2009, at the Riviera Country Club

Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. There are more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries, and there are over 1.2 million members World-Wide. The members of Rotary Clubs are known as Rotarians. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary's best-known motto is "Service above Self," and its secondary motto is "They profit most who serve best."

http://www.rotaryclubofsantamonica.org/

Santa Monica Police Officers Association Chair, Lieutenant Doug Theus, presents a $5,000.00 sponsorship check to Santa Monica Police Activities League Chair, Jean McNeil-Wyner, on Thursday, March 5, during the Monthly PAL board meeting. The $5,000.00 checkwill sponsor the Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL) Charity Golf Classic being held on June 15, 2009, at the Mountain Gate Country Club.

(1) Danielle Noble, Sr. Administrative Analyst - Homeless Services for the City of Santa Monica explains the results during the 2009 Santa Monica Homeless Count Findings Community Forum Convened by the Santa Monica Social Services Commission on Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, at the Santa Monica Civic Center. (2) Msgr. Lloyd Torgerson and Santa Monica Police Lieutenant Alex Padilla discuss the homeless count results. (3) McKinley Williams, OPPC Development Director, talks with a volunteer during the community forum.

2009 Santa Monica Homeless Count Shows Reduction in Homelessness
New City study will accurately reflect future progress at reducing homelessness

Santa Monica, Calif. – Today the City of Santa Monica Human Services Division (HSD) announced an 8% reduction in the city’s homeless population, based on its recent count of the city’s homeless. Using a new, rigorous methodology that involves physically counting homeless individuals in every census tract of the city, HSD is demonstrating the early success of Santa Monica’s Action Plan to Address Homelessness, and paving the way for accurate evaluation of progress in the future. The Count tallied 915 homeless individuals living within the City’s borders.

“We are pleased, but not surprised, to see a decline in street homelessness,” said Julie Rusk, Santa Monica Human Services Manager. “The City has been working hard for a long time to develop a compassionate and effective plan to address the issues of homelessness in our community. Considering the current state of the economy, this reduction is an indication of the success of our efforts.”

In 2008, the Santa Monica City Council adopted an Action Plan to Address Homelessness. The 2009 Count was designed to gauge the initial progress of the Plan. The Plan, which focuses City services and resources on the most vulnerable populations, aims to end the impact of homelessness in Santa Monica by engaging homeless individuals in services, assisting them to become stable and moving them off of the streets and into appropriate housing.

Today’s announcement bodes well for the City’s new approach. However, there is no denying that “street homelessness remains a major issue in certain areas throughout the city,” according to Santa Monica Police Captain Al Venegas. “But, thanks to the success of City programs like the Homeless Liaison Program (HELP), law enforcement and service providers have begun to work together with the City to help people find ways off the streets.”

The Homeless Liaison Program, a partnership between law enforcement and homeless service providers, is just one example of the City’s new homeless initiatives. The City’s chronic homeless service registry program identifies the city’s most vulnerable individuals, helping service providers to prioritize treatment and find appropriate housing solutions. Santa Monica’s Homeless Community Court provides individuals a second chance to get back on their feet; Project Homecoming reunites homeless individuals with friends and family members who can offer safe and stable housing options.

“The City, in collaboration with service providers, businesses and residents, has shown a continued commitment to finding compassionate and effective solutions to end homelessness in Santa Monica,” stated John Maceri, Executive Director of OPCC. Maceri credited the comprehensive Action Plan for today’s good news. “Fewer homeless individuals on the streets means we are on the right track.”

Santa Monica’s Homeless Count, which was conducted in conjunction with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s Homeless Count (www.lahsa.org), covered more than 226 linear miles, including all 19 of the city’s census tract areas. This year’s Count utilized a new, more thorough methodology to ensure that each area within the City’s limits was properly surveyed. City staff is confident that the 2009 Count findings paint an accurate picture of the city’s homeless population.

Bryan Adams, a community volunteer who participated in the 2009 Homeless Count, was also impressed with the City’s dedication to helping the homeless. “I was proud to have participated in the Count, and I’m proud to see Santa Monica take a leadership role on the issue. As a resident, I understand the concerns of other residents and homeowners and I’m happy to know that something is being done to improve things. I’m also happy to know that the City is taking a humane approach, an approach that I think reflects the good will of the people who live here.”

The 2009 Homeless Count was conducted by more than 250 volunteers between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. on January 27, 2009.

Santa Monica Police officers pose for a portrait on the Santa Monica Boardwalk after finishing the Wounded Warrior Project's 'Soldier Ride' on Friday, February 20, 2009. The Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride is a rehabilitative cycling program for wounded warriors. For many of these combat-wounded veterans, Soldier Ride provides the first steps in the return to an active lifestyle. Many of these men and women have been physically active throughout their lives. Soldier Ride offers these brave individuals the chance to get on a bike and prove to themselves, "I can still do this." Soldier Ride is not about politics; it's not about the war. It's simply about the soldiers. Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors. WWP serves to raise awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. For more information, please call 877 TEAM WWP (832-6997) or visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

(top) Santa Monica's Police Chief Timothy J. Jackman (left) and Fire Chief Jim Hone go head-to-head during the Thirteenth Annual "SuperBowl-A-Thon" at AMF Bay Shore Lanes on Friday, Feb. 6, 2009. Chief Hone won the chiefs challenge with a score of 140 to a close 135, but the SMPD beat the SMFD with an overall score of 691 to 594. (center) In a  tradition dating back to the 1917 Opening Day Ceremonies of the Santa Monica Bowling Alleys on the Pier, Santa Monica Fire Chief Hone (right) receives the first place trophy while Santa Monica Police Chief Jackman gets a bottle of Ketchup. (above) Santa Monica Kiwanis President Patty Loggins returns her shoes during the Bowl-A-Thon, her score was 122. Nearly 500 bowlers on teams representing various businesses, social service agencies and local government participated in the SuperBowl-A-Thon bringing together the private and public sector in an effort to eradicate homelessness in Santa Monica and transform the community. It benefits the Westside Shelter & Hunger Coalition’s efforts to strengthen services to homeless and at-risk, men, women and families through education, advocacy and service coordination.

(top) Two of the newest members of the Santa Monica Police family, Benjamin Jenkins, 28, (L) and Tina Greer , 30, (R) swear-in at Santa Monica City Council Chambers on Thursday, January 29, 2009, during the Swearing-in Ceremony. (above) Santa Monica Police Chief Timothy J. Jackman poses for a portrait with SMPD officers Jenkins and Greer at City Hall after the swearing-in ceremony.

Law Enforcement Code of Ethics

"As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality and justice."

"I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all and will behave in a manner that does not bring discredit to me or to my agency. I will maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed both in my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the law and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty."

"I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, political beliefs, aspirations, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities."

"I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of police service. I will never engage in acts of corruption or bribery, nor will I condone such acts by other police officers. I will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice." "I know that I alone am responsible for my own standard of professional performance and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve my level of knowledge and competence." "I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession. . . law enforcement."

1) Danielle Noble, MSW, Sr. Administrative Analyst, Homeless Services City of Santa Monica,  leads a training class for volunteers on Saturday, January 24, 2009, at the Santa Monica Main Library in preparation for the 2009 Santa Monica Homeless Count. 2) Santa Monica Police Sergeant Joaquin Vega and Volunteer Rebecca James discuss the assigned zone chart at the deployment station on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, during the 2009 Santa Monica Homeless Count. 200 plus volunteers in teams of 2-3 people surveyed Santa Monica's streets and counted homeless individuals on Tuesday night. Security was provided and all volunteers received training. 3,4,5) Volunteers Lyle Randles, 60, a Santa Monica Police Chaplain, and Patty Loggins, 48, Santa Monica Human Service Administrator, walk through downtown counting homeless people on Tuesday at around midnight. 6) Danielle Noble, MSW, Sr. Administrative Analyst, Homeless Services City of Santa Monica, (left) tallies up data from the volunteers city-wide count. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) is conducting its biennial county-wide count of homeless people on the streets on any given night. This year, for the first time, the City of Santa Monica is expanding its involvement in this project and partnering with LAHSA to do a city-wide direct street count in all of Santa Monica’s census tracts. A city-wide direct street count will give us as accurate a count as possible. The data from the count will have many uses including helping us define Santa Monica’s fair share, directing resources, and shaping our innovative and compassionate programs that engage homeless people in services, assist them to become stable and move them off the streets and into appropriate housing.

(1) Santa Monica Police Officers and Firefighters salute as the hearse arrives at St. Monica's Church during a memorial service for Councilman and former Santa Monica Mayor Herbert Katz, 78, on Monday, Jan 12, 2009. (2) Civic leaders bow their heads in a moment of silence for the memory of Councilman Herb Katz (3) Monsignor Torgerson gives a blessing during the memorial service. (4,5) Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels (left) and Monsignor Torgerson precede over the memorial service at St. Monica's Church (5) The SMPD salutes as the bagpipe plays. (6) Pallbearers carry the casket out of St. Monica's Church (7) The SMPD salutes as procession passes by (8) The procession drives down Main Street passing Santa Monica City Hall on its way to Woodlawn cemetery  (9) Pallbearers carry the casket at Woodlawn cemetery (10) Officers fire-off a 21 gun salute at Woodlawn cemetery during Santa Monica Councilmen Herb Katz funeral on Monday, Jan 12, 2009. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made in his memory to either the John Wayne Cancer Institute at 2200 Santa Monica Blvd., or the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles.