December 8th, 2022

Emphasizing Organizational Priorities

1. Leadership Stability
   1. Captain David Tapia attended Executive Management School
   2. Captain Leonard Lujan scheduled for California Police Chief's Conference in Marcc
2. Recruit and Retain the best
   1. Participated in police officer interviews
   2. Hosted three police birthday employee celebrations
   3. Lobby project completed
3. International Model of Community Trust
   1. Community Engagement CSO was approved-bringing them on Mid-January
   2. Attended Trunk or Treat with several officers
   3. Met with concerned citizen regarding noise complaint
   4. Hosted first Avenal Block Party in front of HQ
   5. Attended and spoke at two Use of Force/De-escalation classes
   6. Participated in Administration of Justice Advisory Board Meeting
   7. Attended Lemoore NAS National Night Out
   8. Attended Seniors Christmas Pozole event at Vets Hall
   9. Participated in Operation Gobble at Vets Hall
   10. Attended Rotary Club meeting
   11. Trading card program finalized- first 7 officers approved: arriving mid-January
   12. Citizens Police Academy Scheduled - January 25th, Feb 1st, Feb 8th, and Feb 15th
   13. Avenal PD Christmas Cards are going out next week
   14. "Pan Dulce con la Placa" Mid-January by Dr. Office Roldan
4. Amongst the safest cities in America
   1. Met with US Security lines to discuss adding three more camera locations.
   2. Attended Kings County JAG law Enforcement Meeting to secure add'l funds 
   3. CDCR presenting Gang Presentation Class to Avenal PD Officer
   4. Officers in process of completing Active Shooter training on Police Academy One platform
   5. Scheduling Active Shooter simulation training in December
5. Embrace wellness amongst our employees
   1. Hosted Avenal PD team meeting
   2. Hosted Sergeants meeting and discussed the importance of wellness

Significant Arrest of DUI subject with dangerous weapon

On Thursday, December 1st, 2022, at approximately 1530 hours, Officer Au. Rodrigues observed a brown Nissan truck accelerating at a high rate of speed in the area of Kings and Skyline Boulevard. Officer Rodrigues pulled the truck over in the area of Kings Street and Skyline Fifth Avenue. There was one adult male subject in the Nissan who was sitting in the driver’s seat. 

Officer Rodrigues smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from the inside of the truck and noticed the driver was under the influence.  Officer Rodrigues had the driver exit the Nissan to evaluate him for being under the influence. The driver admitted to having a firearm inside the Nissan behind the seat. With permission of the driver, Officer Rodrigues searched the Nissan and located an unloaded black ASTRA .45 caliber handgun. Officer Rodrigues conducted a records check on the handgun and it came back stolen out of the City of Riverside. 

After the FST’s, the driver was arrested for both driving under the influence and for possessing a stolen firearm.