Community Interest (Continued from previous page) evaluate their public fire-protection services. <strong>The</strong> program provides an objective, nationwide standard that helps fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment and training. And by securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, the PPC program provides incentives and rewards for communities that choose to improve their firefighting services. ISO provides statistical, actuarial, underwriting, claims and related information and analyses to insurers, reinsurers, agents, insurance regulators and other government agencies. For more information, visit the ISO mitigation website at www.isomitigation.com. <strong>Redwood</strong> City Police Department Announces Enhanced School Safety Plan <strong>The</strong> <strong>Redwood</strong> City police and fire departments announced an enhanced school safety plan for <strong>Redwood</strong> City schools. Weeks prior to several tragic school shootings that have occurred throughout the country, the <strong>Redwood</strong> City Police Department began devising a new strategy to better safeguard our city’s school campuses. <strong>The</strong> regrettable events that have garnered national attention act as a reminder of the importance and priority that such preparedness planning deserves. Consequently, the Police Department remains resolute in effectively implementing a comprehensive, multiphase preparedness plan that will include the collaborative training of school staff and culminate in a large-scale preparedness exercise involving the <strong>Redwood</strong> City police and fire departments, school staff and other stakeholder agencies. <strong>The</strong> department is committed to implementing this plan and undertaking this exercise within this year. <strong>The</strong> specific components of this plan include: • • • • On-site safety lectures will be presented to the staff of all school sites by departmental subject-matter experts. This training, commonly referred to as Code Red or the Campus Lockdown Protocol, will instruct all school staff members on how to immediately respond to campus threats as they await the response of police officers. A drill will be facilitated by departmental personnel, during which the learning points of the lecture will be demonstrated and ultimately employed by school staff. <strong>The</strong> department will refine existing departmental emergency response contingency plans and training levels to bolster its ability to respond effectively to extraordinary tactical events, such as those that may occur on school campuses and large business complexes. <strong>The</strong> department will collaborate to develop synchronized response plans in conjunction with the <strong>Redwood</strong> City Fire Department and other identified stakeholders such as local hospitals and public safety agencies in neighboring cities. Completed plans will incorporate the successful execution of an allinclusive tactical exercise that will be held on a school campus during 2013. In addition to preparing for such extraordinary events, the <strong>Redwood</strong> City Police Department is committed to examining all opportunities for the prevention of campus-based violence. Accordingly, the department is undertaking the following steps to protect the youngest, most defenseless children in our middle and elementary schools: • <strong>Redwood</strong> City police officials will be meeting with all school sites in the city to review security plans and make any needed additional recommendations. <strong>Redwood</strong> City dayshift patrol officers will meet with the administrators of each elementary and middle school in their respective patrol beats to establish a good working relationship with the school administrators. Dayshift patrol officers will conduct a walk-through of each elementary school in their respective patrol beats in order to become familiar with the school layout to more quickly and effectively respond in an emergency. This will also allow officers to gain a better working knowledge of the school schedules and become familiar with the school grounds and surrounding areas. When call volume permits, dayshift patrol officers will stop by each elementary school in their respective patrol beats at least one time during each school day in order to more proactively ensure school safety. <strong>The</strong>se collaborative measures will afford us the greatest opportunity to reduce • • • the potential threats to our school-aged youth and educational professionals. At the same time, optimization of our existing response protocols and preparedness will serve us well in minimizing the threat to life during these types of events. <strong>Redwood</strong> City Police and Fire Departments Announce Town Hall Meetings and “Coffee With the Cops” In January of this year, the <strong>Redwood</strong> City police and fire departments announced a collaboration to prevent violence and enhance safety at neighborhood schools. <strong>The</strong> comprehensive plan included synchronizing response procedures between the two departments in addition to training school staff regarding protocols for sheltering in place or responding to violent intruders on campus. <strong>The</strong> positive response to the initiative from those involved was overwhelming. In an effort to expand the benefits of this groundbreaking initiative to the greater community, the police and fire departments will be hosting a series of town hall–style community meetings. <strong>The</strong> theme of this year’s town hall meetings is “residents and public safety working in partnership to improve our neighborhoods.” One meeting per quarter will be held during 2013, beginning in March, at varied locations throughout the city. <strong>The</strong> town hall meetings will be facilitated by members of the police and fire departments. Residents will hear formal presentations about programs and services offered by each department and participate in a facilitated discussion to voice their concerns about public safety issues in their community. In addition to the town hall meetings, the Police Department will continue its popular “Coffee With the Cops” events. Coffee With the Cops is a program implemented by the <strong>Redwood</strong> City Police Department in an effort to enhance communication between community members and the Police Department. Coffee With the Cops is an informal event designed to allow citizens the opportunity to ask questions and learn about new programs and efforts the police department is currently focusing on in their neighborhood. During Coffee With the Cops, no formal presentation takes place, so citizens are welcome to drop in anytime during the event. Citizens will have the opportunity to meet the officers who are working in their neighborhoods. Officers will be answering questions, passing out crime prevention information, connecting citizens with city services and helping citizens get connected to the <strong>Redwood</strong> City Police Department’s social media sites. Public safety town hall meetings (mark your calendars): Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Road March 19, 7–8:30 p.m. Peninsula Covenant Church, 3560 Farm Hill Blvd. June 19, 7–8:30 p.m. St. Pius Church, 1100 Woodside Road Sept. 11, 7–8:30 p.m. <strong>Redwood</strong> Shores Library, 399 Marine Parkway Nov. 13, 7–8:30 p.m. Coffee With the Cops events: Canyon Coffee Roastery, 3203 Oak Knoll Drive Tuesday, March 12, 7:30–9 a.m. Hoover Family Center, 701 Charter St. Friday, April 12, 8:30–10 a.m. Starbucks, Marsh Manor, 955 Marsh Road Tuesday, April 23, 5:30–7 p.m. Summit Coffee, Roosevelt Plaza, 2137 Roosevelt Wednesday, May 15, 8–9:30 a.m. Franklin Street Café, Sequoia Station, 1053 El Camino Real Sunday, June 9, 2–3:30 p.m. Starbucks, 820 Woodside Road Sunday, July 21, 3–4:30 p.m. Peet’s Coffee, 2600 Broadway Tuesday, Aug. 6, 8–9:30 am Starbucks, <strong>Redwood</strong> Shores, 264 <strong>Redwood</strong> Shores Parkway Saturday, Aug. 24, 12:30–2 p.m. www.<strong>Spectrum</strong><strong>Magazine</strong>.net
GREG GARCIA REAL ESTATE CELL (650) 771-0656 GregGarciaHomes@gmail.com CA DRE 01009536
Change language