Five Deputy District Attorneys Honored for Prosecutorial Work

It took eight years to investigate and gather all the testimony for a high-profile case in which innocent bystanders were killed and injured in a hail of bullets between two rival gangs in southeast San Diego.

Deputy District Attorney Robert Hickey, who successfully convicted a gang member for the horrific act, was among five prosecutors from the District Attorney’s Office honored this week by the Board of Supervisors.

Supervisor Bill Horn presented proclamations to the five deputy district attorneys who were recognized for their work by the Deputy District Attorneys Association and are, “dedicated to the best ideals of public service.”

The five honored for their work were: Robert Hickey, Brock Arstill, Roy Lai, Katie Gayle and Christine Israel. Hickey was awarded Prosecutor of the Year and the others were awarded with Outstanding Achievement by the Deputy District Attorneys Association.

• Hickey distinguished himself by seeking justice for his victims despite a lack of physical evidence linking the shooter to the crime. Yet he pressed on and eventually persuaded other gang members to testify against the shooter for the murders of Carol Waites and Sharon Burton.
• Arstill was commended for winning murder convictions against two men in four separate trials for a 1994 cold case homicide. The trials stretched on for three years but despite faded memories and contradictory testimony, Arstill was steadfast and determined and proved his cases.
• Lai, who has been a prosecutor for less than 7 years, was recognized for his dedication and determination in winning convictions in 8 felony trials. In one of those trials, a murder defendant tried to claim he was insane when he stabbed a tourist to death in a parking lot. The jury ultimately found him guilty and sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole.
• Gayle fought to keep a man in prison for shaking his 2-month-old daughter to death in 1991. The father’s lawyers sought to overturn the conviction by claiming that new biomechanical research proved that humans did not have sufficient force to cause fatal brain injury. For six months, Gayle consulted experts and mastered the science of pediatric neurology and pathology to disprove their assertion. Not only did she keep this father in prison, but she also preserved 20 other shaken baby convictions across the country which might have been overturned.
• Israel was honored for prosecuting four men for six gang murders. She sought justice for an innocent bystander at a party, two robbery victims, a pregnant woman and her unborn child, a gang rival and a 14-year-old boy who was mistaken for a gang rival. Israel used her considerable courtroom skills to convince the jury to deliver just verdicts for the victims.

District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, who also attended the Board of Supervisors meeting, told the board that she was proud of her team and the dedication of these five deputy district attorneys showed that “we do not forget the victims.”

Saluting Our Veterans

In honor of Veterans Day, we are recognizing current County employees who have served in the armed forces.  Thanks to those veterans who chose to share their stories and thank you to all veterans for your service.

Alan Reddick, ARCC

US Army 1969-1971

Expert Badge M16a2 Rifle

175 Mm Howitzer Crew Member

Medic And X-Ray Technician

30th Field Hospital

Augsburg, Germany

Certificate. Of Appreciation

Honorable Discharge

Areleous Burton, Agriculture/Weights & Measures

I spent four years in the US Army as a Personnel Administration Specialist, spending my last year in the Army with 82nd Airborne Division.   I had a total of 15 jumps while with the 82nd.  I also spent 16 years in the US Coast Guard as an ST (Sonar Technician) & ET (Electronics Technician), with my last five years as a COMSEC (Secure Communications) instructor. 

Our Coast Guard Cutter was the first one on scene at the Exxon Valdez oil spill; another of my cutters was lead cutter of the Haitian Operation, bringing Haitians trying to come into the U.S. back to Gitmo (Guantanamo Bay, Cuba), temporarily until they could be repatriated.  Honorably discharged at expiration of term of service.

Louis Johnson, HHSA

US Navy 1982-2002 (Operations Specialist)

Served aboard:   USS Okinawa LPH-3

                           USS Essex-LHD-2

                           USS Tarawa LHA-1

Some ops:

Desert Storm/Shield

Nato operations Mogadishu

Relief to USS Cole

Awards

Nato award

Combat Action ribbon

Navy Achievement Medal

Sea Service

Good Conduct Award

Proud to serve and glad the Navy showed me the world.

George Gonzales, Sheriff's Department

Service: California Army National Guard

Active Duty: Dec 1976 – 1979, 1/325th IN, 82nd Airborne Division

US Army Reserve 1980 – 83, National Guard 1996 – Present

Present Rank: Sergeant Major (E-9)

Currently serving with the 40th Infantry Division, General's Staff - Future Plans and Strategy (G5)

Prior Assignments: First Sergeant - Headquarters Company, 40th Infantry Division.

First Sergeant - Headquarters Company 2/185th Battalion, 40th Infantry Division

Operations Sergeant, 2nd Brigade, 40th Infantry Division

Decorations, Awards and Citations:

Army Commendation Medal (4 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Army Achievement Medal (1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster)

Good Conduct Medal (Bronze Clasp 2 Loops)

National Defense Service Medal

NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 3)

Armed Forces Reserve Medal (M Device, X Device)

Army Service Ribbon

Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (Numeral 3)

South Carolina State Ribbon

Parachutist Badge

Expert Badge (M9 Pistol)

Expert Badge (M16A2 Rifle)

Expert Badge (M67 Grenade)

USAJ / 9th TAACOM, Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contribution

JTFWG ARFOR HQ, Certificate of Excellence

USAJ / 9th TAACOM, Certificate of Appreciation for Exceptional Service

40th I D, California, Certificate of Appreciation for Meritorious Service

Cited for Excellence by the Fort Knox Senior Observer Controller Team

Carmen Stamper, HHSA

US Navy  (New Orleans, Pearl Harbor, San Diego)

Assigned to a Unit that provided communications for the Seabees.

The cell phones back then were heavy, bulky and big (about 9”).

Andrew Strong participating in a mass casualty drill aboard USS Ronald Reagan.Andrew Strong, Human Resources

Service: United States Navy, Hospital Corpsman, 1998 - 2007

Designations: Fleet Marine Force/ Surface Warfare/ Air Warfare

Duty Stations:

Camp Johnson, North Carolina

Camp lejeune, North Carolina

Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina

Naval Submarine Base Bangor, Silverdale, Washington

USS Ronald Reagan CVN 76, North Island

Winston McColl, Purchasing & Contracting

Winston served 28 years in the United States Army retiring as a Colonel.  During that time he served two tours in Vietnam, first as a combat engineer, while the second tour he served as an infantry officer.  His numerous assignments took him to places around the globe from Vietnam, Germany, and South Korea, to Paris, France in the fields of intelligence and acquisition.  His final tour of duty involved the command of over 500 civilians and military in Van Nuys, CA overseeing $18 billion dollars in DOD contracts,

Winston was awarded three bronze stars, earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Jump Wings, and graduated from Ranger School earning him the Ranger Tab.  He is also a graduate of the US Army’s War College.

Mary Santos, Public Works

U.S. Navy

Radioman 2nd Class

I served in U.S. Navy from 1973 – 1977

I am proud to have served my country!

Steve Spence, Environmental Health

I enlisted in the Navy  at the age of 19  in July 1973, one month before direct military involvement ended in Vietnam. After training in Electronics Technology at Great Lakes, Ill,  I was stationed for two years in Spain when it was under the authoritarian regime of General Franco. The Navy then brought me to Long Beach and San Diego where I was stationed on the USS Towers (DDG-9) highlighted by visits to many countries during an eight month deployment to the Pacific.

Ramon Bilbao, Parks & Recreation

I served in U.S. Navy aboard the following ships:

USS Jarrett (FFG-33)

USS Ranger (CV-61)

USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63)

USS Fitzgerald (DDG-62)

I’ve participated in Operation Desert Storm, Restore Hope, and Iraqi Freedom.

Tara Harre, Probation

1996 – Present.  Fifteen years ago I joined the Army Reserve as a Private (E-3), and I continue to serve today as a Captain (O-3).   During these last fifteen years, I have traveled the world, jumped from planes, and served in combat.  I truly feel that I am a stronger person from the experiences that I have endured from the military.  I am a proud veteran and am going for my 20 - HOOAH!

Chairman Bill Horn, County Supervisor District 5

Service: USMC

Dates of Active Duty: July 1966-December 1970

Active reserve: 1970-1978

Rank at Discharge: Captain

I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1966 after graduating from SDSU. In 1968, I was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and sent to the jungles of Vietnam where I joined the Kilo 4/13 as the Executive Officer. Later that same year, I was promoted to Commanding Officer of Lima Battery 4th Battalion 12th Marines, 3rd MAR DIV RVN. While my Battery was under fire at `The Rockpile’, I received shrapnel wounds.

Recognition:

• Bronze Star Medal with Combat V

• Purple Heart

• Combat Action Ribbon

• Presidential Unit Citation

• Naval Unit Citation

• Meritorious Unit Citation

• National Defense Medal

• Vietnamese Campaign Medal with four stars

• Overseas Service Ribbon

• Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

• Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold and Silver Star

• Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation

• RVN Civil Action Palm

• Vietnam Service Medal

One of the greatest honors I have ever had was leading 270 men in combat for a year. As Ronald Reagan once wrote "Some people work an entire lifetime and wonder if they ever made a difference to the world. But the Marines don't have that problem."

Semper Fi

Deborah Doggett, Environmental Health

US Navy 1985-2005, HMC, MTS

2002-2005 Pentagon Force Protection Agency, Chemical, Biological, Nuclear, and Radiological Directorate

                Provided Biological Warfare Surveillance for the National Capitol Region

1999-2002 Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit #5

                Navy’s only CDC Level B Laboratory for Biological Warfare testing

                Forward Deployed Preventive Medicine Unit

                Disease Outbreak Investigations, Published work on Norovirus

1996-1999 Naval Medical Clinic Pearl Harbor

1991-1996 National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda Maryland

                President Clinton’s medical team

                Laboratory Liaison for 14 branch medical clinic laboratories

1989-1991 Naval Hospital Guam

1986-1989 Naval Hospital San Diego/ Naval School of Health Sciences

Award Highlights:

Joint Services Meritorious Service Medal

Navy Commendation Medals

Navy Achievement Medals

Favorite Memories:

Deploying to the Gulf to investigate a very large Norovirus outbreak  425 cases on one carrier!  Boy were we busy!

Working directly for President Clinton

Working with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force at the Pentagon

Guam and Hawaii – enough said, lol

Lonnie Palm, HHSA

Branch of Service:  United States Army

Length of Service:  May 1973 – May 1976

I enlisted at the beginning of the all-volunteer Army at age 19.  My first duty station was in Turkey near Istanbul for twelve months.  In 1974 tensions  between Turkey and Greece mounted concerning the island of Cyprus.  At that time I had purchased a round trip ticket on a Turkish airline to visit the southern Mediterranean coastline of that country for three days.  Permission was given by my commanding officer to take the trip.  On the final day there I returned to the airport only to discover that it was closed off to the general public and taken over  by the Turkish military. I contacted the base by telephone (not cell) and purchased a bus ticket with $1.25 remaining for the cross-country trek.  During the bus trek an Army captain from my base also boarded. It was a good feeling to know that I wasn’t alone.

Mike Dick, General Services

U.S. Army, ’71 to ‘74

25th Infantry Division 147th Aviation Co. CH-47 Chinooks

Barbers Point Naval Air Station, HI

They were just two weeks back from Viet Nam.

U.S Army National Guard ’84 to 2001 Retired MSG

40th Infantry Division 240th Forward Support Battalion

David Lampley, Probation

I enlisted in the US Army on June 1, 1970 and trained at Ft. Tacoma, WA and Fort Jackson, SC before being sent to Fifth Corps Support Command at Hanau, Germany.  Volunteering for Vietnam in 1971, I served at Cam Ranh Bay, Danang and Long Binh for nine months as all  units were being sent home around that time.  From 72 to 73, I was stationed at Fort  Hood, Texas, a few miles from home.   Honorable Discharge on May 31, 1973 as a Specialist 4th Class.  Notable experience was sending two weeks in Managua, Nicaragua in Dec. 72 with a MASH unit  supporting the country after a earthquake.   I also spent one year in the Texas National Guard in 1974.

I enlisted in the US Navy in March 77 and served on USS Chicago (CG-11), USS Durham (LKA-114) and deployed to the Pacific on 5 occasions, three times as a member of Cruiser-Destroyer Group One on board the USS Long Beach, USS New Jersey and USS Midway.  I retired in March 1977 as a E6, Operations Specialist First Class.  All my time was spent in San Diego except for a two year tour on the minesweeper, USS Fearless (MSO-442) from 81 to 83.

Pete Jacovino, ARCC

I proudly served for 20 years 9 months and 1 day in the US Navy as a Lithographer.  Often asked “if you could do it over again, would you”, always answered "heck yeah!" People pay good money to sail around the world and I always felt fortunate to be paid to sail around the world. Sure there were family separations, but they came along with the adventure. Our family always felt that the separations made you stronger.

One of the lasting memories I will always have tucked away in the military portion of my mind was floating around in the mined waters off the coast of Kuwait in the spring of 1991 for 45 days wondering, what if, and another would be riding a typhoon for the better part of 8 hours. Fun stuff!

Seriously, it was a great career, and heck yeah, I’d do it all over again. Anchors Aweigh!

Nina Gordon, Probation

I joined the military as a 2nd Lt in the Army Nurse Corps.  My first assignment was the Newborn Nursery, Fort Ord, Monterey, a far cry away from the fighting in Vietnam.  I remember the broken minds and the broken bodies of the men and women who were fortunate enough to return home.  I also remember being in uniform, standing outside the subway in N.Y., and having to experience less than complimentary comments from people who didn’t think we should be in Vietnam. I am proud to have served my country.  But I sometimes think the honorable title of veteran should be reserved only for those who served on the front lines.  I salute those veterans, my fellow Americans, who put their lives and limbs on the line for the rest of us.

Doug Ailshie, HHSA

United States Army - Sept. 1972 to June 1974

Military Policeman – Specialist 4th Class

Tour of duty (16 mos.) - Camp Long Support Detachment

Wonju, Korea

I was part of the last draft during the Viet Nam War era.

My orders were amended to Korea from Viet Nam during the last week of advanced training @ Ft. Gordon, Georgia.

Jose Mallari, Public Works

I belong to an endangered species that is well on its way to extinction unless a saving treaty takes effect soon.  As a Filipino citizen and non-resident of the United States in 1989, I joined the US Navy at the Subic Bay Recruiting Station in the Philippines by virtue of Article XXVII of the 14 March 1947 Military Bases Agreement between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines.  This agreement was abolished with the 1992 closure of US Military Bases in the Philippines.  I served in the USS Dixon (AS-37), deployed to the Middle East during the Persian Gulf War, and was honorably discharged in 1993.  Now an attorney, I have recently initiated an advocacy to seek restoration of US Navy Recruiting in the Philippines via re-negotiation of the Visiting Forces Agreement.

Jerry Wilkins, HHSA

Service:  U.S. Marine Corps

Dates of Active Service:  11/23/65 to 11/23/69

Inactive Reserve:  11/23/69 to 11/23/71

Rank at induction:  Private (E-1)

Rank at discharge:  Staff Sergeant (E-6)

Duty Stations:

• U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego (Basic Training)

• Marine Corps Schools, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

• Republic of Vietnam (Chu Lai/Danang/Phu Bai) with 11th Marine Regiment (Artillery), 1st Marine Division – October 1966 to November 1967

  • Participated in 5 major operations against VC/NVA

  • 28th Marine Regiment (Infantry), Camp Pendleton – November 1967 to November 1969

Recognition:

• Combat Action Ribbon

• Good Conduct Medal

• Presidential Unit Citation

• Vietnam Service Medal

• Vietnam Campaign Ribbon

• National Defense Service Medal

• Meritorious Promotion to Corporal (E-4)

• Meritorious Promotion to Sergeant (E-5)

• Meritorious Promotion to Staff Sergeant (E-6)

Jennifer Reynolds, HHSA

I served in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman. I served my country with the Marine Mag units as well as the VP67 Naval Air group, learning skills such as Emergency Medicine, Minor Surgery & Diagnosing sick sailors and Marines. I will never forget my brothers and sisters that stood beside me to assure our freedom.

Franco Lopez is on the right.Franco Lopez, Auditor & Controller

USMC 1999 – 2004

Memorable Events:

Weeks with no bed, little sleep, no shower, and no toilets at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003; no problem, we had plenty of ammo and a mission.

Coming out in one piece after countless conveys.

Setting up camp at the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon.

Mourning friends and colleagues.

Final Awards:

Combat Action Ribbon

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Marine Corp Good Conduct

Presidential Unit Citation

Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

National Defense Service Medal

Sol Masangkay, Parks & Recreation

U.S. Navy, 1980-1991

Service: Antisubmarine Squadron 29, NAS North Island 1980-1983 (aboard USS Kitty Hawk, CV-61 in 1981 and aboard USS Carl Vinson, CVN-70 in 1983 on its first cruise)

NAS Miramar Supply Department, 1984-1987

USS Tripoli, LPH 10, 1987-1991 (Desert Storm veteran)

Doug Stauffer, General Services

1973-1994, US Navy Civil Engineer Corps

See the world- every move I made was across an ocean. I went from Mississippi to Okinawa to Puerto Rico to Hawaii to Diego Garcia to Georgia to Italy to New York to Japan, ending in San Diego.  Best assignment: landed on Diego Garcia 2 weeks after the Iranian hostage-taking and witnessed the place go from a sleepy little backwater to the nexus of US military strength.  Within months we had more Seabees on the island than anywhere else in the world.  Seven day a week construction operations supporting fleet forces in the Persian Gulf.

Tony Avina, Agriculture/Weights & Measures

I actively served in the US Army from 1987-1990.  I remained as an inactive member of the US Army until 1995.  I was stationed in Frederick, Maryland at the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases-Bacteriology Division.  I was Biological Sciences Assistant in the Anthrax Biological Research team.  Our team was responsible to optimize the Anthrax vaccine, which was used by military personnel during the 1990 Persian Gulf War.  I am a Persian Gulf War veteran.  I was honorably discharged in 1990.

In addition, I also served in the California National Guard from 1992-1995.  I was honorably discharged in 1995.  

Harold Randolph, HHSA

United States Marine Corps, September 1974 to August 1995

I served as Administrator, Inspector/Instructor, Recruiter, Group Administrative Chief, Classified Document Courier, Company Gunny and Administrative Analyst.  Places stationed or visited: North and South Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; all states with Marine Corps Units west of the Mississippi and all Marine Units in the Western Pacific.   Most memorable assignment was “Operation Restore Hope” Mogadishu, Somalia from December 1992 to May 1993.  Most time spent overseas, 18 months in Subic Bay, Philippines.  Most fun had was flying (not piloting) when stationed with VMO-1 “Can Do” and with VMO-4 “Bronco”.  Call Signs used:  “Guru” and “Reverend”.  Continents visited – 6. Countries visited – 28.  Ready to do it all over again!!!

Happy 236th Birthday Marines! (November 10, 1775 – 2011)

Semper Fi

Rolando Indiongco, Probation

I proudly served in the United States Navy for 30 years and 14 days. I travelled to more places around the world in 30 years that most people do in a lifetime, all for free, thanks to the multiple aircraft carriers wherein I served. I was promoted to the rank only 1 percent of the enlisted military attain: Master Chief Petty Officer. I started serving following the conclusion of the Vietnam War. I also served in the Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and many others. I salute all of my fellow veterans.

Timothy Henry, HHSA

I served almost 13 years in the Navy, worked on aircraft avionics systems mostly on the SH-2F and SH-60B helicopters. In the middle of my Navy career I was assigned to VX-1. This is the squadron that tests any new Antisubmarine Warfare aircraft and equipment. At this squadron we had five different types of aircraft both helicopters and fixed wing.

April Heinze, General Services

Join the Navy and See the World-that was the recruiting line that attracted me to the Navy.  The 1970’s were the early days of expanded opportunities for women in the military and I was fortunate to receive a Navy ROTC scholarship to attend engineering school, serve my Country as a Civil Engineer Corps officer around the world, and become the third woman ever promoted to the rank of Captain in my specialty.

Memorable events include:

Seabees-the honor of leading the most dedicated and energetic young people to build and repair almost anything, anywhere

Shipyards-3 Navy shipyards, crawling through utility tunnels, repairing WWII damage in Pearl Harbor, and the eerie silence of the USS Arizona memorial

Diplomacy-bi-lateral exercises in Korea and Thailand, drinking vodka with generals in Russia

Disasters-earthquake recovery and monsoons in the Philippines, outrunning typhoons in the Pacific

Conflicts-landing in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Marines just 8 days after Iraq invaded Kuwait in the first Gulf War

Congress-watching our democracy at work, preparing testimony for appointees, briefing staffers on the hill, sitting in hearings directly behind the principals

9-11-flying cross-country on military aircraft with senior political appointees to return to D.C. when all commercial aircraft were grounded, returning to the Pentagon on 9-12 to find over 90% of the military and civilian employees continuing to work for freedom

Diane Cook, Purchasing and Contracting

Eight years active duty service with the US Army. I am a disabled veteran who participated in Desert Storm as a combat medic.  Throughout my military career I was stationed in some exotic and not so exotic places just to name a few: Ft Leonard Wood Missouri, Ft Sam Houston Texas, Tripler Army Medical Center Hawaii and Madigan Army Medical Center, Washington. While serving I became a Department of Defense Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, one of only 50 of us at the time Army wide.

Norm Taylor, General Services

US Army, ’62-’65.  Ist Inf. Div., 33rd Arty.  Berlin Brigade, ’63.

Carlos Renstrom, Parks & Recreation

I served as a Human Resources Specialist (42A) in the U.S. Army. I was stationed in Columbia, South Carolina and Schofield Barracks in the island of Oahu, Hawaii, where I completed active duty.

During active duty, I was part of the Personnel Action Center for the 84th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy) in the 25th Infantry Division (Light) providing Human Resources services to 600 soldiers and their families. I was in charge of processing military personnel promotions, demotions, personnel actions, leadership briefings, data processing as well as making sure that soldiers and their families were receiving military benefits and counseling as needed during deployments. In 2004, I received the Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Marksman on M16 and M249 Rifle, Expert on Grenade and Overseas Medal.

Anne Greenstone, HHSA

I joined the Air Force Nurse Corps after college to earn the GI Bill to pay for grad school.   I was assigned to Carswell AFB  Texas 3/ 1972-3/ 1974.  In early May 72  all active duty men  on the base (pilots, crew, nurses) were hurriedly assembled and flown to Viet Nam in one night for the Tet offensive.  Noise from departing planes kept me awake all   night.  All male RNs were gone.    I worked the orthopedic ward caring for the war wounded .  What a rambunctious group, mostly ages 18-20.  One night I was surprised by flight staff entering the ED with a group of ill men- POWs coming home to Texas.  I separated in March 1974.  I went directly to UCLA.  I was awarded my MN degree from UCLA in 1978. The GI Bill paid for  living expenses.  I earned it. 

James Boyd, County Counsel

1972 – 1975 U.S. Army, Special 5, US Army Legal Services Agency, Europe

1975- 1977  U.S. Army Reserves (E-5)

1977 – 1980 U.S. Marine Corps, Lance Corporal until Enlisted Commissioning Program (OCS), 1st Lieutenant, Infantry

Dale Santee, Alternate Public Defender

Colonel Dale W. Santee was the senior individual mobilization augmentee to the staff judge advocate, HQ Pacific Air Force, Hickam AFB, HI.  Commissioned as a reserve officer through the Direct Appointment Program, he served on active duty as an Air Force judge advocate from January 7, 1979 to August 8, 1983.  He deployed twice in support of peacekeeping operations in Bosnia with the Tanker Task Force based in Pisa, Italy for Operations Deny Flight and Joint Endeavor.  In December 1996, he deployed to Istres, France in support of Operation Joint Guard.  From August 2000 to December 2000, Colonel Santee deployed for Operation Southern Watch to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the first reserve Staff Judge Advocate of an Air Expeditionary Force (AEF 9).  He was an adjunct instructor at the Judge Advocate General School, Montgomery, AL, Pacific Joint Operations Law Exercise, HI and the International Institute of Humanitarian Law, San Remo, Italy.

Robert Contreras, Housing and Community Development

I served in the United States Navy from January 1976 until January of 1980. That is what brought me to San Diego. I enjoy my time in the Navy, especially the traveling. But what I remember most is meeting persons from my hometown of Schertz, Texas. The most memorable one was when I arrived at Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines. I was checked in by an Air Force sergeant who I had met when I was a teenager. I lived next to a Air Force base and I often hung at the gym. This sergeant worked with my uncle. Boy, was he surprised to see me. After I finished my enlistment, I decided to stay in San Diego as I fell in love with the city on my first visit.

Greg Locke, General Services

I served 21 years of active duty with the United States Marine Corps. The leadership traits that I witnessed while in the Marines Corps are something I have tried to emulate on a daily basis and will continue to for the rest of my life. I have lived in a number of unique areas of the world; I spent four months living in a tent in Yechon, Korea, spent time in the western Egyptian desert, saw the rainbows are formed  when the desert sands blow off the coast of Tunisia in the evening and saw my daughter born in a hospital in Japan. I hope that all the veterans will enjoy this special holiday on November 11, 2011.

Manuel Garcia (right) with former County employee Robert Roberson.Manuel Garcia, HHSA

Active Duty

United States Army Feb. 1973 to July 1976

52nd Construction Engineer Battalion

220th Field Artillery,

Fort Carson, Colorado

United States Army Ready Reserve-1976-1987

129th Med. Evac. Hospital (Must Unit)-Admiral Baker Field

177th Transportation Company-Camp Pendleton

Tom Philipp, Auditor & Controller

Submarine Service – Cold War (1977-1983).   Nuke machinist on USS HADDO SSN604.  Home port – San Diego.  Longest submerged – 45 days when Iran held US hostages.  How does it feel underwater?  A bit like an airplane, especially when they do ‘angles and dangles.’

Jay Patterson, ARCC

Rank: Dental Technician 1st Class

Branch: United States Navy (Retired)

Service: March 1976 to March 1996

Specialties: Medical/Dental Administration & Oral Surgery Technician

Commands:

(a)  Overseas Command: NAS Agana Guam [Sep 76 to Mar 79]

(b)  Sea Commands:

USS Coronado (AGF-11) [Apr 81 to Apr 82] – Persian Gulf Command Ship

USS Hunley (AS-31) [May 82 – Dec 83] – Holy Loch Scotland

USS Long Beach (CGN-9) [Jan 87 – Jun 90] – Pacific Fleet

USS Rushmore (LSD-47) [Aug 93 – Mar 96] – Pacific Fleet

Shore Commands:

(1)  Naval Hospital, NAS Whidbey Island WA

(2)  Naval Regional Dental Center, San Diego, CA

(3)  Naval Supply Center, San Diego CA

(4)  Fleet Dental Office, US Pacific Fleet

Notables:

(a)  Sailed around the world in 1987.

(b)  Set foot on every continent on this earth.

(c)  Five tours of duty to Persian Gulf region (combat and non-combat).

(d)  Lots of memories…

Kristie Makowsky, HHSA

I joined the United States Army right out of high school. I served for four years, on 3 different bases – Fort Polk, LA, Fort Gordon, GA and Fort Jackson, SC. I was the first female Radar Technician recruited right after the Vietnam war. I learned a lot in the Army and my veteran’s benefits are the only reason I was able to purchase my home. My son is following in my path and will be reporting to Fort Jackson, SC in March 2012.

Moises Rivera, Probation

USN 1989-1993. I served on the USS Vincennes CG-49.

Sue Baker, HHSA

My name is Suzanne (Coffman) Baker.  I was Suzanne E. Rafferty when I served in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps from 1969 until 1971.  My duty station was Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where I worked as a 1st Lieutenant in the 1000 bed hospital Wilford Hall.  Though I worked on many medical-surgical units, my most memorable  was my rotation to the burn unit where two of my patients were pilots that had been shot down in Vietnam.  Military nursing was a good experience for me, and I was honorably discharged as Captain.

Jessie Frank, Public Works

I served in the USMC for more than twenty seven years. Participated in Desert Shield/Storm in 1991.  My family can trace service in the Military for every conflict starting with the French and Indian Wars.

Daniel E. Chesler, HHSA

U.S. Navy,  served on ships escorting tankers during  the ‘Tanker War’ and had a front row seat during Operation Preying Mantis.

Fleet Services Division Gets "Blue Seal" of Excellence

When you need your car fixed, you look for a skilled mechanic you can trust—and sometimes they’re not so easy to find.

But fortunately, when one of the County’s 3,900 or so vehicles needs repairs or maintenance, it goes to one of the best shops around: a Department of General Services Fleet Management garage.

The Fleet Management Division recently received external validation of its work in the form of the “Blue Seal” of Excellence from the ASE certification program. The “Blue Seal” is the same mark you see displayed in good commercial garages.

To qualify, the Fleet Management team had to meet specific criteria, including having 75 percent ASE-certified technicians. ASE certification involves training and written tests, so the achievement shows that County Fleet technicians are skilled and extremely knowledgeable. 

“With new technology, vehicle maintenance and repair has become increasingly complex,” said Sharyl Blackington, the Department of General Services Fleet Operations manager. “The required periodic testing through the ASE program helps the County maintain a competent and knowledgeable team of maintenance and repair professionals.”

This results in County departments seeing increased safety, lower maintenance costs and better service in vehicle and mobile equipment repairs.

Good service is essential to keeping the County moving. Fleet Management owns and operates one of the largest collections of government vehicles in the state, including motorcycles, cars, law enforcement vehicles, light-duty trucks and vans, fire apparatus, heavy-duty trucks, tractors, trailers and off-road and industrial equipment.

ASE stands for the nonprofit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. The group conducts the only industry-wide nationally recognized testing and certification program for automotive service and repair professionals.   

Take the Guesswork Out of Your Portfolio

Just like your car needs a regular tune-up for good performance, so does the investment portfolio in your Deferred Compensation Plan. And it isn’t as complicated as it might seem. In fact, we can help put your portfolio on cruise control!

There are two ways to tune up your portfolio:

1. If you choose your own mix of mutual funds, we have implemented an Auto – Rebalance function on the website. If you choose this option, any time one of your mutual funds falls 5% or more outside of the range you set, your portfolio will automatically rebalance, taking advantage of the ups and downs in the markets. For example, if you chose the Vanguard S&P 500 Index fund to be 40% of your mix and it grows to be 45%, the program will take the 5% growth and redistribute it to whichever mutual fund is short of its ideal percentage. This is basically skimming off the profit from one asset class by “selling high” and reinvesting by “buying low” with another. 

2. Target Date funds also accomplish this goal. This option is also known as a “set it and forget it” option because there are professional money managers who rebalance the mutual fund’s investment mix for you. A Target Date fund is a collection of mutual funds that already has the right balance of asset classes for your retirement date. They are listed by date, such as 2020 or 2035, and you choose the one closest to when you are likely to retire. Over time and the closer you get to using that money, the investments get more and more conservative, the way all retirement portfolios should be run. 

Don’t forget, we have a whole team of very knowledgeable mechanics (aka retirement specialists!) who will meet with you one-on-one to make sure your mix of investments is the right one for you. They can meet with you at your worksite when it’s convenient for you.

To reach a Retirement Specialist, please call the local Nationwide office at 858-569-0295. 

Sheriff’s Deputy Wins State Recognition for Pulling Drunk Drivers off the Road

(l-r) Sheriff Bill Gore, Encinitas Captain Sherri Sarro, Deputy Dave Toner, OTS Director Chris Murphy

Kudos go to an Encinitas Sheriff’s Deputy who recently won the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Award for Traffic Safety Excellence. Deputy Dave Toner was honored for making 187 DUI arrests last year, the highest of anyone in the Sheriff’s Department or any other agency in the County. Deputy Toner is a Senior Traffic Deputy who works the night shift in the Encinitas, Solana Beach and Del Mar areas. When he’s not improving traffic safety by pulling drunk drivers off the road, he’s training new deputies and giving advice on how to conduct DUI investigations.

The Sheriff’s Department itself won third place in the California Law Enforcement Challenge Impaired Driving Award. It recognizes agencies that reduce driving fatalities and injuries. Among the many ways the Sheriff’s Department works toward that goal is by conducting DUI checkpoints, bicycle safety rodeos, safety presentations and a free class for teenage drivers called Start Smart.

OTS Director Chris Murphy traveled from Sacramento to the Sheriff’s Main Office in Kearny Mesa to present the plaques to Sheriff Gore and Deputy Toner. Deputy Toner’s supervisor, Captain Sherri Sarro, was also on hand for the presentation.  

Chief Probation Officer Honored as Law Enforcement Official of the Year

Chief Probation Officer Mack Jenkins (right) and Probation Officer Bobby Burns were both recognized by the San Diego Crime Commission.

When asking local law enforcement leaders who should be named this year’s law enforcement official of the year, the San Diego Crime Commission kept hearing one name again and again – Chief Probation Officer Mack Jenkins.

Jenkins has worked closely with the public safety community over the past several months in his role as chairman of the Community Corrections Partnership. The group’s executive committee was tasked with a monumental challenge: creating a local plan for public safety realignment, which shifts thousands of offenders from state to county responsibility.

District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis and Sheriff Bill Gore sit on the committee with Jenkins, and they presented the award to Jenkins at the San Diego Crime Commission’s awards ceremony Friday. In addition to his work on public safety realignment, Jenkins was honored for his contributions to public safety during his 33-year career, including the design and implementation of special supervision programs for domestic violence, sex and drug offenders.

Probation Officer Bobby Burns was also honored as one of the commission’s 16 Blue Knight award recipients. Other County recipients included Sheriff’s Department Detective Anthony Calvert and District Attorney Investigator Gary Helson.

The San Diego Crime Commission is a non-profit organization which builds public awareness about the impact of crime on the community and provides educational programs throughout the county.

ShakeOut for Earthquake Preparedness

Does everyone in your family know what to do during an earthquake to reduce the chance of injuries? When was the last time you rehearsed your family emergency plan? Have you participated in a work earthquake drill? Emergency preparedness experts say it is not only important to have an emergency plan but to practice it, so it becomes an instinctual response.

“The Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill is a great opportunity to hold a drill at home and work,” said Herman Reddick, County Office of Emergency Services interim director. “We encourage County employees to get earthquake ready.”

Statewide, participants will Drop, Cover and Hold On at 10:20 a.m. on 10/20. However, the point of the exercise is to promote earthquake preparedness, so San Diegans are encouraged to participate even if they hold the drill at an alternate time or another day.

The safest response is Drop, Cover and Hold On. What that means is dropping to the floor when you feel shaking, and going underneath a table or desk, covering your head with one arm and holding onto the furniture with the other arm to keep it from moving during the shaking.

The ultimate goal is to protect your head. When scientists studied earthquakes in the United States, they found that most people were injured or killed by items falling over onto them. This is why people are safest under a table or desk.

If there are no tables or desks, the next best advice is to find an interior wall away from any heavy furniture, windows or fixtures. Slide down with your back against the wall and use your arms to cover your head.

If you are indoors, it is best to stay indoors; otherwise you may be hurt by falling items as you try to run outside. You may also be hurt by falling debris outdoors or may encounter downed wires. 

If you are already outdoors, then the safest thing is to try to get to a clear area, away from buildings, trees, or utility wires. Then, just sit down and cover your head.  Essentially, the same advice applies to driving. Try to pull over to a clear area away from bridges or overpasses, and wait it out in your vehicle.

Earthquakes can’t be predicted. That’s why people are urged to be prepared to survive and recover after a major earthquake. San Diego County, like most of California, sits on a network of active earthquake faults. The Rose Canyon Fault, which runs under La Jolla and downtown San Diego, is capable of producing a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that would cause significant damage.

Besides knowing what to do during an earthquake, people are encouraged to learn how to prepare before an earthquake by completing a family disaster plan, having a home or work emergency kit, and securing items around their home or workplace so they won’t fall.

To register to ShakeOut (even if it’s not at the designated time and day), visit www.ShakeOut.org, and to learn more about preparedness, visit www.ReadySanDiego.org .

Meet the County’s First IT Innovator of the Year

The County’s first-ever IT Innovator of the Year award has gone to a housing supervisor who found an automated process to replace her department’s torturous monthly slog through inspection paperwork.

Housing and Community Development veteran Debbie Dyar received the honor from County Technology Office Director Harold Tuck in front of County leaders last week. Dyar was chosen from a field of more than 25 nominees and five finalists—one from each County group.

The award will go to one employee each year who demonstrates outstanding innovation using information technology.

Dyar, who joined the County in 1987, said she’s always tried to figure out how things could be done better at work. Not that she does it for the glory.

“I’m quite a behind-the scenes person so all this is a little weird,” a cheery Dyar said of the big award.

“It feels good,” she added.

Her department is feeling good these days too thanks to the new technology for organizing rental inspections that Dyar instituted.

Housing and Community Development administers rent subsidies to some 10,800 families at any given time, and departmental inspectors have to visit each subsidized apartment unit to make sure it meets basic living standards. Each year, seven inspectors drive all over the region to see about 12,800 properties.

 In the past, organizing, scheduling and planning routes for all these visits was a mammoth administrative task.

Each month, about 1,000 apartment units all over the County would need an inspection. So the department would print the electronic forms for each property; then a supervisor and clerical staff would disappear into an office and sort the 1,000 forms by city or community, Dyar said. After that, staff looked at the addresses and planned a month’s schedule for each inspector.

“It was a completely manual paper shuffle,” Dyar said.

And it took about 25 hours of staff time.

Once inspectors got their schedules, they used Google Maps or a similar application to get driving directions. That took more time.

Dyar knew there had to be a better way. As her department’s IT lead, she began seeking technological solutions.

She reached out to IT experts around the County and arranged demonstrations of several software applications. It turned out a commercial application called TourSolver suited the department needs perfectly.

The program automatically organizes a daily route and schedule for each inspector using the addresses from the rental forms. TourSolver has slashed the time spent each month on inspection planning from 25 hours to about 3 hours, the department estimates.

And there’s no more “Google Mapping” and printing driving directions.

Instead, inspectors carry GPS units that download routes from TourSolver and issue audible turn-by-turn instructions.

Because the routes the software devises are as direct as possible, inspectors now drive about 10 percent less, saving gas and money.

The software and GPS units cost about $10,000 but save the department about $30,000 each year, primarily in labor costs the department estimates.

So what advice does the County Innovator of the Year have for others who want to improve how their departments work?

“Keep an eye out and look for ways to make their work better,” Dyar said.

And if employees know a process could be better but don’t know what technological solutions exist, they can talk to their supervisor or their department’s IT lead, she said.

Don’t assume it’s too difficult or expensive to improve a process that seems entrenched, Dyar said.

“It doesn’t have to be a big expensive solution,” Dyar said. “With TourSolver, right off the shelf it works.”

Haunted Happenings at the Whaley House

Are you looking for something fun and spooky to do leading up to Halloween? Why not check out the Whaley House in Old Town, called “the number one most haunted house in America“ by the Travel Channel. During the month of October, there are several spine-tingling tours and special events offered to the public.

The Whaley House, owned by the County of San Diego, is located at 2476 San Diego Ave. in the heart of historic Old Town. First a gallows, then a granary, the building was converted to a home in 1857. It was designated as a historic house museum in 1960 and has been open to the public ever since. The popular museum attracts an estimated 100,000 visitors annually. 

The last Whaley family member lived in the home until 1953. Some say the family and other spirits live on in the historic home and make themselves known on a daily basis to staff and visitors.

San Diego Ghost Hunter Maritza Skandunas leads one of the more popular after-hours tours at the Whaley House.

“The later it is, the creepier it is in the Whaley House. It’s very active all the time, but at night it’s your own fear that makes it more interesting,” Skandunas said. “Every tour, something happens.”

Skandunas said people sometimes hear heavy footsteps, smell sweet tobacco smoke, see apparitions walk through walls, or even feel ghosts tugging on their clothes. Yet, she assures everyone that the Whaley House has a good energy, nothing sinister.

Victor Santana, director of Interpretive Services at the Whaley House, said besides the haunting, he finds the site’s and the house’s history very interesting. Yet, haunting has seemed to go hand in hand with the site since the home was built over the site where public hangings had once occurred. The Whaleys themselves experienced hauntings in their home, he said. Mr. Whaley would claim to hear heavy footsteps and Mrs. Whaley spoke of spirits in the house, Santana said.

Santana’s most disturbing personal experience at the home happened years ago while he was leading a tour upstairs in the nursery. Some period-era dolls, not original to the house, were on display and as he gave the tour, one of the dolls began opening and closing her eyes. Even creepier, he said, when he went back later to examine the doll, she had painted-on eyes.

Tours:

• The more faint of heart might prefer the day self-guided tour of the house. The tours run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The home is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children 3-12 years old.
• For someone who prefers a little more information, consider the after-hours tour from 5-9:30 p.m. Tour guides lead a group of 20-25 people through the home room by room. The tours usually last 30-40 minutes and are offered every half hour. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children.
• The Past & Presence walking tour takes people to the nearby Adobe Chapel and El Campo Santo Cemetery as well as the home. The remaining special tours will be held on Oct. 24-25. The tour is $25 per person for those ages 12 and up.
• Want to conduct your own paranormal investigation? The Ghost Hunting Tour led by the San Diego Ghost Hunters will be of interest to you. The 90-minute tour, which begins at 10:30 p.m. and goes to midnight, includes information from real ghost hunters about their investigations at the home. Afterward, guests can even borrow some of the tools of the trade to try to document ghostly phenomenon on their own. The tour is limited to 20 people and costs $50 per person. Indeed this tour is so popular that October is sold out, but the tour is usually offered once a month, so reserve now for Nov. 11 and 18.
• For some other-worldly wailing, try Scaryeoke at the Whaley House with entertainer Laura Jane Willcock. The free event is held from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Whaley House Gardens. Costumes are optional and if you sing a Halloween song, you have a chance to win a prize.

House tours are extended from 6 p.m. to midnight on Halloween weekend. For more information, visit http://whaleyhouse.org/ and click on “What’s New.”

Walkable Communities Lead to a Golden Footprint

Tracy Delaney is being recognized for her efforts to make neighborhoods safe for walking.

Getting healthy begins with one step and what better way to get out and get moving than to take a walk in your own neighborhood.  But what if your community lacks proper sidewalks or proper safety lighting? Creating walkable communities is important in getting residents out, moving, and feeling safe.

No one knows this better than Tracy Delaney, Ph.D., principal investigator for the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) program.

Delaney has been honored for her work on behalf of the County, with the Golden Footprint award by WalkSanDiego and Kaiser. The Golden Footprint Award recognizes individuals, agencies, and projects that enhance the livability of San Diego communities by making walking a safe and viable choice for people.

Delaney has spearheaded the nation's largest CPPW grant, locally known as "Healthy Works." She has been at the forefront of the effort to create healthy walkable neighborhoods.  

Delaney is also active in the Safe Routes to School project that helps communities educate residents about the benefits of walking to school and establishing safe routes.

“Tracy has gone the extra mile in her job to plant the seeds for improvements to our community’s infrastructure,” said Wilma Wooten, MD, MPH, Public Health Officer for the County of San Diego. “Through her leadership the County has helped to make communities in San Diego healthier and safer.”

In partnership with SANDAG, Delaney helped establish a public health stakeholders group to ensure physical activity and nutrition are incorporated into land use and transportation planning. Through the Healthy Communities Campaign, Delaney helped develop approaches for creating bicycle and pedestrian friendly neighborhoods.

“I am a firm believer in the role that walkable communities can play in improving public health,” said Delaney. “This award is a great honor.”

Delaney received the award at a ceremony on October 13.