The results of the recently released Chico Police Department’s Community survey find Chico residents by and large consider their town “safe” (although somewhat less so after dark) and that alcohol and drug related crimes were not as much of a concern as other crimes, such as home invasion and burglary. Among the survey’s findings:

92% of respondents felt their neighborhood was “safe” or “very safe” during the day, while 86% felt safe or very safe in Downtown Chico during daylight hours. At night, 70% of residents ranked their neighborhood as safe or very safe, but Downtown Chico fared much worse after dark, with 62% feeling that it was “unsafe” or “very unsafe.” The City of Chico in general scored a 92% safe or very safe for the daylight hours, which dropped to 44% after dark.

Only 36% of residents agreed that alcohol crime was a concern. 30% feeling that drugs were a a concern, while slightly more, 40% felt that marijuana cultivation in particular was a concern. More concerning, was theft (49%) vandalism (42%) and breaking and entering/home invasion (41%).

Among the crime that Chico residents felt should be made the highest or a significant priority were: violent crimes (91%) assault (83%) and gangs (83%). Among the violations residents thought Chico police should make less a priority were bike/skateboard violations (34%) parking (34%) and marijuana cultivation (21%).

The survey is available as a pdf here

On the heels of last month’s announcement that Butte County Superior Court Judge Stephen J. Howell (pictured) was retiring at the end of February, Superior Court Judge Gerald Hermansen has announced that he will also be retiring at the end of March. Both Howell and Hermansen originally served as Municipal Court justices in Butte County before being named to the Butte County Superior Court by then-Governor Pete Wilson in 1996, and both previously served as presiding judge of the Superior Court, Hermansen for two years and Howell for six. In a press release, Howell was also credited for both past and future expansions of the Butte County Superior Court in Oroville and Chico:

Judge Howell will be remembered for his administrative leadership. Initially he conducted court in what was known statewide as “the worst courtroom in the State of California”, a double-wide construction trailer located in a parking lot of the Oroville Justice Court. He led the effort which expanded the Superior Court in Oroville. Chief Justice George dedicated the facility in December, 1996.

Two additional courtrooms were added to the Superior Court building in 2005, largely due to the efforts of Judge Howell. Many years of planning has led to Butte County being selected for a new courthouse in the North County, serving Paradise and Chico. The five courtroom facility is due to be completed spring, 2014, and its construction, again, has been due largely to the efforts of Judge Howell.

Hermansen was previously a Butte County Deputy District Attorney, and later maintained a private practice in Butte County.

[Butte County Superior Court Press Info]

The Chico Police Department released their annual statistics and activity report for 2011 today, and the report showed that crime in Chico was down over 7% for the year and at it’s lowest point in a decade. Among the findings of the report (available as a PDF here):

Part I crimes (crimes against people or property) decreased by 7.73% between 2010 and 2011. Violent crime as down 1.08% while property crime was down 8.59%.

The 2011 Chico crime rate is the lowest in over a decade, and even lower than the State rate, which is itself a 50 year low.

Though overall violent crime was down, the report does note that the 5 homicides in Chico during 2011 may have been the most on the record.

[ Chico Police Department Press Release]

[Press Release: Californiaavoid.org]

A CHP officer assigned to the California Highway Patrol’s Cottonwood Truck Inspection Facility was arrested last month on charges of DUI and obstructing last month after crashing her car and attacking Redding PD officers who responded to the scene. Police responded to the scene of a four vehicle crash around 11 PM on January 14th near the intersection of South Bonnyview Road and Highway 243 in Redding. Upon arrival, the officers found 42-year-old CHP Officer Doreen Shaw (above), who police say was the cause of the accident, under the influence of alcohol. When officers tried to arrest Shaw, she reportedly kneed one of the officers and became “physically uncooperative.” Shaw was booked into the Shasta County Jail on suspicion of DUI and Obstructing a Public Officer, but was later released on her own recognizance without having to post bail, reminiscent to some of last week’s news regarding Colusa County DA John Poyner’s arrest for DUI, when he was released before being booked. Preferential treatment for law enforcement? You be the judge.

[Via Chico ER]

Authorities in Shasta County are also taking a closer look at a recent criminal case in which GPS tracking devices were used. “We are going back and reviewing that case to see if there are any other exceptions to the 4th amendment that might apply.” Shasta County Chief Deputy District Attorney Josh Lowery told KNVN.

The 4th Amendment to the Constitution reads “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.” Writing the majority opinion, Justice Scalia wrote about police use of a GPS device to track Jones, a Washington DC nightclub owner suspected of being involved in a drug ring “The Government physically occupied private property for the purpose of obtaining information. We have no doubt that such a physical intrusion would have been considered a ‘search’ within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment when it was adopted.”

Butte County Undersheriff Honea however told KNVN that his department will continue to use the devices. “That doesn’t mean we’re going to stop using them” he said about the recent ruling, “We’re just going to use them in accordance with the law.”

Via: KNVN.com

Colusa County District Attorney John Poyner  was arrested last week for driving under the influence, and according to a story in the Willows Journal, he will plead guilty “end up doing my 48 hours [in jail] like anyone else.”

Poyner told the paper that he had gone to dinner with his wife in Williams and was driving back to Colusa on Highway 20 when he was stopped by the California Highway Patrol, breathalyzed and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The CHP however, decided not to book the DA, instead allowing Poyner to go home to avoid any potential “conflict” between Poyner and inmates he may have prosecuted who may have been in the jail at the time.

“I did not ask for any special treatment and no one offered me any special treatment,” Poyner told the Willows Journal about this seemingly suspect. pat-on-the-back processing he received from local authorities. “I will plead guilty and take my punishment,” Poyner said. “I will end up doing my 48 hours like anyone else.”

[ Willows Journal / Photo: Colusa Sun Herald]

Read more at The Detroit Free Press

See the full list of Top 20 Cities for Drunken Driving Offenders at Insurance.com

Read the full story at Tulsa World