On March 31, Caesar Chavez Day, when all courthouses were closed to the public, Sheriff’s personnel assigned to Court Operation participated in an all hands training day at the Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. This customized training was designed to meet the specific needs of the courts above and beyond our annual minimal requirement. It included Arrest Control Techniques, Liability Issues, Tactically Verbal Communication, Building Search Techniques and multiple scenario training from a weapon screening bomb situation to courtroom barricaded persons. 279 sworn staff members received this training from various department subject matter experts.
It was decided to document this training for several reasons. We requested the services of your Reserve High Tech unit through Lt. Roger Neumeister. Thank you for being immediately responsive on the typical short notice. Through the subsequent efforts of Reserve Lt. John Shedd a plan was formulated to cover the entire day’s events highlights with both video and still cameras. Reserve Deputy Steve Sobodos, PSR George Ridley and PSR Stuart Golub were brought into the plan.
Early on the morning of the event these volunteers arrived early, with equipment and reviewed the scheduled rotation of training events. They offered a plan to use the two camera method of videotaping so as to offer easier editing for continuity of shots. The still photographers captured similar and different shots all resulting in almost four hours of video tape and over three hundred photographs.
Throughout the day they remained flexible so as to not interfere with training yet worked with each instructor to best obtain what was requested. By the end of the day these four motivated volunteers packed up their equipment and offered additional services if needed as it related to this project.
If sought, this kind of professional service would have cost our division over $1,000 and could not be justified. What can be justified is the accessibility of such skill sets provided by your Reserves on this day. I commend these four Reserve members for their invaluable services and am genuinely impressed and grateful.
Please expect a formal letter of gratitude from our Division Commander but know now that John Shedd, Steve Sobodos, George Ridley and Stuart Golub represented your division exceptionally.
Lieutenant Jeff Bardzik
Orange County Sheriff’s Department
North Justice Center