HDTV GOOD NEWS

CITY OF REDLANDS
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Chief Mark A. Garcia
30 Cajon Street
P.O. Box 1025 – Redlands, CA 92373
(909) 798-7681

NEWS RELEASE

March 20, 2012 Contact: Carl Baker
Phone: 909.798.7633
FAX: 909.798.7503
Email: cbaker@redlandspolice.org

For immediate release:

RPD welcomes new fulltime and reserve police officers

The Redlands Police Department recently welcomed two fulltime Police Officers and two Reserve Officers to its ranks.

During a ceremony held March 8 at the Redlands Police Annex, the department welcomed Officers Rigoberto “Rigo” Garcia and Sid Jones. Both officers were hired under a 2011 Federal COPS Hiring Grant.

After completing his enlistment in the Marine Corps, Rigo Garcia spent more than 12 years in law enforcement including the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement before being hired by the Redlands Police Department. He has worked in custody, patrol and as a field training officer. He has worked in gang and narcotics units, assigned to clandestine methamphetamine laboratories, and worked on fugitive apprehension and dignitary protection. Garcia has also been cross designated as a federal agent for the Department of Homeland Security and he is an instructor in active shooter response, firearms and tactics.

Jones began his career in 1988 when he was hired by the Rialto Police Department as a Reserve Police Officer. He worked as a Reserve Officer until September 1990, when he was hired full time by the Rialto Police Department, where he rose to the rank of corporal and worked a wide variety of assignments, including patrol, field training officer, narcotics, traffic and SWAT. In February 2001, Jones accepted a position with the California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement where he worked on numerous teams including the Gang Suppression Enforcement Team, California Methamphetamine Strategy Team and Inland Crackdown Allied Agency Task Force. In 2006, he was promoted to the rank of Special Agent Supervisor, and was assigned to the Coachella Valley Gang Task Force. He currently holds an Associate of Arts degree from Chaffey Community College and will earn his Bachelor’s Degree from California Coast University in April.

In addition, the department welcomed two Level I Reserve Officers, Thomas Williams and Paul Davis. Level I Reserves with the Redlands Police Department are volunteers who have put themselves through the rigorous academy training and background process to perform the same functions as fulltime, uniformed police officers.

Thomas Williams attended the San Bernardino Valley College Extended Basic Academy and graduated in 2nd place overall while working full time as a loss prevention agent at Target in Redlands. He graduated from Everest College with an Associates degree in criminal justice earning top honors with a 3.98 GPA.

Over the last seven years as a loss prevention agent, Williams has worked closely with members of the Redlands Police Department to solve crimes including shoplifting, burglary, identity theft, credit card fraud, embezzlement and vehicle burglary. In one incident, Williams identified and assisted with the arrest of two people who were stealing merchandise and providing the stolen items to a vendor at a local swap meet. Following an investigation and a controlled buy, an organized theft ring was uncovered resulting in the recovery of more than $35,000 worth of stolen property. On another incident, Thomas’ knowledge, experience and intuition led to the arrest of five subjects who were found using stolen credit cards. Following an investigation, police determined the subjects were also responsible for several vehicle burglaries in the city. Thomas also assisted Redlands Police and the Postal Inspector’s office with an investigation which led to the arrest of a postal employee who was stealing mail from residents.

Paul Davis attended criminal justice classes at Chaffey College and completed the Riverside Sheriff’s Academy where he graduated in the top 6 percent of his class in December 2009. He has extensive training in Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He aspires to become a fulltime police officer.

In addition, the RPD also welcomed crime analyst Kimber Davis and background investigator Keith Yoshimura.

Kimber Davis received a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcasting from Arizona State University in 2001. In 2011, she completed her Certificate in Crime and Intelligence Analysis, which is accredited through the Department of Justice, from the University of California Riverside. Recently, she graduated from California Baptist University with a Master’s degree in Public Administration.

Davis came to Redlands from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Intelligence Division where she volunteered more than 1,000 hours as a Crime and Intelligence Analyst.

Keith Yoshimura joined the Redlands Police Department after 21 years service with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, where he retired as a lieutenant. During his tenure with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department he was a gang investigator; a detective working sex crimes, frauds and homicide; a patrol sergeant; and retired as a lieutenant supervising for the Advanced Officer Training Division of Ben Clark Training Center.

He is currently attending California Baptist University, enrolled in a dual Master’s program in Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as Counseling in Ministry. He works at the Lake Gregory Church conducting premarital counseling with the Prepare Enrich assessment program.

PHOTO CAPTION: Police Chief Mark Garcia administers the oath of honor to new fulltime and Reserve Police Officers during a recent ceremony welcoming new personnel to the Redlands Police Department.

Redlands Police press releases and other information are available on the Redlands Police Department Facebook page at www.facebook.com/redlandspolice or on the Department website at www.redlandspolice.org
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Carl Baker
Public Information Officer
City of Redlands
35 Cajon St., Suite 204
Redlands, CA 92373
(909) 798-7633 (office)
(909) 557-6710 (cell)
cbaker@cityofredlands.org