| | Published November 16th, 2016
| Orinda Officials Drive Home the Need for Personal Responsibility to Combat Crime
| | | By Nick Marnell | | |
Orinda Police Chief Mark Nagel told a concerned audience Nov. 9 that the county sheriff's department will soon hold a press conference regarding the investigation of the September mugging of two city residents. "Our detectives have been working nonstop on this, but as it's an active investigation, I can't say much more," Nagel said.
Nerves have been frayed in the area since the assault in which two masked assailants surprised Orinda Union School District trustee Carol Brown and her husband outside of their Claremont Drive home. As the couple unloaded groceries from their car, the suspects robbed and shot Brown and pistol-whipped her husband, took off and remain on the loose.
Nagel spoke at a public safety forum held by the Orinda Association in response to an outcry from city residents. "I feel less safe than I did seven years ago," said a speaker and Nagel stressed that as good and safe a place as Orinda is, crime does exist. In fact, he said, because of recent legislation criminals may be getting even bolder. He pointed to Proposition 47, which reduced some drug possession felonies to misdemeanors; Assembly Bill 109, signed to reduce prison population; and Proposition 57, passed just this election, increasing the chance of parole for non-violent criminals.
The chief relayed inmate comments that his fellow deputies overheard at the Richmond jail. "Lamorinda has nice things...Lamorinda does not have security...We have a green light as long as we don't hurt anyone."
"Number two we can fix," Nagel said.
For the home, he stressed the importance of motion-detecting outside lighting, a strong front door and a top-notch security system. "And make sure to turn on the alarm," Nagel said. He advised that the public be aware of their surroundings when alone, especially in places like parking lots, stairwells, ATMs and public parks. If residents sense they are being followed, walk toward other people, or to an open business. If citizens are driving and are followed by another car, head toward a police station, or a hospital. "Do not drive home," warned the chief.
As for weapons, Nagel cautioned that Orindans be aware of where their weapons are and that they be hidden from children in the home. "A lot of responsibility comes with carrying a firearm," Nagel said. "And know the laws."
The chief told the audience of about 50 that he supports using technology in crime fighting, highlighting the Reconyx cameras installed around the city and the license plate scanners that sit atop two police cars.
The program opened with Moraga-Orinda Fire District's Dennis Rein, the Lamorinda Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, promoting home safety. He alerted the audience to how a simple thing, like a leak in a pipe below the ground surface, can lead to a major disruption like the Moraga sinkhole.
Rein and Nagel agreed on the basic premise of both home and personal security: "You are the first responder," they said.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA