Dave Hinig, Arcadia Police Chief, discusses changes in the department over the last thirty years, including new technology, new crimes, community composition and new hires.
The new Arcadia Police station, the largest public project ever undertaken by the City of Arcadia, officially opened last Friday, October 3, when city government and law enforcement held a ribbon cutting ceremony on its front lawn. The police station was built using funds from an $8 million bond measure that was passed with a majority of public support in 1999. The 41,000 square feet headquarters has an additional 12,000 s.f. for a firing range and training room, maintenance and communication shops, a vehicle impound area and a SWAT facility. Dave Hinig is the Chief of Police. The previous police station was built in 1956.
Former Arcadia police lieutenant Kenneth Kuwahara, 40, entered his plea of guilty to false personation and identity theft, both felonies, and four misdemeanor counts of soliciting prostitution. The solicitations happened between January and May of 2005, while Kuwahara was on duty as watch commander. He faces up to 5 years in prison. The article includes Chief Bob Sanderson's comments.
Arcadia honors victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, with a brief service held at City Hall. Arcadia Police Chief Dave Hinig attended (photo).
Police chief Dave Hinig said a preliminary investigation shows officer Toni Caylor was justified in shooting alleged car thief Cesar Baltazar who allegedly threatened her with a 10-inch screwdriver.
Robert Seares, born in Pasadena in 1909, had an amazing career as a journalist, photographer, and police official. He was chief of police in Arcadia and remained there for 15 years until retirement. He wrote a memoir called "Eighty Years: a Memoir." A copy is in the Pasadena Museum of History library.
Arcadia Police Chief Dave Hinig outlined a strategic plan to improve the department over a five-year period, at a cost of $536,498. The proposals would involve adding 11 new salaried positions.
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC, Police Chief Dave Hinig said the Arcadia Police Department has evolved and is thinking beyond local crime enforcement. Officers are thinking more regionally and are more conscious of calling the bomb squad.
Orange County artist Dave Chapple will create a bronze statue of two uniformed officers that will be installed at the entrance to the new $16 million police station. The cost of the sculpture will be about $50,000.
Arcadia Police Department's PACE office in the Westfield Shoppingtown mall has a new name and sign. It is now called Arcadia Police Department-Community Services and two officers, Sgt. Bob Guthrie and Officer Paul van der Noorn, are now manning the station in the lower level, near JC Penney.