Contra Costa Herald

Orinda Police Department is hosting the annual National Night Out event at our station this summer. Meet your neighbors, learn how to help fight crime, and have fun!

Tuesday, August 1, 2023 from 5–8 p.m.

Join us for an evening of community building over BBQ (hot dogs and hamburgers). If you bring a backpack or school supplies to donate, you’ll have the opportunity to dunk our Chief of Police in the dunk tank! All supplies will be donated to the Family Justice Center in Concord.

National Night Out is hosted by police departments across the nation in order to promote safer communities through knowing your neighbors and local police officers.

Learn more about Orinda’s Police Department: www.cityoforinda.org/173/Police-Department

Are you ready?! Tomorrow (August 1, 2023) is National Night Out! We’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the Martinez Marina downtown from 6-9pm. Bring the kids, relax and enjoy what looks to be a beautiful evening in our Marina. Here’s a link to register (it’s free!)

https://www.eventbrite.com/…/national-night-out-2023…

If you see us around, feel free to say hi! Can’t wait to see you all there!

Pre-registration is required

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.

From 6:00- 9:00 pm on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 neighborhoods throughout Danville and across the nation are asked to spend the evening outside with neighbors holding block parties, festivals, parades, ice cream socials and cookouts. Sign up and schedule a visit from Town of Danville Council Members, and Officers from the Danville Police Department.

Please contact 925-314-3717 with any questions. Pre-registration is required.

National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

National Night Out is Tuesday, August 1st from 5-8pm at 1275 Broadway Plaza. We will have demonstrations from our K-9 unit, bomb team, drone operators, motor unit, and Central County SWAT members! Contra Costa County Fire Station 1 will also be joining in on the fun! Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office emotional support dog, Bear will be our special guest appearance of the evening. We look forward to seeing you and spending some time with our community.

Additionally, if you are holding a NNO event in your neighborhood and would like an officer to stop in, please email mailto:hall@walnutcreekpd.com with event details and we will do our best to stop in!

We hope to see you all there!

Meth, cell phones and cash confiscated during arrest in Concord during the week of July 23, 2023. Photo: Concord PD

By Concord Police Department

Last week, CPD Patrol Officers made an enforcement stop on a car for vehicle code violations. During the stop, the driver was found to be unlicensed and…. had a narcotic smoking pipe on him! Additionally, he also had prior arrests for narcotic sales offenses.

Patrol Officers searched the vehicle and found nearly a quarter of a pound of methamphetamine! The evidence pointed to narcotic possession for sales.

He was arrested for possession and transportation of a controlled substance for sales, along with other offenses.

CPD is dedicated to keeping the streets safe for our community.

SAVE THE DATE for NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community relationships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring place to live. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

This year the event will be held on Wednesday, August 2nd, from 6PM to 9PM. If your neighborhood would like to host a gathering and would like members of the Brentwood Police Department to stop by, you can register at brentwoodca.gov/government/police or email llaughridge@brentwoodca.gov.

Join your neighbors and first responders

Noche Nacional Para Apoyar Comunidades Seguras Martes, Agusto 1

Unase a sus vecinos y socorristas el martes 1 de Agosto

By John Gioia, Contra Costa County District 1 Supervisor

Join your neighbors to promote and strengthen police-community partnerships. Meeting your neighbors and sharing time with local law enforcement and first responders makes our communities stronger and safer. The RYSE Youth Center is opening its doors to the community for a night of Safety and Liberation in Richmond.

Below is a list of locations of the neighborhood gatherings in West Contra Costa for the annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1.

See you at one of these events!

RYSE Center– 3939 Bissell Ave, Richmond, CA 4-7 PM

Richmond – Various sites throughout the city.

District: Northern 2 

• Parchester Village 900 Williams Drive
• Hilltop Community Church 3118 Shane Drive
• Hilltop Green 1095 Parkside Drive
• Greenbrier 700 Block of Kipling Court
• May Valley Neighborhood Council Cheese Park. 3500 Morningside Dr.

District: Northern 1 

• Clinton Hill 682 37th Street
• North and East 929 36th street Richmond, CA 94805
• Bernhard Ave Watch Group 5900 Block Bernhard Drive
• Nevin Plaza 2400 Nevin Avenue

Central District 

• Atchison Village 270 Curry Street Richmond CA 94801
• BibleWay MBC 1077 13th Street
• Belding Garcia Park 1537 Coalinga Avenue

Southern District 

• Point Richmond Neighborhood Council Park Place between W. Richmond Ave & Washington Av
• Shasta Street Watch Group Lower Shasta Street (between Carlson & Burlingame)
• Pullman Point Apartments 2989 Pullman Avenue
• Coronado Neighborhood Council 212 So. 17th St.
• EAH Crescent Park 5004 Hartnett Ave
• Bayland 50 Watch Group 1234 S 58th Street

San Pablo – Location: San Pablo Community Center – 2450 Road 20 /August 2nd, 5pm to 8pm. – see more here.

Hercules & Rodeo – Location: Refugio Valley Park – Refugio Valley Road, Hercules / August 2nd 6 – 8:00 pm.

Pinole – Caravan – 5 – 8:00 p.m. – more information here.

El Cerrito – Location: Various sites throughout the city.

Kensington – Various sites throughout the community.

En español

Únase a sus vecinos para promover y fortalecer las Asociaciones entre la Policía y la comunidad. Conocer a sus vecinos y compartir tiempo con la policía local y tus vecinos hace que nuestras comunidades sean más fuertes y seguras. El Centro Juvenil RYSE está abriendo sus puertas a la comunidad para una noche de Seguridad y Liberación en Richmond.

A continuación se muestra una lista de las ubicaciones de las reuniones vecinales en West Contra Costa para la National Night Out anual el martes 1 de agosto.

¡Nos vemos en uno de estos eventos!

RYSE Center– 3939 Bissell Ave, Richmond, CA 4-7 PM

Richmond – Varios sitios en toda la ciudad.

Distrito: Norte 2 

• Parchester Village 900 Williams Drive
• Hilltop Community Church 3118 Shane Drive
• Hilltop Green 1095 Parkside Drive
• Greenbrier 700 Block of Kipling Court
• May Valley Neighborhood Council Cheese Park. 3500 Morningside Dr.

Distrito: Norte 1 

• Clinton Hill 682 37th Street
• North and East 929 36th street Richmond, CA 94805
• Bernhard Ave Watch Group 5900 Block Bernhard Drive
• Nevin Plaza 2400 Nevin Avenue

Central Distrito 

• Atchison Village 270 Curry Street Richmond CA 94801
• BibleWay MBC 1077 13th Street
• Belding Garcia Park 1537 Coalinga Avenue

Sur Distrito 

• Point Richmond Neighborhood Council Park Place between W. Richmond Ave & Washington Av
• Shasta Street Watch Group Lower Shasta Street (between Carlson & Burlingame)
• Pullman Point Apartments 2989 Pullman Avenue
• Coronado Neighborhood Council 212 So. 17th St.
• EAH Crescent Park 5004 Hartnett Ave
• Bayland 50 Watch Group 1234 S 58th Street

San Pablo – Ubicacion: Centro Comunitario San Pablo – 2450 Carretera 20 / 1 de Agosto, 5pm to 8pm. – mas aqui.

Hercules & Rodeo – Ubicacion: Parque del Valle de Refugio – Carretera del Valle de Refugio, Hercules / 1 de Agosto, 6 – 8:00 pm.

Pinole – Caravan – 5 – 8:00 p.m. – mas informacion aqui.

El Cerrito – Ubicacion: Varios sitios en toda la ciudad.

Kensington – Varios sitios en toda la comunidad.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Josef Britschgi, Marketing & Communication Administrator, BAC Community Bank

Jerry Marquez

BAC Community Bank is proud to announce the promotion of Jerry Marquez to the role of Relationship Manager, leveraging years of expertise in serving the bank’s valued customers.

As an integral part of the BAC family for over eight years, Marquez has excelled in various roles, including branch management and central banking operations. This promotion reflects his outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional service to the bank’s clients.

Marquez has a passion for building meaningful relationships within the community, a quality influenced by his growing up in a small farming town. He carries this spirit into his new role, embracing the small-town essence that has made BAC Community Bank a cornerstone of Brentwood and surrounding Contra Costa communities.

As a Relationship Manager, Marquez will draw upon his wealth of experience to cater to the diverse financial needs of both existing and new bank customers. The bank is confident that he will excel in this capacity, ensuring that consumer and commercial clients continue to receive the best products, technology, and service that have defined BAC Community Bank’s commitment to excellence.

“We are confident that the passion, expertise, and dedication Jerry Marquez demonstrates will continue to contribute to the success of our clients and reinforce the position of BAC Community Bank as a trusted community financial institution,” said Eddie Lira, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Banking Officer.

Marquez is excited to assume this new responsibility and looks forward to further strengthening the connections between BAC Community Bank and the communities it serves. “I am truly honored by this opportunity to serve as a Relationship Manager,” he shared. “My aim is to build enduring customer partnerships, providing each client with personalized financial solutions to help them achieve their goals.”

About BAC Community Bank

BAC Community Bank is California’s 10th oldest state-chartered bank. Established in 1965, BAC operates branch offices in Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties and is identified as “one of the strongest financial institutions in the nation” by BauerFinancial, Inc.

The bank is centrally headquartered in Stockton, California, and is continuously recognized for banking excellence through local awards and banking industry accolades.

BAC Community Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Equal Opportunity Employer. Member FDIC. More information is available online at www.bankbac.com.

The suspects were pulled over along an onramp to Highway 4 and all the merchandise was recovered on Wed., July 26, 2023. Photos by Brentwood PD

One was on felony probation with history of arrests

By Brentwood Police Department

More stolen merchandise recovered during the arrest. Photo: Brentwood PD

On Wednesday, July 26, 2023, around 1:00 PM, Brentwood officers were dispatched to the Streets of Brentwood for a theft from The Children’s Place in The Streets of Brentwood that just occurred.

On their way to the call, a Brentwood officer located the vehicle as it was attempting to flee and contacted the two suspects, identified as 30-year-old Paulosha Glasper (DOB 08-17-92) and 25-year-old Amoni Ponnellfontain both of Antioch.

Interestingly enough, the officer who pulled them over recognized one of them from a previous theft report he took at the Streets of Brentwood.

Officers recovered approximately $2,200 worth of stolen merchandise. Glasper who is on felony probation for theft, also had a warrant for burglary.

All of the property was returned to the stores, and Glasper and Ponnellfountain were placed under arrest for organized retail theft, and other charges. They were both transported to the Martinez Detention Facility for booking.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Glasper was still in custody on July 31 at the West County Detention Center and expected to be released on Aug. 2. According to localcrimenews.com she has a history of arrests dating back to 2017 by multiple agencies for crimes including grand theft, DUI and shoplifting.

A special thank you to the Streets of Brentwood employee who provided the description and license plate of the suspect’s vehicle, which led to officers locating them.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

By Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

First ever Con Fire Chaplain Fr. Robert Rien,

We are pleased to announce that Father Robert Rien has accepted the newly created position of volunteer Fire Chaplain – lead as part of the fire district peer support program. He is the first-ever official Fire Chaplain for Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. This appointment is effective immediately.

Father Robert Rien is a native of Oakland, California, and is a Priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland for the past 50 years. Ordained in 1974, he served parishes in Alameda and Contra Costa County. Three years after ordination, he served as the Catholic Chaplain for the 349th Military Air Lift Wing, stationed at Travis Air Force Base for five years.

He has been the Pastor of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish in Antioch for the last 18 years. During that time, he served as Chaplain for the Antioch Police Department and for the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District. He holds the distinguished Master Chaplain Certification from the International Conference of Police Chaplains.

Before being assigned to parishes in Contra Costa County in 2001, he served as Chaplain for the Oakland Fire Department. In addition to his other duties and responsibilities, he serves as Catholic Chaplain for both Sutter-Delta and Kaiser Deer Valley Hospitals.

Additionally, he serves as a Regional Chaplain for the East Bay Regional Park District and a Contra Costa County Peer Support Services Association member.

Father Robert currently resides in Antioch. When not tending to his parish, he enjoys reading, cooking, and watching the 49ers, Warriors, and Giants. He appreciates being with friends and loved ones.

Located in East County, Father Robert can be reached by email at Rrien@cccfpd.org. Please assist Father Robert in becoming familiar with the District and join us in making him a welcome part of the Con Fire team!