Streets Briefly Closed and Several homes Evacuated Thursday Morning

A fake pipe bomb in the backpack of Pablo Jesus Guardado, 36, Oakland, was “rendered safe” by the Alameda County Bomb Squad.  Also found in the backpack was an unloaded gun and two switchblade knives according to Piedmont Capt. Chris Monahan.

“Police investigating a report of a suspicious person in the area of Wildwood and Winsor avenues about 8:30 a.m. detained Guardado in the 1100 block of Warfield Avenue. …  Streets in the area were shut down and some homes evacuated while the bomb squad did its work.

< Owner of the backpack

Authorities said that “out of an abundance of caution,” Wildwood Elementary School, 301 Wildwood Ave., a few blocks away, was placed on a shelter-in-place status.”  East Bay Times

Piedmont Police Press Release:

On September 27, 2018, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Piedmont Police responded to a report of a suspicious person in the area of Wildwood Avenue at Winsor Avenue in Piedmont. Officers located the individual, detained him and located an unloaded firearm, two switchblade knives and what appeared to be an explosive device. The individual was taken into custody without further incident.

Officers cordoned off the area and immediately began evacuating nearby residences. Wildwood Elementary School was directed to shelter-in-place.

The Piedmont Police Department requested the assistance of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad. Bomb Squad technicians responded to the scene, examined the device and were able to render it safe. Although the device was made to appear to look as an explosive device it was found to not contain any explosive material. Residents and Wildwood School staff were notified of the resolution of the event and that it was safe to return to their homes and routine school activity.

Participating Piedmonters were notified about the issue.  To sign-up for future notifications follow the instructions below:

AC Alert Emergency Notifications

Your safety is our top concern – that’s why Piedmont wants to make sure you know about emergencies and incidents as they happen.

The City of Piedmont will use “AC Alert” powered by Everbridge to make sure you know about issues that may affect your safety. This system allows the City to contact thousands of residents in seconds so you can find out about an emergency right away.

Receive important messages from city officials via email, phone, and much more!

How Does It Work?
The process begins when the City of Piedmont issues a message about a potential safety hazard or concern. Next, “AC Alert” sends a message through your primary contact path. If you don’t confirm receipt of the message, the system will try to reach your second contact path and continues trying to reach you until you confirm receipt.

The success of this service relies on YOU. Having your latest contact information is the only way to ensure that we can contact you in an emergency. Please sign up – it only takes about a minute to enroll!

Thank you in advance for you cooperation and participation in this important program!

The City of Piedmont Respects Your Privacy!!

The City of Piedmont will never share or distribute your personal information, unless required to do so by law. Additionally, we will never use your information for any purpose other than to send emergency notifications or information pertaining to Piedmont.

 

The next meeting of the Piedmont Public Safety Committee will on Thursday, September 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. This meeting is open to the public.  It will not be broadcast.

The agenda includes introductions and updates on:

1.  Minutes of 5/13/18
   
2.  Announcement of New Committee Members
3.  Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
4.  Get Ready, Piedmont Guides and Checklist
5.  School Liaison Activities and Campus Safety Preparedness
6.  Crime Prevention/Community Outreach
7.  Neighborhood Meetings
8.  City Website
9.  Year End Crime Report
10.  Boy Scouts and Map Your Neighborhood Project
11.  Public Safety Cameras and consideration of a Subcommittee on the Public Safety Cameras Program
    

Bret Black is scheduled to be appointed by the Piedmont City Council as Piedmont Fire Chief at a starting salary of $193,164.  The appointment and employment conditions resolution will be considered at the Monday, September 17, 2018, Piedmont City Council meeting, 7:30 p.m., City Hall.  The meeting will be broadcast live via Cable Channel 27 and the City website under videos. See full employment agreement linked below.

The Council selected Black after interviewing two of the 27 applicants for the position of Fire Chief.  Upon Council appointment, Bret Black will serve as Fire Chief, effective October 1, 2018.

The Fire Chief vacancy occurred when Fire Chief Warren “Bud” McLaren announced his intention to retire, effective July 6, 2018. McLaren had served the City of Piedmont for thirty years.

The City Council retained the services of Peckham & McKenney, a Sacramento based executive search firm. Peckham & McKenney advertised the employment opportunity extensively, using personal outreach, traditional print and electronic marketing, as well as social media. As a result of the recruitment efforts, 27 applicants submitted resumes for consideration. After reviewing each of the resumes and conducting on-line research on applicants who appeared most qualified, the recruiter selected twelve candidates to undergo screening interviews.

The City Council interviewed two pre-screened finalists and selected Bret Black.

“The employment resolution proposed for Council consideration contains all elements common to other Department Heads. The proposed annual salary is $193,164, which is the amount earned by Chief McLaren upon his retirement. Should the City Council approve the appointment and the resolution, Mr. Black’s first day with the City will be on Monday, October 1, 2018.”

“The City Council wishes to acknowledge the special public service rendered by the City’s management personnel. Management personnel consists of all department heads and the City Administrator. Under the operational coordination of the City Administrator, management personnel are responsible for producing the quality and effectiveness of City services, as required by the City Council.”

There will be a 3% annual salary increase for Black during the term of the resolution.

3.1 Salary – Monthly:  The monthly rate of pay for the Fire Chief is $16,097. The rates of pay shown reflect the following cost-of-living increases during the term of this Resolution:

• % Increase Monthly Effective 7/1/2019 3% $16,580
• Effective 7/1/2020 3% $17,078
• If, during the term of this Resolution, any other bargaining unit is offered a cost of living increase greater than the increases shown above for the same fiscal year, then the difference between the increase for the other bargaining unit and the increase provided under this Resolution will take effect for the Fire Chief.

The City Administrator will make recommendations on future compensation for consideration and action by the City Council.

THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ADHERES TO THE CITY CHARTER BY STATING COUNCIL AUTHORITY FOR BOTH HIRING AND FIRING OF THIS KEY EMPLOYEE.

“10.2 Termination: Pay Upon termination or resignation requested by the City Council, the City will provide the employee at least one (1) month’s pay and benefit coverage as set forth in Sec. 3 hereof, or more at its discretion. This section would not apply in the event of the employee’s voluntary resignation or removal from office involving conviction of a felony, gross negligence or dereliction of duty, dishonest or immoral conduct, intemperance which interferes with job performance or conviction of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.”

READ the full staff report and proposed compensation agreement linked below:

http://www.ci.piedmont.ca.us/html/govern/staffreports/2018-09-17/appoint-fire-chief.pdf

Do you recognize the man pictured below?

On September 9, 2018 between 11:30am and 1:00pm, a subject entered a locked locker containing personal property at the Piedmont Aquatic Center.

The subject stole a single credit card and later used that stolen card at two different businesses on Lakeshore Avenue to fraudulently purchase $527.96 worth of merchandise.

Suspect is a male, 45-60 years old, 5’07” to 5’10”, medium build, salt/pepper hair, slight beard. He wore a white Adidas baseball cap, faded black tee shirt, black baggy shorts, black rim glasses, a black watch on right wrist, and a gold band on his left hand ring finger.

The photos below of the subject using the credit card were obtained from the two Lakeshore Avenue businesses.

If you have any information or can help identify this subject, please contact Detective R. Coffey at rcoffey@piedmont.ca.gov or Detective J. Spranza at jspranza@piedmont.ca.gov. If you wish to remain anonymous please leave the information at (510) 420-3015.

Call Piedmont Police at (510) 420-3000 for more information.

2nd Reading of Ordinance 741 N.S. Updating Leash Law Provisions, Clarifying Off Leash Areas, Allowing for the Issuance of Administrative Citations, and Updating Outdated Provisions – 

Tuesday, September 4, 2018 City Council Consideration, 7:30 p.m. 12o Vista Avenue, Council Chambers.

RECOMMENDATION Take the following actions related to updating City Code provisions related to dogs:

1) Decide whether off leash hours at Dracena Park should match those of the Linda Dog Park, as recommended by the Park Commission (7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Weekdays and 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends) or should match the overall hours of the park (5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily)

2) Approve the 2nd reading of Ordinance 741 N.S., Updating Leash Law Provisions, Clarifying Off Leash Areas, Allowing for the Issuance of Administrative Citations, and Updating Outdated Provisions

3) By motion, set fines for the revised provisions at $100 per violation

Read the 18 page staff report HERE.  Maps are not included in the staff report. 

COMMENTS TO CITY COUNCIL:

On Wednesday, August 29, 2018 at about 10:15 p.m., an alert Piedmont resident on Sharon Avenue called 911 to report two males shining flashlights into her neighbor’s windows.  A third subject was sitting in front of the residence in a vehicle with the motor running.

Piedmont Police officers responded and located the vehicle as it was attempting to flee the scene. All three subjects were detained and arrested for attempted burglary.

The Piedmont Police Department expresses how important these phone calls are when suspicious activities are seen.

Reports to the Police help to keep Piedmont safe.

See something suspicious – call the Piedmont Police Department! 

911 or 510/420-3000

During the month of August, the Piedmont Police Department has seen an uptick in the number of package thefts being reported.

Below are some pictures captured by neighborhood video surveillance in the 800 block of Blair Avenue, the 1500 block of Grand Avenue and the 100 block of Sunnyside Avenue, where packages were taken from the front porch of several homes. Vehicles associated with these thefts were a newer blue/grey 4 door hybrid SUV and a white moped/scooter with a black seat.

Police Tips for safe package delivery:

 1-Don’t leave packages out for extended periods of time. Reach out to your neighbors and ask them to bring packages inside.

2-Use an alternate shipping address like work or a friend/relative that you know will be home to receive packages.

3-Choose shipping options that provide for advanced package tracking, allow you to redirect a package, receive detailed updates on estimated delivery time, and send an email or text once your package has been delivered.

4-Install a security camera. Security cameras can deter burglars, keep your packages safer, and help you keep an eye on your home while you’re away. Products like Nest Cam Outdoor and the Ring doorbell are inexpensive ways to increase security.

If you have any information regarding these thefts, contact Piedmont Police Department Detective R. Coffey at 510-420-3015.

AUTO BURGLARY 

On Tuesday, August 21, 2018, at approximately 4:10 AM, the Piedmont Police Department received a phone call from a resident who reported two unknown subjects inside of her neighbor’s vehicle in the 100 block of Bell Avenue.

Piedmont Police Officers responded to the area and detained two adult subjects. The subjects were positively identified as Michael Joseph Vargas (Modesto) and Clay Henson (Berkeley). Both suspects were arrested that day on August 21 for Auto Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, and Possession of Burglary Tools.

A search of the suspect vehicle resulted in locating other stolen property from San Francisco. Both suspects are currently in custody in the Santa Rita Jail.

Suspect Vargas

Suspect Henson

If anyone has any additional information related to this incident, please call Detective Jeff Spranza at (510) 420-3013.

If you wish to remain anonymous you may call the Piedmont Police Department Tip Line at (510) 420-3055. For press inquiries, please contact Captain Chris Monahan at (510) 420-3012.