San Bernardino County’s new sheriff, Rod Hoops, who in February assumed the role held for 14 years by former Big Bear resident Gary Penrod, dined with the City Council of Big Bear Lake on Monday before being introduced at the May 11 Council meeting, along with Assistant Sheriff Warren Nobles and Deputy Chief Paul Cook, who also accepted Council’s proclamation in honor of Blue Ribbon Week. During the Council meeting, County Sheriff Hoops said, “This is an internationally known destination, and we are proud to be your law enforcement agency, and I am proud to be your sheriff.” Hoops also made a point of acknowledging the good work being done by Big Bear Sheriff’s Station Captain Greg Garland, who took command of the Big Bear station in March of 2008. In a conversation between Sheriff Hoops and Captain Garland, our local law enforcement leader says he is pleased with the results of his first 12 months in Big Bear and noted that crime statistics were down in 2008. Garland also outlined his hybrid community policing program, as over 50% of all calls for service are non-law enforcement related, such as calls for traffic collisions, abandoned homes and cars, loud music and barking dogs. To that end, Garland has also been working with the California Highway Patrol and County Code Enforcement to clean up neglected homes within the Valley; this enforcement sweep program is to continue monthly until winter. Captain Garland is also working with the ski resorts, the City of Big Bear Lake and CalTrans to find ways to alleviate traffic congestion during peak tourist hours, as this has become a concern for residents. Much of what is being done at the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station is aided by the over 100 volunteers, many of them seniors, of the Citizens on Patrol program. Says Captain Garland of these seniors, “The men and women have so much to offer our community, and they can be a great resource.”
