Our Police Department has been very fortunate this past year to be the recipient of several grants to update department facilities, procedures, training, and equipment.

• State earthquake funds were used to construct a new Dispatch/Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which the department moved into in January 2001.
• Grant funds have also been used to purchase additional equipment selected by an interagency technology committee ($235,010).
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency held a training exercise with the City to certify Diablo Canyon's emergency procedures ($19,000).
• The Office of Traffic Safety provided grant funds to purchase a police motorcycle ($93,008)

Community Volunteers Make the Difference

The department continues to utilize the resource of community volunteers to augment department services to operate the following programs:

The Citizen's Assistance Team (CATs) now has a complement of 19 volunteers donating over 5,200 hours to our City. They perform many tasks that used to be carried out by officers, thus freeing up officers for more patrol time. CATs activities include checking schools and other public areas for graffiti or vandalism, checking businesses for unsecured premises during the evening hours, vacation security checks for local residents, and assisting with traffic and crowd control at special events or accident scenes. If you would like to join the team, are at least 21 years of age, possess a valid California driver's license, and are available to volunteer at least four hours each week assisting the department, contact Sergeant Chris Sweeton at the Grover Beach Police Department, (805) 473-4511.

The Juvenile Diversion Program continues to work with our DARE officers and detectives to establish closer ties with local elementary schools and work with at risk children. A licensed clinical social work has recently joined the program to provide specialized counseling. For additional information, contact Bob Stanley, (805) 474-4518.