On June 11, 2014 a gang enforcement operation was conducted in the South Lake Tahoe area. The participating agencies included the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, the El Dorado County Probation Department and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

Probation searches were conducted on six residences in the South Lake Tahoe area. During these searches evidence of gang affiliation was found. Two additional gang member validations were documented.

The operation resulted in the arrests of three persons; one for violation of probation and another for possession of drug paraphernalia. The third person was a fugitive from justice who was wanted on a felony warrant out of San Diego County.

With the cooperative actions of these allied agencies, further gang sweep operations can be expected in the future. Concerned citizens are encouraged to contact local law enforcement with information that may assist in these future endeavors.

As the El Dorado County Sheriff, Coroner, Public Administrator and Deputy Director of the Office of Emergency Services, John D’Agostini has implemented a number of ways to keep you informed.

Do you want to be notified of breaking news or recent newsworthy events? Would you like to get notified of Public Information Bulletins and Public Service Announcements as they come out. The Sheriff’s new blogsite can be accessed at https://pio.eldoradosheriff.gov or through a link on the El Dorado County Sheriff’s website at www.edso.org or follow us on Twitter at, @eldoradosheriff

All releases of information from the four offices will be posted on the sheriffs website the sheriffs blog and the Sheriff’s Twitter account. Just as with the Sheriff’s website anyone can sign up to receive notifications via email or twitter when new information is posted to the blog. Sheriff D’Agostini is continually working towards providing the highest level of service and transparency to the community we serve and our surrounding communities.

Although we are dedicated to keeping you informed you will have to sign up for one of our methods of notification. Follow us on the blog, follow us on twitter, sign up for notifications from the website or at least register your emergency contact information at the Office of Emergency Services Emergency Notification Self Registration Portal. Through the Portal you can register to be informed of emergency notifications effecting any particular address in El Dorado county. You can be notified via any landline phone number, cellular phone number or email you list in your registration. If you have a vacation home or a loved one who lives in El Dorado County, but you live somewhere else, you will be informed of emergencies affecting the address you registered with. Learn more and access the Self Registration Portal at http://ready.edso.org/

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department would like to invite you to apply for the upcoming S.T.A.R. Academy being held September 8th – 19th, 2014. The Academy training hours are Monday – Friday from 8 am – 12 noon, with accompanying afternoon driver proficiency training and law enforcement support visitations. The Academy will conclude with a formal uniformed graduation on Friday evening, September 19th.

S.T.A.R.s are the “eyes and ears” of the department. They patrol the highways and byways of El Dorado County in specially marked vehicles, check on homes while the owners are on vacation, as well as the Neighborhood Watch and YANA (You Are Not Alone) programs. S.T.A.R.s are also involved with community events assisting with parking or traffic control as well as monitoring the area and “showing the colors.”

To qualify for the S.T.A.R. program, applicants must be 50 years or older, have a good driving record, no criminal history, a physical clearance from a doctor, and pass an oral interview. Mandatory participation requirements are: Volunteer a minimum of 16 hours per month, attend a monthly station meeting, purchase a uniform, and attend the Sheriff’s Office Citizen’s Academy within 18 months of becoming a S.T.A.R.

Academy training is diversified with instruction and interactive participation provided by experienced senior STAR’s, deputies, detectives, correctional officers and department administration. Training focuses on crime prevention and law enforcement support with involvement in marked vehicle patrol units, vacation home checks, community events, traffic/parking control, radio communications, emergency response support, basic law enforcement support, manning area substations, and basic office/clerical support.

The S.T.A.R. training academy will be held at the Sheriff’s Office Training Facility located at 1337 Broadway, Placerville. Interested participants may contact the S.T.A.R. office at (530) 621-7545 for more information and an application. Application deadline is July 4th. Selected applicants will receive an acceptance letter with directions for an oral interview appointment time/location to be held July 28th – 31st, 2014.