Special Olympics
Be a Superhero at 2023 Polar Plunge
The 2023 Greater Sacramento Polar Plunge and 5K Trail Fun Run will be held Saturday, March 11, at Browns Ravine. The Division of Adult Institutions Headquarters Team will participate in the event along with CCHCS and CDCR recruitment teams and the Peace Officer Selection and Employee Development, who will have informational booths at the event.
The CDCR DAI HQ Team would like to thank its members and supporters for making them one of the Top 5 CDCR Law Enforcement Torch Run fundraising teams in Northern California. Together they raised more than $15,000 for Special Olympics athletes through several major fundraisers.
The March 11 event kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with a 5K Trail Run, followed at 10 a.m. by the Polar Plunge, costume contest, games, music, food, and face painting.
Learn more about the Polar Plunge, or to join or support a team.
Parole Operations
Parole Agent honored as Champion of Reentry
Parole Agent I Kervin Antonio, assigned to the Chula Vista Parole Complex Seaport GPS Parole Unit, was a recipient of a 2022 Champions of Reentry award from Metro Community Ministries, Inc. (MCMI). MCMI assists the community with education, employment assistance, and leadership development and partners with local employers and career centers in these efforts. Agent Antonio’s referrals have helped MCMI reach their program goals, and staff agreed he has been critical to their success and mission to remove barriers to success for people reentering the community.
Agent Antonio was presented the award by MCMI staff member Donyale Mack. Mack’s presentation was made even more significant when he shared he was on Antonio’s caseload in 2019. Mack recounted how Agent Antonio did not give up and assisted Donyale, even when he was close to giving up on himself. As a result of Agent Antonio’s assistance and support, Mack now works for Metro Ministries as an employment specialist assisting others in need. Congratulations Agent Antonio, for being recognized as a Champion of Reentry.
Reentry
Donuts with Dad a hit at MCRP
The Male Community Reentry Program in Long Beach held a “Donuts with Dad” event to give fathers and their children the opportunity to spend quality time together while bonding over mouthwatering donuts.
The multi-purpose room was decorated for the 15 participants and 25 children who attended. In addition to donuts, family activities included coloring, crossword puzzles, and creating donuts from paper. The “sprinkles” on the donuts represent what the fathers instill in their children. The children filled in the blanks by gluing words like love, kindness, guidance, encouragement, candy, hugs and kisses to the donuts.
And of course, there were plenty of delicious donuts, milk, chocolate milk, hot chocolate and water for all to enjoy.
Upward Mobility
David Lewis has been appointed Director of the Division of Facility Planning, Construction, and Management.
Breann Cantu has been named Chief of the Office of Peace Officer Selection.
In Our Institutions
VSP car show raises funds to honor employees
Valley State Prison (VSP) recently hosted its 2nd Annual Car Show. Staff attending the event were able to purchase food from local food vendors, bid on silent auction items and vote for their favorite car. Money raised through the event was used to pay for the engraving of VSP’s Staff Memorial Wall, a tribute to VSP staff who recently passed away.
Friends, retired staff, and family members of staff who have passed away were present during the emotional unveiling of the newly engraved Staff Memorial.
Event organizer Sergeant D. Huckabay stated, “I just wanted to pay tribute and honor all our fallen brothers and sisters.”
VSP administrative staff would like to thank Sergeant Huckabay, Associate Warden C. Huckabay, the Community Resource Office and Employee Relations Office for their hard work in planning and organizing the event.
In the Media
DAPO assists human trafficking task force
As part of a joint investigation through the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force (SDHTTF), California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the results of Operation Better Pathways. The multi-jurisdictional operation, which concluded earlier this month, is part of a broader, regional effort to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation through targeted enforcement, relying both on surveillance of known locations and officers working undercover.
As a result of the multi-day operation, 48 individuals were arrested for alleged human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and other criminal offenses, 41 individuals — including eight children — were offered support services, and two firearms were recovered, including a ghost gun. The arrests have been referred to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, San Diego City Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California for potential criminal prosecution.
“CDCR is committed to fulfilling our primary mission of public safety, as evidenced by our Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO)-Special Enforcement Branch involvement in the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force,” said DAPO Director Guillermo Viera Rosa. “We are proud to be part of this multi-jurisdictional law enforcement team focused on helping exploitation victims and holding their traffickers accountable.”
Read the Operation Better Pathways announcement.
Top Inside CDCR Stories
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