By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
About a dozen or so Sheriff’s deputies and sergeants, as well as the Lieutenant and Captain Harris gathered at the recently opened Heart Rock Diner in the Valley of Enchantment area of Crestline for a morning visit with the community at a Coffee with a Cop session. These get-togethers are a semi-annual meeting of the minds of the community with law enforcement personnel, in order to keep in touch with whatever may be new and/or different, to point out to law enforcement some community problems or learn about the procedures the Sheriff uses in his role as a member of the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s station.
This was another opportunity for members of the mountain community to mingle in person in a casual atmosphere with sheriff’s personnel, over coffee supplied by Bree of the Heart Rock Diner. Community members expressed their concerns about criminal events and the types of crimes committed in Cedarpines Park, Crestline, Twin Peaks, Blue Jay and Lake Arrowhead. In general, residents can ask about rumors they’ve heard or situations which may be causing them concern. The sheriff’s department tries to hold these get-togethers frequently throughout the year in the Crestline, Lake Arrowhead, Running Springs and Arrowbear communities because it enables law enforcement officers to interact with locals in a non-stressful manner.
When asked what types of crime are trending in the mountains, Deputy Sandoval cited burglaries and drugs. Methamphetamine and fentanyl are still causing problems in all communities according to Sandoval. The department is currently interacting with the local Boys and Girls Club in order to educate youngsters about the hazards associated with the use of illegal drugs. By being proactive and educating the kids in advance of their trying the drugs, they hope to curb their use and prevent overdoses and deaths.
Sheriff’s Captain and Station Commander Craig Harris, who has been assigned to the Twin Peaks Station for over 20 years, voiced that he enjoys his job and likes these coffee-chat sessions because he likes meeting with the public in a casual, relaxed, social setting. He likes “helping people, that’s what we do,” Harris said.
The department recommends that if you “see something, say something,” and be the eyes and ears for your community, to keep your neighborhood safer. These “Coffee with a Cop” opportunities are a good way to meet the individual sheriff members and either voice your concern over a problem in your neighborhood, or simply meet caring individuals who want to keep our communities safer for all.
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