The Delano Police Department strives to provide timely information to those media venues and other concerned citizens and groups, who seek to learn more about police related events within our city. The below information is provided as a snapshot of significant events that have occurred or are upcoming. The information contained on this page is listed for one week only and will be removed. After viewing this press release page, if you still have questions, you may contact the Delano Police Department Watch Commander by calling (661) 721-3377. The Public Information Officer may be reached through contact with the Department’s Watch Commander. These events are different than those listed on the Department’s Community Calendar link.
On Thursday, January 18, 2010, at about 1820 hours the Delano Police Department received a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian injury collision on Cecil Avenue at Oxford Street. Delano Police Patrol Officers and Delano Police Detectives responded to investigate the incident. It was determined that a black Nissan Titan was driving eastbound on Cecil Avenue and collided into a pedestrian at Cecil Avenue and Oxford Street. The pedestrian, Sabino Renteria who is 65 years of age, sustained moderate to sever injuries as a result of the collision. Mr. Renteria was transported to the Delano Regional Medical center for evaluation and treatment then was later transported to Kern Medical Center for additional treatment. Mr. Renteria sustained multiple abrasions, lacerations, broken bones and internal bleeding as a result of the collision.
DUI Checkpoint
The Delano Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Saturday, January 30, 2010, from 6:00 pm to 2:00 am. In an effort to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol involved crashes, DUI checkpoints are conducted to identify offenders and get them off the street, as well as educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving.
All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI/Drivers License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as insuring drivers have a valid driver's license. A major component of these checkpoints is to increase awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and to encourage sober designated drivers. A DUI checkpoint is a proven effective method for achieving this goal. By publicizing these enforcement and education efforts, the Delano Police Department believes motorists can be deterred from drinking and driving.
Traffic volume and weather permitting, all vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and/or drugs - Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest. The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver.
Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon On 1/23/10 at 2154 hours, Officer from the Delano Police Department, Patrol Division were dispatched to the area of 805 Main Street, in regards to a disturbance. It was reported that there was a fight with several subjects involved. When Officers arrived they contacted several subjects who appeared to be victims. The victims has been stabbed and cut with broken bottles. Two of the victims were transported to Kern Medical Center for treatment. After a lengthy investigation four suspects have been arrested. All found suspects live in the Delano area. Arrested are identified as Luis Reyes, Jorge Rodriguez, Gaspar Calixtro, and Alejandro Anastacio. All four suspects were charged with assault with a deadly weapon, mayhem and fighting in public. The identity of the victim is being withheld.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon On 1/12/10 at 1650 hours, Officers from the Delano Police Department, Patrol Division were dispatched to the area of 11th and Norwalk in regards to a disturbance. It was reported that one person involved in the fight had been stabbed. When Officers arrived they contacted the victim. He had been stabbed several times in the chest and back. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. After a lengthy investigation, four suspects have been arrested. One of the four was a juvenile, the other three were all adults. All four suspects live in the Delano area. The three adults are identified as Victor Garcia, Jose Morales and jose Sanchez. All four suspects were charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and involvement in a street gang. The identity of the victim is being withheld.
L.A.W. Publications Representative A L.A.W. Publications Representative, Garth Inglis will be in Delano during the week of January 4th through January 8th. He will be contacting businesses within Delano for participation in our drug and alcohol abuse materials program. Should any calls or messages be received due to his presence, please forward them to CSO Eddie Aguil, 720-2278. The service that L.A.W. Publications provides to this community, through the generous support of our local businesses, is noteworthy. Through the funds provided by our local businesses, we are able to provide a wide variety of information to our community, especially to our youth, that we might not otherwise be able to provide. The Chief of Police and the staff of the Delano Police Department would like to thank you in advance for your participation in this most worthy program.
Information Wanted in Pioneer Gas Station Shooting
The Delano Police Department, Detectives Division, is asking for the public's help in this case. on 9/26/09 at approximately 7:00 pm a shooting occurred at the Pioneer Gas Station, located in the 1000 block of Garzoli Avenue in the City of Delano. After recovering the surveillance footage of the incident two people are wanted for questioning. An unidentified male and female seen in the store at or near the time of the shooting. If anyone in the public has information regarding this incident or can help identify the male or female shown in the photos is encouraged to call the Delano Police Department Hotline at (661) 721-3369. Any information obtained will be kept confidential.
Delano Police Launch Programs to Combat DUI Deaths The Delano Police Department has been awarded a new traffic safety grant for a year-long anti-DUI program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways. New enforcement measures to combat impaired driving are coming as a result of a recent $61,607 grant awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety to Delano. The Delano Police Department is dedicated to keeping our streets safe through both enforcement and education. "The Delano Police Department takes drunk driving and all alcohol related offenses seriously," Chief Mark DeRosia Stated. "We will be vigilant in our enforcement of these, and all other offenses, to ensure our community is as safe as possible. Being a good citizen also means that you are responsible. Drinking and driving is not a responsible act, and those who are caught doing just that will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent the law allows." The special DUI Enforcement and Awareness grant is to assist in efforts to reduce the number of persons killed and injured in alcohol and other drug related collisions. The grant activities will specifically target impaired driving offenders as well as educate the public on the dangers of impaired driving. This will be done through the use of DUI/driver's license checkpoints, warrant searches and stakeouts for repeat DUI offenders, saturation patrols, and court stings targeting DUI offenders with suspended or revoked driver licenses who get behind the wheel after leaving court. Drunk driving is on of America's deadliest crimes. In 2008, over 11,700 people died in highway crashes involving a driver or motorcycle operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. "Last year in California 1,029 died in alcohol impaired crashes, a 9 percent reduction in deaths from 2007," said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the Office of Traffic Safety. "This grant will help keep that trend going by getting drunk drivers off the roadways of Delano, making it safer for everyone." New this year is the addition of 4 special Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operations. Motorcycle fatalities have been on the rise in California, increasing 175 percent statewide in the lase decade, from 204 killed in 1998 to 560 killed in 2008. Delano Police Officers will be conducting specialized enforcement efforts throughout the course of the next year. Extra officers will be on duty patrolling areas frequented by motorcycles. Officers will be cracking down on traffic violations made by motorcyclists, and other vehicle drivers, that result in far too may motorcycle collisions, injuries and deaths. Funding for the grant comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Gunshot Victim On 9/25/09 at approximately 0119 hours, Officers of the Delano Police Department were dispatched to 2042 Girard Street in regards to a victim of a gunshot. When officers arrived they discovered that the victim, later identified as Eric Flores of 1934 11th Avenue, Delano, CA had indeed been shot. The victim was pronounced dead the the scene. The Kern County Coroner's Office detectives of Delano Police Department Detective division were summoned. After the victim's next of kin was notified the victim's identity was released. The investigation continues, additional information will be released at a later time.
Murder-Suicide On 8/21/2009, at about 0515 hours, Officers of the Delano Police Department responded to the 400 block of dt Avenue, in regards to a possible shooting. Upon arrival, Officers discovered Merced Rodriguez 24, Lorena Gonzalez 30, and Delia Gonzalez who were all victims of gun shot wounds. Merced and Lorena were pronounced dead at the scene. The incident was the result of a domestic dispute, between Merced and his estranged wife Lorena. Delia Gonzalez was treated and released for moderate injuries she suffered as a result of the gunshot wound. A handgun was recovered at the scene and the case is under investigation, to ascertain the nature of the dispute. Witness confirmed Merced was the shooter in this incident, who shot Lorena (his wife) and Delia (sister to Lorena), and then shot himself. Merced and Lorena have 3 children in common.
Officer Involved Shooting On 7/7/2209, at about 0015 hours Officers of the Delano Police Department were dispatched to the 1100 block of Oxford Street, in regards to a possible burglary in progress. Upon arrival, officers began to search the residence for possible intruders and located an unknown male on the property. The male did not comply with the officers orders and a struggle with the officers ensued. During the course of the altercation, one of the officers discharged his weapon fatally wounding the male contacted on the property. The case is currently under investigation by the Delano Police Department, and the Kern County District Attorney's office. The Officer involved, Jose Mejia is on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. The name of the individual shot in the incident is not being released until the family has been notified.
Notice to Interested Parties
Commercial Vehicle Parking The Chief of Police will be conducting a public workshop regarding commercial vehicle parking within the City. The workshop will take place Saturday, March 14, 2009, at 1:00 pm at the Delano City Council Chambers. Citizens who are concerned about commercial vehicle parking within the City, or any commercial vehicle owner/operators, are encouraged to attend this meeting to discuss your concerns. For further information regarding this meeting, please contact Community Service Officer Eddie Aguil at (661) 720-2278.
News Release The City of Delano has begun the crow relocation program. The company will be conducting this relocation throughout the City during the evening hours for the next two weeks. Citizens are asked not to disturb the birds and allow the contractor (company) to deal with the nesting issues of these birds. Delano citizens who feel that they have a large concentration of crows within their area (within the City) that are causing problems, may call the Delano Police Department at (661) 720-2274 and report the issue. Our staff, based on the circumstances of the nesting, will contact the contractor for either immediate hazing or schedule the hazing for a later time. The Police Department would like to thank the citizens for their continued support in this endeavor as well as all other projects and services that we provide.
Press Release On January 28th, 2009 the Delano Police Department received information about a fraudulent Internal Revenue Service (IRS) email scam. The email contains information about the recipient being eligible for a tax refund and to click a link to provide personal information. The IRS does not send emails to tax payers nor do they request personal information through email. This email is targeted at stealing personal information from individuals and may lead to identity theft. Please do not respond to any emails of this kind, open any attachments or click any links. Should you receive this email, please report it, via email, to the IRS at .
Press Release On 1-17-2009, at about 1223 hours the Delano Police Department was contacted by the Sears Logistical services center, in Delano, and notified of an industrial accident. Security Officer Rosemary Montiel 20 years old, of Earlimart was found in a small electrical security patrol cart, pinned under a trailer, by other security personnel who were looking for her. Sears personnel had lost contact with Montiel prior to her being discovered. Montiel was transported to Delano Regional Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 1257 hours. There was no evidence of foul play and the case is being considered an accident.
Treasure Patrol
Attention boys and girls of Delano! Be on the lookout for the Delano Police Department. If you are seen within the city limits of Delano being polite to other people, using crosswalks, wearing a helmet while riding your bike, or behaving in any other good manner the Delano Police Department will reward you with a prize from their Treasure Patrol Chest. Inside each chest is an assortment of toys, prizes, and goodies. We encourage you to stay safe and keep up the good work. For those businesses who would like to donate prizes to be placed in our Treasure Patrol “Pirate’s Chest,” please call CSO Eddie Aguil at (661) 721-3377 ext. 278.
