OVERSEEING ORINDA'S PUBLIC SAFETY: CHIEF MARK NAGEL
Janet Keeter was pleased to celebrate the passage of Measure J with a 75% approval! She was also pleased to introduce Mark Nagel, Orinda’s Police Chief since February of this year. Chief Nagel was selected from an array of impressive applicants. He has served in the Sheriff’s Department, at the county-level as a custody sergeant, as an officer in Lafaye.jpg)
tte, a patrol supervisor and watch commander, attaining the rank of Lieutenant in 2012.
Orinda’s police department has eleven officers, two sergeants, a parking enforcement officer, an office assistant, and a chief. Dan Lawrence continues to act as an advisor to the department, as well.
Chief Nagel has three primary goals as the head of Orinda’s police:
- Improve and increase communication within the community
- Upgrade equipment for the department
- Increase education and training opportunities for both staff and residents.
Communication: There are several ways to stay informed about Orinda police and city activities. There is a weekly e-mail blast to subscribers and the city’s e-newsletter, Orinda Outlook, is also a source of information that includes crime statistics. You can also check out the police department website for useful information on protecting your home, your identity, and even reporting suspicious activity via the Orinda tip line. The Orinda police also recommend subscribing to Nixle to receive alerts on your e-mail or iphone and joining Nextdoor.com, a online “neighborhood watch” and social network that is a great way to stay in touch with those in your local area. There are 38 Nextdoor groups (3,600) right here in Orinda.
Equipment: Chief Nagel has supplied Orinda’s officers with iphones, so they can post photos, activiate the tip line, fill out reports, issue alerts, etc, all while out on patrol. He has also supplied them with new, more powerful and longer-lasting LED flashlights, and is in processing of upgrading their very old computer systems.
Education and Training: An innovative outreach program that Chief Nagel has initiated is the “Citizen’s Academy,” which educates community members about safety, laws and recruitment and selection of officers.
Crime in Orinda: Most crime in Orinda consists of home and auto burglaries. There are many ways to deter these crimes, such as:
- Installing an alarm system and or closed-circuit cameras
- Vacation house checks when you are away
- Having a home audit done by the police to insure you are doing everything possible to make it difficult for burglars to get inside your home.
- Going on Google to blur visibility of your home/driveway, so thieves can’t see when you are away.
If you need help from the Orinda police, call the Sheriff’s department dispatch at (925) 646-2411 for assistance.