By Miles Shuper

On March 1, Tulare County’s emergency ambulance response went state-of-the-art. The latest technology keeps track of the whereabouts of every ambulance in the county and when an ambulance is called, now the closest one available is the one that responds. That means faster, smarter response–when every second counts.

Tulare County’s new ambulance response plan tracks each request for service from beginning to end and ensures closest-unit response. The eight private, public, and volunteer ambulance services, referred to as the Ambulance Provider Association of Tulare County, work together to operate the countywide system using uniform standards, fees, and the state-of-the-art dispatch system.

Officials say the public will probably only notice subtle changes as a result of the behind-the-scenes shift to the new system. However, the smarter resource distribution and quicker responses will pay major dividends for the 110 to 130 ambulance calls occurring in the county each day.

Choreographing Response
The heart of the new system is in the Tulare County Consolidated Ambulance Dispatch Center (TCCAD), where a new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system not only monitors ambulance resources in the county, but also shifts coverage whenever an ambulance is dispatched to a call for service.

The CAD system is like an air traffic control panel for the dispatchers to manage the movement of available ambulances. The software programs within the CAD system use stored response data collected on previous calls to predict where an emergency is most likely to occur. The system then identifies areas that require coverage, while also noting which ambulance will be the closest to a specific address. “It is a fascinating and state-of-the-art system,” says Paul Main of American Ambulance, one of the central coordinators of the new consolidated system.

He adds that the countywide display screen is in constant motion, ever adjusting to calls and using past call information to plot the potential for service, based on a detailed list of factors.

Split-Second Decisions
Anna Smith, a veteran emergency services and law enforcement dispatcher who oversees the dispatch center in downtown Tulare, says the new software is amazing. When each second of travel time is essential, dispatchers have every piece of information needed to make split-second decisions through the CAD system.

The system constantly evaluates data variables and even movement of ambulances to determine locations most likely to need coverage.
Some of the data points being evaluated include time of day, day of the week, call frequency patterns, weather, and road conditions.

After dispatchers receive a request, the information is transmitted to the responding ambulance personnel across their radios and pager. They can see the details of the call and the address, and even map the route to the address with a sophisticated system of hardware and software inside the ambulance. This information is intended to reduce time spent on the radio with the dispatch center, and to reduce response times.

Complex Standards
Having as much information in front of dispatchers and responding personnel is critical to decreasing response times to all requests for service. All ambulances in Tulare County must meet response standards for metropolitan, rural, and wilderness areas. Metropolitan areas have one standard for response time; rural and wilderness each have their own, but each ambulance in the county must meet the standard that applies to the call the team is on. If they fail to meet these standards, the ambulance companies are fined.

These fees are paid to Tulare County and the money, in turn, goes to help the emergency medical services system in Tulare County. This is a common practice in most areas of California, explained Dan Lynch, administrator for the Central California Emergency Medical Services Agency, which oversees Fresno, Madera, Tulare, and Kings County ambulance services.

Main, who like Lynch has been impressed with the cooperation and diligence shown by those who make up the alliance, says the most important thing is having the best response of resources “without worry as to stepping on boundary lines.”

More Changes
Main stresses that changes are forthcoming in a variety of other approaches. The ambulance association is planning an ambulance service training academy, expected to start in June, that will give new EMTs an opportunity to get required hands-on training that will help them get jobs within the county or elsewhere. This is similar to how the fire or police academy is offered in the community. As another advantage to working together, the ambulance services now have cooperative buying power that helps each service become more cost efficient, he said.

These changes started in Tulare County a few years ago. In 2003, Tulare County became part of the region of counties that use the Central California Emergency Medical Services Agency (CCEMSA) for ambulance oversight. In 2007, Tulare County officially became a “paramedic county” meaning all valley-floor emergency response crews were staffed to the advanced life support-paramedic level.

That was a milestone for the county, but it still needed to modify its ambulance service, as the system used a dated delivery model. The system did not address the service areas that were left uncovered while ambulances were already on assigned calls, or the inconsistent response time requirements throughout the county. To begin hunting for solutions, Tulare County Supervisors, emergency service officials, and others asked for solutions to the problem and find a way to provide the best, most effective, and efficient system possible.

Dan Lynch said there was no doubt that Tulare County’s system of nine providers (including the city of Dinuba Fire Department, which operates under a separate contract, but works with the eight providers to deliver services within the county) simply could not ensure the closest ambulance always responded to an incident. Ambulance companies’ operating areas generally precluded them from crossing boundaries, so there appeared to be too many service gaps.

County Supervisors considered the options, including Lynch’s strong suggestion that the county seek a contract with a single provider—which would have to meet stringent performance standards including response times, billings, and other rules.

The Supervisors also heard the suggestion from the ambulance services. The ambulance services acknowledged and confirmed that the system needed to be improved and even revamped, and they suggested they could work together as one group, with the county and the EMS agency, to deliver the system the supervisors were looking for.

The County Supervisors were reluctant to put the providers out of business, and they agreed to investigate forming a joint powers agreement among the eight providers, who could work together for a better system. Such a system would set and stringently enforce higher performance standards.

Working Together
Lynch has high praise for the way Tulare County’s new system has come together and sees a major improvement in efficiency, uniformity, and cooperation throughout the county. He says cooperation among the previously independent providers who now operate under a single contract is evident and the sense of unity was clear as the consolidation took shape.

Having a uniform system has a number of advantages. It not only ensures that the closest ambulance is sent to the scene, but sets standards of service and training requirements, creates opportunities for better cost efficiency as well as uniformity in equipment, collective supply purchases, system redundancy, and numerous other benefits, Main points out. Especially valuable, Main says, is that having the existing companies provide services, keeps personnel on the job who know their geographical territories so everyone benefits. “It truly is a ‘win-win’ situation for everyone in Tulare County.”

Maya Angelou summed up the power of mentoring in a single sentence: “People will forget what you said, forget what you did, never forget how you made them feel.”

Tulare Police Officer Derek Burrell remembers how he felt as a kid: lost. But there’s a shining light in the dark memories of his childhood. A few good men gave young Burrell a ray of hope—the mentors who made him feel good about himself. Burrell is all grown up now. He’s a college graduate, a former football player, a dedicated family man, and a kind-hearted policeman. He did more than succeed, he excelled. And now it’s his turn to return the favor.

Officer Burrell is giving back to the community, on and off the job. He’s the leader in several youth sports organizations, role model to thousands of local youth. Through sports and through his profession, Burrell now mentors kids and helps them find their paths to success. “It’s my calling in life,” he says humbly. “It’s all about the kids.”

A Cycle Broken
Burrell had a hard life growing up. His tale is sad, but certainly not common. He came from a broken home in a poor neighborhood in Tulare. Fatherless and without direction, he often hung out with troublemakers. It would have been easy for young Burrell to take the doomed path that so many of our at-risk teenagers take, the dead-end road that leads to juvenile delinquency, gangs, a life of crime, and poverty. It’s a vicious cycle that repeats itself too many times, a dismal future that perpetuates failure.

Someone made a difference in this young man’s life, though. A mentor took Burrell under his wing. It was a man named Tyrone Watley, a teacher and coach at Tulare Western High School. “He was my football coach and my father figure,” Burrell recalls. “He really cared about me. He changed my life.” Watley emphasized the need for education and urged Burrell to go to college. For the first time in his life, Burrell understood that football could be his ticket to a university. “To this day I have boxes of letters from colleges that were recruiting me in high school. If it wasn’t for Coach Watley I don’t know if I would have made it as far as I did. He believed in me and I will always be thankful.”

It’s his gratitude, Burrell says, that motivates him to help young people today. “There are lots of economically disadvantaged kids that have never been outside of Tulare,” he says. “Playing sports is one way to show them what’s out there. When they travel to games, it plants a seed—they see other communities, they see that there’s something beyond the negativity of their impoverished neighborhoods.”

Taking the time to work with kids is more than a hobby for Burrell. It’s his mission in life. He recalls the dedicated adults who volunteered their time at the sporting events Burrell participated in as a teenager. “Willard Epps is another of my heroes,” he says. “Not only did he volunteer countless hours in the community and help guide my youth, but he was also the only African American firefighter that any of us had seen in the city of Tulare. For us, he was proof that an African American poor kid could make it and be successful in society. Epps was the fire chief and a school board member. He motivated me, kept pushing me to keep going when times were hard.”

It was through football that college became a reality for Burrell. First it was Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. Then Boise State University, playing defensive end for the Broncos. And he did it all on scholarships, and all while applying the same dedication to his studies that he’d developed on the football field—self-discipline, perseverance, responsibility. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree, majoring in social science with a minor in history.

“College opened up my life, opened a lot of doors in the workforce. It seemed that a lot of companies were willing to interview me just because I had a degree. And having that education helped me with promotion opportunities later on,” he says. “With that degree behind me, it makes me a strong role model for my kids and the kids that come through the sporting organizations I work with now. It’s easy to uphold education and motivate youth when you’ve been in their shoes, when you actually practice what you preach.”

A Mission to Serve
It’s easy to spot the common thread that has woven Burrell’s professional career. “Now it’s my turn to give back,” he says. Before joining the police force he worked first as a youth development program coordinator for CSET (a nonprofit organization that offers employment training in Tulare County) and then as a high school recruiter for San Joaquin Valley College. It’s been a little over six years since he joined the Tulare Police Department. “I became a police officer because I wanted to make a difference in the place I call home. An officer’s job is to serve, and there’s nothing better than serving the community that you were born and raised in.”

Burrell has also been busy raising a family of his own. Together with his wife, Georgina, a science teacher in Tipton, Burrell has three children: 7-year-old twin boys, Jordan and Elijah, and 9-year-old daughter Shania. Like their father, the little ones are already showing athletic quality. Between baseball, football, basketball, and softball, the Burrell kids have a full schedule. “For us, sporting time is togetherness time. Everything I do, all the youth sports organizations I’m involved with—it all includes my family. My leadership in youth organizations doesn’t take away from my family time, it brings us closer together.”

Reaching Out, Reaching Kids
Burrell reaches young people through three organizations: Tulare Youth Athletic Association, Central Valley Freeze Softball Association, and Football University. “Athletics is a tool to get kids’ attention,” he says, “to open their eyes to the possibility of college. Many are exposed to the idea of scholarships for the first time—they travel to games, see the world outside Tulare. They learn that if they play well, their sport might just foot the bill for a college education.”
With that in mind, Burrell founded Tulare Youth Athletic Association six years ago, a group that provides structured sports activities. With over 3,000 participants, it is one of the largest organizations of its kind in California. Programs include NFL flag football, tackle football, cheerleading, and wrestling. “We have a dedicated board and hard working volunteers. We believe that athletics teaches kids important life-long skills: discipline, people skills, and teamwork,” Burrell says.

He is also the co-founder and president of Central Valley Freeze Softball Association. In addition to coaching a team, he oversees the business operations and makes sure the rules set forth by the board are followed. Burrell is also regional director for Football University, an invitational camp for elite-level players.

Sound like a lot? It is. This coach is driven. “I know what it’s like come from a broken home and not have the proper support of two parents. I know what it’s like to be poor, to feel the pressures of joining a gang to make some fast money. Many of the kids I work with remind me of myself. It’s important for them to see a person that was once in their situation who is now successful.”

Back on Campus
After serving five years as a patrol officer for Tulare PD, Burrell got the chance to bridge the gap once more. For the last two years he’s been assigned as the student safety resource officer for Los Tules and Mulcahy middle schools. He spends much of his day on both the school campuses and patrolling the surrounding areas. “My time on the job is very people-oriented,” he says, working directly with school administration and building relationships with students. “Fortunately, I have no ‘harrowing moments’ to relate, no crisis stories to tell. My position on campus is a positive one, and by being a ‘real person’ to the students, by being a role model who is available … I think that goes a long way. Yes, I investigate potential gang problems and break up some fights. But I also mingle with the students. We toss a football during their breaks. We get to know each other.”

Burrell’s journey has brought him full circle, back to the place he calls home, a place he feels good about. He has not forgotten what his mentors said, or what they did. He remembers what it felt like to be a boy, once lost then empowered. He’s joined the ranks of those who serve and protect, those who make a different each and every day. “I want to thank all the men and women of law enforcement, those of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I truly believe that I work for one of the top agencies in the state. I am forever grateful that Chief Roger Hill gave me the opportunity to come back home and serve in the community I grew up in.”

By Jim Blanks

When a disaster occurs on the scale of Hurricane Katrina, the need for volunteers is enormous. But what happens when volunteers overwhelm the system, stretching the coordination of the goodwill effort to the breaking point? According to Cyndie Coverston of the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency, after the Hurricane Katrina disaster, there were so many volunteers that many had to be turned away, despite the masses of people in need of help.

“Everyone wanted to volunteer after the (Hurricane Katrina) disaster, but there was no prequalification of people,” Coverston says. “So if a healthcare provider showed up, stated they were a physician and wanted to volunteer, there was no way to validate their credentials quickly.”

“People were frustrated, there was a bottleneck of volunteers they couldn’t use for liability issues, and then you had additional people hanging around doing nothing, causing more issues than you had before,” Coverston said.

The faulty system needed to change.

Now, a registry has been created to prevent volunteer bottlenecks in future disasters. The California Disaster Healthcare Volunteer Registry allows healthcare volunteers to provide their credential information before a disaster strikes so they’ll have a more direct route to help out in an emergency. Medical professionals go to the online registry and provide their license numbers, DEA numbers, and contact information. Once medical professionals sign up, their records will be kept on file and updated as needed.

“The licensing boards are searched daily to maintain that each license is active and in good standing,” Coverston says. Because of this new system, emergency officials will now know how many volunteers they have, and who can provide specific medical assistance.

Building this registry is important, Coverston says; the need for medical volunteers is great—even in Tulare County. Nobody knows when or where the next disaster may strike.

“Our greatest threats right now for Tulare County are probably a pandemic influenza outbreak or some agricultural terrorist attack,” Coverston says. Should a disaster such as a flu outbreak affect Tulare County, there will be a great need for medical assistance.

Once volunteers sign up, they are placed in a database; during a disaster, state or local officials determine what type of professionals are needed and send an alert to volunteers via email or telephone. When volunteers sign up, they can choose to be alerted for only Tulare County emergencies, or they can choose state or national notification.
Coverston stresses, however, that there is no obligation to volunteer simply because you have signed up on the registry.

“You may turn down the notice if you have other commitments,” Coverston says, “such as your own family or office to care for during an emergency.”

Coverston says that if somebody wants to volunteer, it is essential that they sign up first, so that crucial time isn’t wasted checking credentials during an emergency.

Non-Medical Volunteers
Although the registry site is primarily used for healthcare professionals, there is also a section for non-medical volunteers. Currently, Tulare County is recruiting both medical and non-medical volunteers because, as Coverston explains, in an emergency situation any type of help is needed.

“When public health is threatened and the hospitals can no longer accommodate the mass influx of patients, an alternate care site will be established by the county.”

This alternate care site, or ACS, will act as a temporary hospital so that more patients can be treated in a healthy environment. But constructing an ACS is not easy. “That is where the registry will come into great use,” Coverston says. “We are going to need everyone and quickly.”

So far, the response to the registry has been positive. Although the registry started just four months ago, there are already twenty registered volunteers, and Coverston expects more to join. Once the number of volunteers grows, Coverston says, Tulare County will provide training.

“We are coordinating with local fire and police departments, as well as other community organizations, to provide pre-disaster preparedness training,” Coverston says. There will also be opportunities for volunteers to practice “working in shelters/ACS and other places where volunteers are needed.”

Tulare County is also required to provide drills and exercises, including a mass vaccination drive in October, and Coverston encourages registered volunteers to attend these sessions.

There will also be exercises in which volunteers will practice setting up a working ACS, which, Coverston admits, will be a “huge undertaking.” Volunteers are under no obligation to attend any training session, but Coverston says it will help prepare them for an actual disaster.

Right now, Coverston is working on getting the word out about the California Disaster Healthcare Volunteer Registry. Informational flyers and pamphlets have been sent out to RNs, LVNs, physicians, pharmacists, and dentists throughout Tulare County, encouraging them to provide their credentials for the registry. So far, it seems to be working.

Coverston knows there are many people in Tulare County willing to lend their services during an emergency, which makes her work so important. Without a method for checking medical credentials, emergency officials will have no choice but to turn away qualified volunteers even as disaster victims demand medical attention. The registry effectively eliminates this problem, allowing medical professionals and other volunteers to focus on what truly matters: helping people in need.

“Participation and support is vital to the success of any public health emergency response in Tulare County,” Coverston says.

During an emergency, successful response is essential; and with a working registry now in place, a successful response can be made possible.

(The statewide registry can be found at www.healthcarevolunteers.ca.gov.)

Infobox:

Be Prepared to Help:
• Medical and non-medical volunteers can register before disaster strikes at HYPERLINK “http://www.healthcarevolunteers.ca.gov” www.healthcarevolunteers.ca.gov
• Registered volunteers will be contacted in an emergency, and will be directed to the areas where they can help most.
• Volunteers are not obligated to respond. If your family or practice needs your attention, you can keep your focus there.

‘Help! My baby!’
When a toddler falls in an icy pool, rescuers go to every length

By Kimberly Sherman

When a tragedy strikes in a child’s life, the horrifying moments begin to pass like still snapshots strung together in his parent’s consciousness.

January 8, 2009, was a typical day in the Pendergraft household. Two older brothers were inside playing video games and watching cartoons while 18-month-old Christian was in the garage helping his mommy sweep.

There are two doggie doors in Christi Pendergraft’s garage. Each is the perfect size for a small, curious boy to squeeze through. One leads into the safety of the home, while the other goes into the backyard.

When Christi heard the ker-plunk of the doggie door, she assumed Christian was going back into the house to find out what his brothers were up to. It was a cold day in January, certainly not ripe for toddler-carousing in the backyard.

But Christian had a different idea. In the pool floated a ball, its round shape and pretty colors beckoning to the toddler. In an instant, the world of the Pendergraft family was turned upside down.

“A friend of mine, Mike, was helping me rearrange furniture, and he asked me where Christian was. Immediately, he went outside, while I searched inside. Suddenly, Mike met me in the doorway of the garage with Christian, wet, in his arms,” Pendergraft recalls. “He was blue, with no pulse, and he wasn’t breathing. From the time I heard the doggie door to the time he was found, five to seven minutes had gone by.”

Pendergraft remembers the sight of her blue baby and the next several minutes passed by like sharp snapshots. “Mike started CPR, but he wasn’t sure what he was doing. I ran inside to call 911. Then I took off running across the street where a retired sheriff’s officer lives; I figured he would know what to do. His truck wasn’t there, so I ran to the neighbor and pounded on the door screaming, ‘My baby! Help!’ She realized that it was me and came over to take my two older boys and niece.”

“Mike was able to get some water out of (Christian’s) nose and mouth doing CPR. He got his eyes to flutter, but he wasn’t able to restart his heart,” laments Pendergraft.

Theresa Lovero, captain of Engine 52, B shift for the Visalia Fire Department, and her crew, Tony Colbert and Nick Branch, were the first on scene. “We got there in four minutes and found that someone was doing resuscitative efforts on the floor of garage,” says Lovero. “We took over and had the airway established and ready to transport within six minutes. The boy had no pulse, was not breathing, and his color was purplish blue.”

Christi held her composure until the first responders arrived. “I was sitting next to Christian in the garage when I heard them pull up. I walked into the backyard to let the operator know they were there. Then I just broke down in the backyard.”

Paramedic Eric Sparshott and EMT Robbie Bowers arrived within two minutes in their ambulance, to find the fire department performing CPR on the limp toddler.

Dealing with a tragedy involving a child sets a different tone and an accelerated pace for first responders. “Everyone gets a little more worked up when it’s a kid,” says Sparshott. “A lot of us have our own kids, and I would do everything I possibly could to help out another kid.”

 “I love fighting fires,” Lovero says. “But when you get the call where you can really make the difference in someone’s life, it’s all worth it. We’re here to help people in situations where if we don’t do something, they’re going to die.”

Christian’s “heart wasn’t beating,” recalls Sparshott. “I started doing some ventilation, breathing impulses, and compressions. We kept the airway open and put a cardiac monitor on the baby to monitor his PEA, or electrical activity. There was no blood flow, so we continued performing CPR.”

It was a blessing that Christian fell in the icy water in the middle of the winter. Cold water near-drownings have a better outcome because the blood is shunted in the body, and the oxygenated blood stays in the brain. Christian’s core temperature dwindled to a mere 85 degrees.

“We cut the wet clothes off the baby, got a blanket and started warming him,” said Sparshott. “I had my partner go to the ambulance and get an I.V. line going. It was all team work. Everyone knew their role and what to do.”

After inserting an I.O. line (an I.V. needle put into the bone when a vein is inaccessible), the crew started rounds of epinephrine, a medication designed to speed up electrical activity and enable the heart to begin pumping. Two rounds of medication were administered, and Christian’s heart started beating on the way to the hospital, approximately fifteen minutes after he first slipped into the chilled water.

First transported to Kaweah Delta Medical Center, Christian had another team on the “baby car” from Children’s Hospital racing to transport him back to the facility, renowned for saving children’s lives. Christian still wasn’t breathing spontaneously. He was on life support and relied on medication to regulate his heartbeat. When Christian arrived at Children’s Hospital, Christi was informed that on a scale of one to ten, ten being the worst, Christian’s lung capacity was at nine.
 
The doctors at Children’s Hospital were quick to assure Christi that Christian had many factors working in his favor, but they also warned that his recovery hinged on his willingness to fight through his predicament. Christi braced for the real possibility that her son would not survive.

“The first three days were really hard. I didn’t want to get my hopes up on the positive steps he was making until after he was taken off the life support for his heart,” remembers Christi. “Then I felt that he was going to make it. The baby I had before was going to make it”

Christian remained in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Children’s Hospital for one week, followed by one week of in-house rehabilitation. Christian has been given a clean bill of health. He will have some speech therapy this summer, followed by a precautionary neuropsychologist visit in six months.

After the trauma, Pendergraft says she has seen only a slight change in her son’s behavior. “It almost seems like nothing happened,” she says. “I was sitting on the side of the pool (and) as soon as Christian got to where the pool decking starts, he decided to go around it.” Pendergraft herself has learned a valuable lesson through her son’s ordeal. “I’ve learned to enjoy the precious moments—to stop and take the time to actually enjoy them rather than letting them pass by.”

Of three drownings, this was the first of Lovero’s with a positive outcome. “We made multiple follow-up calls to the hospital. During one call, they said there was no brain activity. During the last call, they said that he was no longer a patient,” recalls Lovero. “We went by the house to make contact with family, expecting the worst. They came by the fire station that night, and Christian had made a full recovery with no deficits at all.”

“He was a bubbly little 18-month-old, just like any other kid you’d see.”

Pullquote:
“The boy had no pulse, was not breathing, and his color was purplish blue.”
—Capt. Teresa Lovero
Engine 52, Visalia Fire Department

By Kimberly Sherman

The recent death of Tulare County Sheriff Sergeant Greg Hernandez sparked embers in the lives of Joseph and Christopher Landin and Matthew Conley.

Hernandez was a twenty four-year veteran of the department. He was hired in 1984, only a year before Joseph Landin and Monty Conley were killed.

On January 29, 2009, Hernandez was rolling to back up a fellow deputy, heading southbound on Road 120 when he stopped at Road 400. When he entered the intersection, it was already occupied by a big rig carrying crates of oranges. He was fatally injured and succumbed eight days later.
Hernandez worked in the custody, patrol, and narcotics units of the department and also served as a hostage negotiator.
Christopher Landin said, “He died loving what he did, and he didn’t want people to mourn him. I know what the family is feeling because they are the ones having to deal with the loss. I know how his daughter is going to feel on that birthday or prom. It’s tough.”

In honor of their fallen fathers and in remembrance of the recent deaths suffered by the Tulare County Sheriff Department, including both Sergeant Hernandez and Officer Kent Hawes, both Landin brothers and Matthew Conley were invited to be a part of National Peace Officer’s Memorial Week in Washington D.C., May 10 through 16.

Concerns Of Police Survivors recently began receiving additional funding through optional dues paid to the program by members of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Association. In appreciation for that service, the COPS program decided to send a few officers to the National Peace Officer’s Memorial. The Deputy Sheriff’s Association chose both the Landin brothers and Matthew Conley as exemplary choices for the emotionally charged event.

Neither the Landin family nor Matthew Conley have visited the remembrance site of their fallen fathers, and are thrilled to be a part of the ceremonies. Joseph Landin said, “I’d like to take a picture next to the memorial of my dad.”

For more information, visit: nleomf.com/NPW2009/index.html

By Kimberly Sherman

The heartbreak a woman feels when her husband is killed in the line of duty is magnified immensely when her two boys grow to become men and reveal that they want to follow in the footsteps of their fallen father.

Bette Landin is a woman with a tough exterior, dedicated to raising three incredible children. Chip away that shell, and Bette reveals a heart so soft she still tears up talking about her husband’s demise in 1985.

Bette recalls being in traffic school when a lady asked her how she dealt with having a police officer for a husband. Bette gave the pat answer of all law enforcement spouses, “It’s always in the back of your mind that something can happen, but you can’t let it drive you crazy.”

Two months later, the “brass” knocked on the Landins’ door.

Bette recalls the worst evening of her life with a crack in her tender voice. “I remember the kids saying, ‘Open the door,’ but I just leaned against it for what seemed like forever. I knew that if I opened the door I would have to accept it. If (the officers) ever ask you to sit down or if they can call anyone, then the news is bad. Once I opened the door, I didn’t even ask them to come in. I just stood there asking, ‘Where’s Joseph? He’s in the hospital, right? Can I go see him?’ When they asked if there was anyone I could call, I knew.”

Tulare County Sheriff’s Detective Joseph Landin and his partner, Detective Monty Conley, died August 5, 1985, as a result of a traffic accident while investigating a narcotics case. A driver ran a stop sign and slammed into the deputies’ patrol unit on the Highway 99 and Avenue 120 off- ramp. Both detectives were members of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force.

The driver, convicted of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, was sentenced to five years, four months in prison.

Monica was 6, Joseph, 4, and Christopher was 2 years old at the time. “My life started the day of my dad’s accident. My very first memory was seeing my mom’s response when the two uniformed officers came to the door, and her reaction of not wanting to open the door, because she knew,” says Christopher. “I only remember my dad through pictures.”

Bette has kept a photo book out—a sort of shrine to her husband. “I don’t want them to forget him because he was a very special guy, and that was the only way they could remember him,” says Bette. “I know he’s looking over all of us; he’s helped us out in a lot of different ways. We talk to and about him to this day. He deserves that.”

Over the years, Bette has made her children’s father a priority in their lives, including attending the Tulare County Peace Officer’s Memorial event every year. Held the first week of May, the event honors all law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty while in Tulare County. On May 15, 2002, a physical monument was put into place to honor the fallen officers.

Bette is especially grateful to Sheriff Whitman for the compassion he’s shown her family, when others have faltered. “Every time we go to the memorial, he makes it a point to make me and my family feel important,” she says. “He had that memorial built for the officers. You don’t understand until it happens; it’s like we’ve sacrificed all these years without Joseph, and Sheriff Whitman appreciates that.”

Back in 1985, neither Officer Landin nor Officer Conley had any idea of the legacy they would leave their department through their own flesh and blood. Joseph and Christopher Landin, and Conley’s son, Matthew, all have chosen to follow the path of their fathers. All three sons work for the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department.

“We all grew up in Woodlake together,” says Conley. “It’s a small community, so we’ve always grown up around each other. Conley has been a correctional deputy at the Men’s Correctional Facility since June of 2008. “I’ve always had a longing for law enforcement,” he says. “It’s every little boys dream to play cops and robbers.”

Conley is proud of the organization he works for and aspires to advance to sergeant in three to five years, and to lieutenant in twelve to fifteen years. “There are so many different fields that you can get into here. You have to find your niche,” says Conley. “What I’m doing is a stepping stone.”

Joseph Landin is also a correctional deputy; his assignment is at the main jail facility.

“My dad influenced a lot of my decisions, even though I don’t remember him,” says Joseph. “All I have are memories of my mom telling me exactly what kind of guy he was. Everyone who knew him knew what a great man he was. I’ve tried to follow in his footsteps.”

With three small children at home, Joseph considers his own circumstances and is taking steps not to rush through his career. “I have three kids. If I go, none of my kids will remember me. I have a lot to look forward to with my kids, but as much as I love them, they would never remember that.”

Christopher was hired as a correctional deputy as well, and has been employed by the department since May 2006. Recently, the department sponsored him through the police academy. He graduated on January 29, 2009. He is now in training for patrol at the Porterville Substation.
 
The Landin family was stunned when Christopher graduated from the academy—he was assigned his father’s badge number, #185, a special tribute and dedication the department bestowed upon one of their finest officer’s son.

Though Bette is not thrilled with the choices her sons have made by following in their father’s footsteps, the love outweighs the bitterness, and she beams with pride over all of her children—with minor stipulations. “Whenever we talk on the phone, I always say, ‘Be careful; I love you. Don’t be a hero, and don’t put yourself in circumstances that you don’t need to be in.’”

Christopher knows first-hand the ramifications of what can happen to a good officer in the wrong place and time, giving him a mature handle on his place in the department. “I just take it one day at a time, and focus on today. I do my best every day because tomorrow may not come.

“If I’m going through hard times, I listen to my father’s eulogy, given by a man who is now a captain in our department. It’s a motivating speech that gets me excited; it’s emotional and brings me to tears, but it makes me want to do my best and try even harder,” says Christopher.
 
Bette wishes she could erase the negative experiences she’s had since the death of her husband 24 years ago. “People should know that officers, whether women or men, are human beings just like everyone else, except they put their life on the line and they do it with pride, knowing that their life could be taken. Next time you see an officer, say ‘Thank you. We appreciate what you do.’”

By Bill Corliss, Corliss Driving School

Your vehicle, also known as “old reliable,” has gotten you through miles of poor weather, traffic jams, and the occasional close call. In order for your car to treat you right you have to treat it right, keeping it in top functioning form.

Vehicle technology—and thus maintenance—has changed dramatically in recent years. These advances have improved safety and increased the complexity in vehicles. Even the tires on your car have been invested with technology that—if you keep apprised of it—will lower your risk of injury. Here are some key facts about tire safety in today’s cars, and some things you should know to be safe on the road.

Your vehicle has a tire and loading information sticker on the driver’s doorjamb. This sticker provides information on the proper pressure for each tire. Tire pressure should be checked only when tires are cold. Driving even a mile will increase the tire pressure and give you a false reading. Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) on newer vehicles warn drivers of low tire pressure, but usually only when the tires are 25% under inflated. Since tire damage from under inflation can occur before this point, TPMS units should not replace monthly tire pressure checks with a gauge. Your newer car may also specify an optimal tire pressure for each tire’s position—front or back. If this is the case, when the tires are rotated you’ll need to input each tire’s new position into the system so it knows that each tire has a new optimal pressure. As the position of the tire changes, the information center has to adjust to the change so it doesn’t think the tire’s pressure is off just because it’s in a new location.

Tires should be replaced when the tread is less than 2/32 of an inch. You can visually check the tread by looking for the “wear bars,” which are built-in treadwear indicators that appear when there is less than 2/32 of an inch of tread remaining. During your next visit to replace tires, ask the mechanic to explain how these bars work and what they look like.

Proper alignment and balance must also be maintained and your tires should be rotated every 5,000–8,000 miles to avoid uneven and rapid treadwear. The Rubber Manufacturers Association has an outstanding consumer education report online at HYPERLINK “http://www.betiresmart.org” www.betiresmart.org.

Another important resource for vehicle maintenance and safety standards is your car manual. When you have a few moments, go through the booklet and read each caution notice. You will notice many related to tire safety, such as:

Cruise control can be dangerous on wet or slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction can cause needless wheel spinning and you could lose control.
If you let your tires spin at high speed (such as in sand, mud, ice, or snow) they can explode or cause an engine compartment fire. When you are stuck, do not spin the wheels above 35 mph.
Overloading your tires can cause overheating from too much friction, which could result in a serious accident.
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while driving. If you mix tires of different sizes or types (radial and bias-belted tires) the vehicle may not handle properly and you could crash.
Tire chains used on a vehicle without the proper amount of clearance can cause damage to the brakes, suspension, or other vehicle parts. To help avoid damage to your vehicle, drive slowly, readjust or remove the chains if they are in contact your vehicle and don’t spin your wheels.

By Jill K. Applegate

As the weather heats up and we start our seasonal quest to cool down, keep in mind that just as there are rules of the road, there are rules of the waterways of Tulare County. If you’re planning to launch your prized watercraft, keep your wits about you — you’ll need a good eye for distances, and possibly an analog watch, to keep you on the right side of safety and the law.

• Dizzying Directions: If you’re on the Kings River or in other county water recreation areas, stay to the right as you pass an island or as you motor or row merrily along. You should be traveling counter-clockwise around any obstacle in the water. That way you won’t bump into people making their way in the opposite direction because they’ll keep to their right too. [Tulare County Code, 2-03-1140(i), 2-05-1065(d)]

• No Racing: Whether you wave the checkered flag or just start your engine with a knowing nod to the dude in the next boat over, speed contests and exhibitions of speed are illegal on the Kings River. Even if there’s no trophy, only pride at stake racing is against the rules of the waterway. Stick to proving who’s the bigger man the old fashioned way — with a hot dog eating contest. [Tulare County Code, 2-03-1145(a)]

• Keep Your Distance: On the Kings or other rivers, lakes or public waterways, swimmers and boaters must coexist peacefully and share the water safely. Motorboats must keep their speed to 5 miles per hour when they’re within 100 feet of swimmers and water skiers and within 200 feet of a designated swim area. Swimmers have to stay 100 feet away from boat launches and bridges, and have to be within 100 feet of the shore, unless they’re with a boat. [Tulare County Code: 2-05-1065(a, 5), 2-03-1140 (c, d), 2-05-1085(a, b, d)]

• Clean Up After Yourself: While you’re enjoying your day on the water, take care not to leave anything nasty in the water. Cans, debris, garbage and noxious waste are all your responsibility until you get to the shore and find a place to dispose of them. Dumping in public waters is illegal — and downright gross. [Tulare County Code 2-05-1140]

Although it has been a couple of months since we all turned back the clocks in anticipation of longer days, somehow with each passing week, the sun continues to provide us with even more daylight. This, along with the warming weather tells me that summer is officially on its way. Soon it will be time for outdoor barbecues, afternoons by the pool, and water skiing at the lake. In honor of the rapidly approaching summer months and activities we associate with the season, I’ve assigned our May/June issue a water safety theme.

As any of us who have survived a summer in the Valley can attest, the kind of heat we experience here has many of us running for a quick cool-down in the water. At a pool, a lake, or the ocean, being safe is of utmost importance. Be it a young child wandering too close to a beckoning poolside or the most experienced and confident outdoorsman slipping off of a rock into a waterfall while on a hike, a water emergency could arise at any moment, when we’re not practicing safety and good judgment.

In the Briefing this issue, writer Aaron Collins discusses tales of local rescue with Tulare County’s Dive/Swiftwater Unit Sgt. Jim Franks, who shares accounts of lives he’s seen spared as well as some of the unfortunate incidents that he wishes he could forget.

Also in this issue we’ve brought back our Off Duty profile, this time highlighting Tulare Police Officer Derek Burrell, who found an alternate path in life through sports and positive mentors and has since dedicated his life to coaching and mentoring kids that remind him of himself years ago.

An article this issue with a not-too-common ending is that of the story of Christian Pendergraft, a young toddler who disappeared from his mother’s watchful eye and into the backyard where he chased a ball into the pool and nearly drowned. Both adorable and incredibly lucky, this tot has a story that you do not want to miss.

As we welcome the warmth of summer with open arms and all of the fun—at home, in the outdoors, on dry land, and in the water—that comes with it, I wish everyone a safe and happy season.

By Paul Main

For this edition of Code 7, I wanted to take time to honor moms, especially those working in public safety. Recently, I talked to five working moms from fire, EMS, and law enforcement about their favorite Mother’s Day dish. While each had a different take on the ideal Mother’s Day meal, they all shared a desire for a great meal that they did not have to prepare or clean up after. Good choice, ladies!

• Two-year firefighter Amber Treece of Cal-Fire is a mother of two. Her favorite Mother’s Day meal is salmon or tuna sashimi.
• Tulare County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Douglas has been in the business for eleven years. She’s a mother of two and her ideal meal is anything that goes with fried potatoes.
• Stephanie Owen is a mother of three who is a six-year veteran of emergency response. She’s a dispatch supervisor at Tulare County Consolidated Ambulance Dispatch, and she loves a hearty Italian dinner—with spaghetti—for Mother’s Day.
• Paramedic Eve Price works at American Ambulance of Visalia and has been in the business for nine years. Her three kids should know that she’d love anything barbecued for Mother’s Day.
• Visalia Fire Department Capt. Teresa Lovero, who has been with the department for twenty years, has two children and her favorite Mother’s Day meal is chile verde.

I challenge all the husbands, boyfriends, and coworkers out there to find out what meal the moms on-duty or off-duty want on their special day. Then find a recipe that will guide you in preparing it or use the recipe below to help make their day. Don’t forget to provide the clean-up!

Potato Encrusted Salmon Napoleon with Ginger-Caper Aioli

This recipe may look intimidating, but it is easy to prepare, and you can impress your mom, friends, family, and coworkers with an awesome presentation where you build height to the main dish. If you don’t want the potatoes, use a shredded parsnip or zucchini to make the “crusted” portion of the dish. You can also do just a single layer, of the salmon and potato. The goal is to enjoy the flavors and have fun with your food.

Makes 4 Servings

Salmon

Ingredients:
1 ½-2 lbs. salmon fillet (not the steak), skin and pin bones removed
salt and black pepper (you can also add a pinch of white pepper to each salmon piece)
cooking spray or 1-2 tablespoons of olive or canola oil

Method:
Cut the salmon into eight equal portions, lightly salt and pepper both sides. Place a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, pull the pan away from the heat and generously spray the skillet with cooking spray or spread a small amount of olive or canola oil to the pan to prevent sticking. Place pan back over the heat source and place the salmon in the skillet. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan. Do not move the salmon for at least 2 minutes. If you turn the salmon too soon, it will stick. Allow it to sear, and it will easily come away from the bottom of the pan. Cook the salmon for 3-5 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the salmon. The fish is done when the inner flesh no longer appears translucent. You’ll serve two pieces of salmon per portion.

Potatoes (Hash Brown-Style Discs)

You’ll make these shredded potatoes into 12 round discs to stack with the salmon and the aioli for dramatic height when you present this dish.

Ingredients:
2-3 large potatoes (Russet or any baking potato will do), peeled, cleaned, and shredded
¼ cup canola or vegetable oil for crisp frying
salt and pepper

Method:
Peel the potatoes and shred them into a large bowl. Dry the potatoes thoroughly by squeezing them in a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. You should have about 1 ½ cups of shredded potatoes. Place half of the oil in a heavy large skillet or even a non-stick skillet and heat until sizzling. Add the potatoes in 3-inch rounds. The layer should be thin, so it will cook quickly and be crispy. Use a spatula or other kitchen tool to help spread out the potatoes. Make two to three discs at a time in the skillet, depending on the space in the pan. When the potatoes are golden brown on the bottom, use a spatula and turn to cook the other side. Each side should take 3-4 minutes to cook. Remove the hash browns to a plate; season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Keep them warm in a 250-degree oven, until you need them for plating. Add additional oil to the pan as needed.

Ginger-Caper Aioli

Ingredients:
1 ¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
2 tablespoons capers, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (use more or less to your taste)
4 teaspoons ginger, minced fine (jarred or fresh)
Pinch Cayenne pepper or two dashes of hot sauce or pepper sauce
zest of 1 lemon
salt and pepper to taste

Method:
Place all ingredients into a small mixing bowl and combine. Taste to adjust for lemon, salt, and pepper.

Plating

To build the presentation, start with a small dab (teaspoon or less) of aioli, spread on the center of the plate. Place one of the potato discs on the aioli. Put a dab of the aioli on the potato and place a piece of salmon on top. Use another dab of aioli on the center of the salmon. Place another potato disc on the aioli. Add another dab of aioli and put the second piece of salmon on the aioli. Top with one more teaspoon of aioli and a potato disc. Put one more small portion of the aioli on the potato disc, and then add some fresh arugula, spring mix, or sprigs of chive. Serve with your favorite vegetable or salad and enjoy.

Cooking Safety Tip:

This edition’s safety tip centers on protecting children and expectant mothers from food-borne illnesses.

If you are pregnant, you are at high risk for food borne illness as your body’s immune system is weakened during pregnancy. This is a natural condition and helps you and your baby get along with each other during the pregnancy. The down side to a weakened immune system is that it is harder for your body to fight off harmful food borne microorganisms.

Your unborn baby is also at high risk because the baby’s immune system is not developed enough to fight off harmful food borne microorganisms. Harmful food borne microorganisms or some metals in food can cross the placenta and infect the developing fetus, causing health problems, and possibly death. Infants and young children produce less stomach acid making it easier for harmful microorganisms to passed along through the digestive system and invade their bodies.

You can find more information on food safety at HYPERLINK “http://www.foodsafety.gov” www.foodsafety.gov, HYPERLINK “http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pregnant/whilill.html” http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~pregnant/whilill.html or at the FDA’s Food Information Line at: 1-888-SAFE-FOOD.

Keep safe and keep cooking! More recipes will be available soon at HYPERLINK “http://www.valleyresponsemagazine.com” www.valleyresponsemagazine.com.