Virtual Kidnapping Scam

A New scam is targeting the Redwood City area that you need to be aware of.  The FBI calls is “Virtual Kidnapping.”  Here is how it works: strangers call you and say that they have your loved one and they will kill them unless you pay up.

Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of this scam;

The success of any type of virtual kidnapping scheme depends on speed and fear. Criminals know they only have a short time to exact a ransom before the victims unravel the scam or authorities become involved. To avoid becoming a victim, look for these possible indicators:

• Callers go to great lengths to keep you on the phone, insisting you remain on the line.
• Calls do not come from the supposed victim’s phone.
• Callers try to prevent you from contacting the “kidnapped” victim.
• Calls include demands for ransom money to be paid via wire transfer to Mexico; ransom amount demands may drop quickly.

If you receive a phone call from someone demanding a ransom for an alleged kidnap victim, the following should be considered:

• In most cases, the best course of action is to hang up the phone.
• If you do engage the caller, don’t call out your loved one’s name.
• Try to slow the situation down. Request to speak to your family member directly. Ask, “How do I know my loved one is okay?”
• Ask questions only the alleged kidnap victim would know, such as the name of a pet. Avoid sharing information about yourself or your family.
• Listen carefully to the voice of the alleged victim if they speak.
• Attempt to contact the alleged victim via phone, text, or social media, and request that they call back from their cell phone.
• To buy time, repeat the caller’s request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need time to get things moving.
• Don’t agree to pay a ransom, by wire or in person. Delivering money in person can be dangerous.

If you suspect a real kidnapping is taking place or you believe a ransom demand is a scheme, contact The Redwood City Police Department.

RCPD Honors Fallen Officer Herman Fleishman

Tour of Duty: 1927 – January 22, 1939

The members of the Redwood City Police Department will honor Officer Herman Fleishman on the anniversary of his death that occurred while on duty with RCPD on January 22, 1939. Flags in front of the Police Department will be lowered to half staff and all of our sworn personnel will be dressed in a formal class "A" uniform to honor the sacrifice given by Officer Fleishman and his family. A historical summary of the events leading to the service death of Officer Fleishman is described below.

On Sunday, January 22, 1939, at about 2:15 AM, Officer Fleishman was working patrol when he observed a car speeding about 60 miles per hour along El Camino Real. Fleishman and his partner, Special Officer Mark Ryan gave chase and pursued the car north on El Camino Real from Five Points into the City of San Carlos, where it was stopped near Brittan Avenue. The driver, George Devin, stopped the car in the number two lane and Fleishman pulled the patrol car off the right side of the road behind Devin’s car. The two were standing behind Devin’s car as Fleishman was issuing a citation. A call on the police radio summoned Officer Ryan to the patrol car. Seconds later, a crash to the rear of the violator’s car pinned Fleishman and Devin between the two cars. Fleishman’s left leg and both of Devin’s legs were sheared off. It was reported that after the accident, Fleishman attempted to get up from the pavement and crawled to Devin’s side to give him first aid. He then reportedly directed Officer Ryan to issue a citation to the driver of the car that hit them.

The impact sent Devin’s car more than 200 feet across the highway (El Camino Real), over a curb, and into a vacant lot. Fleishman and Devin were rushed to Mills Memorial Hospital where they died of their injuries just before noon. The driver of the other vehicle, Robert Lee, was charged with negligent homicide.

Officer Fleishman is the only officer killed in an on-duty collision in the department’s history. Forty two years old, Fleishman was survived by his wife and two daughters. In July 1939, city officials dedicated Fleishman Park in his honor. On this date, we remember and honor our Brother Officer, Herman Fleishman.

The Redwood City Police Department Honors the Memory of Officer Gerardo Silva: EOW January 20th, 2017

Today, the men and women of the Redwood City Police Department will honor Officer Gerardo Silva on the one year anniversary of his passing. All ranks of sworn officers will be out on patrol, working the Detective Bureau, and running every operation in the organization in their Class "A" uniforms to honor the End of Watch (EOW) anniversary of Officer Silva's death. The flags in front of our building will be flown at half-staff and all of our shifts will be briefed by Command Staff sharing the story of Gerardo's death.

 Thank you Officer Silva for your service and sacrifice--you will not be forgotten.

 Your Redwood City Police Family 

Officer Gerardo A. Silva

Tour of Duty: March 15, 1999 – January 20, 2017

Officer Silva began his patrol shift on Friday, January 20, 2017, at 0600 hours.  At 0857 hours, Officer Silva was dispatched to the front lobby of the police station to meet the victim of a property theft and conduct an investigation.  When Officer Silva did not return to service after an extended period of time, a search for his whereabouts began.  Dispatchers and Supervisors called him on the radio and checked the GPS location of his assigned patrol vehicle.  When the search revealed Officer Silva’s  patrol vehicle was parked at the police department a physical search of the police facility for Officer Silva was initiated.  At 1240 hours, searchers discovered  the door to the second floor single-use bathroom locked and no response was received from inside. The door was forced open and Officer Silva was found unresponsive on the floor.  Officers initiated immediate life-saving measures, to include CPR and the use of an automatic external defibrillator.  Redwood City Fire Department and emergency medical personnel arrived and began advanced life support measures.  Officer Silva was transported via ambulance to Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City where he continued to receive advanced medical treatment in the Emergency Room.  Despite the extensive efforts of all personnel involved, Officer Silva died at 1330 hours.

Officer Silva began his career with the Redwood City Police Department as a Reserve Police Officer in 1993.  He served briefly as a Parking Enforcement Officer before being hired full-time as a sworn Police Officer in 1999.  Officer Gerardo Silva will always be remembered for his perpetual kindness, his easy-going and good natured demeanor, and especially his devotion to his community in which he lived his entire life and patrolled the majority of his career.

On this date, we remember and honor our Brother Officer Gerardo Silva.

Don't Let the Grich Steal your Christmas

Tips to Prevent Package Theft

Online holiday shopping has many of us have ordering gifts for friends and loved ones. Packages are being delivered by the truckload on front porches to numerous homes in Redwood City.

Packages that are left unattended make for easy targets for criminals. These thefts commonly occur during normal working hours, since many people are not at home. This is a crime that occurs in virtually every community in our country.

RCPD recommendations to avoid becoming a victim of package theft:
1. If your employer will allow it, have packages delivered to your office.
2. Request that the shipper hold your package at their pick-up facility so you can pick it up in person at your convenience.
3. Have packages delivered to a place where they can be received in person, such as the home of a trusted neighbor who stays home during the day, or a retired relative.
4. If purchasing something from a large retailer, request that your package be delivered to a local branch of the store so you can pick it up in person at your convenience.
5. Request a specific delivery date and time from the shipper when you know you will be home.
6. Provide delivery instructions to the shipper so that packages can be left at a safe location at your home that is out of sight from the street.
7. Sign up for delivery alerts (text messages or e-mails) from the shipper; call a trusted neighbor when the packages are delivered, and ask them to take the packages inside for safekeeping until you get home.
8. Request that the shipper require a signature confirmation upon delivery; this will prevent your package from being left at an unattended home.
9. Check out other secure delivery options. For example, Amazon.com has an option for purchases made on their website called "Amazon Lockers," which delivers your package to a secure site. There are several Amazon Locker locations in Redwood City. For more info on finding an Amazon Locker location near you, see https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/......).

This is a great time of year to get to know your neighbors and encourage them to keep eye out for suspicious behavior. Call 9-1-1 to report suspicious activity immediately in your neighborhood.

If you see a theft in progress do not attempt to stop the suspect on your own. Call 911 and give the operator a detailed description of the individual, including clothing description, physical description, vehicle description, and direction of travel.

Encourage your neighbors to connect with RCPD on social media to learn about crime prevention tips for your neighborhood (like package theft!).
Happy Holidays!

The Redwood City Police Cadet Program

The Redwood City Police Cadet Program has a long and well-established history of offering valuable experience to local teens and young adults as they explore the vocation of law enforcement. At the same time, these volunteers provide many hours of service to the Redwood City community during City events and large-scale incidents handled by the Police Department. Yet the Program also strives to provide participants with direction and guidance to prepare for the responsibilities of becoming a successful adult.

The Cadet Program has refocused its emphasis on early development of youth interested in seeking careers in law enforcement. Throughout the year, cadets learn and practice police techniques including enforcement tactics and strategies, legal precedents and statutes, and community policing. Those who are interested travel regionally and throughout the State to compete with other Cadet teams in order to further develop their skills and challenge their resolve to pursue a career in law enforcement. In recent years, the Cadet Program has grown into an award-winning group, gaining regional acknowledgments for their performance.

Cadets are unarmed and are not police officers, nor do they undertake enforcement tasks in any capacity, however cadets are exposed to policing topics within controlled environments and under close supervision of Police Department employees. The primary goal of this program is to expose youths with an interest in law enforcement to core values and functions that frame this profession. The Redwood City Police Department continues to benefit from the Cadet Program, as a number of cadets, have eventually gone on to be selected as police officers.

The Cadet Program is located in the Police Activities League (PAL) building on Bay Road and enjoys partnership with this program as Cadets serves as role models for youth in the community. Cadets must volunteer at least ten hours of their time each month, as well as attend monthly meetings and training sessions. Working with sworn police officers at public events and assisting in various capacities throughout the Department helps the young people develop new leadership skills and explore many of the facets of public service while learning to stand on their own two feet. 

More information can be found on the Redwood City Police Department’s Cadet Program webpage at:

http://www.redwoodcity.org/departments/police-department/police-divisions/patrol-division/cadet-program