Police connect with citizens over coffee

By Dina Colunga, Redlands Community News
Original article HERE

Redlands residents got to chat with their local police officers over a cup of coffee.

On Wednesday, Jan. 22, Terry’s Diner hosted Coffee with a Cop. Officers from the Redlands Police Department gathered to answer community questions and concerns.

A few in attendance were Chief Chris Catren, Deputy Chief Michael Reiss and Cpl. Jeff Betty.

One of the most impressive statistics shared was that Redlands police have solved 65 out of their last 66 homicide cases.

“We have the resources,” said Catren. “Whether it is a murder, robbery, rape or any crime, we will go to any length to find them.”

Almost every one of the 65 solved homicides had a confession.

“Once, I talked to someone for seven hours before he confessed,” said Catren.

Catren said conversations between police and suspects are not how television shows or movies portray them to be.

“We aren’t screaming and throwing things at suspects,” he said. “If we want someone to confess, we have to connect with them. It could be over sports or cars.”

Technology is an ever-important aspect of solving crimes.

“We are investing in surveillance technology,” said Catren. “It can’t solve a crime, but it can poke holes in someone’s story.”

Phone records are a big deal in unraveling lies, but acquiring them is not always easy for police.

“Sometimes they take a long time to get,” said Catren. “Phone records from the shooting at Cinnamon Creek Apartments in 2011 took nine months to come in.”

Catren said there is no time limit to comply with a warrant regarding phone records.

What is the traffic violation seen the most in Redlands?

“Speeding is the biggest here,” said Betty. “People failing to yield on left turns is also a big one.”

Another impressive statistic is that there were only three traffic-related fatalities in 2019. In 2018 Betty said there were eight or nine.

“Last January, we expanded our traffic unit,” said Betty. “We get grant money to use for different traffic enforcement.”

One of the things grant money is used for is DUI checkpoints. How many checkpoints police do in a year depends on how much grant money is received.

How do police choose streets to put a checkpoint on?

“It is based on data,” said Betty. “We look at the number of DUI related collisions and arrests.”

Betty said a lot of traffic enforcement is based on community input.

“We will get calls from residents saying people keep speeding down their street, so we go check it out,” said Betty.

Catren said he is impressed with how involved residents are.

“Redlands is a community,” he said. “People don’t treat it like a city. That is what makes it different.”

“People don’t just live in Redlands, they become a part of Redlands,” said Catren.

Redlands residents may have seen the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle at community events. It is hard to miss.

“We got it from the military for free,” said Reiss. “An MRAP usually costs around $300,000.”

How often do police use the vehicle?

“We used it two or three times last year in high-risk situations and high-risk search warrants,” said Reiss.

Police also use the vehicle to block the road during special events and as a precaution.

“Tragedies usually happen in small towns at large public events,” said Reiss. “We have the MRAP at events, so if something were to happen, we don’t have to go back to the station.”

The vehicle is stocked with everything police would need.