Chp

Jackson Bell After seeing police officers keep his neighborhood safe from gangs and crime while growing up, Julio Martinez decided to try joining them. "It has been a lifelong dream for me," the 29-year-old said. "Growing up, I saw them making a difference, and I wanted to do the same." That dream came true Monday for Martinez, one of six new recruits who started their first day as officers at the California Highway Patrol's Altadena station.

Jackson Bell When patrolling unincorporated La Crescenta, CHP Officer Saul C. Velazquez tries to picture himself as one of its residents. "I think to myself, 'If I live in this community, what would I like to see done?'" Velazquez said. "'What is it the community wants me to do?' I put myself in their spot." The Highway Patrol's Altadena station commander in early February created the position of county road enforcement officer and assigned Velazquez to it. His mission?

Robert Chacon and Rima Shah A van carrying 10 Jet Propulsion Laboratory employees plunged more than 300 feet down a mountainside Wednesday morning, killing three passengers and injuring seven. The employees were on their way to work at about 6:30 a.m. via the Angeles Forest Road-Angeles Crest (2) Highway route -- a popular bypass into the Los Angeles area for motorists living in the Antelope Valley -- when the van suddenly veered off the road and over an embankment, according to California Highway Patrol officers.

Jackson Bell California Highway Patrol officers have introduced one more tool to slow motorists who speed on the Foothill (210) Freeway: radar enforcement. As soon as Caltrans installs new signs that point out radar enforcement, officers at the CHP Altadena station will begin using new radar equipment while patrolling the 210 between Sylmar and Arcadia -- including La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta and Montrose. "This area of the 210 freeway has certain stretches that are well known for [motorists]

Darleene Barrientos On Sunday, police won't be too concerned about whether the Patriots or the Panthers win the Super Bowl, but will instead focus their attention on catching people driving drunk. The Glendale Police Department's traffic bureau will deploy a special task force on the day of the big game to watch out for people who decide to drive after drinking alcohol. The California Highway Patrol's Altadena office will also adjust its deployment so more officers are patrolling the local freeways in search of drunken drivers.

Darleene Barrientos California Highway Patrol officers are trying to determine the identity of a woman found dead in a sport utility vehicle that ended up nearly 50 feet over the side of a local freeway. The woman was found in a gray 1997 Jeep Cherokee that apparently crashed and ended up in the bushes off the Golden State (5) Freeway, just before the transition to the east Ventura (134) Freeway, CHP Officer Vince Bell said Thursday. A freeway patrol tow truck driver was driving north on the Golden State Freeway just before Zoo Drive about 9 a.m. Thursday when he saw the SUV out of the corner of his eye, Bell said.

Darleene Barrientos Unlike a car, which can absorb the impact of a collision, a slightly wobbly turn or a tap from another car can mean death for motorcycle riders who often ride with helmets as their only safety measure. Three men were killed in local motorcycle accidents last year and the number is surprising, considering that the previous motorcycle fatality was reported in 1996, Glendale Police Lt. Don Meredith said. "I say it's surprising because we have not seen a motorcycle fatality in seven years," he said.

Darleene Barrientos Even through dismal, drizzly weather, California Highway Patrol officers want drivers to know they intend to catch motorists driving drunk during the holidays. A DUI checkpoint near the intersection of Pennsylvania and Altura avenues Tuesday afternoon allowed officers to screen for drivers who might have decided to get behind the wheel after having too many drinks. Six officers and two sergeants set up a lane with orange cones for drivers to pass through.

During School Bus Safety Week, California Highway Patrol officers want to remind drivers to be careful so that the children around the buses are safe. This week is School Bus Safety Week, and CHP officers want to remind motorists that buses need access at school sites and that the speed limit in school zones is 25 miles per hour. It's also important for drivers to obey the school bus red light law, according to a news release from the CHP's Glendale office.

California Highway Patrol officers will step up their efforts to catch people not using their seat belts and driving under the influence of alcohol during the Labor Day weekend. Statewide, 45 people died during the Fourth of July weekend, according to a CHP news release. More than half of the people killed were not wearing seat belts. During the 2002 Labor Day weekend, 45 people were killed on the roads, while 1,563 people were arrested on suspicion of DUI. The CHP advises people planning to attend a Labor Day party to plan ahead and designate a driver before arriving at the festivities.