Q & A -- Keeping it real and safe

When U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft told law enforcement agencies

nationwide on Monday to go on the “highest state of alert,” the Costa

Mesa Police Department did so. But the department was already ready and

will do everything it can to ensure its residents’ safety, says Police

Chief Dave Snowden.

On Wednesday, Assistant City Editor James Meier sat down with Snowden

at the Police Station to discuss such national matters, as well as local

happenings.

Q: Per Ashcroft’s request, Costa Mesa police and other law enforcement

agencies throughout the nation are on the highest state of alert. What

does this mean for Costa Mesa?

A: Well, it means we’re going to take greater care concerning those

things that have become an issue regarding terrorism. We all know in our

city what the targets would be, most likely. Suffice to say, it means to

us that we need to be ready to protect our community from any and

everything that can happen to make them safe.

Q: Have you made any specific changes as a result?

A: Specific things are to brief all the other officers on exactly what

to expect, what the target areas are, what to look for and that

information has been passed onto us by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Basically, what we do is target those areas that are most likely to be

targeted by terrorists. We have to think out of the box on that. We try

to figure what would cause the most disruption because that’s their goal.

And we’re prepared. And I feel confident to speak for our neighboring

cities as well, because I know them real well and they’re as prepared as

we are to protect their citizens.

Q: Are there any areas of concern that arise for police departments

during wartime?

A: Well, there are a lot of concerns. One would be staffing levels and

initial burnout like you see in New York City, where those people are

working virtually around the clock. If something like that were to happen

here, obviously we’d be calling on mutual aid from other resources. We’re

in good shape.

Q: After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, federal government officials

seemed to target terrorists that are of Middle Eastern backgrounds. Has

the department been told to be extra sensitive right now in how it deals

with people of such backgrounds?

A: What’s interesting about that is I don’t need to tell them that.

Costa Mesa is extremely sensitive to race, religion and sexual

orientation, or whatever it might be. I’ve been preaching that since the

day I came here, as has our city manager. And practically every member of

the City Council says that. So I’d be surprised if I saw anything

different.

I know they’re very sensitive right now because there are a lot of

people of Middle Eastern descent that might become targets because of

this. And they’re not the people responsible. We know who’s responsible,

and our country will deal with that. As far as we’re concerned, we’re

going to continue to protect our constitutional rights to live and enjoy

the freedoms the United States offers.

Q: With the economy on a downswing, it would make sense that crime

would rise. Is the department being proactive in trying to fight that

possible trend?

A: There’s no question the economy somewhat drives the crime rate.

That’s been proven over the years. We’ve enjoyed a 10-year lull in crime

in Costa Mesa, and I think this year, we’re going to experience, for the

first time in 11 years, our crime rate going up. Not significantly, but

in those things that you would normally relate -- financial crimes,

thefts, robberies and those sorts of things. So we’ll see a slight

increase in those things.

But are we proactive and preventive? Absolutely.

Q: How so?

A: Well, we say all the time: “Don’t make yourself a victim.” “Lock

your doors.” “Make sure you drive safe.” “Make sure you go to safe

places.” You should take the precautions that you need to take in a

society with as many people as we have.

Q: Auto thefts were on the rise in Costa Mesa. Are they showing any

signs of letting up?

A: We’re down 1.1% compared with the same period of time last year,

but what’s interesting is in the month of September, we showed a decrease

of nearly 25% in auto thefts. But you have to understand you can have an

increase of 25% this month and we’d still be at 1.1%.

Q: What are the challenges facing the department in finding the

suspect in the Ceceline Godsoe murder?

A: With regard to the Ceceline Godsoe, we have strong, physical

evidence that Victor Garcia committed the murder. It’s believed that he

may have fled to Mexico. We’re currently working with the U.S. marshal’s

office, which maintains a liaison with the Mexican law enforcement

officials. With their cooperation, we hope to locate Garcia. We’re also

following leads locally to determine if he’s hiding with family or

friends.

Also, the Police Department is offering a $5,000 reward for

information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mr. Garcia.

Q: Are there any new development regarding the Jack In The Box murder

that occurred in May?

A: Well, there aren’t any new developments, but the guy’s in jail

awaiting trial. And that murder, to the best of our knowledge, was

committed between two people who knew each other and obviously it

occurred over a dispute about some stolen property.

Q: Is there anything else you want to discuss?

A: Well, I do want to tell people in our community that the prime

objective of terrorism is to disrupt the American way -- to make us

afraid to enjoy the freedoms that we have fought so hard to have. And if

we fall into the trap of believing all the rumors that are going around

about anthrax, about crop dusters, about false dates of new attacks,

about all of the things that are going around that you hear every day,

then we have done nothing more than play into the hands of those very

people who set this stuff up.

What I encourage Americans and Costa Mesa citizens to do is to go

about life as they normally would. They’re more apt to die from not

wearing their seat belts or cigarette smoke than they are from a

terrorist attack in this country. They should keep things in proportion,

keep their families safe, and remember that they live in a fine, safe

community, and enjoy it. Enjoy being an American. We’ll take care of you.

BIO BOX

NAME: Dave Snowden

AGE: 58

HOMETOWN: Newport Beach, just outside the Costa Mesa border

OCCUPATION: Chief of the Costa Mesa Police Department

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Cal State

Fullerton

FAMILY: Wife of 30 years, Ellen; sons Scott and David, both Costa Mesa

residents

HOBBIES: Golf, collecting historical books and memorabilia relating to

anything western

INTERESTING FACT: Played an extra in feature films “Tombstone” and

“Wyatt Earp”