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| *I am not sure about the M4 but the M16 rifle used in some police departments is much safer than a typical pistol especially in urban areas because the rifle bullet explodes upon impact where is a pistol bullet goes through the target and then blasts through several walls before it stops. Thus the rifle is a safer weapon than a pistol. That and it's an excellent weapon on the range, no kick at all. --["SteveOstrowski"] |
| Location |
| 2600 Fifth Street |
| Office Hours |
| Mon-Fri 7am-6pm |
| Sat 9am-12pm & 1pm-4pm |
| Emergency Phone |
| 758-3600 (or 911, which will be transferred to 758-3600) |
| Non-Emergency Phone |
| (530)747-5400 |
| Website |
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The Davis Police Department (DPD) provides law enforcement for the town of Davis and investigates crime. On the UC Davis campus police services are provided by the campus police. Chief Jim Hyde joined the department in August 2005. The department has the unenviable job of keeping the peace between long term residents and students in a college town.
Services
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They issue Residential Parking Permits and
sound permits
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They enforce laws including noise violations
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They maintain an online
Crime Activity log and a
crime map
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They offer both a ride along (with an officer) and a sit along (with a dispatcher) program
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Sergeant Waltz has offered to give individual students (or any other resident of Davis) a ride along on Thursday nights. Email Sergeant Waltz at <twaltz AT ci DOT davis DOT ca DOT us> if you are interested.
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They provide free gun locks which can be used to lock your gun or your bicycle
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On January 24, 2006, the Davis Police Department website introduced
online crime reporting. You can report certain non-violent crimes from the comfort of your own web browser, without having to visit the station and wait for an available officer. There are also
police logs online.
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There is a Police Cadet program
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A Vacation House Check program
Police Community Relations
The City-UCD Student Liaison Commission created a Police-Student Relations Sub-Committee on November 9, 2005 to create sustained dialogues between students and both police deparments. As part of the sub-committee work, the Davis Police Department answered a list of frequently asked student questions of the police - FAQ Student-Police.
The Davis Police Community Advisory Board, created in January 2006 and made up of local residents, business owners, and other community leaders, is charged by the Chief of Police to assist in community outreach efforts.
In the spring of 2006 an unknown group or individual sent out C.A.R.O.L.E. flyers calling for a Police oversight commission.
Racial profiling
On
Aug 29, 2005, the Sacramento Bee reported that the Davis' Human Relations Commission may call next month for a commission to investigate an alarming number of racial profiling complaints against the Davis PD. The department has one officer assigned full-time to investigating racial offenses.
From January 1st to August 19th 2005:
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Latinos, which make up 10% of the population, made up 20.5% of all arrests.
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Blacks, which make up 2.4% of the population, made up 9.2% of all arrests.
The "UC Davis Concered Campus Affiliates" released their racial profiling report on November 15, 2005. The report is available at
http://www.policeracerelationsreport.net/ The Affiliates include Kristee Haggins, Donald Moore, Natacha Foo Kune, Fernando Socorro, Steven Baissa, John Ortiz-Hudson, Carla Lacey, Renee Lopez and Michele Dyke, Jesse Owen, Paul Ratanasiripong, Rahim Reed and Karen Roth.
On May 23rd 2006 a large, mixed group of undergraduates, graduates, faculty and community members
marched on the police department to protest racial profiling and police misconduct. The march began on the MU Patio and ended at the police department.
Image
Various people have different opinions about police enforcement no matter where you live. Due to their strict enforcement of Davis' famed noise laws, they are sometimes referred to as "Professional Party Poopers." However, the police department issues almost no "minor in possession" or "distribution to minor" citations for alcohol offenses. Others point out that theirs is a thankless job, and that you can't make everybody happy at once, especially while enforcing laws that you didn't write. The DPD even went as far as producing Davis Police Department Trading Cards to boost their image. The DPD printed and distributed trading cards with interesting information about each officer. Read about them in a Maxim article from April 2000 titled
"To Serve and Collect".
As many as eight Law Enforcement Officers hanging out in front of Starbucks on a Tuesday night in May 2005
As many as four police cars park in the University Mall parking lots while officers enjoy their lattes and frappachinos
As you can see, Davis police carry a special device that disrupts the speed of light, causing all pictures of them to become dubiously blurry...Except for this one:
Related information on the Wiki
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Aggie columnist Michael Giardina wrote an article about police officers, available
here.
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Kalie Moody claims that there is at least one undercover officer who she witnessed arresting a woman outside of IHOP at 2am.
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One officer is remarkably short, which makes him quite noticable.
Comments:
Note: You must be logged in to add comments
2005-11-09 12:38:56 While I was biking near a cop car the other day, I noticed that the gun in the front seat wasn't a standard shotgun, but what appeared to be some sort of asult rifle. Are Davis cops rolling with
M4s Carbines? —ArlenAbraham
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However, unlike the weapon described in the above-linked wikipedia article, DPD patrol carbines are not automatic weapons (machine guns). They are semi-automatic.—CameronMenezes
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I am not sure about the M4 but the M16 rifle used in some police departments is much safer than a typical pistol especially in urban areas because the rifle bullet explodes upon impact where is a pistol bullet goes through the target and then blasts through several walls before it stops. Thus the rifle is a safer weapon than a pistol. That and it's an excellent weapon on the range, no kick at all. —SteveOstrowski
- Yes. The DPD now has Carbines. Someone broke in to a business downtown, I was there, and the cop got out of the car, and he had an M4 in the trunk. There were a few other cops there with M4s with scopes and laser sights. I think. - JulienBiewerElstob
—Not all of them have M4 carbines, but every patrol car is equipped with a shotgun.
2005-11-09 13:32:42 A few months after the Sterling Riots, a fight broke out in the parking lot. It was broken up by a Davis police officer who got out of his car carrying what looked like and M4 and, strapped to his back, was a shotgun. My room mate noted that he wanted an AWP because the scene was too counter-strike to be real. —MichaelGiardina
2005-11-25 01:35:15 I've had my fair share of gripes about the police, but when I needed them the other night in an emergency, they were there in no time. It turned out to be alright, but they didn't mind rushing out at all and were very cool about it. Its good to know they're there when you really do need them. —DaveCar
2005-12-08 15:56:09 If the police start carring m4's and mp5's i am gona be more careful around them cause those things pack a punch —SeanReedy
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Yes, because you are impervious to their .45 sidearms... - arlen
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Any sensible person buys the kevlar and helmet every round! - KenjiYamada
2005-12-08 18:11:34 I live in South Davis, and there is this one cop that is always turning on his siren....couple times a night every night. Is that really called for? —DudeNude
—Sirens are turned on when police are rolling code 3 to an emergency call. Code 3 means an officer is driving faster than normal, and cops only do this when rushing to an emergency. Sirens are used to warn other motorists. If sirens were not turned on, and a motorist collided with a cop rushing to an emergency, the police department would undoubtedly be sued for not providing sufficient warning that the police officer was driving fast.—CameronMenezes
2006-01-01 21:29:20 I've lived in the East Bay for about 20 years and always had a high opinion of the law enforcement officers in the various cities I've in. That said, I really dislike Davis cops. And so do all of my friends. They seem to have nothing better to do than hassle people over trivial issues. There's too many of them, they have no connection to community values, and they need to act like people instead of a team of misguided robocops. —GrumpyoldGeek
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Excellent idea. As soon as the whole police department accepts responsibility and makes amends for the ex-chief's and officer Ly's behavior in the Halema Buzyan affair, I'll not judge the whole department on their behavior. —GrumpyoldGeek
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Why should anybody "assume responsibility" for what happened, when Officer Ly's arrest of Halema Buzyan was entirely in compliance with applicable law? Stop being so grumpy, Grumpy.—CameronMenezes
—"there's too many of them?" You sound like the same kind of person who would bitch if an officer didn't respond to your 911 call quickly enough, because there were too few officers working on the day/night you called in. Concerning police officers' connection to community values, just look at the extremely low crime rate in the city of Davis. DPD Officers ENFORCE city community values, and help make this such a safe, great city. When's the last time you feared for your personal safety while walking down a Davis street? Your statements sound foolish.—CameronMenezes
—I agree with Grumpyoldgeek - how many police officers does it take to make the community safe? I would feel just as safe if there were half as many police officers. I grew up in a town, about one quarter the size of Davis, and we did not have a police force at all - the town was probably safer than Davis. There also seems to be a cultural problem within the group of officers hired by Davis, where acting out of control and being dishonest is accepted practice. Davis would benefit if the entire DPD was shut down and let the UCDPD perform all police work. Shift the culture to something better.
—I must disagree with you. First and foremost: Please do not judge an entire department based on unproven allegations against a few officers. Second, you are an idiot if you think that the UCDPD could take care of all policing in the city of Davis. The Davis PD is already swamped with calls on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, as it is. Your idea of the UC Police doing all police work in the city of Davis is not practical, and really, not very well thought out.
If the Davis PD were "shut down" to "shift the culture," no longer would students have to deal with traffic cops. Cops wouldn't be busting up parties anymore, and students could drink and/or smoke pot wherever they wanted to. Sounding good so far? How about this: Property crime rates would skyrocket, as well as personal crimes. More people would be injured in traffic accidents, and there would be more pedestrian injuries at elementary, junior high, and high schools. Gangs would get a foothold in Davis. Still sounding good? Your ideas are ridiculous. Just out of curiosity, though: have you ever been on a police ride-along? Going for a ride-along might further your education on the life of a police officer. I encourage you to give it a try.—CameronMenezes
Right! - and if we were to leave Iraq the terrorists would immediately march into Davis and blow up the water towers. The Davis Police might have brain washed you into thinking the gangs are at the doorstep of Davis and they desire to destroy all civilization as we know it. The reality is that very little would change if the entire Davis Police Department decided to take a six month sabbatical.
There are many 90,000 person towns (Davis & UCD combined) with single police departments - having two police departments is inefficient. Obviously, the UCD police staff would have to grow in order to cover the entire city, but much of the administrative duplication could be eliminated. Davis would end up with a better managed police force and would also save money.—SteveHayes
—As I said, ride-alongs are both interesting and informative. You are assuming quite a bit in your assertions, though your mention of Iraq and water towers is pretty funny. I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree. :)—CameronMenezes
2006-05-19 18:28:44 I really like the police station a lot. It reminds me a great deal of the police stations seen in the game 'Earthbound'. —SteveKent
2006-06-07 21:27:06 The two traits that I have found most disturbing about Davis Police Officers are the lack of honesty and how they cover for each others mistakes. I will never believe another police report after my experience with Davis Police reports. There is no honor there, at all! —SteveHayes
—Care to share your problem with the Davis police? I'm curious what happened. In the meantime, unless every single officer in the Department issued you a false citation, I think it's best you limit your criticisms to the officers who wronged you, instead of denigrating the entire police force.—CameronMenezes
—You seem about the age of my sons, you'll have to forgive me, are you Latino? Your name looks like it, but you never know. My sons grew up in Davis, and they were regularly questioned by the police as to where they were from or what they were doing walking around our neighbor as teenagers. Not once were they given citations. I'm 55 years old, I have graying hair, and a few months ago I got pulled by the Davis PD and asked if I were a gang members. I told the officer I used to march with Cesar Chavez and I asked him if he knew who that was. He knew the name. We had a good conversation. I wasn't breaking any law. I got no ticket. I know countless stories of the same kind. There is a problem here. It started at the top, the lack of leadership by the police chief. It started before that by getting rid of Police Chief Jerry Gonzalez. Hell I lived here since the early 70s and there has always been a problem. Rick Gonzalez, Jerry's brother, said the other day that when they started the Human Relations Commission in 1983, there was a problem. It still hasn't been resolved.—Henry Bianco
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Sorry to hear that, I know a lot of people who have had good experiences with cops. Again, I've found that mutual respect is a very useful tool to use when talking to police officers. I have not heard anything about this alleged beating. Just out of curiosity, what does the 20 year-old man's religion have to do with his alleged beating? Why are you telling us that the man is a Muslim? I am not sure why you included that in your response... are you trying to say that the man is dark-skinned? Correct me if I'm wrong, but being a Muslim means you are a believer in the honorable religion of Islam. There are believers of Islam in all corners of the world, who have many different colors of skin... CameronMenezes
—I have dark skin and black hair, and yes, I am often mistaken for being Hispanic (I am not). I've lived in Davis for five years, and have never been treated poorly by any police officer. Cops are on edge around ANY person that they don't know, and simply being respectful (Yes, sir. No, sir) goes a long way in benefitting community/police relations. (And I don't mean to imply that you or your sons are/were impolite, that's not my intention at all) Every good cop is a bit suspicious by nature, and it is this suspicion that stops many crimes before they happen. I was pulled over once in Davis, because my car matched the description of a car that had just burglarized an apartment complex. The officer was a bit on-guard with me, but I was very polite, and the officer let me go within two minutes. —CameronMenezes
—Glad to hear that, I know a lot of people who have had bad experiences with the cops. Most people of color either have a personal experience or know of someone who has. A lot of my friends have moved out of here over the years because they grew tired of it. My sons don't like to come back here that much, they feel safer in LA than they do here. That's a sad statement to make. In meantime, according to my sources, there have been four new complaints filed in the last month, and two new pending lawsuits. One involves a 20-year-old Muslim kid, allegedly beaten by five Davis Police Officers. If you live in South Davis and go to Safeway, you've probably met the kid.—Henry Bianco
2006-06-14 20:12:20 Did anyone hear about the police chief resigning? —CindySperry
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Yes, Jim Hyde claimed that the Human Relations Commission was disrupting police work, but really it was because another department offered him a better salary. - Paul Amnuaypayoat
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Really Cameron? Then can you explain why he applied for a position in several places over a year ago, before any of the HRC stuff occurred? He was even offered a job at one point, but ended up turning that one down. Word is that Hyde has been looking to a bigger pond since he got here. The Antioch Job and pay raise gave him the excuse to do so.—David Greenwald
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David, you are right! The actions of the HRC and people of the same ilk had nothing at all to do with his decision! Get real, man. Many cops in other cities cringe at the idea of being a police officer in Davis, because the citizens of Davis treat their cops as if the officers themselves are the primary villains in this town. I have never seen a more ungrateful citizenry in my entire life. It is amazing that we have such quality police officers, considering the flak that Davis officers get just for doing their jobs. Can you honestly blame Chief Hyde for throwing out his application to a few other agencies? All police officers have to be constantly on guard for their own physical safety, but Davis police officers have to live with the additional fear of being fired/sued by people like you. I respect your opinion, but boy, do I disagree with you.—CameronMenezes
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I must have missed the part where I said it had nothing to do with his decision. But, I was pointing out to you that he was looking elsewhere before any of this came up. Certainly, Hyde had to know that the council was considering getting rid of the HRC and its chair long before he resigned. It was mentioned in early February. So Hyde had to know that had he stayed on the HRC would not have been around, although his blame probably hastened the move, but I had been told in April that it was in the works for after the election. So I don't buy the explanation. I do take issue with your notion of "ungrateful citzenry"—I think there are serious problems with the Davis Police Department. In fact, there are 14 pending cases, many of which will become lawsuits and there are very serious allegations raised. Davis Police Officers if they abide by the law and the constitution have nothing to fear. When they cross the line, then it becomes a problem. Unfortunately, some of the bad seeds in the department have tainted the good name of the majority of officers. That has to and will be corrected.—David Greenwald
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Fair enough, David. Nor am I making the bold statement that all cops, everywhere, always abide by the rules. By way of explanation, however- I am appalled by the way some Davis citizens rush to judgement when issues arise concerning the conduct of police officers.—CameronMenezes
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Must be pretty hard being a police office in Davis, having to be take verbal insults and all. I bet officers would rather be stationed in big cities with more violent crime and more guns on the streets. Cops have a tough, dangerous job. However, I am going to have to say its safer to be a cop in Davis then most major urban areas. There are good cops in Davis, but there also bad cops. And when there is no disciplinary actions taken against bad officers, when citizen's feel their complaints are not being heard, when misconduct is rewarded like a remake of Catch-22, something has to change. The city needs to get into a 12 step program to solve this issue... the first step is to admit there is a problem. Hell, I might even be happy if someone on the city council said they wanted to investigate the possibility of a problem....but that has yet to happen. -JimSchwab
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James, what's with the constant need to ridicule police officers? Davis is probably a safer place to be a cop than in some other cities...duh. What's your point? Are Davis cops not as important as cops in other cities? I don't see where you're taking this. This thread was about the police chief's resignation, and your rant has little to do with that. You've mutated this thread into Jim Schwab's reasons-why-I-hate-davisPD. Issues? Catch 22? 12-step program? What are you talking about? Please be specific when throwing out allegations.—CameronMenezes
—Did Chief Hyde tell you this himself? Paul, that's quite an assertion. I don't doubt money has something to do with his resignation, but I'm sure the activities of the HRC were also factored into his decision.—CameronMenezes
2006-07-30 16:03:10 The DPD’s conduct in general is not appropriate for a small city like Davis, where most of the arrests are alcohol-related, not hardened criminals. DPD use excessive force and come the end of the month, they will pick you up for anything they can possibly muster up. They have created a negative aura around downtown, and I fear for my safety because of the police when I go out to drink at the bars. How are we expected to get home from downtown if we can't drive?. I spoke to the Sheriff at the Yolo Co. Detention Facility this morning, and last night 40 Davis students were picked up. The night before one of my friends got arrested for attempting to break up a large fight near the bars. My friend is huge, and surely intimidating, but was not instigating anything. The DPD are hurting morale in Davis, when people become too scared to go out fearing run-ins with hard-ass cops. This is not the proper environment for police actions that belong on an episode of Cops in Buttholeville, AL. —CamelJoe
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Camel Joe- Your intimation that alcohol-related crimes are not as bad as crimes committed by "hardened criminals" is a bit misguided, at best. I went for a ride-along with a Davis police officer, and we were called to the scene of an accident a few blocks north of Fraternity Row. A drunk, 19 year old UCD student crashed his car into someone's house. He could have killed people walking on the sidewalk, or even someone sitting in front of that house. And what do you mean, 'how are we expected to get home from downtown if we can't drive?' Ever heard of walking? Or better yet, drink responsibly so that your BAC is low enough to be legal. Finally, Joe, the only time I EVER fear the police is when I know that I'm somewhere/doing something that I shouldn't be. (For example: when I'm at a very late, loud party... when I'm speeding in Davis... when I do a "California stop"... when I remain close to a bar where people are fighting.) I suppose I disagree with everything you said, Joe, even the part about Buttholeville, Alabama. I heard it's a rather nice place.—CameronMenezes
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Cameron - I certainly didnt mean to say it was ok to drink and drive. I meant that since we are under threat of arrest for drunk in public while WALKING home, there is a dilemma. Drinking and driving is not safe, I would never complain about the DPD by insinuating that DUIs are uncalled for. And it is not illegal to be at a loud party. You should be able to walk home in peace after a night of drinking, without fearing a run in with Johnny law. I have personally received two already, once on picnic day, for walking between aparment complexes on B street, not even on a public street (probably not right in hindsight) and once in front of a bar downtown, which turned into a resisting arrest charge when the cops decided I was trying to get away from them (which I got dropped by going to Court with a public defender and eyewitness testimony). These guys are ruthless, you should have no sympathy for them. It is tough sometimes to balance citizen's interests with those of students, I understand, but most college towns do a far better job, ex: Berkeley, Chico, San Diego, Santa Cruz, SLO to name a few. I don't know how you see everything so differenly, all I can think of is that you must not get out much. Like it or not, this is a UC-run, liberal little city, and this must frustrate the locals. The DPD are a bunch of country bumpkins from Woodland that barely graduated high school, if at all. Their perception of us is a bunch of rich preppy college kids, so they take out latent prejudice on us. This is not the case for all the DPD, but there is a certain group (we all know who) that gets hard beating on drunk kids.—CamelJoe
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Look, dealing with cops requires that you have COMMON SENSE. Don't do stupid things, don't talk smack to the officers, and a person will probably have a very brief (and pleasant) encounter with the police! It is certainly not illegal to remain at loud parties, but if a person has a shred of common sense, said person will leave before the cops arrive to shut the party down. When cops shut down parties, as we all know, it can be fairly chill, or extremely tense. And Joe, how FUNNY you are for calling all Davis police officers a bunch of Woodland-born country bumpkins. I know of one Davis cop who actually graduated from UC Davis. Sounds like you are a little prejudiced yourself...—CameronMenezes
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We will have to agree to disagree. You are right about the education thing, thats why I said this is not the case for all DPD. There are good people there, too, I'm sure. I'm just sick of the cowboy cops. How can you deny they are cowboy cops after all this evidence stacked against them? And M4's?!?! If that is true that is deeply troubling. Who said anything about talking smack? Again, with the party, walking away can be as dangerous for your criminal record as staying there while it gets rolled. Sometimes I feel like they are trying to impose a prohibition on this town, perhaps trying to "get tough" like they did in Chico. This is bad for everyone except the cops and the programs funded by penatly assessment/fine money - these fines get divied up in Woodland and sent to police departments, correctional officers, emergency services, public prosecutor/defender, the criminal justice system and courthouse construction funds to name a few. The idea is that it is restitution for victims of crimes - this logic seems a little off when the criminals we are talking about are just trying to get home!—CamelJoe
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Cowboy cops? I've never seen their stetsons. And what is so deeply troubling about the police department having M4 carbines? I think that every police agency in the STATE has M4-type rifles. Get a grip, dude. Davis police are not trying to impose prohibition on this town, that is an alarmist statement and really irritating, to be honest. Try to remember that UCD students aren't the only Davis residents. Truth be told, Davis cops spend an inordinate amount of time preventing intoxicated college students from doing stupid things that hurt other people.—CameronMenezes
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Of course, UC Davis students are not immune to alcoholism and other dependency issues which keep the DPD very busy, especially on weekends. This does not mean that they are the only problem citizens in the downtown area face. I am personally proud of our police department for their handling of recent issues that have confronted our community. Hopefully, they will have continued vigilance.—Paul Guess
2006-07-30 16:24:45 "CamelJoe": WTF? Are you really saying that it should be OK to drink and drive? —GrahamFreeman
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You should bring your concerns to the attention of the UCD Student/City Liaison Commission. I think they are actively engaged in addressing these issue. - SharlaDaly


