By Jack Haworth

May 6, 2015 (San Diego) -- For the first time in more than 40 years, the SDSU Debate Team has placed as a team in the National Forensics Association Tournament. The team of Vincent Bellinghiere, Cody Meza, and Darron DeVillez, represented Aztec Forensics at the NFA tournament at Ohio University and placed 8th in Division III, competing in literature interpretation and platform speeches.

“Hundreds of universities across the nation compete in intercollegiate individual events, and only a select number qualify to compete at the national tournament,” said Bill Snavely, director of the School of Communication. “This is a great accomplishment for only three competitors against much more well-funded programs from across the country.”

East County News Service

May 2, 2015 (Warner Springs)—Sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating the shooting deaths of two women and a man last night in Warner Springs.

East County News Service

April 29, 2015 (San Diego) – San Diego’s City Council on Tuesday approved a $1.5 million settlement in payouts to women who sued the city over sexual misconduct and abuse charges involving San Diego Police officers.

East County News Service

April 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - Amber Alerts have been activated 240 times in California in the past 13 years, alerting people statewide about 298 missing children.  The system has been extremely effective, since 290 of those children – all but 8 – have been found safely—better than a 90 percent success rate. Four are still missing, and four were killed, UT San Diego reports. The system has worked eight times to recover kidnapped children right here in San Diego County.

East County News Service

April 24, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Sheriff’s Deputy Manning was patrolling Harbison Canyon Road in the unincorporated area of El Cajon  on Wednesday when he spotted a long extension cord.  Following the cord, he found a large greenhouse filled with marijuana plants and more pot plants growing next to an RV.

East County News Service

Photo by Michael Pereckas

April 22, 2015 (Washington D.C.) – A divided Supreme Court has ruled that police cannot detain a motorist pulled over for a traffic stop any longer than required to issue a ticket or warning for the driving infraction.  An officer cannot delay a motorist to allow for inspection of the vehicle, such as by a drug-sniffing dog when the cause for the stop was a traffic violation.

East County News Service

April 18, 2015 (Santee) –A man wearing a skirt entered several Santee businesses last Wednesday,  then lifted his skirt to show his underwear to women present.  One hairdresser at Hair It Is Etc. told 10 News the man seemed “mental” and was asked to leave.

East County News Service

April 17, 2015 (Spring Valley) – The Sheriff seeks public help to locate four suspects who fled the scene of a shooting Wednesday evening after one of the suspects shot a man in the head.

April 15,2015 (San Diego)--Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, a San Diego Democrat and African-American, has introduced two bills aimed at stopping  racial profiling and bringing accountability to shootings by police.  The measures are sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU.

By Bonnie Baranoff

April 12, 2015 (La Mesa) -- On Tuesday, April 14 at 2 p.m., 30-year La Mesa Police Department veteran and outgoing Police Chief Ed Aceves will “walk out” in what has become a traditional retirement ceremony at the La Mesa Police Department. Though officially retired in December 2014, he stayed on until his replacement, Chief Walter Vasquez, had a week to transition into the job.

In an ECM exclusive, Aceves shares how he got into law enforcement, how technology and communications have changed the field, his most memorable moments, and his plans for the future.

April 11, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - The Sheriff's Department and the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force (FTF) seek public help to locate 35-year-old Jason Evan Prather, whose last known address was Alpine. He is wanted on charges of domestic violence and sexual assault. Prather also failed to comply with the terms of his probation.

By Kristin Kjaero

April 7, 2015 (La Mesa) -- It was a perfect spring day in La Mesa for the outdoor swearing in of the new Police Chief, Walt Vasquez (photo, left), joined by his family (photo, below right).  The charisma and popularity he brings with him was clear to see in the size and responsiveness of the crowd.

Vasquez began his career in law enforcement in 1986 with the San Diego Police Department, where he rose through the ranks to captain, most recently overseeing SDPD's SWAT team, Canine Unit, communications,  property room, information services, and the chief's community advisory boards. 

Not surprisingly given this background, his speech today expressed the values he places on public service, teamwork, and community policing.

Below and in video, we give you Chief Vasquez's speech in full.

East County News Service

April 7, 2015 (Santee) -- The Sheriff's Department wants your help in identifying and locating a woman who robbed a pharmacy at gunpoint in Santee.

The woman entered a CVS store in the 9700 block of Mission Gorge Road around 4:30 a.m. Witnesses say the suspect pulled out a pistol and demanded percocet, a drug, and threatened to shoot the clerk if the demands were not met. Once the woman was given the percocet, she walked out of the store. No one was hurt.

East County News Service

April 4, 2015 (City Heights)—A suspect is under arrest for suspected Arson in City Heights.  The Metro Arson Strike Team announced the arrest of 24-year-old Rolando Resendiz.

County News Service

April 9, 2015 (San Diego)--Now is the time to stand up against domestic violence. That’s the message County officials and three well-known local athletes—professional skater Tony Hawk, San Diego Chargers linebacker Melvin Ingram and BMX champion Alise Post—are urging in a new public service announcement that has begun airing on Time Warner and Cox Communications cable channels.