CAMBRIAN PATHWAYS: August 2010

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF…..

Senior Deputy Todd Steeb

Several Fridays ago, I had the opportunity and the privilege to participate in the Ride-A-Long Program of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department. The program entails spending a shift (or a part of) with a SLO Deputy Sheriff while he/she is on routine patrol in the County.

I was lucky enough to be teamed with Senior Deputy Todd Steeb. I say lucky because Todd is the Resident Deputy for Cambria. Translation: He and his SLO Sheriff’s patrol cruiser live in Cambria. In Todd’s case, most of his and his wife’s family also live in Cambria. Furthermore, Todd grew up here and attended the local schools. To say Senior Deputy Steeb is committed to Cambria and motivated to protect it’s welfare would be a major understatement.

Deputy Steeb running a background
check on a person of interest.

Todd knew from the moment he graduated from Coast Union High School that he wanted to become a public safety officer. First, he trained to be a firefighter here in Cambria. He then graduated from Cuesta’s paramedic program and transferred to the Cambria Health Care District’s Paramedic Unit. Continuing on his career path meant a stop at the San Luis Obispo County Jail as a corrections officer. From there he went to the police academy and joined the San Luis Obispo County’s Sheriff’s Department.

Besides being a highly trained public safety officer, Todd is on the SLO Sherriff’s Marine Patrol Unit, the SLO Dive Team, SLO Search and Rescue, SLO Emergency Response Team, DOJ Helicopter Drug Abatement Unit, ad infinitum. We could not ask for a better-trained and skilled deputy who pretty much does it all. He spends most of his spare time attending advanced training courses sponsored by local, state, and national law enforcement agencies. Senior Deputy Steeb is the consummate professional.

His cruiser's store of "office" equipment.

My day with Deputy Steeb began when he picked me up at 10:00 AM (my neighbors had a field day with that one!) and ended at 6:00 PM when I got back home.

During that one shift, I observed the following actions, procedures, or events:

· The running of background checks on persons of interest. I had to laugh; he ran one on me before we left the sub station! I told you he is on top of everything!
· Toured the Los Osos Sheriff’s Substation (one of 3) and reviewed the seven patrol precincts in San Luis Obispo County. Precinct 3, which includes Cambria and is Todd’s normal patrol area, is approximately 550 square miles!
· Observed how their Ford Crown Victoria patrol cars were outfitted and equipped. Also, toured vehicle maintenance and communication repair facilities.
Getting additional information about
a situation to which we had responded.
· Got a first hand demonstration of the capabilities and performance of these cruisers (they’re very fast and nimble, believe me)!
· Learned the SLO County Sherriff’s communication protocol and terminology, call signs, etc. We were 20-Henry-30 (or something like that).
· Went on many calls throughout the county from Cambria to Guadalupe (we were on roving duty throughout the County rather than a particular precinct assignment). Everything from domestic problems, house security checks, suspicious persons, etc.
· Saw an arrest and observed the transport and booking procedure into the San Luis Obispo County Jail.
· Logged in evidence and chain of control procedures.
· Learned the reporting paperwork flow and lines of communication.
Pine tree vs. Vehicle: An accident scene. The tree won!
· Toured the 911 Dispatch Office and the SLO County Office of Emergency Services facility (very interesting—both the technology and inter-agency planning aspect).
· Observed traffic accident procedures where a young lady demolished her car and a tree while “huffing” some kinds of aerosol spray.
· Discussed enforcement strategies under different types of scenarios.
· Passed out sheriff’s badge stickers to all the kids at Mickey Ds during a quick lunch break.
This guy was found under a bridge in Oceano.
He was arrested for allegedly
assaulting a nearby liquor store owner.
· Cruised by areas that seemed to have chronic public complaint problems.
. Offered safety tips to drivers he had pulled over (!).

Gathering evidence for booking a suspect
into the San Luis Obispo County Jail.

By the time Senior Deputy Steeb dropped me off back home, I was exhausted. I had a very enlightening and fascinating day.

I took away some good news and some bad news for my fellow Cambrians: The good news is that we can rest assured that our safety and well being is in excellent hands with Senior Deputy Steeb. The bad news is that Todd does not miss a THING!

ONE VERY BIG FOOTNOTE: Our own Senior Deputy Steeb will be featured on tru TV's new cop/crime series Over The Limit, scheduled to be shown on national television sometime in September! Watch for it!