Q) Is our mission to attempt apprehend or just send a message to the suspects that we are watching to hopefully prevent illegal activities?

A) Citizens are asked to report and observe. Be a good witness. Write down a description of each person including age, height, weight, hair, clothing as well as vehicle color, type of vehicle and license plate. Be able to have the right phone number to call and to describe the behavior or actions of the actions of the trespasser. Know the difference between an emergency and non-emergency call to the Sheriff or to the correct agency. We would never ask you to attempt to apprehend someone involved in an illegal activity.

Q) What are OUR RIGHTS in protecting the School?

A) Do not go over there looking to detain someone.

Q) Does the watch group wait for the suspect(s) to commit an actual illegal activity before attempting to apprehend?

A) Use your judgment in decision making; people harming people versus property crime.

Q) What illegal activities should we focus on: (curfew, trespassing, graffiti, drug use, vandalism, burglary)?

A) You should report all suspicious activity immediately to the Sheriff’s department and to the school.

Q) When do we call the Sheriff Dept? After we have apprehended a suspect? Officers have made it very clear that they DO NOT want a law abiding citizen on the school /play grounds when they arrive to prevent any mistaken identity.

A)   It is lawful for a citizen to detain someone that has committed an illegal act and to make a citizen arrest. Deuties can cite and release.  See PC 837.

Q) Can we grab without excessive force a suspect that is exiting the quad by way of an exit doorway or climbing over the fence?

A) The use of force is different in every situation. In a one to one situation where there are no weapons involved, preventing someone from leaving the grounds is not considered excessive force.

Q) Do we have rights to questions a person suspected of illegal activities? Can we take their photo or request personal information such as name, home address, and phone number or see identification.

A) As a private person, you can ask, but you don’t have a right to an answer. You can take their photograph.

Q) What is involved in a Citizen Arrest?

A) See PC 837

Q) I have been told a photo of a suspect performing the illegal activities is key evidence.

A) That’s true.

Q) Can we hold a suspected minor from leaving our custody if we have witnessed this person performing a crime until an officer arrives from the Sheriff’s department?

A) Yes. You do not have the right to remove him from that location, nor can you use excessive force in holding that person.

1) Coordinating our efforts with the school and local law enforcement. We discussed when is the right time to call the police and when to notify the school.

2) Suggestions for improving school safety. This included installation of video surveillance equipment, lighting and signage around the school.

3) We agreed to set a goal of the end of this school year to install some type of improved security measures and also agreed to meet again on May 11th, 2010 at 1:30 to follow up on items we discussed.

Sac County Sheriff Emergency: 916-874-5111
Call this number for crimes in progress if dialing from your cell phone otherwise it goes to the CHP.
Sac County Sheriff Non-Emergency: 916-874-5115
Call if you see evidence that a crime has already been committed.
Sac County Sheriff Online Reporting System: http://www.sacsheriff.com/online_reporting/index.cfm

Gold River Community Patrol: 1-800-978-1761
Call them for any non-emergency issues such as suspicious looking cars or people on or near the school campus.

Please fill out the incident reporting form. Your name and email address will not be displayed.

The GRDC Watch Group is made up of a group of homeowners who live in close proximity to the Gold River Discovery Center Elementary School located at 2200 Roaring Camp Drive, Gold River, CA 95670.

Our Mission

To monitor the school whenever possible and report anything suspicious to the local authorities.

What to do if you observer anything unusual on the campus:

1) Contact the appropriate authorities.

2) Report it on this site so we may maintain an incident log.