I should start off by introducing myself. My name is Alan dela Pena and I’ve been a police officer for the Chula Vista Police Department for the past 9 months, however, I have been in law enforcement for the past 14 years. I started my career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in December 1991. Interestingly enough, I graduated from the Academy the week of the Rodney King riots in May 1992. On the day I graduated, the Sheriff swore me and my academy mates in as Deputies, gave us 5 minutes to mingle with our families and put us on a bus to South Central Los Angeles where we spent the next 3 days keeping intersections secure until the majority of the violence had subsided. I was 21 years old and it was quite the experience to see these burning buildings all around me on the first day on the job.

I spent nearly 2 years with the Sheriff’s Department (working in the jails) before hiring on with a smaller municipal police agency in south Los Angeles County. During 12 years at that agency, I had the opportunity to work uniformed patrol, as an officer on a crime impact team, as a field training officer and firearms instructor. During my last five years, I worked as an assistant to the Chief of Police and was responsible for all community relations, which meant that I handled all media relations and spoke with many different community groups. I was also on the recruitment team and that experience actually brought me to Chula Vista. Here’s the kicker; in March 2005, I was working a recruitment event in Orange County. My booth was right next to Chula Vista’s. Two months later, I put in an application to Chula Vista and I was hired in February 2006. It was a classic case of the recruiter being recruited.

I currently work uniformed patrol and am extremely impressed not only with the quality of police officer that I work with, but also with city management and the citizens that I’ve had the pleasure of making contact with.

When I learned about the opportunity to be the primary contributor to a law enforcement e-blog, it seemed like it would be a terrific opportunity to enlighten the general public on what goes on in an officer’s workweek. In the coming days, weeks and months, I will provide information about the Chula Vista Police Department and law enforcement in general, share different anecdotes, offer crime prevention tips and answer questions that you may have.

I hope that the information provided is both interesting and educational for you.

Thanks for participating,
Alan dela Pena