I've done my part

In response to the comments made by Pat Braendel in her letter “Programs can help curb crime,” the comments made by Ms. Braendel were “What has been your contribution to the community?”

I would be glad to list all of them here but I do not think the Village News would grant me a full page in which to respond, so I will be brief.

On September 12 I assisted an elderly resident on DeLuz Road, where one of Fallbrook’s nasty teens was verbally assaulting this individual. Later that evening I contacted the Sheriff’s Department about a suspicious vehicle with three youths loitering in front of a senior apartment complex on the corner of South and West Mission.

I even put my life in jeopardy two times. One was in Bonsall, where I was attacked at a wedding party held at a local country club where our “friendly Fallbrook neighbors” were drunk and fighting. This one almost ended tragically. Another was in Oceanside, where I apprehended a recently released violent offender from Vacaville.

In the five years since I moved to the “Friendly Village,” I have made over 60 calls to the Sheriff’s Department and over 25 calls to the Highway Patrol regarding vehicle accidents and assisted the motorists numerous times including “with injuries.” Also, I have notified the owners who sell their cars on West Mission Road not to leave their vehicles parked overnight because I have prevented numerous thefts.

In my over 20 years in the alarm industry and over seven years as a POST trained security officer with firearms, endorsement, I have made over 30 arrests within San Diego County. I have assisted the Oceanside and Escondido Police Departments in eliminating drug sales in high-risk apartment complexes.

Now, I ask, what has Ms. Braendel done besides attend meetings and pass out fliers? The programs she mentioned have failed over the past 30 years and will fail here in Fallbrook.

The reason is “pop culture.” If a young adult can make more money robbing or selling drugs like his role models, why work for minimum wage? Another problem is that for the past three years jobs for young adults have been few. Employers prefer to fill these jobs with people who possess questionable citizenship rather than hire locals.

Maybe that is why young adult unemployment this past summer in Fallbrook was over five percent, according to a story printed here in the news. Nationwide, young unemployment is well over 40 percent.

Churches have the worst record for crime prevention programs; it interferes with their recruiting efforts. Only one other group has stronger recruitment tactics than the churches — the United States Military.

Neighborhood Watch and Adopt-a-Block programs usually fizzle during baseball and football seasons, leaving only you to watch. People have busy lives and responsibilities in these hectic times and interest in these programs dwindles, then dissolves.

So, Ms. Braendel, I have done my part numerous times over. What about you?