Chief's Community Update - October 1, 2024

East Palo Alto Community,

Please take a moment to welcome the newest members of your East Palo Alto Police Department.  I asked each of them to write a quick self introduction for you all.  

Brigitte Gutierrez - Full Time Community Service Officer (CSO)

Hello everyone, my name is Brigitte Gutierrez, and I am proud to be from and still live in the East Palo Alto community. My journey in law enforcement began at the age of 15 as a Police Explorer with the San Mateo Police Department and later transferred to the East Palo Alto Police Department, where I served as an Explorer Sergeant for two years. Following this role, I applied for and held the position of Community Service Aide for approximately four years.

In addition, I have four years of experience as a Police Records Specialist with both Stanford Department of Public Safety and Menlo Park Police Department, as well as dispatch experience with Menlo Park Police Department. Currently, I am pursuing my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, with the long-term goal of becoming a Police Officer. I am partnered with my high school sweetheart, and together we have two daughters, ages four and one. In my free time, I am passionate about cycling and enjoy experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. I look forward to meeting you all! 

Arianna Bush - Part Time Community Service Officer (CSO)

Hi Everyone, my name is Arianna Bush, I am from Washington State. I attended the University of Idaho where I got my Bachelors of Science in Criminology, and triple jumped for a Division 1 Track and Field team, Go Vandals! After graduating, I transferred to San Jose State University where I got my Masters of Public Administration! While attending SJSU I was an Intern for the City of Mountain View City Manager's Office, but I have always been passionate about joining PD. I played three sports my whole life, soccer, basketball, and track! I am excited to participate with PD playing against the kids in the community in whatever sport! I am passionate about nutrition and I love to cook, bake, and go to the gym! I also love to binge watch all types of TV shows! Thank you everyone for already being so welcoming, I am so excited to be a part of this team! 

Rosa Chavez - Records Clerk I

I grew up in Crescent City Ca. I grew up in a rural community. My love for animals and helping people caused me to be heavily involved with the county community events.Years later I moved to NV and became employed at Washoe County. At Washoe County I worked for the Health Dept as a Office Assistant II and later transferred to Alternate Public Defenders office. Now I am here at EPA Police Department. Just wanted to say “Thank You” for giving me the opportunity to work for EPA Police Department. I am excited to work with a great group of co-workers.

Dillon Ruggiero - Police Recruit

Hello everyone, my name is Dillon Ruggiero. I was born in San Francisco and raised in South San Francisco. I attended Archbishop Riordan High School, go Crusaders! All throughout my teenage years I always wanted to serve in the military and eventually work in law enforcement. My interest in the military and law enforcement started at a young age as a good amount of my family served in the military and my father worked in law enforcement for 35 years. After high school I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2020. I was in the infantry as a 0341 Mortar man and served 4 years of active duty. During my time in the Marine Corps I knew when I got out I wanted to work in law enforcement like the rest of my family. I got out of the Marine Corps in September of 2024. Some of my other interests are sports such as football and baseball, weight lifting and building Lego sets. I am very excited to join the EPA team and I look forward to making a positive impact with the community. 

Notable event:

On Monday September 30, 2024, a frantic daughter called the East Palo Alto Police to report her 93-year-old mother missing.  The daughter told officers that her mother rarely leaves on her own, but if she does she only visits Palo Alto or Menlo Park.  At 93, she still drives a vehicle, but does not believe in cellular phones or technology.  Officers got her vehicle description and license plate number, then initiated a silver alert, due to her age.  Later in the evening, Flock Technology ALPR cameras located the vehicle in the city of Milpitas.  Our Officers called the Milpitas Police, who quickly responded to the area where the vehicle was last captured.  A short time later Milpitas Police located the missing person, who had crashed into an embankment.  Family members who also drove to the area were quickly reunited with the missing person before she was transported to a hospital for precautionary evaluation.

Flock was critical in this case to show when and where the missing person had left and driven too.  Based on the area and number of reads from the Flock system, it was obvious that the missing person was lost and trying to find her way.  When I heard the missing person was reunited with her family, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and joy, knowing that a painful chapter had come to a hopeful end.

Thank you for your continued partnership,

Jeff Liu

Chief of Police