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Placer Sentinel

Police & Fire

Last Updated: Oct 21, 2026 11:15AM • Subscribe via RSS • ATOM

DA's Office Explains Legal Limits in Juvenile Case Regarding the Murder of Cherie Dodge

Oct 21, 2026 11:15AM ● By Placer County District Attorney News Release

California law generally limits the information a District Attorney’s Office can publicly disclose about juvenile cases. Unlike adult criminal cases, juvenile proceedings are subject to strict confidentiality requirements that significantly limit what prosecutors may disclose publicly

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Donate to the Smartest Forest Fund and Become a Watch Duty Subscriber for Free

Sep 21, 2026 01:48PM ● By The Tahoe Fund News Release

Tahoe Fund donors who contribute $100 or more will receive an annual Watch Duty subscription

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Placer County Celebrates 150th Firewise USA Community, a Milestone in Wildfire Reduction Efforts

Sep 02, 2026 03:05PM ● By Placer County News Release

Placer County continues to lead the country with the highest number of designated Firewise USA® communities and today celebrated a new milestone.

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Every 44 Minutes: Stand Up Placer's New Numbers Reveal a Domestic Violence Crisis Growing in Placer County

Jul 29, 2026 03:12PM ● By Stand Up Placer News Release

Every 44 minutes, someone in Placer County reaches out for help escaping domestic violence, sexual assault or human trafficking.

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California Sees Second Straight Year of Vehicle Theft Declines

Jul 28, 2026 03:35PM ● By California Highway Patrol News Release

Statewide vehicle thefts fall nearly 25% as CHP continues targeted enforcement and prevention efforts

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Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson
Supervisor Cindy Gustafson to Convene Regional Leaders to Address Safety Concerns along I-08

Jul 22, 2026 04:20PM ● By Placer County Communications and Public Affairs News Release

Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson is launching the Interstate 80 Corridor Safety Initiative, convening state, federal and local leaders to address the growing number of serious incidents affecting the region's primary transportation corridor.

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CHP Awards More Than $41 Million to Combat Impaired Driving Across California

Jul 21, 2026 04:07PM ● By California Highway Patrol News Release

Funding supports enforcement, education and forensic testing statewide

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Placer County Man Sentenced for Stealing Nearly $1.5 Million in COVID-Relief Loans

Jul 10, 2026 12:51PM ● By Placer County News Release

Jedrek Upton, 45, of Lincoln, was sentenced on June 30 by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to one year in prison for stealing nearly 1.5 million of COVID-relief loans.

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Placer County Earns State Fire Risk Reduction Designation

Jul 07, 2026 03:28PM ● By Placer County News Release

Placer County has been named a Fire Risk Reduction Community by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, a state designation that recognizes that a community meets California’s high standards for wildfire prevention and planning.

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Mental Health Diversion Defendant Sentenced to Life in Prison For Subsequent Murder

Jun 02, 2026 02:25PM ● By Placer County District Attorney's Office News Release

Defendant was in mental health diversion for attacking an elderly woman when he committed the murder

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South Placer Fire District Board of Directors Vote to Place Funding Measure on November Ballot

May 26, 2026 05:45PM ● By South Placer Fire District News Release

District with Two Closed Fire Stations Seeks Path Forward

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Board of Supervisors Selects New Provider to Manage Inmate Medical Services

May 20, 2026 10:03AM ● By Placer County News Release

May 19, the Placer County Board of Supervisors selected Correctional Healthcare Partners, Inc. to provide comprehensive inmate medical services at the county’s jail and juvenile detention facilities.

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Threats to Schools Are Taken Seriously - And We Will Respond

Apr 22, 2026 04:40PM ● By Placer County Office of Education and Placer County Sheriff News Release

Placer County Superintendent of Schools Gayle Garbolino-Mojica and Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo issued the following joint statement regarding recent threats to Placer County schools.

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Beauty Store Bandit Sentenced to Almost Ten Years in State Prison

Feb 05, 2026 01:48PM ● By Placer County District Attorney’s Office News Release

The “Dark Knight Series” operation brings down statewide retail theft ring

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Placer County Law Enforcement Partnership Rescues Two Trafficked Minors and Secures Lengthy Prison Sentences for their Exploiters

Jan 27, 2026 10:44AM ● By Placer County District Attorney's Office News Release

A traffic stop on Sept. 30, 2024, led to the rescue of two 15-year-old girls and the eventual conviction of the men who trafficked them, thanks to the coordinated efforts of Placer County’s law enforcement community.

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Over $12 Million in Wildfire Prevention Grants Awarded to Assembly District 1

Jan 13, 2026 03:01PM ● By Assemblymember Heather Hadwick News Release

Assemblymember Heather Hadwick (R-Alturas) is happy to share Assembly District 1 has received $12,704,514.61 in grants from the CAL FIRE California Investments (CCI) Program.

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SPFD Wins Grants, Continues to Face Critical Funding Needs

Jan 13, 2026 12:48PM ● By South Placer Fire District News Release

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded South Placer Fire District a SAFER Grant totaling $750,000 for the next three years to temporarily fund three new positions.

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CHP Rings in the New Year With Holiday Enforcement Period

Dec 30, 2025 12:13PM ● By California Highway Patrol (CHP) News Release

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is ringing in 2026 by launching a New Year’s Holiday Enforcement Period (HEP).

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Defendant Sentenced for Felony Insurance Fraud

Dec 23, 2025 01:24PM ● By Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office News Release

Jordan Roy Lester pled to felony insurance fraud and was sentenced to 270 days county jail, two years formal probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $232,829 to the California Highway Patrol (CHP)

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Office of Traffic Safety Awards $54,250 Grant to the South Placer Fire District for Life-Saving Technology

Dec 17, 2025 12:43PM ● By South Placer Fire District News Release

South Placer Fire District (SPFD) announced recently that it has received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to purchase and implement the HAAS Alert's Safety Cloud®.

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South Placer Fire District Appoints New Chief Upon Chief's Retirement

Dec 17, 2025 12:30PM ● By South Placer Fire District News Release

On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the South Placer Fire District (SPFD) Board of Directors congratulated Chief Mark Duerr who announced at a Nov. 6 meeting he would retire on Dec. 31.

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County Takes Next Steps on Regional Forensic Laboratory

Dec 09, 2025 04:04PM ● By Placer County District Attorney News Release

The Placer County Board of Supervisors moved the Placer County District Attorney’s Office forensic crime laboratory forward by entering into a memorandum of understanding with the Board of Trustees of the California State University

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Placer County Probation Department’s Dean Dittman Receives Statewide Recognition with Affiliate Employee of the Year Award

Dec 08, 2025 03:11PM ● By Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) News Release

Dean Dittmann, a longtime leader within the Probation IT Managers Association (PITMA) has been honored at the statewide 2025 Annual Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) Awards Ceremony with the PITMA Employee of the Year Award.

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CLICK IT. DON'T RISK IT. CHP THANKSGIVING SAFETY REMINDER

Nov 24, 2025 01:10PM ● By California Highway Patrol News Release

Officers focus on seat belt use, impaired driving and safe travel during one of the year’s busiest weekends

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Placer County DA’s Office Showcases Cutting-Edge Strategy, Data Analysis and Statewide Leadership Through Prop 36 at Retail Theft Initiative Update Event

Nov 19, 2025 11:45AM ● By Placer County District Attorney's Office News Release

This morning, the Placer County District Attorney’s Office hosted a Retail Theft Initiative Update inside the Westfield Galleria at Roseville.

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Multiple Arrests Made After Officers Uncover Multijurisdictional Retail Theft Enterprise

Nov 06, 2025 12:34PM ● By California Highway Patrol News Release

In September 2025, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Valley Division Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF) received an investigation referral from The Home Depot regarding a subject involved in a sophisticated fraud and theft scheme.

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Lincoln Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Preying on Young Girls on Snapchat

Nov 03, 2025 12:33PM ● By Placer County District Attorney's Office News Release

Placer DA Launches their AppSafe Initiative in Response  

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California Highway Patrol Launches Halloween Maximum Enforcement to Target Impaired Drivers

Oct 29, 2025 10:19AM ● By California Highway Patrol News Release

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will launch a 12-hour Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) from 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, through 6 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, to protect motorists and prevent impaired driving.

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Placer County Sheriff’s Office Holds Ribbon Cutting for New Mental Health and Vocational Training Facilities at South Placer Jail

Oct 08, 2025 04:29PM ● By Placer County Sheriff's Office News Release

Construction began in March 2023, and today’s ribbon cutting marks the completion of more than 55,000 square feet of modern space designed to enhance mental health care, provide vocational training and improve long-term outcomes for individuals in custody.

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sheriff's department
Placer County to Expand Service to West Placer Residents With New Sheriff's Station and County Service Center

Sep 17, 2025 04:24PM ● By Placer County News Release

Placer County is expanding its footprint in West Placer with the acquisition and development of two buildings in Rocklin, creating a new hub for public safety and essential government services.

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Placer County Jury Finds Daniel Serafini Guilty of Murder and Attempted Murder of His In-Laws in High-Profile Lake Tahoe Case
Placer County Jury Finds Daniel Serafini Guilty of Murder and Attempted Murder of His In-Laws in High-Profile Lake Tahoe Case

Jul 16, 2025 11:47AM ● By Placer County District Attorney News Release

A Placer County jury found defendant Daniel Serafini, age 51, guilty of first-degree murder and attempted murder of his in-laws, Gary Spohr and Wendy Wood on July 14.

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Placer County Renews Fire Protection Agreement with CAL FIRE To Strengthen Emergency Response
Placer County Renews Fire Protection Agreement with CAL FIRE To Strengthen Emergency Response

Jul 11, 2025 10:53AM ● By Placer County News Release

The Placer County Board of Supervisors has approved a first-ever five-year agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to continue providing full-service fire protection and emergency medical response across unincorporated areas of the county served by the Placer County Fire Department.

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District Attorney with their new employee, Toast, a lab/poodle mix
Pawsitive Support: D.A.'s Office Announces Its Newest Employee

Jul 03, 2025 11:30AM ● By Placer County District Attorney's Office News Release

Placer County District Attorney’s Office welcomes their first court support dog through a new District Attorney program, a 1-year-old lab/poodle mix named Toast.

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Placer Sentinel
Placer County Sheriff and D.A. Endorse Belza for State Assembly

Jul 02, 2025 08:51AM ● By Dom Belza for State Assembly News Release

Belza would represent the 3rd Assembly District, which encompasses all or portions of six counties: Butte, Sutter, Yuba, Tehama, Glenn and Placer.

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Firefighter in front of fireworks
Firework Ban and Safety Reminder

Jun 27, 2025 09:51AM ● By Placer County News Release

Placer County urges its residents to follow key rules to enjoy Fourth of July festivities as the holiday approaches to prevent wildfires.

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