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Placer Sentinel

Police & Fire

Last Updated: Jun 02, 2026 02:25PM • Subscribe via RSS • ATOM

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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Firefighter
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Suspends Burning

Jun 20, 2025 09:09AM ● By California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) News Release

This suspension takes effect Monday, June 23rd, 2025, at 8 a.m. and bans all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris such as branches and leaves.

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California Street
Effort Launched to Combat Interstate 80 Brake Fires

Jun 12, 2025 04:25PM ● By Placer County News Release

Placer County District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson works to address the growing brake fire concern and protect foothill and mountain communities along the heavily traveled corridor.

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California State Fire Marshal, part of a statewide effort to enhance wildfire preparedness
Placer County Board of Supervisors Introduces Fire Hazard Severity Zones Map to Strengthen Wildfire Resilience

May 29, 2025 02:48PM ● By Placer County News Release

The Placer County Board of Supervisors introduced an ordinance designating moderate, high and very-high fire hazard severity zones in unincorporated areas of the county on May 28.

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Placer Sentinel
CAL Fire Burn Permits Required May 1 in Nevada, Yuba, Placer, and Sierra Counties

Apr 30, 2025 12:14PM ● By CAL FIRE Department News Release

he California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit has announced effective at 8 a.m., Thursday, May 1, all hazard reduction burning will require a permit in Nevada, Yuba, Placer and Sierra Counties.

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FBI Arrests Alleged South Lake Tahoe Fentanyl Distributor

Apr 28, 2025 12:34PM ● By Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) News Release

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Sacramento Field Office announces the arrest of Timothy Austin Pannell, 31, of South Lake Tahoe, on a federal complaint for alleged distribution of fentanyl, a felony.

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Supervisor Gustafson Appointed to State Board of Fire Services

Apr 25, 2025 02:02PM ● By Placer County News Release

Placer County District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson was appointed by the governor April 23 to serve on the State Board of Fire Services.

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Prescribed Fire Operations Continue Week of April 14

Apr 15, 2025 10:48AM ● By Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team News Release

If conditions and weather are favorable, the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team will continue prescribed burning this week at Lake Tahoe. The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will burn piles off North Upper Truckee Road near Osgood Swamp to reduce excess vegetation (fuels) that can feed unwanted wildfires. Smoke will be present.

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Officer Osmar Rodarte Killed During Major Drug Raid

Mar 27, 2025 04:04PM ● By Shamaya Sutton

The Marysville Police Department identified Officer Osmar Rodarte as the officer who was fatally shot the morning of March 26 during a multi-agency drug raid in Olivehurst. The raid was part of a sweeping operation targeting a transnational drug trafficking organization.

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Spring Prescribed Fire Operations Continue at Lake Tahoe

Mar 25, 2025 03:59PM ● By Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team News Release

The Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team will continue prescribed burning this week at Lake Tahoe, conditions and weather permitting. Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will burn piles on the East Shore and Kingsbury Grade to reduce excess vegetation (fuels) that can feed unwanted wildfires. Smoke will be present. Sign up for notifications by sending an email to Prescribed Fire Notification List.

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