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Police Department

Police News & Events

Underage Drinking

Underage drinking is a problem throughout Marin County.  A 2005 County of Marin survey showed that rates of underage drinking and binge drinking in Marin currently surpass state and national averages.  The survey of 3,000 students from 11 Marin County high schools found that 75% of teenagers who drink alcohol do so at private house parties and other social gatherings.
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The Ross Police Department provides 24-hour law enforcement services to the Town of Ross. The importance of community involvement and interaction is stressed at every level of the Department, with some members who have both lived and worked in town for well over 15 years.

While protection of life and property are the primary mission of the Police Department, members work hard to ensure the quality of life that Ross residents have come to enjoy is preserved as well.

The philosophy of Community Oriented Policing is the hallmark of the Ross Police Department and its staff works hard to ensure they remain responsive to the needs of Ross residents, neighborhoods, and community groups.

To Report an Emergency
Dial 9-1-1, a trained dispatcher will answer your call and ask what type of emergency you are reporting. They do this so other dispatchers who are monitoring your call can begin a response from the appropriate public safety agency. Answer each of the questions as best you can. The dispatcher will need to know the location and nature of the emergency, a description of any people involved, what type of vehicles might be involved, and what direction of travel the persons or vehicles might have taken. Be patient with the dispatcher and allow them to control the conversation. Questions you might think are irrelevant to your call might well be important to responding police or fire personnel.

To Contact The Police Department
The Ross Police Department is located at 33 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, in Ross next to the Ross Town Hall. The mailing address for the Department is P.O. Box 320, Ross, CA 94957. The Police Department can be reached by calling (415) 453-1453, Option 2. If an officer is not immediately available to answer your call, you will be given the option of leaving a voice mail for a specific officer, or speaking with a police dispatcher. This business number should not be used to report an emergency. To report an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.

To Get a Copy of a Report
Reports cannot be released if prosecution is pending by District Attorney. Person requesting report must be eligible to receive report: victim (or parent if juvenile), victim’s attorney, victim’s insurance company. Non-confidential reports only, see PC 293.[6254f GC.] [CVC 20012] Fee: $10.00. Please make checks payable to the Town of Ross.

Release of Towed Vehicles
If the Ross Police Department has towed and impounded your vehicle, a release form is required. You must call the Police Department at (415) 453-1453, Option 2 to arrange a time to meet with an officer and have a release form signed. You should be prepared to ask if there are any specific conditions that will need to be met before your car can be released. The administrative fee associated with this service is $20.00, which will be collected prior to any release being issued. Please make checks payable to the Town of Ross.

Good Conduct Letter
Persons interested in obtaining a “Good Conduct Letter”, sometimes required for certain job applications or for traveling outside the United States, may do so by visiting the Police Department. You must be a current or past resident of Ross, provide your government issued identification and pay a processing fee of $20.00. Persons having no record of criminal activity with the Ross Police Department may pick up the letter within two weeks.

Residential Parking Permits
Some residents live on streets with a weekend parking restriction. Residents of those streets may obtain residential parking permits by visiting the Police Department during business hours.

Fingerprinting
Fingerprinting services are no longer offered locally, however those requesting fingerprinting may call the Marin County Sheriff at 499-7284 for an appointment.

How do I find out the status of a criminal investigation?
Please wait 10 business days after you have filed a crime report before calling to ask the status of an associated investigation. If you have not been contacted by an officer after 10 days and wish to know what action has or will be taken, you may call the Police Department at (415) 453-1453, Option 2 to speak to an on-duty officer. If you know the officer’s name, use the voice mailbox system to leave a direct message.

Barking Dog Complaints
The Police Department handles barking complaints because they are a violation of the noise nuisance ordinance. If the officer determines that the dog is barking because of a situation of abuse, neglect, or cruelty, they will call the Marin Humane Society for assistance. If the problem persists, there is a formal procedure that must be followed for a complaint to be acted upon. This process requires multiple occurrences and calls. Many cases of continual barking can be resolved through informal mediation.

Alarms Require Permits
Ross Municipal Code Section 9.32.030 makes it unlawful for any person to operate or maintain a burglar or fire alarm system without first obtaining a permit from the Police Department. Permits are commonly made available by alarm companies licensed to do business in Ross, but may also be obtained from the Police Department directly, or by downloading the form here. The cost of filing this permit is $50.00. Please make checks payable to the Town of Ross.

Identity Theft
Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes. Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin your good name. Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information.

• Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you discard them.
• Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use another identifier.
• Don’t give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet unless you know who you are dealing with.
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know. Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.
• Don’t use an obvious password like your birth date, your mother’s maiden name, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
• Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.

For more information, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website at: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft//

Traffic Enforcement
The Police Department enforces parking and traffic laws throughout town daily. Parking in the downtown area is often difficult, especially during warm days, or scheduled sporting events. Please be aware of the timed limits posted in most areas downtown. Additionally, many parking spaces close to Natalie Coffin Green Park are restricted. If you receive a parking citation, follow the directions on the reverse side. There are instructions on making the payment, or requesting an appeal. All parking citations issued in Ross are processed through the Marin Parking Authority P.O. Box 4037 San Rafael, CA 94913 Phone (800) 281-7275.

The narrow roads and pedestrians require low speed limits on several roads. Be extra careful when driving near the school and when bicyclists are present. If you receive a traffic citation, your options will be available from the Marin Superior Court, Traffic Division. Please visit their website for more details:
http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/MC/main/traffic.cfm

New drivers should be familiar with the driving restrictions imposed upon them by the Vehicle Code. Please visit the Department of Motor Vehicles website for special information for teen drivers: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/

Mountain Lion Sightings
MMWD Watershed Management staff and Ross Police Department do occasionally receive reports of sightings of a mountain lion on Mt. Tamalpais Watershed lands bordering the Town of Ross (in the general vicinity of Phoenix Lake).  These sightings are not cause for alarm but the district and Town officials recommend that visitors to public lands follow the mountain lion precautions provided by the California Department of Fish and Game (DPG).

Residents who live bordering the MMWD lands should also take precautions as recommended by DPG.

Please follow these links for current information:
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/keepmewild/lion.html
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/issues/lion/lion_faq.html

Comments or Concerns
The Ross Police Department is dedicated to excellent service and wants to hear your comments or concerns. Sergeants James Reis and Robert Tucker lead our team of dedicated officers and together, they provide supervision for all aspects of our service.

They can be contacted by telephone or e-mail:

Sergeant Reis (415) 453-1453 ext. 151 or Contact via Email

Sergeant Tucker (415) 453-1453 ext. 152 or Contact via Email

Helpful Web Links

Current traffic information is available on the internet at: http://www.511.org/

Learn to Share the Road and about Safe Routes to Schools by visiting the Marin Bicycle Coalition at: http://www.marinbike.org/Index.shtml

FEMA – Are You Ready? http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/
San Francisco 72 Hours http://www.72hours.org/
Ross Valley Watershed and Flood Protection http://www.rossvalleywatershed.org/
Marin County OES http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/ES/Main/index.cfm