LOCAL SAFETY LESSON POLICE WORKSHOPS EDUCATE RESIDENTS.

Byline: CAROL ROCK Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Some of the old-timers answered the questions out loud. Most nodded their heads as sheriff's deputies, firefighters and city officials talked about how safe Santa Clarita could be.

In an attempt to keep it that way, local first responders - the sheriff's and fire departments and the city of Santa Clarita - have introduced a new Personal Safety campaign aimed at getting information into the hands of residents.

Jim Shepard and Andrew Grossman, neighbors in the Shadow Pines area of Canyon Country, said they came to get information to revitalize their watch group.

``We met once last year,'' Grossman said. ``People have changed, the group has evolved over many years. I learned from the earthquake that it's important to keep our community together.''

Four meetings of the Personal Safety program were set in various parts of the city - two held last week covered the Saugus and Canyon Country areas, meetings this week will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Newhall Community Center and 7 p.m. Thursday in City Hall council chambers.

What dismayed some of the meeting organizers was the lack of new bodies in the audience. Most of the people in the seats at the city's activities center last week have been involved with local anti-crime programs such as the Sheriff's Advisory Committee, graffiti removal and Neighborhood Watch for several years.

``It's interesting, the outcry in the community when something happens, but when we have a meeting like this, they don't come out,'' said Deputy Gerri McCorkle.

McCorkle said that a revitalization of the Neighborhood Watch program is under way, with a training meeting for current and potential block captains scheduled for 7 p.m. May 18 in the Century Room of City Hall.

``Some of the groups are still active, but most have gone away or only have one meeting a year,'' she said. ``The earthquake, even though it was a bad thing, taught us to pull together. We helped each other out, but after a year, people had anniversary barbecues, then stopped meeting. We're trying to get that small-town feel back.''

Sgt. Wendy Zolkowski of the sheriff's fraud bureau warned the crowd about one of the fastest-growing crimes affecting today's population.

``Within the next two years, one out of four Americans will be victims of identity theft,'' she said. She advised the group to check their credit reports frequently, as this is the only way some victims have discovered they were affected.

She also advised against using credit or debit cards at gas pumps.

``There are huge problems with skimming cards at gas pumps,'' she said, adding that credit cards should be used over debit cards because of the potential for recovery if a person is victimized.

Firefighter Jason Hurd emphasized the importance of brush clearance and evacuations in the impending fire season, advising that every family develop an exit drill and prepare items for a quick getaway should flames approach.

``You don't have to wait for us to tell you to leave if you don't feel safe,'' he said.

The various types of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors were discussed, with Hurd referring to a Castaic couple recently found dead in their home because they were overcome by carbon monoxide.

Emily Iland of Community Law Enforcement Awareness Response talked about smoke detectors for those with special needs, such as deafness.

``You can get smoke detectors that will shake the bed and wake you up,'' she reassured Helen Blancher, who has difficulty hearing.

Officials hope that people will come out to the meetings Tuesday and Wednesday for valuable information. Future meetings will cover Internet safety, including a discussion of the popular MySpace Web site; School Watch programs and senior safety techniques.

``The whole point of this program is to make sure everyone protects themselves,'' said sheriff's Capt. Patti Minutello, commander of the Santa Clarita station. ``We can't be in peoples' homes 24 hours a day.''

For information on the Personal Safety or new Neighborhood Watch programs, call McCorkle at [phone].

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

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