the Bulletin June 2025

COMMENDATIONS & RECOGNITION

VIPER Team honored for successful interdiction efforts The Los Angeles area Vehicle Interdiction Pipeline Enforcement Resource (VIPER) was internationally recognized for their work combating the trafficking and transportation of narcotics in Southern California. The OC Sheriff Highway Interdiction Team (HIT) joins San Bernardino County and Riverside County departments to make up the Los Angeles High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) VIPER. The International Narcotics Interdiction Association awarded the team the 2025 Cooperative Effort of the Year Award. The OC Sheriff HIT works collaboratively and shares information with their law enforcement partners to make a greater impact in dismantling drug trafficking organizations’ operations in the area. As a team, HIDTA VIPER made nearly 6,000 traffic stops and seized a significant amount of narcotics and currency including:

He wrote: “On Monday, April 21, 2025, while serving as a School Resource Officer in the City of San Juan Capistrano, Deputy Jake McBee responded to a critical incident involving a juvenile known to him from prior contacts. The incident began in Rancho Santa Margarita, where the juvenile had reportedly taken her parents’ vehicle without permission and was armed with a knife. The evolving situation was conveyed via a general broadcast across multiple radio channels. Deputy McBee heard the broadcast and recognized the juvenile as a former student involved in an incident at Bridges Community Day High School, during which she attempted to victimize a teacher. That prior incident resulted in an active restraining order protecting the teacher. Believing the juvenile might be headed toward the school, Deputy McBee immediately contacted the principal, informed her of the situation, and advised her to prepare for a possible lockdown. As deputies provided updates on the juvenile’s direction of travel, Deputy McBee alerted the principal that the vehicle was approaching campus. Upon arrival, he and other responding deputies positioned themselves to safely intercept and communicate with the juvenile. Deputy McBee initially observed her seated in the front seat of her parents’ vehicle, actively cutting herself with a large fixed blade knife. He commanded her to drop the weapon, and she exited the vehicle in compliance. However, the juvenile then turned and ran toward the school campus while yelling the teacher’s name. Recognizing the danger and knowing the protected teacher was on campus, Deputy McBee acted swiftly. He secured the dropped knife and, with assistance from other OC Sheriff personnel on scene, physically detained the juvenile. His actions prevented her from accessing the campus or confronting the protected teacher.

More than $2.2 million in illicit US currency 2,171 pounds of methamphetamine 912 pounds of cocaine

759 pounds of marijuana 1.7 million fentanyl pills

Nearly 80 pounds of powdered fentanyl 43 pounds of liquid methamphetamine 9 pounds of heroin 8 firearms Congratulations to VIPER and OC Sheriff HIT!

CLICK HERE FOR AWARDS CEREMONY

••••••••••••••••••••••• • School Resource Officer commended for quick actions during incident at high school An OC Sheriff sergeant recently commended Deputy Jake McBee, who safely diffused an incident with a former student at Bridges Community Day High School in San Juan Capistrano.

page 14 | the BULLETIN • JUNE 2025