Photograph by George Sakkestad
KCAT station manager George Sampson powders the nose of Sgt. Michael Yorks prior to the taping of 'Police Connection.'
KCAT helps make the police connection
VIPs make program's return possible
By Michelle Alaimo
After a seven-year hiatus, the Los Gatos- Monte Sereno Police Department is bringing back the public access television show Police Connection. Viewers won't find any high-speed chases or shoot-outs on the show but instead will learn about what's going on in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno so far as crime is concerned.
Community Service Officer Gwen Cross said the half-hour newsmagazine show will consist of many segments that should keep the viewers' interest. Segments include topics applicable to the season such as school traffic and a police news update giving the rundown on crime and events that occurred over the past few weeks. Other segments include a detective's corner that will update citizens on current cases under investigation and offer employee profiles.
According to George Sampson, station manager at KCAT-Channel 6, "It's a great little show, with a lot of information I think the community will find useful." The first show, he noted, included information about a man reportedly seen watching Blossom Hill School through binoculars.
Traffic Sgt. Mike Yorks, who appeared on the show in 1992, was the first employee to be profiled on April 14 and said he is excited that the show is back on the air.
"The show puts a real face on the police department," Yorks said. He added that many times people will call to talk to an officer and now with the profiles, residents will be able to link a face to the name.
He said he also hopes the show will generate community feedback on the police department and possibly even tips on current crimes.
The show has the capability of reaching many local residents, which is part of the motivation in bringing Police Connection back, Cross said. The show originally ended in 1992 because of budget cuts and lack of volunteers.
Now with the department's Volunteers in Policing program, Cross said she has access to volunteers; in fact, she said it would not be an exaggeration to say that without the VIP program, she would not have been able to put Police Connection back on the air.
Station manager Sampson, who was responsible for making sure the volunteers were trained to work the cameras and other equipment, calls the VIPs "a fun group." In fact, he says of the caliber of their work, "I was quite impressed."
Proceeds from the LG-MSPD annual Haunted Forest held at Halloween time helped to fund the show's return.
New shows will run semi-monthly on KCAT on the first and third Wednesday at 7 p.m. Reruns will be shown on the second and fourth Thursday at 8 p.m. Viewers in Saratoga will also be able to watch Police Connection on the second and fourth Friday of the month on KSAR-Channel 6. A generic Police Connection show centered on one topic will be shown in months which have a fifth week.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
