City of San Clemente
Community Safety and Welfare Committee Application
Name: Michael G. Spohn
How long have you lived in San Clemente?
47 years (Moved from WI in June 1978).
Please explain why you would like to serve on the Community Safety & Welfare Committee? 1) I have enjoyed living in San Clemente for almost 50 years. I would like to serve my city again. 2) I believe I have the knowledge, training, and experience to perform the duties of a committee member.
3) I have extensive experience in public safety:
• I was a police officer for 15 years (San Clemente and Newport Beach). • I was the San Clemente Peace Officer of the Year in 1981. • I was a traffic motor officer, juvenile, sex crime and burglary detective, and field training officer.
4) I am an experienced Ham radio operator and have deep expertise in disaster preparedness and emergency communications. I am a former member of the Tri-City RACES organization and currently act as a technical advisor to Orange County RACES (OCRACES). 5) I have deep expertise in cybersecurity investigations with more than 16,000 hours of on-site incident management experience all over the world. This experience may be relevant to this role due to the never-ending cyberattacks aimed at Cities. These attacks often result in threats to public safety and well-being.
6) My extensive investigative skills provide a good foundation for this role. Investigations require a high-level of detail, extensive research skills, excellent interview and listening skills, and the ability to communicate, particularly written communications. 7) I have deep knowledge of the City's history.
Please explain your background and experience in the public safety field.
I moved to San Clemente when I was 18 years old. I was hired as a San Clemente police cadet in November 1978. I was promoted to police officer and attended the Golden West College Police Academy in 1979 (Class 60/61). I completed my field training in early 1980 and was working patrol in San Clemente at age 20.
I was a San Clemente traffic motor officer for two years. I also cross-trained as a San Clemente lifeguard and worked beach patrol for two summers. In 1981 I was honored and humbled to be chosen Peace Officer of the Year.
In 1982, I was hired by the Newport Beach police department. I worked there from 1982-1994. I worked patrol, including beach patrol. J was a field training officer. I was also a juvenile detective, sex crime detective, and burglary detective.
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