News-Ledger WEST SACRAMENTO
USPS 388-320
S E RV I NG TH E W EST S AC R A M E N TO R E G I O N S I N C E 19 6 4 57th Year • No. 04
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
LEGALS
COMICS & PUZZLES
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HOME IMPROVEMENT GUIDE
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Video footage of the officerinvolved shooting released BY MONICA STARK Longtime West Sacramento resident Robert Coleman, 88, was fatally shot by West Sacramento police who were responding to a report of a man with a gun near the 1800 block of West Capitol Avenue on Saturday, Sept. 12. Coleman was a former code enforcement officer and wellknown in the community for his volunteer service to the West Sacramento Police Department and later for building homes with Habitat for Humanity. He suffered from mental illness and had suicidal thoughts. Pursuant to state law and city policy, video footage of the incident was released to his family before the public. It is available now on the City of West Sacramen-
to’s website. Some may find the subject matter disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised. The video came from body camera footage from the officers involved. There were six officers on scene and four involved in the incident. Officers involved with the shooting include a sergeant with approximately 15 years of experience and three officers with five years or less experience. Footage from the first officer shows him walking toward Coleman and asking him if he needed any help before yelling at him to put the gun down. Gunshots were fired. Almost 10 days have passed since the events depicted in the bodycam footage. Police Chief Rob Strange said in a statement that the work
compiled through the criminal and administrative investigations has begun to shed light on what occurred in those early morning hours. “I have assessed the information gathered through these investigative efforts and have determined that the involved officers will be authorized to return to duty. These officers continue to cooperate with all investigative efforts and other work readiness processes, while they also engage with supportive resources to enable a healthy return to their work serving the residents of West Sacramento.” After last week’s publication deadline, Mayor Chris Cabaldon spoke out on social media about Coleman’s force in the community and the tragedy that ended his
life. “One thing matters most today – A man is dead. A resident of our community is gone,” he said. “I knew Robert Coleman and his wife Mary too. They were leaders in our community. As a newly fresh minted city councilman, I used to gossip with them at spaghetti feeds or roll up my sleeves with them at volunteer neighborhood cleanups or just grab a snack and laugh with them at the senior center. Their daughters too: Beverly, Shirley and Phyllis grew up with that value of service that their parents lived out each and every day. And Grandma Ida Wheeler – she’s been a true force of nature as a leader of our community for years.” When the city launched a volunteer program for retired
city employees to suit up and serve the police department, Coleman signed up immediately as a pioneer. “He became and exemplar, a bridge between generations. (He) built trust, hope and later went on to build homes with the Habitat for Humanity,” Cabaldon said. In a statement on Monday, Cabaldon said, the shooting was the first fatal officer-involved shooting in nearly 20 years in the City of West Sacramento. “Our priority has been to assure the integrity of review, investigation, due process, and civilian oversight. Today’s release of body cam footage of the critical incident is one step by which the City of West
that has an active business license and has operated out of a physical location in Yolo County for at least one year. Applicants may apply for grant funds to reimburse the business for costs related to the negative impacts of COVID-19. Expenses must be documented and have been incurred between March 1, 2020 and the date of the grant application. Eligible expenses for reimbursement include, but are not limited to:
The Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency’s Communicable Disease Program has received confirmation of a human case of West Nile virus in Yolo County. The patient first became ill last month and is now recovering. “Although this patient is now recovering, it is important to note that there is a risk of contracting West Nile virus in Yolo County this time of year,” said Yolo County Deputy Public Health Officer Dr. Mary Ann Limbos. “West Nile virus is spread to people from the bite of mosquitoes. By making regular checks of their yards and draining standing water, residents can help cut down on mosquito breeding areas. Precautions such as wearing protective clothing and using insect repellents that contain DEET will also reduce the risk of mosquito bites. Even though the summer season is coming to an end, our weather continues to support an environment for mosquitoes.” People typically develop symptoms of West Nile virus between 2 and 14 days after they are bitten by an infected mosquito. While 80 percent of people who are infected will not show any symptoms, up to 20 percent of those infected will have symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days or several weeks, even for generally healthy people. So far in
See Grant, page 10
See WNV, page 3
See Shooting, page 10
Yolo COVID-19 Relief Fund Grants $237,500 in Latest Round Towards Education Equity and Rental and Child Care Assistance In its latest round of grant funding, the Yolo COVID-19 Relief Fund (Relief Fund) has granted $237,500 to four local nonprofits, RISE, Inc., Yolo Interfaith Immigration Network, Yolo County Children’s Alliance and Empower Yolo, for education equity programs and rental and childcare assistance. All four organizations will provide direct support for rental assistance and childcare to families impacted by COVID-19 and the resulting crisis. In addition, Empower Yolo will work on the educational equality challenges created by distance learning, with an emphasis on offering re-
mote tutoring and supporting family engagement. To date, the Relief Fund has raised more than $690,000 in total to support the essential work of nonprofits responding to the COVID-19 crisis in two categories: 1) Front-line response, which addresses critical community needs that have been created or increased by the COVID-19 pandemic such as childcare, health care, health education or safety and 2) Nonprofit sustainability, which supports organizations at risk of closing or have had to substantially reduce services due to COVID-19. “In the wake of challenging need these funds are a lifeline to
a host of local organizations engaged in vital work,” said Chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors Gary Sandy. “The funding promotes community resiliency and family stability. It’s an investment in our future.” The Relief Fund has previously given over $400,000 to 30 nonprofits throughout the region, including Meals on Wheels, Northern California Children’s Therapy Center, Mutual Housing California, 4th and Hope, Winters Farm to School, Yolo Hospice, West Sacramento Friends of the Library, and many others. Yolo County has donated $500,000 from their CARES Act funding to the Relief Fund.
“Need in Yolo County remains extremely high, and these organizations, which are deeply immersed in their communities, are well-positioned to serve some of our highest-need households,” said Executive Director for the Yolo Community Foundation Jessica Hubbard. “We are tremendously grateful to Yolo County for the donation that funded these grants and enabled the Relief Fund to serve more Yolo residents.” The Relief Fund is a partnership between Yolo County, See Relief Fund, page 10
Yolo County Announces COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program Yolo County has issued CARES Act funding for a new Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Small Business Grant Program to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses. Eligible applicants will be invited to submit completed applications beginning September 28, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. and ending October 4, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. The Small Business Grant Program was developed collaboratively using a task force with representatives from each of the
cities in Yolo County. The objective of the program is to offer financial assistance to for-profit small businesses, with a maximum of 25 full-time employees (FTE), located in the unincorporated and incorporated areas of Yolo County. Part-time employees can also be considered for this program. The grant provides economic assistance to help sustain small businesses by reimbursing expenditures directly related to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Up to $750,000 in funding is eligible to be dispersed from the grant program. Small businesses may apply for the following: • Businesses with 1 to 10 FTE can apply for up to $500 per FTE up to a maximum of $5,000. • Businesses with 11 to 25 FTE can apply for up to $500 per FTE up to a maximum of $10,000. In order to be eligible for grant funding the business must be a for-profit small business
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First Human Case of West Nile Virus in Yolo County This Year
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