Grover Beach police warn of phone scam

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• Don't fall for 'grandparent scam,' Sheriff's Department warns

  Don't fall for 'grandparent scam,' Sheriff's Department warns

  The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department is warning the public to be wary of the so-called “grandparent scam” and similar phone scams after an 82-year-old Arroyo Grande man was hospitalized briefly Tuesday after receiving such a telephone call.

  No money was lost, but the incident upset the elderly victim and caused a spike in blood pressure that resulted with him being treated at a local hospital, according to the Sheriff's Department.

  The unidentified victim received a phone call from a man identifying himself as the victim’s grandson, using the correct name of the victim’s actual grandson.

• Morro Bay police to join gangs and drugs task force

  Morro Bay police to join gangs and drugs task force

  In a step Morro Bay police Chief Tim Olivas called “critically important,” the city will join a newly reorganized gangs and narcotics task force under the Sheriff’s Office.

  The city hasn’t participated in a countywide drug-fighting effort since 2005, when it pulled out of the state-run Narcotics Task Force after budget cuts led to layoffs of four police officers and the department’s part-time staff.

  Then, last year, the state Department of Justice announced it would stop funding two-thirds of the state’s 52 drug-and-gang-fighting task forces, including San Luis Obispo County’s program.

• Grover Beach chamber names Conner Citizen of The Year

  Grover Beach chamber names Conner Citizen of The Year

  The Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce has chosen Marianne Conner as its 2011 Citizen of the Year.

  Conner is well known for her tireless work and sense of duty. She has logged countless volunteer hours at various community events.

  For years, the longtime Grover Beach resident has spent much of her time helping organize events such as the Stone Soup Music Faire, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in August.

• SLO County's drug-fighting task force to lose state funding

  SLO County's drug-fighting task force to lose state funding

  State funding for a countywide drug-fighting task force will end after Dec. 31 because of budget cuts, leaving local law enforcement officials hurrying to form a regional unit to combat drug trafficking problems.

  The state Department of Justice announced this week that it is ending its involvement in two-thirds of California’s 52 drug- and gang-fighting task forces next year. Larry Wallace, chief of the department’s Division of Law Enforcement, told The Associated Press the state will keep running 18 task forces using federal money.

  “We were really disappointed that we lost our funding,” Pismo Beach police Chief Jeff Norton said.

• Does Grover need such ‘homeland security’?

  Does Grover need such ‘homeland security’?

  The Grover Beach Police Department is going to grab $133,000 in Homeland Security money to use for electronic license plate readers. Are you feeling safer?

  I’m not, for two reasons.

  First, there is precious little nexus between these scanners and thwarting terrorists. Using Homeland Security money this way is in fact part of a decade-long, pork-barrel operation.