5/8/2019 0 Comments TAILS Program Helps PrisonersGregory “Greg” Munks served as the sheriff of San Mateo County, California, for almost 10 years. During his term, Sheriff Greg Munks received a commendation for his assistance to the TAILS program of the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA (PHS/SPCA). TAILS stands for Transitioning Animals Into Loving Situations, a partnership with the Sheriff’s Office that allows minimum-security jail inmates to improve their chances of returning to free society. Since 2009, the PHS/SPCA has selected dogs with behavioral issues that would present problems to potential adopters. The canines live with the inmates, who take responsibility for the animals’ care, grooming, housetraining, exercising, and socializing each dog. In addition to giving the inmates new skills, the program relieves overcrowding at the animal shelter. A PHS staff person visits every week during the eight-week program to run an obedience class. He or she refreshes the inmates on dog-obedience techniques while observing their progress. When eight weeks are up, the prisoners return the dogs, which are ready for adoption to permanent homes.
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As an elected official in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Mateo County Sheriff Gregory “Greg” Munks and his deputies dealt with a wide variety of law enforcement issues, ranging from vehicle theft to homeland security. Greg Munks also served on the boards of several nonprofits, such as the San Mateo County Historical Society. Founded in 1935, the Society operates the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City. Open Tuesday through Sunday, the museum provides informative exhibits in its own building and two outlying locations. The museum occupies the old county courthouse, the fourth one at the site (two of them sustained earthquake damage in the 19th and early 20th centuries). The current structure, which opened in 1910, was known as the Temple of Justice, blending Renaissance and Roman revival architecture. It contained offices for the sheriff, coroner, tax collector, and district attorney, among others. In the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration added two wings. It was converted into the museum in 1998. Elsewhere, the Woodside Store dates back to the 1849 Gold Rush, when it was a supply center for miners. A replacement building was constructed in 1854 after the first one burned. Ceasing retail operations in 1909, the store became a focal point for the Woodside community, serving as a library, post office, bank, and dentistry. The county reconstructed it in 1880s style in 1994 and is operated by the Society. Located in Pacifica, the Sanchez Adobe is the second-oldest structure in the county. Built in the 1840s by landowner Don Francisco Sanchez, it later became a hotel with 20 rooms and hosted a speakeasy in the Prohibition era. The Historical Society restored it in 1953 and plans upgrades. Sheriff Greg Munks of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office has been providing protection and support to the community, while working to improve the prison system, for over 30 years. During his career, Sheriff Greg Munks has helped initiate a number of projects, the creation of a new task force, the Coastside Neighborhood Response Team (CNRT), geared toward suppressing gang activity in the coastal communities of San Mateo County.
The Response Team works to monitor local gang members who have been previously identified and verified by the Team. It also provides the Sherriff’s Patrol and Investigations divisions with support and assistance in gang-related investigations. The decision to create the CNRT was brought upon by the increase in gang activity that had been occurring during the previous years. The Team comprises deputies who have current relationships within the Coastside communities and are knowledgeable about the area. Since its creation, the Coastside Neighborhood Response Team has verified over 120 gang members and has documented more than 75 affiliations. The Team verifies gang members through successful identification of gang-related symbols or an individual’s admittance to affiliation with a gang. With the information that the CNRT collects about gang members and affiliations, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office helps create various programs directed toward further stopped gang activities. These programs focus on the long-term gang prevention, intervention, and education, while striving to create safer communities that provide a higher quality of life. Elected County Sheriff in San Mateo County, Sheriff Greg Munks is responsible for the overall operations of the office and the safety of the community. Over the course of his extensive career, Sheriff Greg Munks has started several community programs and activities, one of which is of the North Fair Oaks Community Festival and its Queen of the Festival scholarship program.
Held annually, the North Fair Oaks Community Festival provides the community with free activities and entertainment throughout the day. Visitors are able to experience a parade, participate in various arts and crafts, and enjoy beverages and food, while children can enjoy various rides and activities. Hosted by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, the North Fair Oaks Community Festival helps benefit and support the various youth programs that the Sheriff’s Office provides. The proceeds of the festival also contribute to funds for the Queen of the Festival scholarship program. The Queen of the Festival scholarship program offers four young women in their senior year of high school the chance to win a scholarship to help fund their higher education. Queen of the Festival applicants must show high academic achievement and show that they are committed to the community through community service credentials and through writing an essay about being involved in the community. Community leaders choose the finalists from all San Mateo County applicants, with one young woman being recognized as the Queen and the other three as the princesses. Through continued attendance and support of the North Fair Oaks Community Festival, the San Mateo Sheriff’s Office is able to continue supporting the community’s youth and young women. |