You’ll be haunted forever if you drink and drive this Halloween weekend. ☠️ Before the night gets spooky and the drinks start pouring, plan for a sober ride. 👻🚕 Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving.

As communities nationwide prepare for Halloween celebrations, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminds all drivers that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. Drivers responsibly committing to sober driving will keep themselves, passengers, pedestrians, and other road users safe. In 2024, one person was killed every 44 minutes in a drunk-driving crash on our nation’s roads. Alcohol-impaired driving is deadly and continues to be a factor in fatal traffic crashes in the United States, including on Halloween night (6 p.m. October 31-5:59 a.m. November 1). From 2020 to 2024, 201 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes, which involve at least one driver who had a blood alcohol level of .01 or higher, on the night of Halloween. Of those killed in alcohol-related crashes, 176 were in crashes that involved a drunk driver, with BACs of .08 or higher. More than half (54%) of people aged 21–34 killed in traffic crashes during that same five-year period were in drunk-driving crashes. Victims in those drunk-driving crashes included 31 pedestrians and 144 drivers and passengers. Drivers should be safe during Halloween by planning ahead if they intend to drink. Waiting until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere leads to clouded judgment. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home. If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, proactively taking away the keys helps them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver report it to area police or call 9-1-1. Drive 100% sober, because Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. For more information on impaired driving, visit NHTSA.gov/DrunkDriving, nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drun…

🌈 Fullertonians, who caught a glimpse before it disappeared? That quick downpour left us with a colorful surprise! ☔️✨

Please join us in congratulating Fullerton PD’s newest officers! This afternoon, Officers Erin Escalante and Trent Rodriquez proudly graduated from the Orange County Sheriff’s Academy, marking an exciting milestone in their law enforcement careers. Following graduation, both officers were officially sworn in by Chief Radus, taking the next step in their journey of serving and protecting our community. We are excited to welcome Officers Escalante and Rodriquez to the FPD family and wish them continued success as they begin their careers serving the Fullerton community with pride, respect, and dignity. Congratulations, and welcome to the team!

Every school day, kids cross the street trusting drivers will do the right thing. Don’t be the one who lets them down. Always stop when the stop-arm is out. #NationalSchoolBusSafetyWeek

Behind the wheel, your choices matter. One mistake can change everything. Choose safety. #TeenDriverSafetyWeek

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is teaming up with The Fullerton Police Department to support National Teen Driver Safety Week, happening this week. It is important to discuss safe driving habits with teens every day, but Teen Driver Safety Week serves as an opportunity for parents and guardians to have a conversation with teens about safe driving habits. Teen drivers need to know the Rules of the Road before parents hand over the keys. Ultimately, it’s parents who are in control. Traffic crashes are a leading cause of injury and death for 15-18-year-olds in the United States. In 2024, there were 85,947 teen drivers injured in traffic crashes. In 2024, there were 2,320 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver, and 752 were teen drivers themselves. Of the 2,320 people killed in crashes involving a teen driver, 478 were the passengers of a teen driver, and 280 (59%) of those fatalities were other teens riding with a teen driver. Of those teen passengers killed while riding with another teen driver, 61% were male and 39% were female. “Parents play a critical role in teaching teen drivers safe driving habits,” said Lt. Tim Petropulos. “New teen drivers are gaining experience behind the wheel, which increases the chance of dangerous situations for the teen and other roadway users around them,” he said. “It’s critical for parents to model safe driving behaviors themselves and have discussions with their teens about the choices they make behind the wheel. NHTSA offers parents and guardians helpful tips and a framework for having discussions with teen drivers about risky driving behaviors that can lead to fatal consequences.” It’s a parent’s responsibility to help teen drivers make smart choices to stay safe on the road. NHTSA gives parents and guardians tips on how to talk about safer driving. These tips include discussions on how to influence positive behaviors and how to approach dangerous driving behaviors such as alcohol and other drug use, lack of seat belt use, distracted driving, speeding, or driving with passengers. Surveys show that teens whose parents set firm rules for driving typically engaged in less risky driving behaviors and were involved in fewer crashes. Teens need to understand the rules, whether there are any other restrictions outlined in California’s graduated driver licensing law, and the deadly consequences that could occur. For more information about teen driver safety, NHTSA.gov/TeenDriving.

National School Bus Safety Week is October 19-23, 2026. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is urging drivers to slow down around school buses and stop when the school bus stop-arms are out and the red lights are flashing. School buses are one of the safest modes of transportation. However, injuries and fatalities do occur outside of or near the buses. This is often caused by a motorist who has failed to slow down and obey the bus’s stop sign, or to follow local traffic laws, stopping is the law whether approaching from the front or rear of the school bus. Nationally, school bus passing is illegal, and it poses a deadly risk to bus riders, child pedestrians, and their caregivers. Drivers should always come to a complete stop when a school bus stop-arm is extended and the red lights are flashing. From 2015 to 2024, there were 1.5 times more fatalities among pedestrians (162) than occupants of school buses (119) in school-bus-related traffic crashes. A total of 204 school-age children (18 and younger) died in school-bus-related crashes during that period, either as occupants of school buses or other vehicles, or on foot or bike. Of those deaths, 77 were pedestrians. From 2000 to 2024, there were 63 fatalities in crashes that involved a driver illegally passing a stopped school bus, an average of 2.5 fatalities a year. Almost half of those fatalities (27) were pedestrians who were 18 years old or younger. ⚠️Respect the “Danger Zone”⚠️ The school bus loading and unloading area is called the “Danger Zone.” Specifically, this is any side of the bus where the bus driver can’t see the child and, therefore, the child is in the most danger while crossing the street. These areas include: ➡️10 feet in front of the bus, where the driver may be sitting too high to see a child ➡️10 feet on either side of the bus, where a child may be in the driver’s blind spot ➡️Behind the school bus This is why all lanes should stop for school buses, check your state law to find out more. For more information about school bus safety, please visit NHTSA.gov/SchoolBus. 🚌

Just under two weeks away… 🧟 Calling all ghosts 👻, goblins 🧌, witches 🧙, and ghouls 👹! Bring the whole family to our annual Trunk-or-Treat on Friday, October 30th, from 5 PM to 8 PM! 🍬🎃 Dress up in your most fa-BOO-lous costume and join our community for an evening of trick-or-treating, sweet surprises, and family-friendly fun with the officers who help keep your neighborhoods safe. 🧛‍♂️ Gather your favorite little monsters, invite your neighbors, and get ready for a spooktacular night filled with candy, costumes, and community spirit! Just remember—the scariest thing you should encounter that night is an empty candy bucket. 👀🍫 👉 Enter the event from Commonwealth & Highland. #TrunkOrTreat #WhereMyGhoulsAt #HocusPocus

🚓 We’re Hiring! 🚓 The Fullerton Police Department is now accepting applications for Lateral Police Officers and Police Officer Trainees. Join our team and become a trusted partner in keeping Fullerton safe and thriving. 👉 Apply today: governmentjobs.com/careers/f… #FullertonPDProud #JoinOurTeam #ApplyToday #PreventProtectPursue

📺🚔 Did you miss Chief Radus on On Patrol: Live last weekend? No worries, we’ve got you covered! Check out this clip of Chief Radus kicking off the weekend’s first OPL Triple Play! 🎬 #OnPatrolLive #OPLive #FullertonPD

Catch Chief Radus in the OPL studio this weekend. Streams on Reelz 6-9PM PST

🚔 This past Saturday marked Fullerton PD’s last night on On Patrol: Live as we are taking a break after almost five months of bringing you along for the ride. Thank you to everyone who tuned in, cheered us on, and shared your support through phone calls, emails, and social media. We’ve loved connecting with viewers near and far! 💙 And you can still catch a little Fullerton On Patrol: Live this weekend, October 9th and 10th, when Chief Radus joins the @OfficialOPLive hosts in the studio! 📺 This isn’t goodbye—it’s “see you later.” We hope to be back!

Here are a few Fullerton PD stats and highlights for September 2026. Did you know you have the ability to monitor crime in your neighborhood? Visit communitycrimemap.com to learn more.

Fullerton PD is proud to partner with organizations like the ATF Orange County Violent Crime Task Force to keep our community and the communities around us safe!

Join Officer Coleman for On Patrol: Live tonight 6-9 PM PT on REELZ #OPNation #OPL  #OnPatrolLive

Join Officer Akles and Officer Rodgers for On Patrol: Live tonight at 6 PM PT on REELZ #OPNation #OPL  #OnPatrolLive

You brought the appetite—and the generosity! 🍽️💙 Thank you to everyone who joined the Fullerton Police Department earlier this week at Heroes Bar & Grill for our Tip-A-Cop fundraiser supporting Special Olympics Orange County! Our officers teamed up with Special Olympics athletes to serve up good food and great company. Together, you helped raise more than $3,000 to support local athletes and opportunities to train, compete, and shine! 🎉 A big thank-you to our athlete partners and Heroes Bar & Grill for helping make the evening a success—and to everyone who dined, donated, and cheered us on. 🙌 See you next year for another helping of giving back!