Records Clerk's Total Recall Helps Nab Suspect

On average, Probation records clerk Mimi Bailey enters 156 probation cases per month, and she’s processed thousands of probationers’ cases in her job. Still, three months ago she immediately recognized one of them from a San Diego Police Department “Be on the Look Out” (BOLO) email flier and that led to his arrest for new crimes.

Bailey recently received a letter from the San Diego Police Department detective assigned to the case commending her for her sharp eyes.

She had entered the probationer’s case two to three months prior, but she not only recognized him from the photograph on the flier, she remembered that he was on probation for committing a similar crime using the same methods.

“I have a very good photogenic memory.  I can see someone today and then four days later see him in the community and say, ‘Oh that’s the guy and remember everything about the case,’” said Bailey.

She felt certain the probationer was the same person in the police flier about a man who was stealing over-the-counter medications from drug and grocery stores. She immediately notified her supervisor and sent a link to his photo.

The information was forwarded to San Diego police detective Bobby Rollins, who was able to pin three other store burglaries on the man.  Bailey said she was told the guy admitted committing the crimes when the detective showed him the photos.

“This is a prime example of having a quality employee that is focused on her work. (She) is to be commended for her job knowledge, enthusiasm and attention to detail, said Rollins in a letter to the Probation Department.

Law enforcement frequently sends the BOLO fliers, and Bailey always takes a look, but this is the first time she has recognized a wanted criminal. Bailey has worked for the County for 10 years, and she said it was nice to be recognized within her department.

She has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is three classes away from earning a master’s degree in psychology. She aspires to work in law enforcement someday, perhaps as a homicide detective or a with the medical examiner’s office.