several felony charges after authorities searched his homes. new at 6:00 p.m. the commissioner spoke with ktvu's rob roth and says the investigation by police is politically motivated. >> reporter: police are saying little about the arrest of the police commissioner on six felony charges. but that commissioner had quite a bit to say to us about the arrest. >> reporter: police served search warrants saturday at this house and the one next stored and then they arrested the man who owns them. a police commissioner for 40 years who was also once police chief. >> rob roth from channel 2. >> reporter: he is 74 years old and denies doing anything wrong. >> a witch hunt between the incompetent chief of police that is there. >> reporter: ktvu channel 2

news learned police seed a computer, guns is other items from his homes and cars. the charges include possessing false identification and drugs without a prescription and receiving stolen property. investigators are checking his computer but won't say what they are looking for. >> feel you are innocent? >> yes, sir. >> reporter: they said you had falsified identification, is that true? >> no, sir. >> the health department deemed his house unsafe because he is a hoarder. still neighbors say they are surprised police hauled him away in handcuffs. >> very good neighbor. we like him and appreciate him. sorry to hear bad news about him. >> reporter: he posted bail. he isn't due in court till february but the next police commission is set for january

13. >> rob, thank you. >> it is a small town with 4100 people and has its own police force. and there are 11 full time officers, a police chief and several part time officers and three police commissioners who are elected to a term of four years. everyone is getting ready for the celebration but for one city the police department is changing how they patrol. san jose police decided to have officers ride two to a car tonight. the threats mention violence against officers. the department thought it was necessary to take action. >> the prims is to go -- premise is to go ahead and ensure officers are safe during new year's eve. we received information some threats did involve new year's eve 2014 specifically. >> he says with two officers in each car there is an extra set

of eyes. we checked in oakland and san francisco to see if they are changing patrols tonight. san francisco police told us they always have two officers on patrol together at night and in oakland they will have two officers per car. it is not just the police gearing up for tonight, the crowd is already gathering in san francisco ready for the big party and it is going to be cold out there. ktvu's nowell w is -- noelle walker is in the city. are there folks are there? >> few people. if you are coming out here layer up. i have my hat on, gloves ready to go. it is cold here. colder on the bay on a boat. we got a look as they were loading in the first fireworks shells. >> reporter: on the san francisco water front two barges are being wenched into

one. >> yesterday was crazy out here. i don't know that i have seen the wind blowing that strong. >> reporter: this morning the mortars were ready to go. >> we have hardware set up. we will start loading the shells into the tubes. >> 5,000 fireworks. some 10 inches in diameter weighing more than 30 pounds. >> each shell has an address. >> reporter: a specific place, the wires are set and connected. it is all very technical. >> used to be we run around with flairs. all good and exciting. >> reporter: each year they try top the last. the fireworks will shoot between 100 and 1,000 feet into the air at midnight in a 15 minute show. >> it is the ultimate of celebration in my opinion. just -- its big. loud, colorful. the way to bring in the new

year. >> tickets right here. >> reporter: on new year's eve fisherman turn over a new leaf. >> no fishing tonight. >> reporter: tonight many go into the fireworks cruise business. >> every year so far. >> reporter: it is not warm on the bay but it is still the way to ring in 2015. >> because we set up under the fireworks on the water, we don't have to deal with the crowds of people on the shore from the ferry building, it is the best view in town. >> this couple will ring in the new year on the bay. >> promise of better things to come. feels patriotic for some reason. >> i am -- i am with her. [ laughter ] >> whatever she says. >> reporter: sounds like 2015 is off to an agreeable start.

>> happy new year. >> reporter: all that is left to do is wait for the fireworks to make it official. >> we don't shoot till midnight. we have a long way to go. >> reporter: midnight sharp the fireworks go off. we are in the best place to see the fireworks between the bay ridge and ferry building but that fireworks producer said anywhere you can see clear skies you will have a good shot. >> fun night and clear out there. noelle walker in san francisco. this is the toll plaza. it is crowded right now. it will get more crowded as the night wears on. i went to the new year's eve celebration in san francisco last year, we took b.a.r.t., it was absolutey packed -- absolutely packed. busy clearing fallen trees due to the wind storm. ktvu's john fowler reports from the east bay where so many

trees have fallen. >> lucky for me. and for my family. >> reporter: he said god was smiling on his family. this pine crashed on his door step. >> waving back and forth. and then it just did its thing and fell. >> reporter: inches from where children were about to go out the door. >> people can lose their lives very easily. we were lucky. >> reporter: tree crews working late on this 50-year-old spruce, it fell on his house. >> trees were swaying. i did not even think about this happening. >> reporter: it drew worried neighbors. he said a few inches either way could have caused a disaster. >> house seemed find.

no puncture wounds. i think we are okay. >> reporter: not so lucky the owner of this truck. the toyota is a total loss. two trees crashed across the busy road. no one seriously hurt. police said they closed the road if 18 hours till pg&e could restring downed power lines. crews have almost completely restored the 201,000 customer whose lost power. >> reporter: there are so many trees down all across the bay area that it could take days, weeks before they are all cleaned up. john fowler, ktvu channel 2 news. those strong winds have been decreasing and we have cold temperatures to talk about. coming up the areas that will be under a freeze warning. >> and the east bay favorite for giants fans is moving west.

how one city's loss is another city's gain. >> it brought me goose bumps. >> the reaction to a donation to a family in need. but it wasn't the donated items that blew the family away.

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christmas day fire brought together long lost friends today. ktvu's ann rubin tells tus was one generous act that reunited them. >> reporter: it was christmas day when their apartment burned. since then they have been astounded by the generosity of others. >> by the blessings of god, when we are down to our last somebody will call and say i have a donation to you. >> reporter: firefighters gave

them gifts for their grand kids and now this -- >> i was like, i have to do something. you know, if that is the only shirt they have, i might as well put a bunch of shirts on them and make sure they have something to wear. >> reporter: he arranged to donate a box of clothing. >> he realized when i said rudy, this is me, you are donating clothes to us. >> reporter: as it turns out, they all went to high school together in san jose. they just hadn't seen each other since 1984. >> it is like, you know, we get to see each other and we get to thank him. it is like, almost, like a mini reunion. >> i have have done it for

anybody in that situation. christmas day, that is the worse. >> reporter: they are working full time and have yet to find new apartment. the clothes were something they needed. they were down to their last six dollars yesterday and things couldn't have come at a better time. >> always somebody out there willing to help you whether you know them or not. >> the couple believes a roommate's candles may have started the fire. in san jose, ann rubin, ktvu channel 2 news. investigators say a 17-year- old girl forced into prostitution has been found safe. police say the victim from the central valley was located by officers last night. the girl was able to text her family asking them for help saying she was too scared to run away. parents notified law enforcement. the fbi notified san rafael police. >> they had a juvenile texting

theirparence saying she was forced into prostitution. >> police say officers armed with a photo of the victim spotted her with one of the suspects. that suspect, 19 years old, was arrested and expected in court on friday. a second suspect has not been found. some good news from oakland. for the second year in a row the city has seen a drop in violent crime. according to the mayor's office, killings were down 10% this year. 80 people were killed this year. that is the lowest number of people killed since 2000. shootings down 13%. robberies down 31%. and home burglaries down 29%. mayor jean quan credits operation cease fire for strengthening the partnership between police ask the community -- and the community. and thanked the police department for the hard work

they have done. as we get close to 2015 it is time to look back. 2014 is the year marked with highs and lows in the bay area. controversy, tragedy as well as remarkable stories of survival and celebration. ktvu's claudine wong looks back. >> reporter: there are images from 2014 that are hard to forget from fires like the one that destroyed this san francisco construction project. the police shooting protest that over took the city streets and freeways. the scandals, all 39 woman described as a high end prosttuse and the -- prostitute and the politics become -- politicians become defendants and a manhunt for ryan chamberlain who had bomb making

materials. cautions over ebola. healthcare and immigration reform. mother nature with the 6.0 earthquake in napa. and the drought still has us realing and curving. trag a -- conserving. tragedy, a police chief was shot and killed by a fellow officer. >> difficult oo express in words -- to express in words. >> reporter: and the rampage that took the lives of three students. there were stories of survival, who can forget the 15-year-old stow away who made it from san jose to maui in a wheel well of a plane. [ indiscernible ] >> reporter: sports gave us a

lot to talk about. the 9ers with the nfc championship loss and then good- bye to jim harbaugh. raiders fans -- [ indiscernible ] >> the giants world series championship. things we said good-bye to also came back, the blue angels returned to fleet week and the new oakland b.a.r.t. connector. we dumped ice buckets on our heads and searched for searched for treasures. even hollywood made headlines as "the interview" had president obama and north korea at odds. and 2014 broke our hearts with the loss of robin williams.

he lived and died in tiburon. the loss of a man who made us laugh is too hard to put into words. >> so strange to think that robin williams is gone. another one of the big stories of 2014 was the san francisco giants winning their third world series title in 5 years. when they were on their run ktvu channel 2 news and fans spent a lot of times at a restaurant. named after willie mccovey. it is closing in february and plans to move near at&t park in san francisco. this is video during the world series. the new restaurant won't be opening for two years. last day for the walnut creek location february 2, the day after the super bowl. i have a plan, since the giants are on a two year world series plan -- >> it will be opening just in

time. >> exactly. >> good thinking. they have great memorabilia. let's talk about our weather now. it is cold out there and getting colder. >> temperatures, clear skies, dropping rappedly. step outside, you will notice the chill out there. bundle up. dress in layers. talking about over night, the coolest spots down into the wents. 20s. the coldest morning since february. taking a look towards san francisco, across the bay, over night frost, the key headline, lows in the 20s and hurt and a freeze warning -- 30s and a freese warning. southern california, drawing in the cold air from the north. right now we have clear skies. 19 degrees in truckee. over night lows 5 below. 5 below tomorrow morning. here is a look at our numbers. showing you 40s already for the 6:00 p.m.

hour, santa rosa, napa, concord, walnut creek, san jose 47. san francisco 53 degrees. happy new year for tonight. we are expecting clear skies. a big drop off in the numbers. temperature profile throughout the evening hours. midnight the temperature range across the bay area will be in the mid-30s to mid-40s. san francisco will be closer to the 45-degree reading. frost advisory in place over night for the bay shoreline, midnight to 9:00 a.m., oakland, hayward, fremont. freeze warning for the inland valleys, hills. mid-20s to lower 30s. over night lows thursday morning, january 1, santa rosa 26 degrees. fairfield 28. oakland near freezing, 34. livermore upper 20s.

27 degrees. san jose 31. fremont 32 degrees. san francisco 39 degrees. half moon bay 40 degrees. the culprit for the wind and cold temperatures, this will scoot out to the east over the next few days. still cold start thursday morning, sunny skies, a dry weather pattern through the weekend. temperatures trending up over the next few days. highs for tomorrow after the frigid start january 1, morning hours, 50s. san jose 54. here is a look ahead, your five- day forecast, 2015, there is a chance we could have more freeze warnings friday morning as well and relief into the weekend, back up into the 60s for sunday and monday. frigid out there. dress in layers. >> for us this -- >> growing up here, this is

cold for me. [ talking at the same time ] >> thank you. 49ers interviewing potential head coaches. the well known former head coach who has been spotted in the bay area. >> college football is in full bowl swing. scott reiss is up next with the highlights.

mark is off tonight. scott is here. could a former raiders head coach be a candidate for the 49ers? >> we will have to wait and see. a 49ers fans not very happy right now. might mike shanahan be that guy? the general manager spoke with mike shanahan yesterday, although it is not clear whether it was an interview for the job. mike shanahan won two super bowls with the broncos. props to the pac 12. 4-0 this bowl season. arizona had the chance to prolong perfection against boise state. in glendale, arizona. 1st quarter, the statue of

liberty play? it worked. 16 yards for the score. 21-0 broncos. they led 31-17 at the half but arizona comes back. 3rd quarter, time, time, time. ordars pizza. still time -- orders a pizza. still time. caps within 11. 38-27. now down just 8. third and goal. one thing you can't do, take a sack. they can't get another play off. boise state 38-20. no more peach bowl. down field. 31 yards to greene. 7-0tcu. now 21-0. in this game, no come

back. probably should have taken the sack. throws an interception in the end zone. yes. tcu wins 42-3. that is why we love bowl season. >> i can't wait for tomorrow. great games tomorrow. thank you. coming up at 10:00 p.m. a restaurant reborn, we will take you inside as it reopens new year's eve months after a fire. how they are marking the occasion. tonight at 10:00 p.m. see you then and happy new year.

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jay? have you seen the grapes? yeah, i ate them. why would you eat the grapes? they were in a bowl, they were washed i paid for them. they were for the new year's. oh, right. what's that goofy thing again? it's not goofy. it's a tradition. at midnight, you eat 12 grapes, you make 12 wishes 1 for each month of the year. and you really think that works? five years ago i was a single mother living in a slum. today, i'm driving to palm springs in my new car with my rich husband. you do what you want. i'm eating the grapes. for new year's eve we're taking phil and claire and mitch and cam to this amazing hotel i used to go to in palm springs. they got a whole package-- dinner, dancing, toast at midnight. i mean, what more do you need? grapes. (lowered voice)