Touching Base: A Message from the Chief
January 6, 2013
Dear
Community Members and Department Personnel:
Happy
New Year! Once
Again the City of Pasadena and the Tournament of Roses played host to the
world’s premier parade and football game. As you may know, there are a
number of sponsors, local governmental officials, and tournament
representatives who collaborate to ensure the parade and bowl game are specular
events. This year was no exception. When Tournament of Roses
President Sally Bixby and her husband, Hardin, motored past the
grandstands you could feel the excitement as the world focused on Pasadena and
the parade. As in years past, Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and his wife, Claire
participated in the parade. Their guests this year were Vice Mayor Margaret
McAustin and her husband, John.
The
Pasadena Police Department worked closely with the Tournament of Roses and
local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure safety was the
highest priority. In that effort, Lieutenant Bruce George commands
exceptional groups of police personnel assigned to the Event Planning and the
Counter Terrorism Units, who serve as the police department primary
coordinators. Personnel includes: Sergeants Art Chute and Rudy
Lemos, Corporal Julie Finney, Officers David Thomas and Brad
May, and Police Specialists Rickey Liu. This year the Pasadena
Police Department arrested a total of 40 people between the parade and the bowl
game. The vast majority of the arrests were alcohol related.
For
Your Information:
Community
members are encouraged to attend one of several community meetings to become
familiar with and provide input on the Draft 2013-15 School/City Work
Plan. Feedback is needed to ensure the work of partnering agencies
and educators is captured in the Plan’s strategies. The Work Plan will be
presented to the Pasadena Board of Education and City Council at their February
19, 2013 annual Joint Meeting, to be held at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council
Chambers. To view the Draft Work Plan and/or for additional information
regarding the Joint Meeting and Outreach efforts, please visit www.cityofpasadena.net/humanservices or contact Lisa Fowler at lfowler@cityofpasadena.net.
(Source: Lisa Fowler, Pasadena Human Services & Recreation).
Community
Involvement:
On
December 24, Pasadena Police Reserve Officers supported Operation Santa.
The officers escorted Santa to several homes in the community as he delivered
toys to children of all ages. As a background, Operation Santa has been
sponsored by the Pasadena Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) since
1934. Children living in Pasadena and Altadena write letters to Santa at
the “North Pole.” With the assistance of the Jaycees, the letters are
sorted and about 200 volunteers assemble on Christmas Eve to deliver
toys. The Pasadena Police Reserve Unit has supported the event for 20
years, providing uniformed officers to escort the Santa Teams.
Additionally, the Altadena Sheriff’s Deputies also assist with the
operation.
On
December 27,
several Pasadena Police employees, community members, and the public attended
the Pasadena Police Activities League – Sneak Peek of the 2013 Rose Parade
Floats. The event was organized by Jill Hawkins and the funds raised
benefitted PAL. Special thanks to Phoenix Decorating Company Owner, Chris Lofthouse,
and PAL Board Member, Eva Monroy, for hosting such a special event.
On
December 30,
the Brotherhood Community Youth Sports League, Flintridge Center, and the
Community Clergy Coalition coordinated a “Rally for Peace,” which was held at
All Saints Church. The rally was generated following the tragic murder of
Victor McClinton on Christmas Day. More than 400 community
members, leaders, elected and public officials gathered to honor Victor and
denounce violence. Mayor Bill Bogaard, Pastor Jean Burch,
Pastor Kerwin Manning, Reverend Ed Bacon, Captain John
Benedict, Flintridge Center’s Ricky Pickens, community leaders William
Syms and Porfirio Frausto, and I provided brief remarks about
violence and our community. Councilmembers Terry Tornek, Margaret
McAustin, and Jacque Robinson attended the rally along with numerous
community leaders, including PUSD Board President Renatta Cooper.
On
December 31, Deputy Chief Darryl Qualls, Deborah K. Sanchez, and I attended
the Pasadena Lions Float Breakfast. The breakfast is the precursor to
viewing the 2013 Rose Parade Floats (although we did not participate in the
viewing). Mayor Bill Bogaard and the Lion’s International President both
provided brief remarks. Lion’s Member Tom Kester was the emcee.
On
January 1, 2013,
the majority of Pasadena Police officers and staff were committed to the Rose
Parade and Rose Bowl Game. Normal police services were not intervallic as
the usual complement of officers was assigned to patrol our community.
On
January 4, 2013,
several Pasadena Police employees, including Lieutenant Rodney Wallace,
attended the Opening Ceremony for the Silver Gloves Boxing Tournament, which
was held at Villa-Parke. The tournament was well attended and was
organized by Pasadena Human Services & Recreation Supervisor, Rozanne
Adanto.
Pasadena’s
Finest:
On
November 14,
Pasadena Police Detective Van Kim received information that a male
suspect had threatened to kill his wife in front of the DCFS office. Van
investigated the threats, interviewing several witnesses including a Los
Angeles County Social worker. When Van completed her case, it was
presented to the Office of the Los Angeles District Attorney.
Subsequently, the District Attorney’s Office filed felony threats charges
against the suspect. Van shared the information with other Pasadena
Police officers and on January 4, 3013, Corporal Dustin Gomez
observed the suspect walking near the police station. Dustin alerted Van and
together they arrested the suspect without incident.
On
December 27, I
received a letter from Pasadena Firefighter / Paramedic Christopher Ramstead
commending Lieutenant Bruce George, Sergeant Art Chute, Corporal Julie
Finney, and Officer David Thomas for their outstanding work while
assigned to the Event Planning Unit. Christopher wrote, “…Thank you for
having people like this in these assignments. It has provided a great
education and experience for me as the Fire Special Events Inspector…”
On
December 29,
I received an email from a community member commending Pasadena Police Officer Sean
Porter for his professionalism during a traffic investigation. The author
explained that her son was involved in a non-injury traffic accident near Allen
and Walnut writing, “... I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for
the compassion and kindness that the first responders, particularly Officer
Sean Porter, extended to my son…”
On
January 1, 2013,
Pasadena PAL member Peter Delgado rode in the 124th Rose Parade.
Peter was selected to ride on the Honda Float along with several other
youths. Special thanks to PAL Board Member Eva Monroy for making
this opportunity available to the PAL Program.
On January 1, 2013,
several Pasadena Police Volunteers assisted with “Parade Watch, ”
which was established as a direct result of the terrorist attack of
September 11, 2001 to enhance the overall safety of the Tournament of Roses
annual Rose Parade. The program uses volunteers to contact all
recreational vehicle owners staged along the parade route to solicit their
assistance in reporting any suspicious activity or persons. Graduates of the
Pasadena Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy (CPA) may sign up to
participate in this annual event. Parade Watch Volunteers are trained, and then
go into the field with active Citizens Assisting Pasadena Police (CAPP)
volunteers. They then contact all recreational vehicle drivers in the
area surrounding the Rose Parade to solicit their membership.
On January 4, 2013,
the Pasadena Police Community Youth Advisors were commended by Corporal Glenn
Thompson for their hard over the holiday break. The advisors
assisted the Salvation Army with food deliveries and wrapped toys for our
community youth. They organized delivery of holiday gift baskets for
families in the Pasadena / Altadena communities. Our youth advisors
are: Martine Aniwanou, Frances Diaz, Krystal Gutierrez, Esther
Justafort, Efren Bugarin, Korey Green, Megan Mayorga, Alix Marcellus Jr.,
Negrete Justin, and Ciomara Hernandez.
On
January 3, 2013,
I received an email from Pasadena Foothill Magazine that Pasadena Police
Administrator Gena Persons had been selected as one of Pasadena’s Top 50
most Inspiring Leaders. Gena leads the police department’s Forensic Section
and is a graduate of the highly regarded “Leadership Pasadena” program. The
Pasadena Foothill Magazine will honor all 50 Inspiring Leaders on Tuesday,
January 22, at 5 p.m., at the Eden Garden Bar and Grill in Old Pasadena. For
event information, please visit www.THEmagazine.biz.
For information about Leadership Pasadena, please visit their website at www.leadershippasadena.org.
Critical
Incidents:
On
December 25, at about 11:00 a.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to
the area of Newport Avenue and Wyoming Street regarding calls of gunshots. When
police officers arrived, they discovered two victims suffering from gunshot
wounds. The Pasadena Fire Department paramedics responded to the scene
and later transported both victims to a local hospital. Sadly, one of the
victims died as a result of his injuries. The second suspect was treated
for serious injuries and released from the hospital a few days later.
Pasadena
Police Detectives have been actively working the investigation since December
25. Following a comprehensive investigation, Lead Investigators Keith
Gomez and Grant Curry and the Homicide/Assault Unit arrested two
suspects involved in this senseless crime. On January 2, 2013, Keith presented
the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office who filed several
felony charges including murder. The victim’s family and the community
were greatly impacted by this tragic crime.
The
criminal filings against the suspects are appropriate given the circumstance of
the shooting. The outcome is the result of many days of hard work by
Pasadena Police Detectives and other law enforcement entities, including the
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Pasadena Police officers
involved in the case are: Lieutenant Tracey Ibarra, Sergeant Ernie
Devis, Corporals Jason Van Hecke, Ara Bzdigian, Cuong Pham, and William
Broghamer. Also deeply involved in the investigation were: Police
Administrator Gena Persons, P.S. VI Alex Padilla, PS VI Kevin
Roon, PS VI Cristina Fish, Detectives assigned to the Fugitive
Apprehension Unit (FAU), Detectives assigned to the West San
Gabriel Valley-Anti Crime Taskforce (WSGV-ACT), and Pasadena Police Officer
John Watkins. Sergeant Tory Riley was the on-scene Incident
Commander. Our investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked
to contact the Pasadena Police Department at (626)744-4241, or you may report
anonymously through CRIME STOPPERS at (800)222-8477 or http://lacrimestoppers.org (insert key
word Pasadena).
On
January 5, 2013,
Deputy Chief Darryl Qualls, Commander John Perez, Lieutenant Rodney
Wallace, Corporals Bobby Jenkins and Paul McKinney, Office
Supervisor Beverly Bogar and I attended the celebration of life for
Victor James McClinton. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Catholic Church was filled to capacity with family, friends, coworkers, and
young people who had been coached by Victor. Councilwoman Jacque
Robinson and Danny Bakewell were among the many VIPs. Danny
Bakewell, Jr. and Sheriff Lee Baca gave the eulogies.
Interment followed the church service.
On
December 25, 2012, at about 8:00 p.m., the Pasadena Police Department and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation were conducting joint gang enforcement in the
city following a homicide that occurred earlier in the day. While patrolling
the area of Claremont Street and Marengo Avenue, officers observed a silver
Dodge Durango commit a traffic violation. Officers activated their
emergency equipment (red lights and siren) and affected a traffic stop.
As the officers exited their police vehicle and approached the suspect car,
which was occupied by four people, the driver quickly drove away attempting to
evade the officers. The officers immediately returned to their police car and,
using red lights and siren, attempted to stop the vehicle. Subsequently,
a vehicle pursuit ensued as the driver continued to flee. As the driver
approached the intersection of Marengo Avenue and Maple Street, he failed to
stop for a red light and drove into the intersection, colliding with a minivan.
Two
victims were killed as a result of the collision. Three other occupants
from the minivan were transported to a local hospital with serious
injuries. Four suspects were arrested at the scene. As Pasadena
Police Traffic officers started their investigation, the department was
notified by a community member who witnessed the pursuit that as the suspect
vehicle passed; they observed a firearm being thrown. Pasadena Police
officers responded to the area described by the witness and recovered a loaded
semiautomatic pistol. The pistol was recovered and booked as
evidence. On December 28, 2012, the Pasadena Police Department
presented the collision investigation to the Office of the Los Angeles County
District Attorney. The District Attorney’s Office filed several charges
against the driver (Male Black adult) and a passenger (Female Black
adult). Charges included: Murder, Gang enhancement, assault with a
deadly weapon, and felon in possession of a firearm.
This
tragic incident could have been avoid if the suspect driver would have remained
at the scene of the initial traffic stop or later stopped his vehicle as
officers were pursuing him. I believe the persons responsible for this
tragic incident have been appropriately charged by the District Attorney’s
Office. It is my hope that the criminal filing might bring some comfort
to the victims and their extended family. As a reminder, when a law enforcement
officer activates the emergency equipment (red lights and/or siren) on their
police car, motorists are expected to yield the right of way and
stop.
On
January 2, 2013 at about 11:00 a.m., Pasadena Police officers responded to
the Colorado Street Bridge regarding a suicidal subject. Officer Darryl
Harris, Corporal Deanne Nestlerode, and HOPE Team member, Clinician
Rocio, started talking with the despondent subject. The
incident lasted more than eight hours as officers continued to negotiate with
the subject. The Pasadena Fire Department was on standby. Fortunately,
their services were not necessary, as the trio of officers were able to
convince the subject to surrender. The suicidal subject was transported
to a local hospital for evaluation.
Sincerely,
Phillip L. Sanchez
Chief of Police
Pasadena Police Department
207 N. Garfield Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 744-4545
Mission First, People Always