b. c. p. by detective rick jackson - los angeles police...

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B. C. P.By Chief Parks

RHD: An Historical PerspectiveBy Detective Rick Jackson

N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E L O S A N G E L E S P O L I C E D E P A R T M E N TVolume XLVI Issue 11 www. lapdonline.org NOVEMBER 2000

See RHD on page 8

Editor’s Note: Of the many divisions in theDepartment, Robbery-Homicide Division (RHD)evokes the most glamorous, glorious and goryimages due to the infamous cases it hashistorically handled, from the unsolved violentBlack Dahlia murder to the highly publicizedmurder of Nicole Brown-Simpson and the NorthHollywood bank shooting. The Los AngelesPolice Historical Society, as well as RHD, is agreat resource of LAPD history especially forthose unfamiliar with the cases and namesmentioned in the following article.

In the 1950 film, D.O.A., when the poisonedcharacter Edmond O’Brien staggers in toreport the plot to killhim, the Los AngelesPolice Department’sRobbery Division andHomicide Divisioncould be seen along thecorridors of City Hall.The wooden doorswith glass windowsand overhead placardsjutting out, identifiedthe divisions. True tolife, those were theactual locations of thedivisions in 1950.

Fast forward—1955.The new PoliceAdministrationBuilding, later re-named Parker Center,became home for both Robbery Divisionand Homicide Division. The old RobberyDivision included legendary members ofthe “Hat Squad,” like Max Herman,

Clarence “Red” Stromwall, EddieBenson and Harold Crowder. Theyruled the roost, handling “righteous211s” and the City’s most dangerousbandits.

Likewise, the old Homicide Divisionhad their own legends over theyears—Harry Hansen, Pierce Brooksand “Jigsaw” John St. John. Theyworked legendary and classic cases— the Black Dahlia murder (stillopen), the Onion Field shooting (the

kidnapping ofOfficers KarlHettinger and IanCampbell, who waseventually shot andkilled by tworobbers) and the1950’s serial killerHarvey Glatman.

In 1969, the twodivisions merged,appropriatelycalled Robbery-Homicide Division(RHD). Somesections wereadded, while othersremained and weregiven new names.

The new RHD sections wereHomicide Special, Robbery Special,Banks, the Officer-Involved Shooting(OIS), the Major Crime Investigation

Happy Thanksgiving toall of you! As anorganization, the LosAngeles PoliceDepartment iscontinually blessed withgreat things despiteoccasional setbacks.This is a good time toreflect upon them and bethankful. First, we havededicated policeofficers who risk theirlives 365 days a yearand never hesitate toprotect our residents.Our families, friends andcommunities remaincommitted to be at ourside and see us not onlythrough our highs butalso our lows.

To grow and beprogressive, we must beopen to change. Asrecommended by MayorRiordan in October, theDepartment beganfacilitating a change inthe current deploymentof the 168 Senior LeadOfficers (SLOs). Toensure the continued

See BCP last page

The Black Dahlia murder - mysterious and violentdeath of Elizabeth Short

Volume XLVI Issue 11 November 2000

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The BEAT

Editorial CommitteeCommander Sharon PapaCommander Daniel KoenigCommander David DoanLieutenant Fred BookerLieutenant Anita McKeown

Writer/Editor/LayoutJing Vida

Managing EditorSteven Reifel

Graphics DesignerJim Corbin

Technical SupportLori BlackwellMariella ColeJim Ungari

Published monthlyby the

Los Angeles PoliceDepartment

Community RelationsSection

Public Relations Unit

The BEAT deadline formaterial submission is the

4th of each monthfor the following

month’s publication

150 N. Los AngelesStreet

Los Angeles, CA 90012Room 731

Mail Stop 400Phone (213) 485-3281

Fax (213) 485-1952

West Valley Team DeliversInstant Response to Crisis

By Captain Donald C. Floyd

Editor’s Note: This is the last of a two-part series highlighting two of theseven excellent programs selected bythe Chief of Police from programsDepartmentwide and featured duringthe “Best Practices” Seminar in June2000.

It was just a few days beforeChristmas 1996 when a Russianimmigrant committed suicide. Histwo children, ages 10 and 11,discovered the body. When called in,the West Valley Crisis Response Team(CRT) comforted the children withteddy bears, arranged for a translatorand located a pastor from the family’schurch. It took a team of volunteersand hours of effort to assuage thisfamily’s trauma.

The CRT, which assisted thisdistraught family, had been establisheda mere nine months prior. The team’spurpose is to provide immediateassistance and support to the policeduring crises occurring in the WestValley Area. Suicides, selectedhomicides, death notifications, rapecrimes and other traumatic incidentsare among the reasons for the team toexist.Available 24 hours a day, seven daysa week, the CRT members provideassistance through counseling,referrals and by simply being therefor victims and their loved ones.Additionally, the CRT allows policeofficers to clear up incidents quickly,and safeguard the victims and theirfamily.

The West Valley CRT’s mission is “toprovide immediate emergencyintervention and support to those in

traumatic situations, plus it acts asliaison between the community andthe Los Angeles Police Department.”Among many others, the individualsinstrumental in the development ofthis team include Ellie Vargas,Community Police Advisory Board(CPAB) Co-Chair, Lana Kuhlen,CPAB member, and former AreaCommanding Officer, CommanderValentino Paniccia, who is now theAssistant Commanding Officer ofOperations Valley Bureau.

FIRST STEP – TrainingAfter the team was founded, atraining curriculum was developedthat included issues such as copingwith emotional and physical distress,and understanding the grief process.The program consisted of 10 weeklylectures by medical professionals,victims of crimes, police officers,counselors and parents of murderedchildren. A broad spectrum oftraumatic and emergency situationswas presented. The organizers alsodeveloped a liaison with the clergycouncil and set up a roster of foreignlanguage translators to assist teammembers.

See CRISIS on page 7

Inside Page

Team Handles Crises 2LAPD Recruits 3Unit Fights Chemicals 4Employees’ Edge 5Seminar TacklesWomen Issues 6LAPD Awards Employees 9Auto Club Honors Officers 9Commendations 10COP Holiday Celebration 11


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LAPD wants you ... *The City of Los Angeles is offering a $200 bonus to *eligibleCity employees to help recruit police officers and increase theforce from its current level of 9,200 to 10,000. The PersonnelDepartment, Public Safety Employment Division (PSED) and theRecruitment Section, Employee Opportunity and DevelopmentDivision (EODD) are coordinating efforts to get the word out.

The incentive campaign reflects a dire situation not only in theLos AngelesPoliceDepartmentbut also inother largelawenforcementagencies.

The pool ofavailablecandidatesin SouthernCaliforniahasdiminisheddramaticallyin recent years. By August 2000, the LAPD had lost an averageof 54 officers a month due to attrition and retirement.Meanwhile, the City has barely kept up by hiring an average of40 recruits a month this year. In Los Angeles, the PSED hasadministered the written test five days a week for over threeyears. Prior to 1997, the test was offered four days a week.

Historically, job seekers pursue non-public safety careers when astrong economy with low unemployment exists. Due to thecritical need to replace officers, recruiters have travelednationwide in pursuit of new officers. Other large municipalpolice agencies in the same predicament are also looking out ofstate to recruit.

The EODD Recruitment Section recruited heavily in SouthernCalifornia this summer. Recruiters have been to career fairs inCamp Pendleton in San Diego, The 29 Palms Job Fair, Women’sCareer Day 2000 at the Ahmanson Recruit Training Center, LosAngeles Fire Department Recruitment Expo 2000 and the Mid-Summer Job Fair at the California African-American Museum in

LAPD Heightens Recruitment EffortsBy Police Officer John Collyer

Exposition Park. Other community events recruitersattended include the Orange County Fair, the 60thAnnual Nisei Festival in Little Tokyo, the Van NuysAirport Aviation Expo 2000 and the Los AngelesTriathlon.

While efforts have yielded success, recruiters continueto seek innovative ways to reach their goals. This fall,recruiters will visit college campuses statewide andnationwide. Officers Kip Jackson, Linda Peace, PhilStine and Jessamyn Morales recruited and testedcandidates in Oakland, California, while Officers JoeTorres, Joe Ferreira, Rosa Torres and Allynn Simmonsconcurrently recruited and tested candidates inLouisiana. Out of 142 interested candidates, 109 or 77percent passed the tests. In Los Angeles, 55 out of 86candidates passed the tests. The combined out-of-town testing yielded twice the number of candidatesthan that in Los Angeles. The following states aretargeted for recruitment and testing from fall 2000 towinter 2001: Ohio, Washington, Illinois, Texas,Minnesota and Massachusetts, St. Louis andMilwaukee. For current testing locations and generalinformation, please check the recruitment page atwww.lapdonline.org or call (800) 954-0321 or (213) 847-9060.

Officers John Collyer and Rosa Torres re-cruit during the 23rd Annual Lotus Festivalat Echo Park in July 2000.

$200 Bonus Rules and Procedures• Recruit someone who will succeed as a

Police Officer• Employee and applicant need to

complete and sign a Police OfficerRecruitment Incentive Program card

• Have the applicant turn in the card to theproctor at the time he/she takes thewritten test

*To qualify, the employee must be on theCity payroll at the time the candidate isrecruited and appointed to the PoliceAcademy. The $200 bonus will beprocessed when the candidate is appointedto the Police Academy. Bonus paymentswill be issued directly to the employee astaxable income.

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Editor’s Note: This is the first of a multi-series onHazardous Materials / Environmental Crimes Unit withtopics on Historical Perspective, Investigations andEnforcement, and Hazardous Material Safety.

The movie song goes: “There’s something strange inthe neighborhood. Who ya gonna call?GHOSTBUSTERS!” In LAPD – it is theHAZMATBUSTERS! The investigators of theHazardous Materials / Environmental Crimes Unit(HM/ECU) are often the firstresponders to “strange goooeey”things and “Weapons of MassDestruction” incidents involvingnuclear, biological and chemicalterrorism.

In the past, firefighters did notcarry breathing apparatusto protect them frominhaling dangerouschemicals while fightingfires. Similarly, policeofficers and parking controlofficers also knew little aboutthe hazards of standingdownwind of an industrialfire. Later, a study revealedthat hazardous materialsinjured more police officersthan firefighters. This wasbecause officers were nottrained to recognizehazardous materials andincidents involving these materials, and were unskilledwith the dangers of chemicals. Officers could handlean armed suspect, but not a chemical incident. Officersknow instantly when they are shot at and are hit; but inchemical situations, an officer could take a fatal hit andnot know it for years. Today, one can deal with achemical incident safely and successfully with training,new technology and proper equipment.

Unit Fights Chemical Hazards By Officer Mike Hagen

The HAZMATBUSTERS started humbly with onepolice officer...

Historical Perspective1981 – Theoretical Beginnings

In 1981, the Los Angeles Police Department’scommand staff expressed concern for the potential ofinjury to police officers exposed to hazardousmaterials. The Commanding Officer, Uniformed

Services Group, selectedOfficer Frank O. Rood III,who is now a Detective IIat Pacific Division, tojumpstart the HazardousMaterials Unit. DetectiveRood was chosen for hishazardous materialsexperience and assignedto Tactical PlanningSection (currentlyEmergency OperationsSection). He becameresponsible fordeveloping theDepartment’s guidelinesfor the safe handling of

hazardous materialsincidents.

Through DetectiveRood’s diligence, theDepartment soonpublished a Tactical

Manual, now known as the Emergency OperationsGuide, which listed a complete set of responseguidelines. In 1982, in recognition of his work on theguidelines, Rood was selected to participate on a Statecommittee, which developed the Hazardous MaterialsModules, a written instructional course standardizing

Photos courtesy of Hazardous Materials /Environmental Crimes Unit

See HAZMAT on page 7

Officers know when they are shotat and are hit; but in chemicalsituations, an officer could take afatal hit and not know it for years.

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Photo Opportunity withDodger Player Ron CeyLaw Enforcement Nightat Dodger Stadium

Those who had pictures taken with legendaryDodger player Ron Cey during the LawEnforcement Night at the Elysian Park PoliceAcademy can pick up their photos at PublicAffairs, Room 731, Parker Center. For moreinformation, please call Officer John Long at(213) 485-3281.

BALANCED H EALTH

THE LAPD WELLNESS PROGRAM

HEALTH FACT: One of the most important thingspeople can do to ensure their good health is to beknowledgeable about health conditions and availabletreatments. The following lecture series areintended to provide you with the latest medical andpsychological information on these conditions aswell as give you an “up close and personal”opportunity to ask experts health-related questions.

Wednesday, November 1 11:30-12:30Living with Your Lungs by Deena Case-Pall, PhDLocation: Parker Center AuditoriumAsthma and other lung diseases affect almost everyhousehold in America. This presentation willaddress ways to cope with these conditions.

Wednesday, November 15 11:30 - 12:30The Management and Treatment of Diabetes byRicardo Perfetti, MDLocation: Parker Center AuditoriumDiabetes is a chronic disease due to insulindeficiency and/or resistance to insulin action. Thereare four major types of diabetes and the number ofpeople with Type 2 diabetes, which affects manymiddle-age adults, has increased significantly. Thispresentation will address the causes and varioustreatments for diabetes.

Wednesday, November 15 12:45 - 2:00Psychological Aspects of Diabetes by GaryNewquist, PhDLocation: Parker Center AuditoriumLearn what are some changes in expectations andbehavior that can help both the person with diabetesand their family.

For more information about any of these events,please contact Dr. Kevin J. Jablonski or Ms.Cookie Longacre at (213) 485-2620.

November 10, 2000Police Appreciation Day

Community members want to thank allpolice officers of the Los Angeles PoliceDepartment for doing a wonderful job.Blue ribbons will be posted on homes andstreet posts. Letters of appreciation andfood will be brought to community policestations. Please take the time to thankthose who organized this appreciation day.

Have a wonderfulThanksgiving!November 23, 2000


Constantly energized by her lovefor her work, Executive SecretaryNorma Montero, a 23-year Cityemployee, did not realize her careermight be losing steam until sheattended a career-enhancingworkshop in spring 2000.

“The workshop was good,” saysMontero of the Women’s IssuesWorkshop sponsored by the LAPDCareer Development Section. “Itchallenged me to get out of mycomfort zone. I’ve beencontemplating to bridge over toManagement Analyst. I wasn’tconvinced since I love what I do.But by attending the workshop, itreminded me to do even better anddo well.”

A 17-year LAPD veteran, Monterocurrently works at the Information& Communications ServicesBureau. Montero was one of thementors in the Fall 2000 Women’sIssues Workshop held at WyndhamGarden Hotel in Commerce inOctober, 2000. The workshop wasa duplicate of the spring workshopshe attended. Hoping to promote,

Seminar Tackles Women�s IssuesWomen � A Valuable Resource in the LAPD

By Public Relations Specialist Jing Vida

sessions were “Diversity in theWorkplace,” “Ethical Dilemmas inLaw Enforcement,” and “Supervisor-Subordinate Conflicts.”

Commander Kelepecz urged thewomen to get annual health check-upsand cancer screening tests. She had alife-saving surgery after a full-bodyscan, known as HealthView,discovered kidney cancer. Her storywas featured in a recent OprahWinfrey show.

Initiated by Chief Parks, the workshopaims to help develop and nurturefuture leaders and provide anetworking avenue for the increasingnumber of women in the Department.Commander Betty Kelepecz,Personnel Group, formed a committeeto coordinate the workshops. Swornfemale supervisors were required toattend the first workshop in November1998. The succeeding workshopswere open to both sworn and civilianmen and women, and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. So far,approximately 500 women, and a fewmen, have participated in theworkshops.

Montero said she finally had thecourage to take the ManagementAnalyst test.

Whether it concerns promotion, healthor self-esteem – you must take care ofyourself! And if you are a woman,know how to network, find a mentor orbe a mentor – those were the take-home messages for the 200 LAPDattendees of the fall workshop. ChiefBernard Parks gave welcome remarksand touted women’s progress in theLAPD, noting that females comprised18.5 percent of the Department’s totalpolice officers.

“When you look at newspapers, yourarely see the great things about theDepartment,” said Chief Parks. “Butwe’re making history.…We have thefirst African-American female Captainand the first female Deputy Chief.”

The workshop featured presentations,group sessions, a motivational speaker,lunch and a networking social hour.The Staying Healthy presentation wasgiven by Commander Betty Kelepecz,Personnel Group; Officer Stacy Lim,who recovered from a 1990 shooting;Dr. Nanuchka Chumley, a physician;and Marvin Feldman, Public RelationsDirector of Early Cancer DetectionCenter. Sergeants Brenda Crump andSandy Jo MacArthur provided theLeadership Skills presentation.Keynote speaker Jewel DiamondTaylor, known as the Self-EsteemDoctor, gave a highly engagingpresentation on Networking Skills. TheMediation Skills presentation wasbroken into groups and led by differentfacilitators from the LAPD. The group

“The workshop wasgood,” says Montero ofthe Women’s IssuesWorkshop sponsored bythe LAPD CareerDevelopment Section. “Itchallenged me to get outof my comfort zone.”

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LAPD mentors andparticipants gather duringthe Fall 2000 Women’sIssues Workshop atWyndham Hotel inCommerce.


SECOND STEP –Volunteer RecruitmentTo recruit qualifiedvolunteers, messages wereprinted in the Senior LeadOfficers’ newsletters andnotices were posted at thestation, sub-stations andcommunity centers.Correspondence was sent to126 churches, hospitals, andnursing and psychologicalassociations in the WestValley Area. Additionally,press releases were submittedto local newspapers.Although 40 individualsapplied, only 20 wereselected and attended the firsttraining. The applicants weresubjected to the samefingerprinting, backgroundand record checks as allPolice Departmentvolunteers. They were alsoissued photo identificationcards.

FINAL STEP –FamiliarizationThe CRT membersparticipated in several ride-alongs with West Valleyofficers to familiarizethemselves with the types ofcalls officers respond to.

Since its inception, the WestValley Crisis Response Teamhas responded to more than178 crisis situations. This all-volunteer organization hassaved the Departmentcountless hours of research,and has thoroughly improvedthe level of service theDepartment provides to thecommunity.

1982 – Turning Point

The year 1982 was also a turningpoint for the Unit. Its enforcement andinvestigative role began that yearwhen acid was found in the LosAngeles River. The Los Angeles CityAttorney’s Office requested assistancefrom the LAPD to investigate acompany suspected of illegallypolluting the river. Because this typeof investigation was unique, thecommand staff was unsure who shouldinvestigate because the situation didnot fit the profiles handled by anyspecialized detective unit. Since theinvestigation would possibly involveprolonged exposure to hazardouswaste, the investigator needed to beexperienced in the use of protectiveclothing and monitoring equipment.The logical choice was hazardousmaterials staff Officer Rood. Led bythe LAPD, an environmental taskforce investigated, prepared andserved a search warrant resulting inone of the first prosecutions undernew environmental protection laws inLos Angeles. From a staff member,Officer Rood eventually became theDepartment’s Hazardous MaterialsInvestigator.

1988 to present – GrowingConcerns

In 1988, the Department recognizedthe growing importance of hazardousmaterials issues and formally addedthe Hazardous Materials Unit to theDepartment’s organizational chart. In1991, the Unit expanded to include theenforcement of hazardous materials

transportation safety laws. Thename of the original EnvironmentalCrimes Unit was changed in 1997 toreflect the ever-changing nature ofthe field and the Unit’s growingresponsibility. Today, the Unit,known as the Hazardous Materials /Environmental Crimes Unit (HM/ECU) continues to expand itsresponsibilities and capabilities.

Although the HM/ECU started withone officer, its staff now includes aSergeant II, Officer-In-Chargeposition and five police officersreferred to as Hazardous MaterialsInvestigators. Part of the UniformedSupport Division, the HM/ECU is aspecialized uniformed fieldenforcement and investigative unit.According to the 2000 DepartmentManual, the HM/ECU provides:

n Department RadiologicalMonitor for incidents involvingradioactive materials

n Enforcement of hazardousmaterials transportation safetylaws

n Investigation of environmentalcrimes (illegal storage,disposal/discharge of hazardoussubstances/waste) on a Citywidebasis

n Support to field command postsestablished to manage hazardousmaterials incidents

n “First Responder Awareness”training to recruit, in-serviceand supervisor schools

n Personnel complement to theIncident Command Post,Emergency Operations Section,as needed, based upon demandsof the Department.

HAZMAT from page 4 CRISIS from page 2

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See RHD on page 9


(OIS), the Major CrimeInvestigation and Rape Special. Allwere given Citywide jurisdiction.Some cases could be handpicked bythe units; others came from“upstairs.”

Each section lists a litany ofhistorical and present cases whichreads like a “Who’s Who” of LosAngeles crime.

Homicide-Special Section claimsthe Manson Family murders, theSimpson/Goldman murders, andserial killers such as LawrenceBittaker, William Bonin, RichardRamirez and the Hillside Stranglers.

The Robbery Special Sectionhandles serial robbers and high-dollar heists. Investigated caseshave intriguing names such as theOriental Knife Bandit and theChrome Derringer Bandit. The unitalso investigates major kidnappings.

The Bank Section works inconjunction with the FBI andinvestigates cases which made LosAngeles the “Bank Robbery Capitalof the World.” The section lists the1997 North Hollywood Bank ofAmerica shoot-out as one of its mostsignificant cases.

Headed for years by long-time RHDveteran Lieutenant Chuck Higbie,the OIS Section handles the complexinvestigation when an officerbecomes involved in a shooting. Ona warm day in May 1974, the OISSection detectives had the arduoustask of investigating the aftermath ofthe Symbionese Liberation Armyshoot-out.

Created in 1976 and established underthe Office of the Chief of Police, MajorCrimes later merged into RHD. Theunit is responsible for handling allmurders of police officers and othercelebrated cases as directed by theLAPD command staff. The cases it hasinvestigated include officer-turned-contract murderer William Leasure, theRodney King investigation and thealleged murder of billionaire DorisDuke.

The Rape Special Section, whichexpanded its responsibility Citywideonly recently, has always focused onserial rapists and sexual predators. Toname a few, the section’s cases includethe Westside Rapist and the Lost DogRapist.

The Robbery-Homicide Division islike a museum of Los Angeles crime.Walk into the squad room and lobbyand you will see plaques ofappreciation for investigative efforts oncop killer cases. Historic personnelphotos ranging from 1944 to presentadorn the walls. Photographs showdetectives escorting Charles Mansonand the Skid Row Stabber, Bobby JoeMaxwell. An original matted andframed 1947 Police Daily Bulletinfrom the Black Dahlia murder alsohangs on the wall. Sergeant Gene Nashand Officer Jose Castellanos werememorialized in 40-year-old framedpictures. They were the only twomembers of the division to be killed inthe line of duty, 1958 and 1959,respectively.

Bound summaries of murders occurringin the City since 1899 still exist. Theantiquated documents include

sometimes comical andwisecracking narratives aboutthe cases from the originaldetectives. Althoughacceptable then, terms used todescribe victims and suspectswould now be politicallyincorrect.

Acclaimed writer JamesEllroy, author of novels suchas The Black Dahlia and L.A.

Confidential, recently visitedRHD. Ellroy, perhaps the mostknowledgeable historian onL.A. murders and mayhem,was thrilled like a kid in acandy store to see thememorabilia on the lobbywalls and the archived murdersummaries.

Captain Jim Tatreau currentlyleads RHD. Since 1969, onlysix captains including Tatreau

Convicted murderer Charles Mansonwith LAPD detectives.

RHD from page 1


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led this most historic ofLAPD divisions: MertonHowe, Gene Rock, WilliamCobb, Jerry Bova, WilliamO. Gartland, a.k.a. “Wog”.

Like the rest of LAPD, theDivision continues toevolve. The OIS Sectionnow uses computertechnology to re-enactshootings, while the RapeSpecial Section queriescomputer systems to checkDNA databases on sexualpredators. But some thingshave not and will notchange at RHD. When anLAPD officer is murdered,all RHD personnel willrespond if necessary. Itwill not be just HomicideSpecial’s lead detectives.Jack Giroud of RobberySpecial, with his 44 yearsof service and bad knees,will be there. WallyMontgomery, the OIS guruwho is nearing retirement,will respond. Anyoneneeded will do their part.They will work two orthree days straight withoutgoing home, just as they didwhen Officer Paul Vernawas gunned down in 1983.As this author has saidmany times before, “Wewill rise to the occasion.”

On Wednesday, November 8, 2000, the Los Angeles Police Department will host the 21st

Annual Recognition Day Awards Ceremony at the Elysian Park Academy gymnasium at10:00 a.m. Chief Bernard C. Parks will present medals and awards to 128 Departmentemployees, both active and retired. These awards recognize outstanding acts of braveryand outstanding service.

Fourteen Police Medals (second to the Medal of Valor) will be awarded this year alongwith 29 Police Stars, eight Lifesaving Medals, 28 Community Policing Medals, twoMeritorious Service Medals, 44 Police Meritorious Unit Citations and three PoliceMeritorious Achievement Medals. Family, friends and co-workers are encouraged toattend to help honor these outstanding individuals.

LAPD to AwardOutstanding Employees

Wilshire Division Homicide Detective FrankBolan is a man with remarkable professionalrecords.

An LAPD veteran for 31 years, Detective Bolanhumbly whispers that he has never been absentnor does he have any sick day on record.Whether there is an award for that or not,Detective Bolan, nevertheless received a PeaceOfficers Safe Driving Award for his 25 years ofsafe driving during an awards luncheon inSeptember, 2000. He shared the limelight with4,581 Los Angeles Police Department officerswho were honored for their safe driving recordby the Automobile Club of Southern California-AAA at the Regal Biltmore Hotel in LosAngeles.

“The Auto Club is always committed to safedriving,” said President of AAA, TomMcKernan, during the event. “There are 21million drivers in California. Possiblecollisions with police officers areimmense….We want to say thank you. All of usin the Auto Club are very proud of you.”

The Safety Awards were based on drivingrecords as of January 1, 2000. Detective JackGiroud, Robbery-Homicide Division, garneredthe top “40-year” award for his 43 years of safedriving. Four individuals received the “35-year”award while 69 people received the “30-

Southern California Auto Club HonorsOfficers For Safe Driving

By Public Relations Specialist Jing Vida

year” award. A total of 307 officersreceived the “25-year” award. Those withsafe driving records that ranged from fiveto 20 years were honored at theirindividual police stations.

It’s a jungle out there – an often heardremark describing the labyrinth of streetsand freeways of Los Angeles. To surviveand have a clean driving record year afteryear is an achievement. If you are a policeofficer however, and have kept the recordclean for decades, it is a miracle,according to McKernan.

The officers agreed. “With the type ofpolice driving we do, the number of crazyand aggressive drivers out there on theroad, it is really a miracle,” said WilshireDivision Detective Chris Schaper, wholike Detective Bolan, received a “25-year”award. “In this day and age, it is veryimpressive,” said Detective Bolan.

Each of the “25-year” and above awardeesreceived an AAA pin, a one-year freemembership to AAA and a personalizedwooden plaque of appreciation. Theplaque noted the number of driving years“of safe, collision-free driving whileactively engaged in patrolling the streetsand highways of our community.”

RHD from page 8


Commendations The Chief of Police received the

following personnel commendations in August from outside the Department.

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Grant Contract WorkersDART (Domestic Abuse Response

Team) Program

DirectorPatricia A. Prickett West L.A.

Assistant DirectorToni O. Marangello West L.A.

Police Officer IErnesto Haro West ValleyDarrion Carlyle West LACarl Loos SoutheastJulie Jones Southeast

Police Officer IIMichelle Lopez ValleyCarlos Liamas West LARodney Carter West LAAndre Rainey West LADimitri Kort WilshireJoshua Ordonez CentralErik Cortes 77th StreetAquiles Morales NortheastFrank Garcia RampartShawn M. Hetherington HollywoodFrancois D. Reese Van NuysJoseph Dominguez South TrafficRandolph Michaelsen BSS

Joseph Doherty Air SupportMichael Rodriquez Air SupportGary Cantu SoutheastPete Ponich SoutheastDouglas Gerst ValleyKeely Coleman DAREGregorio Delarosa DAREJoyce Davis DAREHsin-Yi Lo NarcoticsBen Yi CentralRobert Paterson TransitSandra Hernandez SouthwestArmando Alvarado SouthwestGloria Covington SouthwestDaniel Fernandez SouthwestJulio Flores SouthwestWendy Geraci SouthwestApril Harding SouthwestLawrence Hickey SouthwestAlicia Meredith SouthwestJorge Osequera Southwest

Police Officer IIIAndrea Zambon HarborTimothy Jones RampartJoe Moore CentralRashad Sharif West LARoger Argomaniz NewtonEric Lee Windham FoothillAnthony Azevedo WestValleyElizabeth Boccanfuso SoutheastDemian Wyma DNC Planning

Carol Sligh DAREAntonio Perez SoutheastJuan Cruz 77th StreetJoy Smith SoutheastKaren J. Smith Van Nuys

Anthony D. Ellis Continuing Ed.Richard Brunson Van NuysRichard G. Close Oper. - ValleyMax W. Allstot DevonshireRenee McAlonis WilshireLasalle Culpepper Southwest

Detective IRonald L. Vongober Detective Supp.David J. Bashara Detective Supp.James R. Brooks Detective Supp.James G. Parr Detective Supp.Richard Jackson Robbery-Homic.Cheryl Kent HarborJeff Waco JuvenileMichael Whelan Robbery-Homic.Jesus Linn NewtonKatherine Petrash HarborMaureen Geller West LAStephanie I. Lazarus DevonshireFrank W. Adair Detective Supp.

Sergeant IDavid Grimes West LARichard Lockett West TrafficGlen Younger Comm.RelationsRudolfo Alaniz 77th StreetGregory Staats Southeast

See COMMENDATIONSnext page


Sergeant IRobert Marino PacificDiane Chickering PacificRichard Boyle PacificTeresa J. Akune PacificJohn A. Russo West LAJimmy R. Blum WilshireMichael Porter HarborDino John Duran Southwest

Detective IIJesus Linn NewtonRobert Rivera Burg.-Auto Theft

Sergeant IIWilliam Matthews Inter. AffairsJames Onthank PacificStephen Moore Org.Crime & Vice

Detective IIIRoger Michel Oper. Headq.Erwing Velasco Van NuysRonald E. Hodges NarcoticsMark Zavala Burg. - Auto TheftRichard McElroy Org. Crime&ViceRonald Ito Robbery Hom.Pamela Neil Harbor

Lieutenant I Andre Dawson West LA

Lieutenant IIClay Farrell Robbery-Homic.Carl Frank Oper. - Valley

Captain IAllan Michelena HollenbeckWallace Graves West LA

Captain IIEarl C. Paysinger DAREMark Perez No. Hollywood

Deputy ChiefMichael J. Bostic Oper. - Valley

COMMENDATIONSfrom page 10

2000 Chief of PoliceCommunity Holiday Celebration

Saturday,December 16, 20005:30 pm Social hour7:00 pm Dinner

The Los AngelesDowntown Marriot Hotel

333 S. Figueroa Street Los Angeles

All Department Personnel Are Invited!Contact Officer Sara Faden

LAPD Public Affairs (213)485-3281

$45.00 Ticket includes ~Complimentary Photograph

Welcome Gift Artist Caricature

Free Self-Parking

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The BEAT

Los Angeles Police BEATVolume XLVI Issue 11JANUARY 2000

1.1.2P.O. BOX 30158LOS ANGELES, CA 90030

Visit us on the World Wide Web: www.lapdonline.org

success of community policing, the Department supportsthe Mayor’s recommendations to require SLOs to workschedules responsive to the community’s needs. Theywill continue to be a significant resource, both for crimeprevention for communities as well as training for otherpolice officers. The SLOs will also remain involved inthe overall field deployment and in their respective basiccar functions.

As you all know, the City has entered into a ConsentDecree over issues of reform within the Department,with a five-year compliance. Despite the challenges itpresents, this Department will meet the terms of thisdecree, strengthening our reputation as the premier lawenforcement agency in the world. Work has alreadybegun toward meeting this goal with command staffofficers meeting in October 2000, to study the ConsentDecree line by line. Captain Scott Kroeber leads theDepartment’s effort to facilitate the process.Cooperation is important among all entities, inside and

outside the Department, involving the ConsentDecree. Everyone, from the 30-year veteran to theprobationary officer, needs to understand theConsent Decree as simply a new approach todelivering the highest quality of service to all theresidents of the City of Los Angeles. Together, wewill face this challenge one step at a time, withpride and integrity and our traditions intact.

The Department will honor 128 outstandingemployees for their dedicated service and heroicacts on November 8, 2000, in the 21st AnnualRecognition Day Awards ceremony. The event willbe held at the Elysian Park Academy gymnasium.You are all invited to attend and lend support toyour friends and co-workers. These honoreesinspire us all and reflect the ideals of theDepartment. (further details on page 9)

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b. c. p. by detective rick jackson - los angeles police...

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