SIB Staff

CHECK OUT THIS COOL FINISHERS MEDAL!

It could be yours if you join the Los Angeles Superhero 5K Run Walk Health & Safety Expo in San Dimas, Saturday, April 25, 2020.

We had a blast last year and can’t wait to see you again this year. Don’t forget to bring your family, friends and neighbors for a fun filled day. Costumes are optional.

Get more information and registration details here:
https://runsignup.com/…/SanDim…/LosAngelesSuperhero5KRunWalk

Captain Tonya P. Edwards is a 31-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, beginning her career in 1988. After graduating from the Academy, she worked at Sybil Brand Institute (SBI). Nine years of patrol began with training at Firestone Station, and later at Lynwood Station where she worked on bicycle patrol. She helped open Century Station in 1994, and later became a Field Training Officer. She transferred to Industry Station, where she worked patrol, Youth Activities League (YAL), and C.O.P.S. She left patrol in 1999 and worked as a Gang Enforcement Team (GET) deputy at Safe Streets Bureau, then she spent the next four years as a detective at Narcotics Bureau. In 2005, she promoted to sergeant and worked Custody at PDC – North/South. She transferred to Patrol at Norwalk Station and was later assigned to Safe Streets Bureau – OSS Detectives, where she was part of the Monrovia/Duarte Gang Task Force, and also worked as an OSS Detective at Compton and Carson Stations.

In 2010, she was promoted to lieutenant and worked watch commander at Men’s Central Jail, then Crescenta Valley/Altadena, and San Dimas Stations. She also worked at Century Station Patrol in Operations and at Custody Support Services (CSS) as the Division Compliance Lieutenant, then at Men’s Central Jail in Operations, and as an Executive Aide to the Custody Division Assistant Sheriff, Mr. Robert J. Olmsted and Bruce D. Chase.

In 2016, during Captain Edwards’ assignment at CSS, she was given the Custody Training Officer (CTO) and Probationary Employee training project, which sought bonus status and a 5.5% pay increase for custody training personnel. She also oversaw the revamp of the entire Custody Division training curriculum for newly assigned deputies, including the approval of a new database to assist with the probationary employees and their training.

Captain Edwards holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Long Beach State University in Occupational Studies, and a Master’s Degree from National University in Public Administration, and she is certified fluent in Spanish.

Captain Edwards will participate in the 2020 Police Unity Tour in Washington DC, and also enjoys snow skiing and weight lifting. Thank you for your years of dedication to our Department. #blackhistorymonth

LASD HONORS SUMTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CPL. ANDREW GILLETTE

LASD extends its sincere condolences & prayers to our family at Sumter County Sheriff’s Office (Sumter, SC) for the loss of Corporal Andrew Gillette, who was killed in the line of duty today. May you be in God’s arms. #LODD #ThinBlueLine

Thank you to Pastor KW Tulloss for inviting Sheriff Villanueva and Undersheriff Tim Murakami to speak at the Baptist Ministers Conference of So. California w/the Honorable Dr. Carl Washington. With community engagement, we strive to improve accountability & trust which are vital to those we serve.

TEAM EFFORT IN ASSISTING THE HOMELESS IN LONG BEACH

Today I was able to examine the collaborative efforts of assisting the homeless in #LongBeach with Long Beach Police Department (CA), LADWP, LASD & Supervisor Janice Hahn’s Team.

We spoke about inter-jurisdictional & interdisciplinary challenges & how communities benefit through our continued partnerships #SheriffV

The #LASD Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) was created to combat homelessness and preserve public safety. To learn more: 

LASD SEARCH AND RESCUE HIKING PLAN WORKSHEET

Regardless of the weather conditions, it’s important that all Hiking groups in Los Angeles County fill out an LASD Search and Rescue Hiking Plan worksheet as part of their pre-planning. The completed worksheet should then be given to a responsible person who will provide this information to Law Enforcement / Search and Rescue, in the event you do not complete your trip as scheduled.

You can download the form by visiting:
http://file.lacounty.gov/lasd/cms1_163961.pdf

The LASD Sheriff’s Emergency Services Detail (ESD) deputies operate 24-hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to their tactical operations. All ESD deputies are certified paramedics and rescue divers and are responsible for coordinating and participating in mountain search and rescue, underwater search and rescue, and swift water rescue operations for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. They staff the Air-5 Rescue Helicopter, the Ocean Rescue Boat, and accompany the Special Weapons Teams on all operations.The ESD also maintains two Reserve companies assigned to its command. The Medical Company consists of doctors and medical specialists who are available to work with the Air-5 crew on busy weekends and major holidays.

Additionally, augmented alongside the full time crew are Reserve Deputies who are dedicated volunteers from the local community. They come from all walks of life and bring their own unique skills and experiences to the team. These Reserve Deputies are also EMT’s and Mountain Rescue certified and share common bond “So that others may live”.

Authored by:
Deputy James Nagao
Sheriff’s Information Bureau – Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Hall of Justice – First floor
211 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

IN HONOR OF WOMEN IN SCIENCE DAY, LASD RECOGNIZES THE HARDWORKING SCIENTISTS WHO HELP NAB CRIMINALS

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Scientific Services Bureau operates one of the largest full service crime laboratories in the United States. There are nearly 300 staff members, of which 160 are women, who work to provide forensic science support for all law enforcement agencies within Los Angeles County, with the exception of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Forensic science is any science that can be used in the legal system and crime scene investigation is a combination of science, logic and law.

At the crime scene, all potential evidence is collected by Forensic Identification Specialists. This evidence includes ballistics and firearms, latent prints, trace evidence, biological evidence, footwear and tire track evidence, digital evidence and drug evidence. These are examined and analyzed at the crime lab.

The Latent Print section of the crime lab collects prints at crime scenes, conducts investigations and works with chemical processing. The job also entails report writing and testifying in court. Other careers in the crime scene investigation field include evidence technicians, crime scene analysts and forensic investigators.

Danielle Tiesma, a Forensic Identification Specialist II at the Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center in Los Angeles, is shown lifting fingerprints from an object using a magnetic brush, magnetic powder and lifting tape.

Antoinette S. Bravo, a Forensic Identification Specialist II also working out of the Herzberg-Davis Center is shown taking photographs of a crime scene and marking evidence using yellow evidence markers.

Thanks to the rapid growth of crime TV shows like “CSI,” the profession of Crime Scene Investigator has been brought into the spotlight. The job probably does not look like what you have seen on the TV shows, but it is an incredibly rewarding and gratifying career in the law enforcement world.

In support of Women in Science, the LASD salutes Forensic Identification Specialist Bravo and Tiesma, for their commitment in the field of science, law enforcement and the pursuit of justice.

** Photo of Danielle Tiesma and Antoinette Bravo Forensic Identification Specialists II

** Latent Print Section / Crime Scene Investigation Photography, 2020.