LASD Court Services Bureau Pasadena Courthouse Deputies and Staff personnel got the latest training on how to deal with bomb threats and suspicious packages in a courthouse. They also were able to go inside the actual trailer and see how the magic works. A big “Thank you” to Detective Mark Raffaelli from LASD Arson Explosives Detail for some good insight and great training for all our personnel.
Santa’s reindeer took the day off yesterday, and because Santa still needed a ride, one of the helicopters from our air support fleet arrived at the North Pole to assist him in the early delivery of presents to a special group of children.
On Tuesday, December 17, 2019, Aero Bureau personnel flew Santa to the Eugene W. Biscailuz Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles. For the past 11 years, deputies from East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station assisted Santa in bringing Christmas early to children participating in the AbilityFirst East Los Angeles Center program.
With help from AbilityFirst, an organization which offers programs and services to help children and adults with disabilities, deputies were able to give back to their local community by creating a winter wonderland where the kiddies waited for Santa’s arrival.
The event unfolded as Santa and one of his helping elves landed in the helicopter on the tarmac, right in front of the kids who were waiting for them with high anticipation. And, oh, were there miles of smiles! Next, everyone enjoyed an afternoon snack…and then the real fun began! The kids got exclusive access to Santa, with comforting hugs for everyone. Each child received a hand-delivered gift, specially chosen to fit their age and taste. Others who were curious and adventurous got to climb into one of Special Enforcement Bureau’s tactical armored vehicles and inspect the interior.
More than a decade later, this program remains a tradition, thanks to the generous toy donations from the community and East Los Angeles Station deputies. The smiles, squeaks and giggles were the best return for everyone who had a hand in putting it together.
Center Director Monica Alcantar expressed her gratefulness and thanked everyone for giving the kids a day to feel special, which was the exact goal East Los Angeles Station personnel set out to accomplish. She and her staff brought a stack of handwritten thank you cards from the kids, and more stacks of homemade cards with each child’s picture on the front and a sweet, symbolic roll of candy on the inside.
It was a lovely and rewarding afternoon! Commander April Tardy, Central Patrol Division, also attended and shared in the happiness of seeing the smiles, and pure reactions of joy and excitement on the kids’ faces. Here’s to looking forward to next year’s holiday celebration!
AbilityFirst is a nonprofit organization which has provided programs and services to help children and adult with disabilities reach their full potential since 1926.
For more information please contact East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station at (323) 264-4151 or call AbilityFirst at 1-877-768-4600 and click on following link: www.abilityfirst.org
On December 17, 2019, members of the Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST) and their outreach partners from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) were honored with a commendation from the City of Paramount City Council.
The HOST Team was recognized for conducting the First Responder Homeless Training class for the City of Paramount staff, for conducting multiple joint proactive outreach operations with local non-profit organizations, and for proactively engaging people experiencing homelessness with dignity and respect, while addressing public safety concerns and issues in and around the City of Paramount.
On Sunday, December 15, 2019, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Detective Dan Finn was honored by the Los Angeles Chargers as one of their Hometown Heroes during their game against the Minnesota Vikings.
On Thursday, November 14, 2019, a student from Saugus High School walked onto campus and shot five classmates, ultimately killing two of them.
That morning, Detective Dan Finn was at Saugus High School dropping off his girlfriend’s son, when he saw a crowd of students running out of the school with a look of terror in their eyes. Without hesitation, Detective Finn immediately ran into the school and asked a student what was happening. “Gunshots on campus!” was all he needed to hear when he made the split-second decision to run onto campus without a second thought.
Detective Finn, along with off-duty LAPD Officer Gus Ramirez and Inglewood Officer Sean Yanez sprang into action and rendered aide to some of the gunshots victims, while also coordinating a safety route for other students to exit the campus without harm.
Without Detective Finn, Officer Ramirez and Officer Yanez’ swift actions, more tragedy could have possibly struck Saugus High School that day.
Sheriff Villanueva was also in attendance to honor Detective Finn for his courage and heroism.
Thank you gentlemen for your bravery and heroic acts! #SaugusStrong
On Friday December 13, 2019, a total of 43 recruits lined up at the Eugene Biscailuz Regional Training Center, East Los Angeles in what would be their final platoon formation as academy classmates. After 8 weeks of grueling academy training, the recruits pressed through an equally intense and meticulous formal class inspection by law enforcement executives just before the ceremony.
The ceremony was a formal transformation of academy recruits into Custody Assistant civilian peace officers. Academy Class 102 is made up of 23 female and 20 male graduates.
Academy Class #102 is a largely international collection of backgrounds, reflective of the vast array of cultures found within Los Angeles County. Of the 43 graduating recruits, 2 were born outside the United States; 2 recruits lived abroad in the countries; and 29 recruits speak a language other than English; 14 have a Bachelor’s degree or higher; 5 have Law Enforcement Experience and 15 have Family members in Law Enforcement.
“To Conquer and Correct, Class #102 is here to protect”
Congratulations Academy Class 102 #LASD
(some photos credited to POPA)
#LASD Special Victims Bureau hosted an amazing 33rd Annual “999 for Kids” Christmas Party with Sheriff Alex Villanueva, Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services personnel and student volunteers from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM).
The mission: Assist severely disabled and abused children who were victims of the most severe cases of child abuse, neglect and domestic violence. For the last 33 years, children participating in the 999 for Kids program have been treated to a holiday party where they can find joy in a safe environment particularly designed for their happiness and which accommodates any of their special needs.
The Sheriff’s Training and Regional Services (STARS) Center was transformed into a holiday wonderland where over 500 children and 350 parents were invited to the Christmas party. At the makeshift North Pole Village, the children received toys, a meal from McDonald’s fast food restaurants, and participated in activities. They visited the petting zoo, an inflatable jumper, AKC Community Canines, “Bella” the horse, face-painting and much much more.
There were snowball fights and visits to Santa’s toy workshop to make personalized holiday crafts, and take a picture with Santa Claus.
The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising donated clothing, accessories, school supplies, and books to each participating family from their FIDM Scholarship Foundation’s store, located in downtown Los Angeles.
This awesome event wouldn’t be possible without the amazing volunteers helping us to make it special for everyone that attended.
Did you know #LASD Metrolink Bureau under contract with Metrolink, has the exclusive jurisdiction of policing all crimes aboard our Metrolink trains throughout the entire operational system. They are also tasked with the policing of the railroad rights-of-way within Los Angeles County only. LASD coordinates with local agencies during all incidents that occur within their jurisdiction.
Metrolink Bureau deputies perform a grade crossing enforcement operation throughout the six counties. They conduct a roving Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR)/Fare Operation on the different Metrolink Trains.
Explosives canines sweep the trains between station stops. The main objectives for Metrolink deputies is to ensure an orderly and safe event, to protect the welfare and safety of Metrolink patrons, employees and contractors and to ensure the uninterrupted movement of Metrolink and Union Pacific freight trains through the enforcement area.
Metrolink deputies consistently monitor and maintain a constant state of situational awareness and operational readiness related to the operations.
#LASD Metrolink Bureau is on board with Metrolink’s mission statement of providing a “safe, efficient, dependable, and on-time transportation service that offers outstanding customer experience, and enhances quality of life.”
For more information on Metrolink Trains click on the link: https://www.metrolinktrains.com/
Deputies at Lakewood Station honor fallen hero Deputy David A. Powell by running in his honor on Thursday, December 5, 2019.
On November 30, 2002, Deputy David A. Powell paid the ultimate sacrifice. Deputy Powell and his partner responded to a call of “shots fired” near the area of 166th Street and Elaine Avenue in the city of Artesia. A short time later, he was alerted to the presence of the suspect in a nearby residence. Informed that the suspect had taken a woman hostage, Deputy Powell and his partner attempted to force entry through the front door when four shots were fired through the house. Deputy Powell suffered a fatal gunshot wound. His partner returned fire with a shotgun and mortally wounded the suspect.
At 7:38 AM, Santa Clarita Station received a call about an Assault with a Deadly Weapon at 21900 Centurion Way in Santa Clarita at Saugus High School. Santa Clarita deputies arrived within 2 minutes and realized it was an Active Shooter situation.
Deputies conducted a rapid deployment onto the school’s premises. Upon their arrival, they discovered 6 students in the quad area suffering from gunshot wounds. The students were triaged and sent to local area hospitals. The suspect was identified as one of students found in the quad. He is identified as a 16 year old male Asian, whose birthday was today.
The weapon recovered on scene was a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, which no longer contained ammunition. The suspect is a resident of the 22900 block of Sycamore Creek Street Drive in Santa Clarita. That location was contained by Sheriff Deputies and a cursory search was conducted to identify any additional victims or suspects. A search warrant for the location was obtained by investigators to process the residence further evidence.
Homicide teams were deployed to several Santa Clarita Valley locations to process evidence and interview witnesses. Students who were possible witnesses to the incident are being interviewed by detectives from the LASD Homicide Bureau. We also have investigators working with the tech crews processing any videos we may receive from the surveillance system at the high school. We’re working and collaborating with the FBI to preserve and capture any cell phone video of this incident.
Detectives have reviewed the video at the scene, which shows the subject in the quad area remove a firearm from his backpack. He then shoots 5 people, and then shoots himself. The suspect is in critical condition at a local hospital. Unfortunately, a 16 year old female victim passed away at 9:23 AM and a male victim passed away at 11:31 AM. Three additional victims, one 15 year old female and one 14 year old female, and one male who is 14 years old are in stable condition at a local hospitals. This is preliminary information.
A social media account has been reported as possibly belonging to the suspect. The social media account stated, “Saugus have fun at school tomorrow.” However, the account has yet to be authenticated and it is unknown if this was posted by the suspect. Detectives have checked recent threats to the high school and have investigated two, but neither had a nexus to this incident. The investigation is on-going and anybody with information regarding the incident is encouraged to call the Los Angeles County Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
Chief Lajuana Haselrig spoke to Criminal Justice classes at CSUDH yesterday and today. Sgt Vince Plair is an adjunct Professor at the school. Outstanding talk about leadership adversity and being a servant to others.
