LAPD Blog

Los Angeles: On Tuesday, August 1, 2006, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department, the National Association of Town Watch, and communities around the nation will participate in "National Night Out."

In 1984, the National Association of Town Watch introduced the idea of National Night Out to promote police-community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood camaraderie.

Traditionally, "lights on" and front porch vigils have been ways to participate in the annual event, however, activities have expanded to include block parties, cookouts, parades, police station open houses, festivals, neighborhood walks, safety fairs, contests, rallies and meetings.

Attached is a matrix of LAPD sponsored activities associated with National Night Out.

Los Angeles:  A man who pointed his rifle at police during a routine traffic stop was shot and killed by officers Friday night.

On July 28, 2006, around 9:30 p.m., 77th Area Officers Timothy Wunderlich and Gary Verge were conducting a traffic stop on 79th Street east of Broadway.  The suspect, later identified as Esteban Pacheco, 41, was driving an older model white Jeep Cherokee.  As the officers began their investigation, Pacheco, holding a rifle, stepped out of the vehicle's driver seat and aimed in the officers' direction.  The police fired, resulting in an officer involved shooting.

Pacheco fell to the ground and was taken into custody without further incident.  Los Angeles City Fire Paramedics arrived to render emergency medical aid, but Pacheco failed to respond to treatment and died at the scene.

The officers were not injured.

Pacheco's weapon was an air rifle carbine replica equipped with an extended magazine.

Approximately three minutes after the shooting occurred, LAPD Communications Division broadcast to 77th Area officers that a citizen had reported being followed by a man with a shotgun in a truck.  The suspect vehicle was described as a white Jeep, traveling in the vicinity of 79th Street and Broadway.

Force Investigation Division is handling the investigation.  Questions may be directed to Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

Crime Statistics July 29, 2024

VIOLENT CRIMES                       2006        2005        CHANGE

Homicide                                   274          296          -7.4%

Rape                                         527          547          -3.7%

Robbery                                   8210        7641           7.4%

Aggravated Assaults                 8323        9187         -9.4%

Total Violent Crimes               17334       17671         -1.9%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                                 11268        12395         -9.1%

(GTA)                                    13855        15526        -10.8%

BTFV                                     16996        19422        -12.5%

Personal Theft/Other Theft    15555        18023        -13.7%

TOTAL PROPERTY                  57674        65366        -11.8%

TOTAL PART I                       75008         83037         -9.7%

Los Angeles:  A Los Angeles police officer accidentally fired his gun Friday night when he stumbled on steps while chasing a suspect.

On July 28, 2006, around 8:15 p.m., three officers working a Gang Enforcement Detail in Northeast Area were patrolling an active gang area when they saw a possible vandalism suspect in the alley behind 3435 North Figueroa Street.  The suspect spotted the police and ran between nearby houses.  The location was on a hillside and had stairs that descended to homes on the street below.  As officers chased the suspect down the stairs, Officer Juan Chavez, 33, who had unholstered his weapon, stumbled on the steps and accidentally fired a single round.

There were no injuries as a result of the accidental discharge.  The juvenile suspect was detained and released after the investigation revealed there was no evidence of vandalism.

Force Investigation Division is handling the investigation.

Questions may be directed to Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

Los Angeles: One person died and several were injured during a gang related shooting in the San Fernando Valley early Saturday morning.

On July 29, 2006, around 12:40 a.m., West Valley patrol officers responded to a shooting call in a residential alley behind Valerio Street, west of Canoga Avenue, in Canoga Park.  When police arrived they found four male victims suffering from gun shot wounds.  Three of the victims sustained single gunshot wounds to their legs and were rushed by friends to local hospitals.  The fourth victim, a 20-year-old man from Reseda, was critically injured by multiple gunshot wounds to his head and chest.  Los Angeles City Fire Paramedics transported him to Northridge Hospital, where he died at 1:12 a.m.

The surviving victims received medical treatment for their injuries and did not require hospitalization.

Officers determined that a large party had been taking place in a single family home adjacent to the shooting scene.  According to witnesses, a dark sedan with four occupants drove up to a group of partygoers. The vehicle's male driver asked who the party's was for and stepped out of the car. The suspect yelled the name of a street gang firing his weapon indiscriminately into the crowd.  He got back into the car and sped off.

The identity of the fatally wounded victim is being withheld pending notification of family.

West Valley Homicide Detectives are handling the investigation.  No suspects have been identified or arrested.  Police are seeking the public's help in solving this murder and ask that anyone with information call the West Valley Homicide Unit at 818-374-7721, during normal business hours.  After hours and on weekends, call the 24-hour toll free Detective Hotline at 1-877-LAW-FULL (1-877-529-3855).

The identities of callers wishing to remain anonymous will be protected.

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department received a call of a bomb threat in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles.

On July 28, 2006, around noon, Hollywood Area officers received information of a threat of a possible explosion sometime after 2:00 PM, at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard. The Los Angeles Police Department Bomb Squad, Los Angeles City Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department along with other LAPD personnel responded to the location.

After a thorough search of the area there was no evidence to substantiate the threat. Based on the amount of resources already at scene, it was decided that an impromptu training exercise should be conducted.

"The fact that bomb threats are acts of terrorism, training and preparation to deal with these types of incidents are critical to the safety of everyone," said Deputy Chief Richard Roupoli. "This exercise was invaluable and was a true testament to the collaboration that exists between law enforcement and fire personnel in the City and County of Los Angeles."

Questions may be directed to Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

Los Angeles: Today's decision by City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo that he will not file criminal charges against Minister Tony Muhammad and two of his security guards, now allows the LAPD to finalize its use of force administrative review of the August 25, 2024 incident.

The Department submitted its completed criminal request for filing of charges to the City Attorney's office on October 4, 2005.  The Department's internal investigation into the actions of the two involved officers was completed in May.  During that investigation 62 officers and 11 witnesses were interviewed.

With today's decision, the Department will now determine whether force used during the incident was within policy.

Los Angeles - The members of the Los Angeles Police Commission are looking for Board of Rights Hearing Examiners and for Police Permit Hearing Examiners. On June 20, 2006, the Police Commission approved the new Hearing Examiner Selection and Appointment Process, paving the way for interested community members to fill at least 25 Hearing Examiner positions.  The Commission is specifically looking for individuals with a community service background combined with arbitration, mediation, administrative hearing, or comparable work experience.   

Police Commissioner Anthony Pacheco, one of the architects of the new process, stated, "We are very pleased to announce these openings to all community members interested in serving the City of Los Angeles in a meaningful way.  This unique opportunity allows individuals to make a significant impact in LAPD matters."

Board of Rights Hearing Examiners participate as members of a tribunal that conducts quasi-judicial administrative hearings on police officer disciplinary matters.  A Hearing Examiner participating in a Board of Rights makes findings of fact based on sworn testimony and evidentiary submissions, and may recommend to the Chief of Police that a sworn member of the Police Department be suspended, demoted, or removed.

Police Permit Hearing Examiners conduct quasi-judicial administrative hearings on police permit matters involving businesses regulated by the Board of Police Commissioners.  A Hearing Examiner conducting police permit hearings makes findings of fact and may recommend to the Police Permit Review Panel that a business permit be granted, denied, suspended, revoked, or conditioned.

These "as-needed" positions are compensated with $900 for a full day hearing, $450 for a half day hearing, and $900 per final report. Interested individuals may obtain further details and an application online by going to LAPDOnline.org, and clicking "Police Commission." Or, individuals may call the Police Commission at 213-485-3531, for more information.

Wednesday, September 6, 2024 at 11:30 a.m.

Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel
711 South Hope St.
Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Police Department will present the Medal of Valor, the Department’s highest honor, to thirteen officers for six different Acts of Bravery:

Officer    Ralph    Camarillo     Serial No.    31713  Rampart Division
Officer    Mario    Cardona      Serial No.    33905   77th Street Division
Officer    Matthew  Cundiff     Serial No.    31349   77th Street Division
Officer    Osvaldo  Delgadillo   Serial No.    35636   Rampart Division
Sergeant  Hector  Feliciano    Serial No.    23843   Office of Operations
Officer     Carlos   Figueroa    Serial No.    35260   Northeast Division
Officer     Laurissa Hulsebus  Serial No.    36086  Rampart Division
Officer     Edwin    Marron     Serial No.    36992     West Valley Division
Officer    Mark    Mireles       Serial No.    27717    West Valley Division 
Officer    Abel    Munoz         Serial No.    31070    Rampart Division
Officer    Carlos  Ocegueda   Serial No.    36448    Rampart Division
Detective  Richard  Record    Serial No.    24359    Southwest Division
Officer   Christopher Vasquez Serial No.    34307  Northeast Division

With Southern California believed to be a primary terrorist target, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and other local, state and federal authorities took a pivotal step July 27 toward safeguarding the public with the introduction of the first regional intelligence center in the nation.

The Los Angeles Joint Regional Intelligence Center (JRIC), located in Norwalk, is designed to identify and address terrorism threats and other criminal activity.  Through an intelligence-sharing collaborative of more than 200 law enforcement agencies, JRIC personnel will support intelligence gathering and analysis.

“Common interests produce common security,” Chief William J. Bratton said.  “JRIC provides for the common security of the Los Angeles area by giving all of its partners access to the same intelligence.  We will all benefit from collective analyses done here and from the ability to quickly share that information.”

Chief Bratton believes Los Angeles JRIC will be a national model for terrorism prevention.

At JRIC, teams of investigators—comprised of LAPD officers, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s (LASD) deputies, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents, and other public safety proponents—will respond to leads and reports of suspicious activities potentially leading to terrorist events.

JRIC personnel will process and analyze leads more effectively at the centralized facility, minimizing duplication and circular reporting.  Additionally, by combining available resources personnel will be better able to identify patterns and trends and produce relevant assessments for use by appropriate government agencies.

"This is truly a partnership that has come together at just the right time,” Chief Bratton added.  "In this area of the country, we have some of the top terrorist targets.  Through this partnership, we are building on the spirit of cooperation between law enforcement agencies.”

By collecting, converting and disseminating intelligence, the Los Angeles JRIC aims to prevent terrorist attack and combat crime in the Central District of California.  The seven-county region is made up of Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

JRIC’s opening coincided with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s announcement that an unspecified number of its personnel will be embedded at four fusion centers.  Fusion centers are state and local anti-terrorism hubs, such as Los Angeles JRIC.  Other fusion centers include facilities in New York City; Reisterstown, Md; and Baton Rouge, La.

Los Angeles JRIC is one of four regional centers in California.  The others are located in Sacramento, San Francisco and San Diego.  JRIC founding agencies include the LAPD, LASD and FBI among others.  These agencies have committed more than $2 million each to this initiative.