Off-Duty Officer Involved in Shooting

Los Angeles: An off-duty LAPD officer was involved in a shooting in an unincorporated area of Lake Elsinore.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, on Monday, August 25, 2008, at around 3:45 p.m., Police Officer Antonio Mendez, 2 years with the Department, was involved in a traffic collision with a man driving a gray Toyota Tundra.  The traffic collision took place on the northbound I-15 freeway near Indian Truck Trail. After the impact, the Toyota Tundra continued to accelerate at a high rate of speed as Mendez followed.  The Toyota exited the freeway at Dos Lagos Drive and pulled into a parking lot at Temescal Canyon Road.  Both drivers exited their vehicle and a verbal confrontation ensued.  Mendez attempted to detain the suspect and there was an officer involved shooting.  A single round was fired striking the Toyota’s driver in the upper body.

Officer Mendez is currently assigned to the Office of Operations.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is handling the investigation. The Los Angeles Police Department, Force Investigation Division is handling the Administrative Investigation and the California Highway Patrol is handling all traffic related investigations.

Comments

[Tired of Bad Cops...]

This incident I have to say really made me angry. As a mother I look at the situation of this cop driving at reckless speeds with his child in the backseat. He is a cop.. get the liscense plate number and report it! Right? No he had to take the law into his own hands and endanger countless lives on the freeway. Then he pulls this hit and runner over and draws his weapon ..did he stop to think that the other man had a weapon too? No AGAIN THE COP endangered the lives on that street corner that is a very busy area. This is one rookie that needs help and needs to be punished. If he gets away with this look at the message we are sending to the other hothead cops (not all of you there are some good ones) "look what we can get away with." My family and I live and drive through this city all the time and it makes me sick that this has occurred and lives were endangered so close to where we call home. Please don't let this hot tempered ,selfish FOOL get away with this.... PLEASE remind him he represents police officers everywhere and what they stand for.The public wants to trust them... To protect and serve right?

[Justice]

Just to clear the air a bit, I had the opportunity to speak to a member in the command staff regarding this officers OO status. As it turns out, some of the officers assigned to OO are not there necessarily by their choice. The Department looks at a deployment roster and determines what is necessary for “haves and needs”. As for the shooting, well we are all at the mercy of time and FID. One thing is for sure, the LAPD has much pride in its ability to utilize the best practices philosophy. I look at every member of the LAPD be it sworn, civilian or volunteers as nothing but the BEST and always will. The Departments best practices philosophy encourages its members to move forward and to inspire new designs in tactics, training and field ops etc. It’s what makes this Department the best.

[Justice0311]

Our fearless leader Chief Bratton: "and our officer is currently the subject of the criminal and administrative investigation". doesn't sound very supportive. I'm sick of the media making our great department looking like a bunch of rednecks who are trigger happy. HOllywood, how many movies portray us as corrupt cops? Street Kings, new one: lakeview terrace? (yes, I'll probably watch it and street kings I enjoyed). This is the greatest department ever, we should make more of an effort to protect it. this officer should have gotten the plate but other than that, we weren't there, can't comment.

[Justice0311]

Mr or Mrs FEDUP... You stuck in the kit room for a bit? Most the OO Officers didn't request it, they were placed there. We were all a little arrogant after making probation, it is what it is. Stop hating.

[say no to clusters]

Based on what we know about the shooting, this boot will be sent to the cleaners. He also already brought unwanted heat to CREW task force in OO. But the Dept loves them cause of the recap and numbers they bring in. So it sounds like they are here to stay. But I think these boots should go back to Patrol and handle radio calls.