LAPD Blog

DUI Prevention Presentation at University High School

(May 12, 2025) In a series of scenes and skits, the Drama class at University High School conveyed the important message of the dangers of drinking and driving.  With the entire Senior class in attendance, the students were enthralled by the performances, which had relevance to their experiences.  Skits entitled “First Date”, “Faceless”, “Mama with a Bottle”, and “8 Years Later”, all shared a theme in which underage drinking and driving led to their ultimate demise.

After the assembly and during the school’s lunch hour, the LAPD’s West Traffic Division, in conjunction with Safe Moves, had on display a vehicle that had recently been involved in an alcohol related accident.  Students were able to see first hand the consequences of driving under the influence.  Officers from the Department answered student’s questions and performed field sobriety tests with students willing to be the subject.  Brochures with information on transportation alternatives were available, as were handouts on the consequences of under-aged drinking and driving.

With the Senior Prom season in full swing and graduation just around the corner, these presentations and displays come not a moment too soon.  The Department takes a proactive approach by annually conducting its “Safe and Sober Graduation” operation as well as on-campus presentations on the dangers of drinking and driving.  With the help of high school students around the City, the Department can spread this message and help ensure a safe and happy, prom and graduation season. 

Safe Moves is one of the leading authorities in traffic safety education in the country for children, teens and their families.

Click images to enlarge:

COMPSTAT Citywide Profile

Crime Statistics May 03, 2025

VIOLENT CRIMES                2008**              2007**        % Chg

Homicide                             148                 136            +8.8%
Rape                                    273                 301            -9.3%
Robbery                              4481               4772            -6.1%
Agg Assaults **                    4217               4442            -5.1%
Total Violent Crimes           9119               9651            -5.5%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                               6676              6973            -4.3%
BTFV                                  10494            11382            -7.8%
Personal/Other Theft           9079               9790            -7.3%
Auto Theft                          7757               8525             -9.0%
Total Property Crimes     34,006            36,670             -7.3%
Total Part I Crimes          43,125            46,321             -6.9%

Notes For The May 13, 2025 Police Commission Weekly Meeting

•    Police Commission President Anthony Pacheco provided an update on the Commission’s investigation into the Explorers Program’s compliance with the City’s non-discrimination policy.  He stated that the Department of Public Works Bureau of Contract Administration was currently investigating the Explorers Program’s affiliation with the Learning for Life Program and examining the City’s social policy ordinances, including all non-discrimination ordinations.  Once a ruling has been made in the case, the Police Commission will be able to proceed and agendize the matter.

•    Commissioner Robert Saltzman attended a workshop at the University of Southern California on counter-terrorism with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice.

•    Commissioner Andrea Ordin attended a series of internal meetings on the Department complaint process.

•    Commissioner Alan Skobin attended a meeting with Captain Ann Young and Lieutenant Patrick Shields regarding the City’s hotel ordinance.  He also attended a board meeting and retreat for the Peace Officers Association of Los Angeles County and attended a luncheon for the Task Force for Regional Auto Theft Prevention. 

•    Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger commended the Department on its recruitment efforts.  He noted that the Department’s current composition is 12.2 % African Americans, 40% Latinos, 6.6% Asians, and 39% Caucasians, and that the Department is the most diverse law enforcement agency in the nation. 

•    The verbal presentation relative to the status of Personnel Complaint Investigations arising from the May 1, 2025 MacArthur Park Incident was given by Commander Mark Perez.  He stated that the complaints are in the process of adjudication and should be ready for presentation to the Chief of Police in two weeks.  After presentation to the COP, the accused officers will be skellyed, at which time they can provide a response. Commander Perez stated the cases were still several months away from being presented to the District Attorney.  He recommended to the Board that another presentation be scheduled in four weeks to update the Commission at that time.

•    The verbal presentation and discussion relative to the Autism Awareness Program Training was presented by Captain Ann Young.  She stated that the Department is leading the way with Autism training and has trained over 500 officers and civilians this year.  It is her hope that the training be offered to Detention Officers as well.  She also stated that they are in the process of putting together a video to be played at roll call and plan to have an Autism Awareness Day later in the year.

•    The Department’s report, dated May 6, 2008, relative to the City Council Motion (Council File No. 07-0071), concerning the Community-Based Gang Intervention Model, was approved.

•    The Department’s Report, dated April 30, 2008, relative to the Transmittal of the Grant Application for the 2008 Click It or Ticket Program from the California Office of Traffic Safety, was approved.

•    The Department’s report, dated April 23, 2008, relative to an Approval of Professional Services Agreement between the City of Los Angeles and LexisNexis for Computer Assisted Research Services, was approved.

•    The Department’s report, dated April 23, 2008, relative to the Supplemental Police Account First Quarterly Report (January through March 2008), to comply with the provisions of Article 17, Section 5.115 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code, was approved.

•    The Department’s report, dated April 23, 2008, relative to the Timekeeping and Fair Labor Standards Act Audit, March 2008, as presented by Police Auditor Erin Kenney was approved.  She reported no FLSA violations were found.

•    The Department’s report, dated May 1, 2008, relative to the Ethics Enforcement Section Quarterly Report, First quarter, 2008, was received.

•    The Department’s report, dated January 30, 2008, and Office of the Inspector General’s report, dated May 2, 2008, relative to the Review of the Ethics Enforcement Section’s Quarterly Report, Fourth Quarter, 2007, was approved.

Missing Person in Need of Medical Attention

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a missing person that is in need of medical attention and is unable to care for himself.

On Sunday, May 11, 2008, at around 8:40 p.m., 47-year old, John Dixon walked away from Northridge Hospital in Reseda.  Mr. Dixon is described as a male, Black, with black hair; brown eyes, stands 5’4” and weighs about 180 pounds.  He was last seen wearing a gold sweater, blue jeans and white tennis shoes.  Mr. Dixon has a tattoo on the left arm of the word “microphone” and the right arm of the words “Big city records.”

West Valley Area officers have conducted follow-up investigations to several locations but have been unsuccessful in locating him.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Mr. Dixon is asked to call the West Valley Area Watch Commander at 818-374-7611.  On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).

L.A. City Councilman Sponsors Reward for Homeless Man Killer

Los Angeles:  Detectives are asking for the public’s help in finding the person responsible for the death of a 69-year-old homeless man.

On April 14, 2008, at around 10 p.m., an unidentified Hispanic man in his mid-20s approached Gene Loftis, an elderly homeless man, and punched him in the face near an El Pollo Loco Restaurant at Roscoe and Reseda Boulevards. Loftis fell to the ground, hitting his head on the sidewalk. He was then admitted to Northridge Medical Center, where he remained in a coma until his death on May 1, 2008. The motive for this assault remains unknown.

At a press conference earlier today at LAPD’s Devonshire Community Police Station, 12th District Los Angeles City Councilman Greig Smith announced his sponsorship of a reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call LAPD Devonshire detectives at 818-832-0609. After hours and on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).

68-Year-Old David Penton Has Been Missing Since May 3rd

Los Angeles:  The family and the Los Angeles Police Department are asking for the public’s help to locate Mr. David Penton.

David Penton was last seen on May 3, 2008, at 1500 W. Vernon Avenue in South Los Angeles, during the grand opening of the family’s business.  Mr. Peton has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and is need of medication. 

Mr. Penton is described as a 68-year-old male, Black with a white beard, black hair, brown eyes, 5’9”, and weighs approximately 135 pounds.  He was last seen wearing a blue and white checkered shirt, light blue jeans, black shoes, a white hat and eyeglasses.

If you have seen, or have any information regarding the whereabouts of David Penton, please contact Detective Kwock, Missing Persons Unit at 213-485-5381.  After hours and on weekends, please call the 24-hour Detective Information Desk at 1-877-LAW-FULL (529-3855).

Arrest of Lock/Pick Burglar in West Los Angeles

Los Angeles:  LAPD catches burglar who has extensive criminal history in New York, Florida and California.

On April 10, 2008, a 64-year-old, male Caucasian identified as David Niera entered a condominium complex in West Los Angeles by using a credit card to slip the perimeter grounds gate lock.  Once inside the complex Niera would enter a residence by picking/slipping the front door lock and remove jewelry from the victim’s home. 

Niera’s image was captured by the condominium complex’s closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance system.  A community alert was disseminated which included the CCTV image of Niera, whose identity at that time was unknown. 

On April 23, 2008, Niera returned to the same building and again attempted to force entry. An occupant recognized Niera from the CCTV video and summoned the police. West Los Angeles patrol officers took Niera into custody outside of the complex.

Niera was ultimately identified by Live Scan pursuant to his arrest and booking for burglary. It was believed that Niera was responsible for a large number of similar lock pick/slipped lock residential burglaries that occurred in the West Los Angeles area over the last year.  Through the detective’s investigation, it was also discovered that Niera had an extensive criminal history in
New York, Florida as well as California. 

The District Attorney’s Office has filed a felony burglary complaint for the burglary described above.  David Niera remains in custody on $1,000,000 bail and his preliminary hearing is set for May 9, 2008.

In addition, since the arrest of David Niera, lock pick/slipped lock residential burglaries have virtually ceased in West Los Angeles. 

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact West Los Angeles Detective Gonzales at
310-444-1564, or LAPD Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

LAPD Cracking Down on Buckling Up Click It or Ticket Aims to Boost Seat Belt Use

Los Angeles, California – The Los Angeles Police Department will be aggressively enforcing the state’s occupant protection laws as part of California’s 2008 Click It or Ticket mobilization, taking place May 12-June 1, 2008. The campaign relies on heavy enforcement and public education as a means to help California achieve the highest seat belt use rate in the nation.  California currently has the nation’s fourth highest seat belt use rate at 94.6 percent.

California has a primary seat belt law which requires that every passenger in the car, including the driver, is required to wear a seat belt at all times.  If stopped and found to be in violation, law enforcement will issue citations without warning.  Tickets for first seat belt violations range from $80 to $91 for adults and $330 to $401 for children under age 16, depending on the county. 

“We’re doing well with nearly 95 percent buckling up, fourth highest in the nation,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety.  “That’s 1.5 million more people protected from death and injury by using seatbelts since the Click It or Ticket campaign started in 2005.  But we can do better yet.  I urge everyone to always buckle up.”

While the buckle up rate for adults has continued to climb in recent years, California’s teen seat belts use rate lags behind the general population.  In 2007, California’s teen seat belt use rate was 88.9 percent, well below the state rate of 94.6 percent for the same year. 

More than 280 law enforcement agencies statewide will be participating in this year’s Click It or Ticket mobilization. Additionally, agencies are encouraged to conduct nighttime patrols in an effort to boost compliance at night.

Funding for officer overtime to support California’s Click It or Ticket campaign was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

If you have any questions regarding the Department’s involvement in the mobilization, please contact Officer Don Inman, Traffic Coordination Section, at 213-847-1624.

Woman Found in Alley

Los Angeles:  Passer by finds woman in a South Los Angeles alley.

On May 9, 2008, at around 9:00 am, Southeast Division patrol officers responded to a radio call of a possible dead body in the alley in the 11200 block of South Avalon Boulevard. Upon arrival to the back alley, officers located the body of a female who had suffered severe injuries due to blunt force trauma. 

During the investigation, homicide detectives identified the victim as 46-year-old Jaquelyn Fields who was last seen by her friends’ late yesterday evening.  She was known to frequent
the area of Imperial Highway and Avalon Boulevard. 

The initial investigation has revealed that Ms. Fields suffered from multiple stab wounds, blunt force trauma and that she was murdered at the location where she was found.  Investigators do not have a description of the suspect(s) and the motive for this crime is unknown.

Homicide detectives are asking for the public’s assistance to identify the suspect(s) or witnesses to this incident.  Anyone with information is asked to call South Bureau Homicide Detective
Sal LaBarbera at 213-485-4341.  During off-hours or on weekends, call the 24-hour toll free anonymous tip line at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855).