LAPD Blog

Laker Parade Route - June 21, 2025

C-O-R-R-E-C-T-E-D C-O-P-Y

STREET CLOSURES ON JUNE 21: LAKERS PARADE ROUTE

LOS ANGELES (June 18, 2025) — The City of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) has announced the closure of several streets in the Downtown Convention Center area on Monday, June 21st. The Lakers’ Celebration Parade, scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM at West 12th and South Figueroa Streets, will proceed approximately two miles toward the USC campus before turning east on Jefferson Boulevard and ending at Grand Ave.

The City anticipates closing Figueroa Street between Olympic Boulevard to the north and Jefferson Boulevard on the south beginning at midnight Sunday. Other road closures include Chick Hearn Court between Figueroa Street and Cherry Street; Cherry Street between Olympic and Pico Boulevards; Flower Street between Washington and Jefferson Boulevards; Jefferson Boulevard between Figueroa and Hoover Streets; and all intersections along the two-mile route as designated by the Los Angeles Police Department and Department of Transportation(see attached map.) LAPD and LADOT anticipate reopening major intersections along Figueroa Street as the parade commences, pending pedestrians in those areas having dispersed and other safety conditions being met.

“Congestion in the area is expected to be heavy during the morning commute hours. We request the public’s patience in using alternative routes and allowing additional travel time during this period” said LADOT General Manager Rita L. Robinson.

To sign-up for up-to-the-minute information about the Parade (traffic, lost kids, found property, etc.) text LAWINS to phone number 888777.

LADOT is dedicated to moving Los Angeles forward as quickly and safely as possible. Drivers, bus riders, bicyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to visit LADOT’s website at www.ladot.lacity.org for information about DASH, Commuter Express, bicycling in the City and an array of transportation services. For general information about LADOT Transit services, call (213, 310, 323, 818) 808-2273. For METRO information, please call (800) GO-METRO, or visit www.metro.net.

Area commuters can visit the Department’s website for real-time traffic and parking facilities information. Real-time traffic reports are a product of LADOT, innovators of the Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control System (ATSAC) technology.

3 Suspects Sought for Breaking into Condominium Complexes

Los Angeles: Los Angeles police are looking for three thieves in connection with several burglary break-ins in the Encino and Van Nuys areas.

A surveillance camera caught clear images of the suspects forcing entry into the lobby area of the apartment complexes.  Once inside, the trio walked over to the lobby and stole furniture and mail then escaped in a white pick-up truck.  

Detectives believe the suspects have committed at least four burglaries since August of 2009 to present and are asking for the public’s help in identifying them in surveillance footage.

The suspects are described as heavy set male Hispanics in their 20s with shaved heads.  They stand between 5 feet 7 to 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs between 230 to 270 pounds.  

The burglaries and thefts have occurred at the following apartment complexes:

• 5400 block of Lindley Avenue
• 4300 block of Sepulveda Boulevard
• 4500 block of Munetta Avenue (two thefts occurred at this location)

Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact West Valley Division burglary detectives at 818-374-7769.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) using a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters can also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Notes from the June 15, 2025 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

•    Police Commission President John Mack said he attended a joint meeting with the City Council Committee on Public Safety regarding the new Metropolitan Jail Facility.  He added it was a very positive meeting.

•    Police Commissioner Robert Saltzman attended the Gay Pride Parade held in West Hollywood with the Inspector General, Chief Charlie Beck and other Department personnel over the weekend.  He said they were very well received.  Commissioner Saltzman added the Inspector General has made good progress on composing the Use of Force investigative reports.

•    Police Chief Charlie Beck attended the Summer Tip-Off Basketball game between the Department the Los Angeles Fire Department on Saturday.  He said more than 1,000 children were in attendance and it was a very positive event.  He added the Police Department won the game.  Chief Beck showed a video presentation to the Board on the LAPD Cadets.

•    The Executive Director’s report, dated June 7, 2010, relative to payroll deductions for charitable organizations, was approved and transmitted to City Council.

•    The Department’s report, dated June 1, 2010, relative to Contract No. 00112360 to present the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation (ICI) courses – July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, was approved and transmitted to the Mayor.

•    The Department’s report, dated June 8, 2010, relative to Transportation Committee – Bicycle Related Concerns, as given by Commander Blake Chow, was approved and transmitted to the City Council, Transportation Committee.  Commander Chow informed the Board the Department has a 4 point plan which includes having a bicycle liaison to work with the cycling community, in-service training and code enforcement training online, policy and procedure changes dealing with cyclist rights issues, and a Special Order which will transfer investigative responsibilities to traffic divisions.  Commander Chow added there will be an online reporting feature for cyclists on the website as well as an outreach and education campaign.

•    The Department’s report, dated May 26, 2010, relative to Home-Garaging Authorities – Fiscal Year 2010/11, was approved. 

•    The Department’s report, dated May 19, 2010, relative to the extension of tour limits for Gang Enforcement Detail personnel affected by Military Leave of Absence, was approved.

•    The Department’s report, dated May 25, 2010, relative to proposed Bureau of Street Service special event staffing procedures (City Council Motion 09-0600-S46), was pulled.

COMPSTAT Citywide Profile

Crime Statistics June 12, 2025

VIOLENT CRIMES                  2010**           2009**          % Chg

Homicide                              141*                131             7.6%
Rape                                     311                 377          -17.5%
Robbery                               4981               5472            -9.0%
Agg Assaults **                     4187               4926          -15.0%
Total Violent Crimes            9620             10906           -11.8%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                                 7438             8188           -9.2%
BTFV                                    12754           12946            -1.5%
Personal/Other Theft           11385           12357            -7.9%
Auto Theft                             7606             8108            -6.2%
Total Property Crimes       39,183         41,599           -5.8%
Total Part I Crimes            48,803         52,505           -7.1%

* Numbers reflects a change in reclassification for Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) guidelines and numbers are adjusted accordingly.

** Prior to 2005, Aggravated Assaults included Child/Spousal Simple Assaults

99th Street Elementary School Reads to Achieve

June 11, 2025 – In a celebration befitting the end of school and the beginning of summer vacation, the students at 99th Street Elementary School in South Los Angeles made good on a deal with Captain Phillip Tingirides of Southeast Division and read more than 52,000 books throughout the 2009-2010 school year as part of the “Family Fridays” reading improvement program.  As part of the deal, Captain Tingirides agreed to color his hair and then shave it off in front of the more than 600 students, teachers, staff and officers in attendance.

With the color chosen by the students, a bright pink adhesive was sprayed onto the head of Captain Tingirides as the children watched and cheered.  Once coated in pink, Police Chief Charlie Beck, Mayor Antonio Villraigosa and others took turns shaving the Captains head until it was completely bald.  Once Captain Tingirides came through on his end of the bargan, the children were treated to In-N-Out Hamburgers courtesy of donations made by local community businesses, parents, teachers and Department personnel.

The Family Fridays reading improvement program began 2 years ago as the “Doughnuts and Dads” reading program.  While in its infancy stages, organizers at the school noticed there were not enough dads available to participate so they reached out to Captain Tingirides at Southeast Division and a partnership was born.  The program was changed to “Family Fridays” and included family members as well as Southeast Division officers who volunteered their time to go to the school once a week and read with and too the students.  The program has been growing in popularity at the school ever since.

The Department would like to congratulate the students at 99th Street Elementary School for a job well done and thank the teachers and parents for their continued involvement in promoting reading and learning. 

Los Angeles Police Identify Child Murderer

On Tuesday, June 15, 2010, detectives assigned to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division (RHD), Cold Case Special Section, filed murder charges against Luis Garcia Villalvazo, for the 1983 murder of 8-year-old Victoria Denise Brown.  

On March 9, 1983, 8-year-old Victoria Brown finished school for the day and began her walk home. Witnesses, who knew her from the neighborhood, observed her pass a parked blue van with no passenger windows.  The driver of the van had previously exited the vehicle and walked to the curb as if waiting for someone.  From across the street, Victoria was observed passing the van but turning back, as if the driver had called out to her.  Shortly after, the van was seen speeding away from the neighborhood.  When Victoria did not arrive home, her mother notified the school and the police.  Victoria's body was found a little more than 24 hours later, left in an abandon car, 16 miles from where she was taken.  

DNA processing and analysis was a key element in this investigation.  In November 2009, RHD, Cold Case Special Section, Homicide Unit detectives, reviewed Victoria Brown’s murder file and discovered a DNA profile that was not previously sufficient for entry into the national DNA database.  Advancements in software for the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) now allowed the DNA profile to be entered into CODIS resulting in a match to the DNA  profile of Victoria’s murderer, Garcia Villalvazo.  

Luis Garcia Villalvazo, a Mexican citizen, is currently serving a 92-year prison sentence for the murder of a 7-year-old girl in Juarez, Mexico.  He was also convicted for the sexual assaults of three other young girls in that same city.  These crimes all took place within a 9-month period from September 2004, ending with the murder of 7-year-old Airis Estrella Pando in May of 2005.

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, will file a request for extradition under the treaty that exists between the United States and Mexico.

Anyone with information or inquiries can contact Robbery Homicide Division, Cold Case Special Section, at 213-486-6810.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) using a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters can also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Chief of Police Message - June 2010

Chief Daryl F. Gates

As I and members of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Metropolitan Division lay to rest Police Officer III+1 Robert J. Cottle at a ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery on April 16th, I was notified of the passing of Chief Daryl F. Gates.  The 49th Chief of this great organization, Gates devoted his life to this Department.  During his tenure as Chief, Daryl Gates was the LAPD, and the LAPD was Daryl Gates. 

On September 16, 1949, Gates was sworn in as a member of the Los Angeles Police Department.  On March 28, 1978, he was sworn in as the 49th Chief of Police and would lead the LAPD for 14 years. 

Gates was a Chief for his time, and it was a difficult time in American policing.  In LA, it was a thin blue line that policed the city.  The Chief shaped and formed many of the existing practices and policies of the LAPD and community based programs which have been adapted and implemented around the world.

He recognized the need for elite trained officers and paved the way for the creation of SWAT.  In his fight against the crack cocaine epidemic, he put 10 police officers in fifty schools teaching fifth and sixth grade students about the dangers of drug use.  DARE would go on to be taught in all 50 states and around the world.

Knowing the eyes of the world would be on Los Angeles for the 1984 summer Olympic Games; Chief Gates strategically deployed 2,300 officers, helping to make the games a success. 

It was his support for Baker to Vegas that also made the event successful in its early years.  An avid runner himself, Chief Gates had hoped to be at this year’s run, but because of his declining health, it wasn’t possible.  The LAPD teams did however, have the support of the Gates family and we appreciate them being there during a very difficult time.  I also want to thank and congratulate all of our runners on their performances.  The LAPD Metro Blue team was our first Department team to cross the finish line amongst the many that participated.  A very special thank you as well to the families and friends of our runners and to each of the support teams who worked hard to guide our runners through the desert, over the mountains, and into Las Vegas.

The LAPD prides itself on its commitment to athletic competitions.  Our men and women who compete on LAPD teams spend a great deal of time and effort to represent us well.  Many of them will soon participate in the upcoming Western State Police and Fire Games.  The week long multi-sport Olympic-style program will be held the last week of July in Reno, Sparks, Tahoe and Truckee, Nevada.  I thank each of them for representing the LAPD, and I know they will have a great experience. Please visit the LAPD Sports page on LAPDOnline.org for the latest results from all the games.

Employee Wellness

While sporting events and being a member of an athletic team may help to keep you physically fit, and is an element of employee wellness, you are also responsible for following policies that keep you safe.  Sadly, far too many of you are not wearing your seatbelts.  And when involved in a traffic collision, consequently, there are many of you suffering more severe injuries because of it. 

You make a conscious decision to compromise your personal safety and violate Department policy when you choose not to buckle up.  Remember, it is statistically more likely for officers to be killed in a traffic collision than in an officer involved shooting.  While a majority of you use your seatbelt, it is crucial that we achieve 100 percent compliance.

I understand that from a tactical standpoint there may be some instances where you may not always be able to buckle up, but I expect you to wear your seatbelt when performing your usual day-to-day duties.  Not only is this an officer safety issue, but is also one of integrity.  As law enforcement professionals are granted the power to cite offenders of the State’s seatbelt law, so must we lead by example.

Employee wellness also means finding healthy ways to cope with the stresses that come with being a police officer, or working for the Department as a civilian.  Using alcohol to deal with job stress can quickly lead to alcohol abuse and drinking and driving.  Statistics from 2006-2008 revealed that on average, 21 Department employees, sworn and civilian, are arrested each year for DUI.  The decision to drive while inebriated is a question of character and integrity.  When consumption of alcohol leads to abuse and dependence connected to psychological concerns, the effects are seen and felt at home and the workplace.  To educate you about the dangers of alcohol use and driving while under the influence, I require you to watch two separate roll call videos each year that addresses the issue.  It takes courage to get involved and to confront a co-worker you think may have a problem, but speaks volumes of one’s own character.  We owe it to each other to step in and help one another.

In addition, the Department’s Behavioral Science Services (BSS) psychologists routinely reach out to Commanding Officers and supervisors to educate them on the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse and dependence, causes and potential impacts of (excessive) use, the connection to other psychological concerns (depression, suicide), and how to intervene and make appropriate referrals to BSS.  

While a DUI arrest may reflect purely bad judgment, the majority of the individuals who are arrested while DUI already have significant stress in their lives, in addition to the stress caused by the arrest/detainment and in the worst case scenario, serious injury or loss of life.

My message to you has been that cops count - character counts; do the right thing and you can be the difference.  As officers of the law, and employees of the LAPD, you have a responsibility to hold yourself to a higher standard.  In order to enforce the law we must practice it. When we break the same laws we enforce it undermines the trust and confidence of the communities we serve.

Together We Can

Again, I thank you for the personal emails I have received with your suggestions and questions.  As I continue to speak with many of you when I work patrol once a month and through my monthly messages, I will provide you with feedback on various projects in the works. Your suggestions have not fallen on deaf ears, but please be patient as change takes time.  The following are some of your recommendations that we are currently working on:

• Streamlining the RFC and Private Persons Arrest process;
• assessing the need to staff morning watch hours at geographic areas’ station front desks;
• streamlining the jail process;
• elimination of “complained of injury” traffic reports; and
• creating a more responsive and timely process for issuing awards, citations and commendations. 

As training is another topic of discussion you bring to my attention, let me provide an overview of some firearms and tactics training that many of you have inquired about. 

In my effort to keep you safe while working a black and white, Training Division (TD) continues to offer improved and frequent training opportunities.  I am in full support of the Patrol Rifle expansion program and Training Division has a goal to keep a minimum of 16 rifles in each Area.  It is no longer limited as to rank for who can carry a Patrol Rifle. Please look on the LAN for detailed information about upcoming classes.

This Fall TD will offer a semi-auto pistol transition school for those who are interested in transitioning from a weapon without a de-cocking lever to one with, such as an authorized Smith and Wesson or Beretta.  As you may already know MACTAC Basic continues weekly.  We currently have over 6,000 officers trained.  We will soon be starting up the MACTAC Team Leader course and next year we will begin to conduct MACTAC field exercises.  Additionally, LETAC continues to run three times each Deployment Period.  You can see your Training Coordinator for more information.

Finally, each year your training coordinators are required to work with TD to put on a perishable skills/firearms training day.  My goal is to provide you with quality training and the tools to keep you safe.

Essay Contest Winner

As a Los Angeles Police Department officer, there are many dangers we face in the world today.  One peril in particular is the Internet.  Today that is what I will be addressing with everyone.  MySpace, Facebook, and other Internet connections are troubling for many reasons.  One of the main reasons I am talking to you about this is because there are many children your age that have gotten themselves into trouble by telling people their addresses, phone numbers, or even something as little as their e-mail account information.

 People hack and prey in the Internet world daily.  You always have to try to be careful who you are interacting with.  Some ways to prevent becoming a victim is to never speak with anyone that you don’t know – even if they say they know you.  Never meet up with people that you don’t know.  Always alert an adult if you feel insecure or just get a bad vibe in general.  Never provide anyone with your personal information or your parent’s information.  And always remember that you can confide in an adult such as your teachers, friends, parents, or police officer’s like me.  Never let anyone intimidate you or persuade you from doing the right thing.

Right now the LAPD is doing everything within its power to help make Los Angeles a safer place for you and your families – but we need your help!  Remember to take the internet and your use of it very seriously.  You have to remember to be cautious and responsible.  If you do plan on having a MySpace or Facebook, remember to post pictures that are appropriate or family friendly.

After today, I am optimistic that you will rethink your Internet usage and will take what I said into consideration.  And please remember to be aware of your surroundings – you could be the difference in Los Angeles if you make the right choice today!

Two Men Shot During a Drive by in the Venice Area

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Homicide detectives are asking for the public’s help in providing information about a suspect(s) who shot two men in a residential area.

On Sunday June 13, 2025 at around 2:00 a.m., LAPD Pacific Area officers responded to a shooting call in the 2400 block of Louella Street south of Venice Boulevard.  Upon arrival, the officer’s observed two men suffering from gunshot wounds.

Los Angeles City Fire Department and paramedic personnel responded to the scene and transported both victims to a local hospital.  One victim is in critical condition and the other is in stable condition.

The detective’s investigation revealed that the two men were walking on the sidewalk near the location when a suspect(s) shot at them from a dark colored SUV.  Both victims were struck by the gunfire.  The suspect(s) immediately drove away from the scene.

There is no description of the suspect(s) and it is unknown if the shooting was gang related.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact LAPD Pacific Area Homicide Detectives Robin Salazar or Claudia Castruita at 310-482-6369 or 310-482-6377.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.