Touching Base: A Message from the Chief
November 18, 2012
Dear Community and Department Personnel:
Save the Date:
On Sunday, December 2 from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m., Villa
Esperanza Service is hosting its 4th Annual Deck the Villa Volunteer
Event. Join Villa’s very special adult residents and help decorate their homes
for the holidays. Villa is trimming the tree, stringing lights, and
enjoying cookies and hot chocolate. Space is limited, so please RSVP to Vanessa
Voors at (626) 499-2919 ext. 168, or vvors@villaesperanzaservices.org.
Our Community:
On November 8, Pasadena Police Lieutenant Cheryl
Moody and Administrator Karen Peterson attended Councilmember Jacque
Robinson’s Neighborhood Meeting, which was held in the Cleveland Elementary
School Auditorium. Cheryl and Karen discussed public safety issues,
neighborhood crime, and the police department’s communication services.
On November 8, I received an email from Ms. Laura
Zeronian (parent and community member) commending Pasadena Police Officers Derek
Locklin and Thomas Blanchard for facilitating “Every 15 Minutes
(E15M),” which is an educational program focused on the consequences associated
with driving while intoxicated. Derek and Thomas are the lead officers
responsible for coordinating this elaborate program where students serve as the
actors and role-players. This year, E15M was hosted at Marshall
Fundamental High School. Marshall Senior Amy Zeronian participated as a
student actor. According to Laura, the program had a tremendous
(positive) impact on Amy. She wrote about her E15M experience as part of
her college application. Amy will be attending Belmont University (Nashville,
TN) and received a NCAA Softball scholarship. It is indeed gratifying to know
that E15M has had a positive impact on our young drivers and that Amy made the
best of her experience.
On November 11, Pasadena Police Sergeant Ed
Calatayud attended the American Legion Post #280 annual Flag Dedication and
Disposal ceremony. There were several men and women present at the event
representing all branches of the armed forces, current and retired, as well as
families of those lost in war time. A United States flag was retired and
dedicated on behalf of the Pasadena Police Department in honor of the men and
women of law enforcement who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to
our country and in recognition of those who served in the past and who are
currently serving.
On November 13, Commander John Perez and I
attended a community meeting hosted by the Flintridge Center to discuss the
recent shootings in Northwest Pasadena. The meeting was well attended and
I discussed the proactive strategies currently being utilized by the Pasadena
Police Department to mitigate the violence. In an attempt to address the
shootings, I have authorized the use of extra patrols in the Northwest. These
extra patrols have resulted in several arrests, including three suspects who
were armed with firearms. It is currently unknown if the suspects and/or the
firearms were involved in the recent shootings. Additionally, Pasadena Police
Detectives are interviewing victims, witnesses, and other community members who
were at or near the shootings when they occurred. Unfortunately, my detectives
have encountered some uncooperative victims and/or witnesses; however, they
will continue to work hard in an effort to identify the suspects responsible
for the shootings. If you have any information about the shootings, please call
the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241, or you can report your
information anonymously by using CRIME STOPPERS (800) 222-8477.
On November 13, I stopped by the Opus Bank to see the
artwork presented by students from Eliot Middle School and John Muir High
School as part of Room 13 program. Opus Bank hosted the event allowing
students to display their artwork in the lobby. Mayor Bill Bogaard
also attended and provided a few brief remarks commending the students and the
Room 13 art program. Special thanks to Opus Bank Vice President, Retail
Banking Manger, Sandra D’Arnato Flores, and Light Bringer Project
Manager, Kelly Phillips.
On November 13, Commander Chris Russ,
Lieutenant Pete Hettema, and I attended Councilmember Gene Masuda District
4 Town Hall Meeting. The meeting was held at A Noise Within Theatre and
was well attended. I talked about public safety issues, crime, parole reentry,
and homelessness. District 4 Field Representative, Noreen Sullivan,
and Pasadena Public Health Director, Dr. Eric Walsh, were also at the
meeting.
Pasadena’s Finest:
On November 15, Lieutenant Jari Faulkner retired
after serving the community of Pasadena for more than 28 years. Jari
experienced many challenges and opportunities in her career. She served
with honor, courage, integrity, and passion. I thought it might be
interesting for you to read about her career and the path she traveled over
nearly three decades.
Lieutenant Jari Faulkner was raised in Altadena where she
currently resides. She graduated from John Muir High School, attended
Pasadena City College where she earned her AA Degree in Administration of
Justice. With a thirst for knowledge, Jari later earned her Bachelors and
Master’s Degrees from the University of La Verne in Public Administration. Jari
began her career as a Pasadena Police officer in September 1984 after
graduating from the Rio Hondo Police Academy (she was a pre-service
cadet). Jari felt right at home at the police department since her mother,
Ruth Bryant, also worked at the agency as a Police Clerk (1969 – 1995).
Throughout the years, Jari worked a variety of
assignments. She was particularly fond and proud of her work in the
Community Services Section, working with local Pasadena youth. She helped
to expand the Youth Advisor Program (YAP) and created a strong relationship
with the Pasadena schools. As Jari’s students grew into adulthood, she
maintained contact with them, which is a tribute to the positive impact Jari
has on their lives. Jari is credited with helping start the Pasadena Police
Activities League (PAL). Later, she developed the Pasadena Police Park
Safety Specialist Unit, which remains an effective workgroup in the
community.
Jari has been a board member for the Salvation Army, a
member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
and the Pasadena Police Department’s Peer Counseling Team. She was a
mentor for the Youth of Promise Mentoring Program and served on the Chandler
School Board of Trustees. Jari is a certified leadership coach attending the
Steven Covey Institute in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was also certified
through a Self-Management Coaching, which is an internationally known consulting
and coaching firm.
In retirement, Jari plans to continue coaching, but more
importantly, she plans to spend much more time with her husband, Jerry (a
retired police captain) and children, Tyler and Payton.
On a personal note, it was a privilege to work with and
learn from Lieutenant Jari Faulkner. She is an extraordinary woman and
possesses many attributes. Jari’s passion and courage helped her bridge
gender gaps that were prevalent throughout the law enforcement community when
she entered the profession. She is bright, committed, and her smile is
infectious. Her retirement dinner, attended by more than a hundred
current and retired employees, community members and friends, was a tribute to
a successful career and the impact she had on the Pasadena Police
Department. Jari will be missed within the ranks of PPD. I suspect;
however, her positive contributions in our community will not diminish.
Critical Incidents:
On May 25, a family was returning from an evening out
with relatives. They stopped their vehicle at the intersection of Daveric Drive
and Alegria Street, when the drive of a white Nissan Altima blocked their
path. Two suspects exited the Nissan and approached the victims still
seated in their car. The suspects produced handguns and robbed the
victims at gun point. Fearing for their safety, the victims surrendered
their valuables. The suspects returned to their car and fled the
area. Pasadena Police officers and Forensic Technician Brogdon
responded to the scene to conduct their investigation. The case was
assigned to Pasadena Police Detective David Duran. David
learned that the victim’s credit cards, which were stolen in the robbery, were
used at two Pasadena businesses. David obtained additional evidence and
with the assistance of several patrol officers, identified the person using the
stolen credit cards. David completed his investigation and presented the case
to the Office of the Pasadena Prosecutor. After filing the case, an
arrest warrant was secured for the suspect. Evidence collected from the
victim’s vehicle by ID Tech Brogdon was submitted to the crime lab, which led
to the identification of the robbery suspect.
On November 8, David secured a search warrant for the
suspect’s residence. On November 13, Pasadena Robbery Investigators
(David Duran, Carolyn Gordon, Derrick Carter, and Sergeant
David Reavis) and detectives from the Special Investigation Unit
(SIU) and the West San Gabriel Valley Anti-Crime Team (WSGV-ACT)
arrested the robbery suspect without incident. The investigators and
detectives then served a search warrant at the suspect’s residence, where they
recovered a handgun which is similar to the description of the weapon used in
the initial robbery. The case was presented to the Los Angeles County District
Attorney’s Office, and several felony charges were filed. The DA’s office also
filed this case as a third strike against the suspect due to his prior
conviction.
On November 8, a residential burglary occurred in the
1500 block of Pegfair Estates. The suspects stole electronics, cameras,
and music equipment. The victim contacted a local music store outlet and
provided them with the serial numbers of the stolen instruments. As is
turns, one serial number matched a guitar that had been purchased by the music
store the same day. Detectives assigned to the West San Gabriel
Valley-Anti Crime Task Force (WSGV-ACT) began their investigation,
ultimately identifying one of three suspects involved in the Pegfair Estates
burglary. Detectives assigned to the Pasadena Police Department’s Special
Investigation Unit (SIU) and WSGV-ACT arrested the suspect without
incident. Detectives later identified the remaining two suspects.
WSGV-ACT and SIU detectives secured search warrants and responded to the
suspect’s residences. The detectives served the search warrants, recovered the
majority of the items stolen from the Pegfair Estates burglary, and arrested
the remaining two suspects without incident. Pasadena Police Lieutenant Tom
Delgado commands the WSGV-ACT.
On November 11 at about 4:30 p.m., Pasadena Police
officers responded to a business in the 400 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue to
investigate an armed robbery. On arrival, officers talked with the store
clerks. They told the officers that two suspects (Male Black, dark clothing,
dark gloves, and a Female Black, dark clothing, dark gloves) entered the
business near closing time. The Male Black suspect produced a handgun and
ordered the store clerks to the back of the store. The Female Black locked the
doors to the business. Both suspects then stole money and other items
before fleeing the location. If you have any information about this
incident, please call the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241, or you
can report your information anonymously by calling CRIME STOPPERS (800)
222-8477.
On November 11, Santa Barbara Police (SBPD) Detective
Brian Larson called the Pasadena Police Department and said a law
enforcement surveillance team was following an attempted murder suspect into
the Pasadena area and may require assistance. At about 11:30 p.m., the SBPD
surveillance team followed the suspect to an apartment in the 100 block of
Marengo Avenue. Pasadena Police Sergeant Johnny Mercado assembled
an arrest team consisting of Tom Brown, Kim Baecker, Mike Herrera, and Lynda
Mercado and responded to assist SBPD. After verifying the warrant was
valid, PPD officers contacted the suspect and arrested him without
incident. The suspect was released to the custody of SBPD.
On November 14 at about 8:00 p.m., Former Mexico
President V. Fox arrived at the Pasadena Convention Center as part of a
Speaker Series. Pasadena police developed a contingency response plan
after receiving information that protestors would be present. The
protestors engaged the officers by attempting to pass their security line and
unlawfully enter the convention center. When the protesters failed to heed to
verbal commands, the officers attempted to contact the primary agitator, which
resulted in an attack by nearby protestors. Several officers were punched and
kicked before the crowd could be controlled. The incident resulted in the
arrest of about six protestors for a variety of charges. The suspects were
transported to the Pasadena jail and later booked.
On November 17 at about 4:00 p.m. two Pasadena Police
helicopters were involved in an incident where their rotator blades were
believed to have touched during a maneuver at the police heliport. The
aircrews, five police officers and one civilian observer, sustained minor
injuries and were transported to local area hospitals by the Pasadena Fire
Department. The injured offices and the involved civilian were later
released from the hospitals and taken home by family members, friends or police
personnel. Both helicopters sustained extensive damage. The National
Transportation Safety Board will investigate.
Sincerely,
Phillip L. Sanchez
Chief of Police
Pasadena Police Department
207 N. Garfield Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 744-4545
Mission First, People Always