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Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council

Neighborhood Watch Meeting Report, 21 June 2022

Posted on 07/05/22

Neighborhood Watch Meeting, 21 June 2022
Tujunga Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Gloria Caloca opened the meeting a bit after 9:00AM; 20 attended.
All were pleased that Foothill Capt. Johnny Smith again made time to attend...and to instantly address illegal fireworks. He revealed that public fireworks buybacks bring in little poundage of fireworks so are mostly symbolic. In contrast, LAPD's undercover tactics bust the large-scale fireworks vendors and confiscate hundreds of pounds at once. Those sellers buy in bulk, then sell to local families at great profit. As these merchants hear of LAPD busts, they may become cautious, buy less, promote less, or quit the biz.
► A shooting in Pacoima began with reports of a man in a car with a gun. Upon officers' arrival, suspect began firing at officers and was shot by return fire.
► Of concern is the dilution of patrols on Fourth of July night—exactly when they're needed to patrol  neighborhoods—because CD7 required half the available cars to police a Hansen Dam drone show. What if a less-able person is home alone and a tweaker breaks in?
        Additional events that will stretch local resources include SCOTUS' release of Roe v. Wade decision and the MLB All-Star Game.
► Summit of the Americas was a big false alarm. LAPD anticipated many problems, but several countries didn't attend, so officers only had to deal with a few wingnuts.
► Capt. Smith joyfully verified that S-T's 4th of July parade, sponsored by Rotary and Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council, WILL feature LAPD's Motorcycle Drill Team! This is its first performance since regrouping after COVID-19. A resident suggested an LAPD airship could open the parade—and it happened.
► Sadly, our Sunland SLO Airam "Vi" Potter will leave to assume sergeant's duties elsewhere (TBD), probably about 3 July. Our new Sunland SLO will be Diana Figueroa. When we meet her, let's make sure she feels super-welcome!
 
Foothill Area Crime Stats:
►We had one additional rape, a 100% increase. Homicides are up 25%. Robberies up 39%. Regrettable as those are, Foothill still has the lowest overall crime stats in San Fernando Valley, an  is particularly effective at getting guns out of criminal hands and off the streets.
► A resident had heard that we got specially trained Metro (formerly a crime suppression unit, now surveillance) officers to help in the Valley. Smith responded that other Council Districts passed a motion to pay for overtime officers. CD2 (Krekorian) passed O/T money, so will get extra cars.
He suggested that, to get an idea of your Councilperson's priorities, check into where s/he spends their "Discretionary Funds." Are they spent on public safety and other needs you care about?
► LAPD's Tip-A-Cop fundraiser for Special Olympics earned $1400! Thanks to all who attended and donated! Thanks to Joselito's for the venue and their contribution!
 
TUJUNGA SLO Gloria Caloca cited nearly an overall 14% decrease in Tujunga's Part One (serious) crime. An exception is robberies rising from 4 to 7, and violent crimes rising by 3. Total property crimes were down by 18%!
SUNLAND suffered an 18% increase overall, mostly in property crimes, but violent crimes decreased nearly 28%. Officer Caloca was impounded a long-troubling vehicle. Those around Valaho Dr. remain a problem. She has reached out to Outreach services, who visited. She is awaiting housing info on Patrick, and hoping for a more permanent solution. The offer is there, but he dropped out of his last housing.
Two Foothill trees that were recently rehabbed by volunteers and some STNC board members were destroyed or uprooted! SLO Caloca canvassed all nearby businesses to find one blurry video showing they were mowed down by a speeding black pickup at 10:36PM driving an estimated 60-65mph. It ran up onto the sidewalk undeterred by bike lane striping.
 
Indecent Exposure: A resident reported that CVS on Tujunga Canyon Blvd. now has 4-5 homeless people, some smoking dope out of a glass vial, and a man with no shirt, possibly no pants. Mark Ross, our Neighborhood Prosecutor, stated the several requirements for LAPD to proceed on a report of indecent exposure: The individual must be exposing genitals, intending to sexually gratify themselves, in the presence of another, who is offended thereby. On the 210, one pantsless person generated 10 calls.
Simply changing your pants in public isn't a crime. Good to know in a pinch!
 
Illegal Fireworks are being attacked from multiple angles, including sending out "informational reminder letters" when you advise Mark Ross or your SLO of an exact address. That also enables officers to do polite "knock 'n talk" visits.
 
Larger packs of coyotes this year! Call Animal Services about large packs of coyotes, not about singles. East Valley Animal Shelter has no staff or funding for coyote management.
But it's not unreasonable to expect our fair City to seek a solution to roving packs of hungry 50-pound carnivores.
Reminder: Per Mayor Garcetti's orders, LAPD is prohibited from impounding any vehicle used for dwelling unless other crimes are visible. Such vehicles are repetitively cited for visible infractions, but can't be towed. LA has a "Homeless Court," where such vehicle owners go to get citations dismissed.
Officer Caloca advises that she will be taking intermittent vacation days during July.
 
Useful Contacts: 

In any emergency, always call 9-1-1! To get a non-emergency police car, call 1-877-ASK-LAPD ► TUJUNGA Senior Lead Officer Gloria Caloca:         Cell: 818-634-0754 | Off.: 818-756-8866 | [email protected] ► SUNLAND Senior Lead Officer Diana Figueroa: Off.: 818-756-8866 | Email TBD!  ► MARK ROSS, Neighborhood Prosecutor: 818-374-7580 | [email protected] ► LAPD VOLUNTEER MATTERS: Officer Milton Ramírez: [email protected] ► EMAILS are the best way to contact them. Send photos if possible, or come into Foothill Station at 12760 Osborne St., Pacoima, 818-756-8861.

 
THANK YOU for being part of S-T's solution!
Very best to you and yours!
Jon von Gunten, Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council, Region 3 Rep