Sunland-Tujunga Neighborhood Council

REPORT on LAPD FOOTHILL DIV.

Held 14 May 2020 via Zoom with 21 participants. Capt. David Grimes convened the meeting at 4:00PM. CPAB is LAPD's Community-Police Advisory Board.
►► Attendees watched a video Chief Michael Moore had recorded for LAPD officers and staff. The Chief's evaluation is that LA is starting to turn the corner on COVID-19 but is far from safe. 40 LAPD are fully recovered and back to work after the disease. He stressed continuing with excellent hygiene. Vacations and days off remain in effect. Three LEO-involved shootings are being investigated. Chief Moore honored the memories of officers Esmeralda Ramirez and Juan Diaz. He urged LAPD to carry on with their good attitudes.
►► TRAGEDY STRUCK a food pantry in CD-7 in mid-April as a volunteer was killed when a car struck him from behind as he was loading a car. New safety guidelines are in place, and DOT and LAPD will help keep all parties safe.
►► THE #1 REASON FOR CAR THEFTS IS...KEYS LEFT IN THE VEHICLE—often at a store, even overnight on the street or in a driveway. KEEP THEM WITH YOU! This forgetfulness is obvious when an officer asks to see the victim's car keys and victim can't produce them.
►► HOME BURGLARIES ARE DOWN because they are riskier with more people at home. However, summer temperatures tempt residents to leave a window cracked when leaving for errands. A closed and locked window is harder—and much noisier—to open and enter.
►► BUSINESS BURGLARIES ARE UP, usually when they are closed. Harden your target with cameras, better locks, bolts, and any proven method of securing doors and windows.
►► SENIORS IN ANGEL GARDENS are very grateful for the increased LAPD presence. They report it has been decades since they could sleep quietly and safely.
►► SLOs are not always on SLO/community duty now, but may be deployed to business/commercial policing and protection.
►► A NEW LAW PREVENTS HOMELESS from camping under, over, or next to freeways because those locations risk their injury by vehicle collision and emissions. Following a federal judge's enforcement order, LA City and County now wrangle over who will pay the tens of millions of dollars this measure requires.
►► Sgt. Ojeda reported there was no additional information why the 60-yo couple's car had careened off a steep Tujunga hillside. Tujunga TVR graffiti has seen an uptick. Three TVR gang members were recently jailed for attempted extortion of a local business.
►► Officer Munguía, SLO for southern Pacoima, revealed that most crime in her area is on major streets, not side streets. She urges residents to report homeless shopping carts rapidly. Keep them from increasing past two into a "community," which is harder to move.
►► SCHOOLS are closed, so trespassing onto their campuses is illegal. Call 911 if you see trespassers.
►► FOURTH of JULY CELEBRATIONS ARE CANCELED but Neighborhood Night Out, at this point, is still scheduled for August 4th. Stay tuned.
►► CD-7 Deputy Eve Sinclair reported that lighting at Sunland Park was nearly completed using high-output, low-energy LEDs triggered by photocells. Now complete.
► Foothill Div., will host its first Zoom session with Junior Cadets, ages 8 to 12. This is a preparatory program for Cadet volunteers.
► AND...GUARD YOUR GEAR IN PICKUP, PORCH & CAR! ◄