Suspect Fires at LBPD Officers; Leads Police on Pursuit
LONG BEACH — On Jan. 10, 22-year-old Joseph Gonzales was booked for attempted murder, evading police, child cruelty that could result in possible injury or death, assault with a firearm on a police officer, felon in possession of a firearm and parole violation.
The incident that led to his arrest started at about 2 a.m. that day, when Long Beach Police Department officers responded to a residence on the 6500 block of East Rosebay Street to investigate a shooting involving a domestic dispute. The incident resulted in two officer involved shootings and injury to one officer.
At about 2:50 a.m., while officers were still at the scene investigating the initial shooting incident, the Gonzales called the home and stated he was on his way back with his infant son, and made threats towards the family members and police officers. He specifically said he would harm the baby and use him as a shield against police. Gonzales returned to the location driving a dark colored SUV. He got out of his vehicle, confronted officers and an exchange of gunfire occurred. The suspect then got back in his vehicle and fled. Officers initiated a vehicle pursuit. It was unknown if the baby was actually in the vehicle. When Gonzales reached the area of Bandini Street at Oliver Street in San Pedro, he stopped his vehicle and fired upon officers who returned fire. Gonzales then drove off, stopped again shortly thereafter and surrendered. He was taken into custody without injury.
The infant was found in the backseat of the suspect’s vehicle at the conclusion of the pursuit. Although uninjured, he was transported to a local hospital as a precaution and released later to family in San Pedro. A handgun was located in the front seat of the suspect’s vehicle.
One officer was injured from glass fragments from his patrol vehicle window when it was struck by gunfire. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment and released.
Gonzales is being held at the Long Beach City Jail without bail. He is on parole on an unrelated case. It was determined Gonzales resides at the Long Beach residence with the mother of the child and other family members.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the incidents and has not spoken with investigators should call (562) 570-7244 or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org.
Board of Supervisors Approves Reward for Information Related to Death of Newborn Eliza Delacruz
LOS ANGELES— On Jan. 6, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) involved in the death of Eliza Delacruz.
On Jan. 3, at about 5:50 p.m., the father, mother and uncle of 3-week-old Eliza Delacruz were shot while in their home in the 100 block of West 51st Street in Long Beach, by a man who entered the home. Eliza was abducted by the suspect and later found dead the following day in a trash dumpster in San Diego County. Detectives have few leads in the case and believe a reward will prompt reluctant witnesses to come forward. They can remain anonymous.
LBPD urges anyone with information to call Long Beach Homicide Detectives Donald Goodman and Mark Mattia at (562) 570-7244. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may visit www.LACrimeStoppers.org.
POLA Appoint Chief Financial Officer
SAN PEDRO — The Port of Los Angeles appointed Marla Bleavins as its chief financial officer. Bleavins will oversee the Port’s financial affairs, which include accounting, financial management, debt and treasury, risk management and audit functions.
She will manage about 60 employees and report to Molly Campbell, deputy executive director of Finance and Administration. Bleavins began her duties Jan. 12.
Bleavins replaces Karl Pan, who recently retired after eleven years with the City of Los Angeles, including the last six years at the port.
Bleavins most recently served as the assistant general manager for Finance and Administration at the Los Angeles Department of Convention and Tourism Development. Prior to that, she served as a project manager and debt and treasury manager at Los Angeles World Airports.
She began her career at Los Angeles as a budget analyst and then as a finance specialist in the Office of the City Administrative Officer. During her tenure with the city, Bleavins managed almost $6 billion in bond financings that funded capital projects at Los Angeles International Airport and throughout the city.
Bleavins earned a bachelor of arts degree in public policy and political science from Stanford University. She earned her master’s degree in business administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Violent Crime Declines in LB
LONG BEACH — On Jan. 7, a preliminary report was released showing that Long Beach ended 2014 with the lowest number of violent crimes in 42 years.
Compared to 2013, violent crime decreased 3.2 percent, with a 17.8 percent decrease compared to the city’s 5-year average. Murders dropped more than 30 percent.
Property crime dropped 4.8 percent. The total Part 1 crime reduction was 4.6 percent compared to 2013 and 6.3 percent less than the 5-year average.
LBPD Appoints, Assigns Commanders
LONG BEACH — On Jan. 6, Long Beach Police Chief Robert Luna selected Richard Conant for police commander. He will be assigned to lead the Internal Affairs Division. Robert Smith, the commander of the Internal Affairs Division, will begin a new assignment in the West Division.
Conant, a 24-year veteran, began his career with the LBPD in February 1991. In 2006, he was promoted to sergeant and to lieutenant in 2011. Conant has a diverse work history, including Patrol, Homicide, Gang Enforcement, the Office of the Chief of Police, and the S.W.A.T. team. His most recent assignment has been the lieutenant in the Internal Affairs Division. Conant has a bachelor degree in criminal justice from California State University Long Beach, and completed the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and FBI Crisis Negotiation Team Leadership training. He is a member of the Leadership Long Beach Institute Class of 2015.
Robert Smith, the commander of the Internal Affairs Division, began a new assignment in the West Division on Jan. 10.
Smith began his career as a police officer with the LBPD in 1990. His assignments have included working as a patrol officer, field training officer, community policing officer, special enforcement section, and drug enforcement detective. He has extensive experience in community policing and at one point lead the department’s Community Oriented Public Safety Office. Smith has a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice from California State University Fullerton and an associate of arts degree from Golden West College. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s Delinquency Control Institute and the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy, 234th Session.
Garcetti Announces LAFD Reorganization
LOS ANGELES — On Jan. 12, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that the Los Angeles Fire Department. LAFD will be divided into four geographic bureaus, each commanded by a deputy chief reporting directly to the chief deputy of Emergency Operations.
The new bureaus follow the boundaries of the four Los Angeles Police Department geographic bureaus.
The purpose of the reorganization is for each new bureau commander and their staff to become familiar with the community and improve the effectiveness of their operations. As opposed to the traditional rotating shift, platoon duty system, the bureaus will operate during normal weekday business hours, and bureau commanders and staff will be available 24/7 to respond to significant emergencies. The bureau commanders and staff will be responsible for all LAFD activities in their respective bureaus and their effectiveness in reducing response times will be reviewed regularly as part of the FireStatLA program. Members of the public will have one point of contact and the bureau commanders will regularly meet with community groups in their region.
The four bureaus will be organized as follows:
Garcetti Expands Domestic Violence Programs
LOS ANGELES — On Jan. 12, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced a citywide expansion of the city’s Domestic Abuse Response Teams.
There are Domestic Abuse Response Teams in 10 Los Angeles Police Department divisions; with the support of the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles and First Lady Amy Elaine Wakeland, there will be teams in all 21 divisions across Los Angeles by the end of this year.
The expansion of domestic violence programs is a part of Garcetti’s public safety strategy for 2015 which is focused on reducing crime and securing trust between the LAPD and the people it serves.
Every Domestic Abuse Response Teams team pairs trained civilian advocates with LAPD police officers to respond to reported incidents of domestic violence. The team offers victims and their families an array of services and critical interventions including information and referral assistance, emergency shelter services, outreach, community education, assistance in developing safety plans, individual and group counseling, transportation, and other supportive services for adults (men and women) and children in shelters.
Garcetti also announced that his Gang Reduction and Youth Development program will incorporate domestic violence outreach and prevention. All Gang Reduction and Youth Development staff, case managers, and intervention workers will receive specialized training. All Gang Reduction and Youth Development agencies will offer domestic violence resources and services, and healthy relationship training. Activities will be incorporated into 2015 Summer Night Lights.
Measles in Long Beach Connected to Disneyland Outbreak
The City Health Officer, Dr. Mitchell Kushner, announced Jan. 12, that there is one confirmed case of measles associated with a recent outbreak in Disneyland, which affected people in California and Utah.
Measles is a highly contagious and potentially severe airborne disease that causes fever, rash, cough, and red, watery eyes. Measles spreads very easily by air and by direct contact with an infected person. Measles is contagious from about four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash appears.
Persons who were at the following locations in Long Beach on Jan. 3, between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. may have been exposed:
If you were at any of the above locations during the noted date and time, the Health Department recommends that you:
For more details: (562) 570-4302.
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