PASADENA, CA – The Pasadena Police Department has been notified that the California State Department of Justice will soon release its preliminary report, “Crime in 2006, January through December.” The report will indicate that violent crime in Pasadena decreased in 2006 by close to 24 percent. Total Part I crimes, those that are most violent, decreased to 611 in 2006 from 803 in 2005. Property Crimes showed a slight increase from 2,419 in 2005 to 2,453 in 2006. “I’m pleased with the reduction in violent crime,” says Chief of Police Bernard Melekian. “We’ve worked hard at identifying strategies and resources that concentrate on street level violence. The men and women of this department have done a tremendous job addressing that issue and I’m proud of the work that they have done. We know that there is still work to be done, but the DOJ report indicates that we are gong in the right direction.”

For more information about Crime statistics in Pasadena, please contact Commander John Perez.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click: Crime Declines

PASADENA, CA –   Pasadena residents can now receive Wireless AMBER Alert early warning child abduction text messages on their wireless phones.  “The first three hours after a child’s abduction are most critical to recovery. The reality is that an abductor’s vehicle is not necessarily going to be on a highway where the Amber Alert message boards are most visible.  Making child abduction information immediately available to anyone in possession of a cell phone is monumental and certainly narrows the opportunity for an abductor to move around, hide or blend in.”  says Chief Bernard K. Melekian, of the Pasadena Police Department.

AMBER Alert is a proven success and has helped rescue more than 300 children nationwide in the last 11 years.  A single local (Texas) program designed to be an early warning system to help find abducted children, has now grown into a nationwide network.  The addition of the Wireless Amber Alert effort has the potential of reaching 190 million people through cell phone messages.

Residents interested in receiving Wireless AMBER Alert messages can register at www.wirelessamberalerts.org or visit their wireless carrier’s website.  Registered subscribers will be able to designate up to five ZIP codes for which they want to receive Wireless AMBER Alerts.   The service is free and only AMBER Alert messages will be sent to subscribers.

Learn more about the Wireless AMBER Alert Initiative at the U.S. Department of Justice website www.amberalert.gov .

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click: Wireless Amber Alert

PASADENA, CA – On March 24, 2007, the Pasadena Police Department, Special Investigations Section conducted a Minor Decoy Operation at various licensed liquor establishments in the city.  The minor attempted to purchase alcohol from 16 establishments, one of which sold alcohol to the minor.  The establishment that made the sale was Von’s Market, located at 655 N. Fair Oaks Ave.  Under the Minor Decoy operation, the minor must be under 20, must have the appearance of a minor and must answer truthfully if asked their age. Those who sell alcohol to a minor face a fine and/or community service for the first violation. In addition, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) will take administrative action against the business’s liquor license. That may include a fine, a suspension of the liquor license, or permanent revocation of the license.

ABC is conducting the compliance checks state-wide to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors.  Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunken driving fatalities than the general adult population.

Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980’s.  When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent.  When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped in some cities as low as 10 percent or even below.

In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of underage decoys is a valid tool of law enforcement to ensure that licensees are complying with the law.  Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.

ABC is a department of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, which is under the direction of Secretary Sunne Wright McPeak, a member of the Governor’s Cabinet.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click: Minor Decoy Operation

The Pasadena Police Department will conduct a DUI checkpoint on Saturday March 17, 2007.  This enforcement program will be deployed in the Pasadena area.  The hours of operation will be from 8:00 pm – 2:00 am.

The program is an effective tool for achieving the Pasadena Police Department’s goal of reducing drunk driving related collisions, associated injuries and deaths.  These programs also educate the public in regards to safer driving habits and are an excellent drunk driving prevention tool.

Motorists can help in the effort by calling 9-1-1 if they see a drunk driver on the road.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click: St Patricks

PASADENA, CA – On March 10, 2007, the Pasadena Police Department, Special Investigations Section conducted a Minor Decoy Operation at various licensed liquor establishments in the city. The minor attempted to purchase alcohol from eight establishments, six of which sold alcohol to the minor. The establishments that made the sales were Ralphs Market, located at 160 Lake Ave., Trader Joes, located at 467 N. Rosemead Bl., Albertsons Market located at 3841 E. Sierra Madre Bl., 7-11 Store, located at 2717 E. Colorado Bl., Target Store, located at 777 E. Colorado Bl. and Foothill Liquor, located at 2547 E. Foothill Bl. Under the Minor Decoy operation, the minor must be under 20, must have the appearance of a minor and must answer truthfully if asked their age. Those who sell alcohol to a minor face a fine and/or community service for the first violation. In addition, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) will take administrative action against the business’s liquor license. That may include a fine, a suspension of the liquor license, or permanent revocation of the license.

ABC is conducting the compliance checks state-wide to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors. Statistics have shown that young people under the age of 21 have a higher rate of drunken driving fatalities than the general adult population.

Minor Decoy operations have been conducted by local law enforcement throughout the state since the 1980’s. When the program first began, the violation rate of retail establishments selling to minors was as high as 40 to 50 percent. When conducted on a routine basis, the rate has dropped in some cities as low as 10 percent or even below.

In 1994, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that use of underage decoys is a valid tool of law enforcement to ensure that licensees are complying with the law. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.

ABC is a department of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, which is under the direction of Secretary Sunne Wright McPeak, a member of the Governor’s Cabinet.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click: Minor Decoy Operation

El Departamento de Policía de Pasadena conducirá el Operativo Luz Roja el Lunes, 12 de AMarzo de 2007.

Este operativo se llevara a cabo en el área de la ciudad de Pasadena y el horario es de las 7:00am a las 3:00pm.

Dicho programa es un arma eficaz en lograr el objetivo del Departamento de Policía de Pasadena de reducir el número de accidentes relacionados con conductores que violan la luz roja. Estos programas sirven también como instrumento de enseñanza a seguir mejores hábitos de manejo.

El financiamiento de estos programas son por medio de la Oficina Estatal de Transito, auspiciados por la Administración Nacional de Caminos.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release Click: Red Light Spanish

The Pasadena Police Department will be conducting a Red Light Enforcement Detail on Monday, March 12, 2007.

This enforcement detail will be deployed in the City of Pasadena. The hours of operation will be from 7:00 am – 3:00 pm.

The program is an effective tool for achieving the Pasadena Police Department’s goal of reducing the number of traffic collisions resulting from red light violations. These programs also educate the public in regards to safer driving habits.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click on the link: Red Light Enforcement Detail