PASADENA, CA – This morning, the Pasadena Police department will hold a news conference announcing the results of “Operation Happy Valley,” in collaboration with six other law enforcement agencies, to apprehend criminal fugitives.

What: News conference with results of Multi-agency operation targeting cities in Los Angeles County
When: May 27th, 2009 – 12:15 p.m.
Where: Pasadena Police Department, 207 N Garfield Avenue, Pasadena
Who: 54 officers from Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank and San Gabriel Police Departments, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the State Parole Office and the United States Marshal’s Office
Why: To locate and arrest known felony fugitives

 “These operations are labor intensive and would not be possible to this extent without partnering with other agencies.  The mission was and will continue to be to identify those individuals, who have demonstrated their blatant disregard for the law and  who have the propensity to cause violence and disruption in our communities, and take them into custody,” says Chief of Police and President to the California Police Chiefs Association Bernard Melekian. “We have seen demonstrated in recent months, the desperation that parolees have exhibited, in their willingness to take up arms against police officers.  If they are that bold, what kind of carnage are they willing to commit against others?  We don’t want to take the chance to find out.”

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click: News Conference - Criminal Fugitives Sought Over 50 Locations Throughout Los Angeles County Targeted

PASADENA, CA – The Pasadena Police Department is pleased to participate in  the national campaign sponsored by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children aimed at providing child safety education for children and parents.
 Pasadena Police Communications Supervisors/Dispatchers have taken the leadership imitative to get this information out to the schools and their students.   First proclaimed by former President Ronald Reagan in 1983 as National Missing Children’s Day, May 25th serves as an annual reminder to the nation to renew efforts to reunite missing children with their families, remember those who are still missing and make child protection a national priority. Because the 25th is a holiday this year Pasadena police personnel will be making age appropriate presentations at 10 different Pasadena schools on Tuesday, May 26th (schedule attached).
 “It only takes 25 minutes to save a life and lifetime of pain,” says Chief of Police and former advisor to NCMEC, Bernard Melekian.  This campaign is based on the premise that if parents and caretakers simply take 25 minutes to talk with their children about stranger danger, how to call the police, internet safety, personal boundaries and internet safety, that tens of thousands of children and their families can be saved from the from the devastation that child predators inflict.”
 Photo opportunities and interviews are available at the school sites and by calling Janet Pope Givens of the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4537.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click:  It Only Takes 25 Minutes to Save a Life - 3rd Annual Take 25 Campaign

PASADENA, CA:  The Pasadena Police Department will honor police and members of the community at the 38th Annual Police & Citizens Awards Luncheon, on Thursday, May 21st, from 11:30am – 1:30pm, at the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green Street.
 The Awards ceremony honors police employees and local citizens who have demonstrated outstanding bravery, commitment to service, dedication to the community, or who have shown outstanding creativity and vision for the public good.  Recognition is based on a single heroic deed, or excellent service and commitment over an extended period of time.  “We go beyond the traditional ceremonies that just honor and recognize our employees,” says Chief of Police Bernard Melekian.  “We believe that in the spirit of community policing, that we need to honor our community to thank them for their support and their willingness to get involved with their department and their community to make Pasadena a safer place.”
 In addition to the police employees who will receive a variety of awards, the following community members will also be recognized:    Joseph Vasquez, Leonard Rivas, Margaret Onape, Gloria Salomon, and Maria Velasquez-Sandoval will all receive the Community Service Award for direct actions they took in catching a thief, preventing a suicide and subduing a violent intruder at a senior care facility. Special Award recipients are Police Volunteer Joan Hearst, Assistant City Manager Steve Mermell, Robert (Bob) Baderian, and the Hamlet Restaurant.
 For more information or to purchase tickets for this event, contact the Community Services office at (626)744-4551

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click: Police & Citizens Honored for Bravery and Community Committment

On the next edition of “Conversations with Stuart Johnson”, the Pasadena
Police Department’s teen education program, “Every 15 Minutes”
will be highlighted. This year’s two day drinking and driving awareness program
was held in front of Pasadena High School, on Sierra Madre Blvd. in early April. A realistic fatal collision was staged, and filmed with fellow students and parents involved in a mock, fatality collision. Other partners included the Pasadena Fire Department, Los Angeles County Coroner’s office, and Huntington Memorial Hospital.

Lt. Riddle, of the Traffic Section, explains the consequences of making the decision to drink and drive, and will commentate during the program.

With high school graduations in the next few months, this is a reminder for students, parents, family members, the implications of drinking and driving.
(the program can be seen on the web at www.pasadenacommunitynetwork.com
click on the “56” icon) for those without cable access.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click: Pasadena Police Dept. Traffic Section/Teen Education “Every 15 Minutes”

PASADENA, CA –  On Monday, May 11, 2009, seven students selected to participate in an internship program in the Pasadena Police Department will be introduced to the Pasadena City Council and the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education at a joint meeting to be held at the Pasadena Senior Center, 85 E Holly Street at 6:30 p.m. 

Members of the joint City-PUSD staff committee also presented a new program in collaboration with Pasadena City College (PCC) to provide internship opportunities for PUSD students at the Pasadena’s Public Works, Human Services and Recreation, and Water and Power departments.

“This was a rigorous program and these young people rose to the challenge,” says Chief of Police Bernard Melekian.  “In addition to their regular school work and assignments, they withstood an exceptionally comprehensive application process and have completed 160 hours of unpaid internship with the Pasadena Police Department. It is unfortunate that, as many children we have like this in our community and in our schools that we rarely get to celebrate their successes publicly. This is who we should be reading about in our daily newspapers.”

The Police Department interns attend PUSD’s Blair IB Magnet School, John Muir High School and Pasadena High School.  The purpose of the program is to learn fundamental business skills in the Records Section, learn to conduct community outreach through the Police Activities League in the Community Services Section, and learn proper patrol procedures by participating in weekly assignments with patrol officers.  The objective of this course is to provide an opportunity for students to explore law enforcement through practical field experience.  Upon passing this academy, students earn two college credits from Pasadena City College.�
 

Representatives of the City of Pasadena, PUSD, and PCC presented a new internship program designed to introduce students to career pathways in Public Works, Human Services and Recreation and Water and Power.

“This program builds on efforts to prepare students for college and career opportunities beyond high school,” said Edwin Diaz, Superintendent of Schools.  “This program will integrate career technical education courses at the high school level with real work experience, and corresponding certificate programs at local community colleges.”

Interns will receive an orientation to their assigned Department,
including: mission, goals, objectives, and activities, participate in tours of key Department facilities and operations, and obtain a work assignment to one Division.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click CITY OF PASADENA, PCC, PUSD LAUNCH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS First PUSD Student Police Interns Presented at Joint Meeting

PASADENA, CA – Cinco de Mayo celebrators will need a designated sober driver to stay safe and avoid breaking the law this year. The Pasadena Police Department will conduct a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) enforcement program throughout Pasadena on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 from 5:00 pm – 12:00 am. 

“It is unfortunate that some people look at this celebration as a reason to over-imbibe,” says Chief of Police Bernard Melekian.  “We use this program as an effective tool for achieving the Pasadena Police Department’s goal of reducing the number of traffic collisions or deaths resulting from drunk driving, particularly when there are holidays and celebrations that have become synonymous with alcohol consumption,” he says. “The funding we, and other cities like us, receive allows us to effectively run these operations and educate the public regarding driving under the influence.”

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The program allows for special enforcement around holidays and celebration periods like the upcoming Cinco de Mayo, Memorial Day and July 4th holidays.

Pasadena, CA - On April 29, 2009, members of the Pasadena Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) conducted a prostitution sting operation along East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. 

Using undercover decoy officers who posed as prostitutes and customers, the operation resulted in the arrest of 18 male adults and 6 female adults. The arrests included 20 misdemeanor charges for prostitution and 4 felony arrests for pandering and narcotics violations.

Part of SIU’s mission is to use these innovative techniques to address complaints from area residents and business owners concerned about the negative impact prostitution brings into their neighborhoods.  These types of sting operations are conducted on a random basis throughout the city and help to address these complaints.

The maximum penalty for the misdemeanor offense is 6 months in jail, a $500 fine, and the arrestee’s vehicle is impounded.  All arrestees must also attend mandatory AIDS awareness classes and are tested for the presence of HIV.

Pasadena Police Department’s Chief of Police, Bernard Melekian says these types of operations sends a clear message that, “You will most likely be caught, arrested and convicted of these crimes,” if you choose to come into Pasadena and commit an act of prostitution. 

To view the PDF version of this Press Release clik Prostitution Sting in Pasadena

PASADENA, CA –   The Pasadena Police Department proudly recognizes the 25th Anniversary of National Crime Victim’s Rights Week, April 26-May 2, 2009.  To honor all victims, a display is available for public viewing in the Main Lobby at the Pasadena Police Department located at 207 N. Garfield Avenue, Pasadena.  The Main Lobby is open Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

In 1984, Congress passed the Victims of Crime Act.  A Crime Victims Fund was created which compensated victims for medical care, counseling and lost wages stemming from victimization of crime.  Victim assistance programs were also created that provided physical and emotional care.  “It is important that, as a community we can care for our victims,” says Chief of Police Bernard Melekian.  “To that end, our department has supported victims’ assistance programs through several community non-profits throughout the years.  By participating in National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we call attention to and thank them for the services they provide in assisting individuals and families to become whole after a crime has been committed against them.”

For more information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and ceremonies in your local area, please visit the Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice, at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/ncvrw.  For more information about the Pasadena Police Department’s support of local programs, please call Sergeant Ed Calatayud.

To view the PDF version of this Press Release click Pasadena Police Department Recognizes National Crime Victim’s Week