For more information or to apply for the Community Police Academy, contact Sgt. Milton Hernandez at the Hollenbeck police station at (323) 526-3188.

People who live or work in the Hollenbeck area are invited to attend the monthly CPAB meetings at 6:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month. The January meeting will be in the community room at the station, 2111 E. First Street. After that, the meetings will be in another location because the Hollenbeck Community Police Station will be moving to a temporary location during construction of a new police station. Meeting location will be announced. For information, telephone the community relations office at (323) 526-3188.

Dave Macpherson

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News from Hollenbeck C-PAB
by Dave Macpherson

Nov, 2004

Members of the Hollenbeck Area Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB) were pleased to learn from Captain Bill Fierro that overall crime in the area is down, particularly crimes against persons, including homicides and other violent crime.

Unfortunately, that is not true for many crimes against property, including thefts from automobiles and auto theft. However, there is much that the individual can do to reduce the likelihood of being a victim of such crimes. This is especially true during the holiday season, when people are shopping for gifts.

You can also do much to reduce the threat of having your car stolen:

If your vehicle is stolen report it to the police immediately. Have your license number and vehicle identification number available.

In order to keep up with crime information in the area, you may attend meetings of the CPAB. Area residents are welcomed to the meetings at 6:00 p.m. at the Hollenbeck Community Police Station, 2111 East First Street on the third Wednesday of each month.

Dave Macpherson

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News from Hollenbeck C-PAB
by Dave Macpherson

Oct, 2004

Members of the Hollenbeck Area Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB) serve as a communication link between the police department and the community. The Hollenbeck area police serve residents of Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and Montecito Heights.

One matter of concern to community residents is how to use the emergency telephone number, 9-1-1. The Police Service Representatives recently spoke to CPAB about their job. They are trained to screen calls quickly and efficiently in order to obtain emergency service for the caller. They depend upon the caller to tell them the nature of the emergency so they can send the appropriate response, whether it is the police, an ambulance or firefighters.

If the caller is upset and excited, as is often the case, it may be hard to understand what is needed. Other things to remember include:

If your call is about something that is not a life or death emergency, there is another number to call: 1-877-ASK LAPD (1-800-275-5273).

Or, if you want to report some kind of problem directly to the Hollenbeck Area Community Police Station, telephone the desk at 323-485-2942 or the Community Relations Office at 323-526-3188.

There is also a Hollenbeck Area Tip Line at 323-526-3817. You may report a possible law violation or information to assist in solving a crime. Although the officers may ask for your telephone number so they can report back to you, it is not necessary to give your name.

CPAB welcomes residents of the area to attend their meetings. to observe and to bring their concerns to the board. Meetings are at 6:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the community room at the station, 2100 E. First Street.

Dave Macpherson

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News from Hollenbeck C-PAB
by Dave Macpherson

Sept, 2004

Graffiti is the subject of this column from the Hollenbeck Area Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB). Graffiti is vandalism and it is against the law. We, your representatives from Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and Montecito Heights, want you to know that we can do something about graffiti !

The more vandalism and graffiti in a neighborhood, the louder the message is sent that "nobody cares." This sets off a vicious cycle that encourages more graffiti and more crime in affected neighborhoods.

Graffiti may be the first sign that gangs are moving in and trying to take over a neighborhood. The most important thing that we can do is to have the placa removed right away. Graffiti that remains on walls, garage doors and even sidewalks serves as an invitation to other gangs and other vandals to add their own markers.

Immediate removal of graffiti sends a message to gang members that people do care about their home and their community and will not tolerate vandalism. When a resident sees someone painting graffiti, they should call the police department. But if it is discovered later, there is something people can do to have it removed.

Residents of the City of Los Angeles are fortunate that the city government shares their concern about graffiti and has set up a system to have graffiti removed. Getting the city to remove the graffiti is simple:

(1) Dial 3-1-1, the city's information and action number.
(2) Report the location of the graffiti.
(3) The city will dispatch a removal team within 2 to 3 business days. It works!

A second subject of concern to CPAB members: HALLOWEEN is coming soon. Children may be in danger when going to "trick-or-treat" in their neighborhoods. The police department has compiled a list of safety tips to protect children that we can pass along to you:

Residents of the Hollenbeck area are invited to attend the CPAB meetings at 6:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every month at the community room at Hollenbeck Community Police Station, 2111 East First Street.

Dave Macpherson

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News from Hollenbeck C-PAB
by Dave Macpherson

Aug, 2004

An important job for members of the Hollenbeck Community Police Advisory Board is to provide information about the Los Angeles Police Department to the community. One of the most important things is to communicate to residents of Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Montecito Heights, Monerey Hills and Hermon that they need not fear the police.

Many people are afraid to have any dealings with the police or other authorities. For some the fear may be because they themselves or other family members or even friends may not have documentation of legal residence in the United States. That fear may be justified in other situations, but special precautions have been taken by LAPD to ensure that immigrant status is not a factor in criminal investigations. The police do not enforce immigration laws.

Procedures of the police department are set forth in the LAPD manual, which include the following:

"Officers shall not initiate police action where the objective is to discover the alien status of a person. Officers shall neither arrest nor book persons for violation of Title 8, Section 1325 of the United States Immigration Code (illegal entry)."

The policy statement in that manual states:

"Undocumented alien status in itself is not a matter for police action. It is, therefore, incumbent upon all employees of this Department to make a personal commitment to equal enforcement of the law and service to the public regardless of alien status."

The manual emphasizes that police service will be available to all persons, including the undocumented alien. Police service can help ensure a safe and tranquil environment for all. Participation and involvement of the undocumented alien community in police activities will increase the Department's ability to serve the entire community.

It is doubly important that all residents of Los Angeles be able to report crimes and assist the police in their efforts to improve the quality of life of everyone. Such involvement will help the police prevent the exploitation of any resident, especially those who are most vulnerable to exploitation.

The Community Police Advisory Boards are one of the most important elements in community policing. Members of the Hollenbeck CPAB invite any resident of the community to attend their meetings. Meetings are at 6:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the community room at Hollenbeck station, 2111 East First Street.

Dave Macpherson

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News from Hollenbeck C-PAB
by Dave Macpherson

July, 2004

As noted in previous columns about the LAPD Hollenbeck Community Police Advisory Board, members of the board serve as a communication link between police and community. People who live and work in Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno, Monterey Hills, Montecito Heights and Hermon have representatives on the advisory board.

Officers serving the Hollenbeck area have asked us to inform residents that there has been an increase in license plate and registration tab thefts in the area. Police are requesting residents to take preccautions and to beware of suspects who may be taking license plates and tabs from their vehicles. One precaution that will deter the peeling off of the registration tab showing the year is to make several cuts with a razor blade so that it cannot be entirely removed.

The Crime Alert from the police department includes the following note: "If you are the victim or have information concerning suspects involved in this crime, please call the LAPD immediately."

We have also received an alert placed on the internet by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Although it is from Canada, it may be just as relevant here. It includes the following: "Keep alert for people with cell phones in hand standing near you in the checkout line at retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, etc. With the new camera cell phones, they can take a picture of your credit card, which gives them your name and number. Identification theft is one of the fastest growing crimes today, and this is an example of the means that are being used. So be aware of your surroundings..."

The Los Angeles Police Department has also distributed a circular alerting people about the problem of thefts from automobiles and about carjacking.

Some things that people can do to minimize the risk include:

These are the kinds of things that members of CPAB communicate to those in the Hollenbeck area in order to prevent and reduce crime.

Residents of the Hollenbeck area are invited to attend meetings of the advisory board at 6:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. Meetings are in the community room at the police station, 2111 East First Street.

Dave Macpherson

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News from Hollenbeck C-PAB
by Dave Macpherson

June, 2004

This third monthly column from the Community Police Advisory Board (CPAB) of the LAPD's Hollenbeck Community Police Station will discuss the Senior Lead Officers (SLOs) serving your community. If you don't yet know the SLO assigned to your neighborhood, you may want to get to know him or her.

The SLO is an important element in the police department effort to prevent and deter crime. He or she provides the link that helps unite the LAPD and the communities it serves. They ensure that community problems are brought to the attention of the police department or other appropriate government agencies. At the same time, they assist community residents and businesses in taking steps to prevent crime and improve the quality of life.

Do you have problems with graffiti, with dumping of trash in alleys, with gang activity? The SLO serving your area can help by bringing the appropriate resources to bear. If you want to contact "your" SLO, you can just telephone the Community Relations Office at the Hollenbeck station, at (323) 526-3188. They will give you the SLO's name and cellular telephone number.

The SLO serving my neighborhood recently told me about how I can reduce the chances that my car will be burglarized. This is a good example of how the SLO can be of service. In order to reduce the risk that your car will be burglarized, here are some things that you can do:

There are also things that you can do to avoid having your home burglarized or your car highjacked. Ask your SLO for such information.

The CPAB meets regularly at 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the community room at the station, 2111 E. First Street. People who live or work in the area are welcome to attend the meetings.

Dave Macpherson

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News from Hollenbeck C-PAB
by Dave Macpherson

May, 2004

Members of the Hollenbeck Area Community Police Advisory Board (C-PAB) serve as a communication link between the police and the community.

Those members represent the people who live and work in the Hollenbeck area. The area includes Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and Montecito Heights.

To fulfill our obligations to communicate to residents information about the police department that may be significant to them. One such matter is the emergency telephone number: 9-1-1. The Police Service Representatives who respond to 9-1-1 calls recently spoke to C-PAB about their job.

Those operators are trained to screen calls quickly and efficiently in order to obtain emergency service for the caller. They depend upon the caller to call only in an emergency and to tell them the nature of the problem and what is needed: an ambulance, fire truck or the police.

The caller should remain calm. When a caller is upset, it may be hard to understand what he says. Other things to remember:

If your call is about something other than an emergency, there is another number to call the police department at:

877 / ASK-LAPD ( 877 / 275-5273 )
or another number: 213 / 928-8223

If you want to report some kind of problem to the Hollenbeck Community Police Station, you may call:

the Hollenbeck front desk at 213 / 485-2942
Hollenbeck Community Relations Office at 323 / 526-3188

There is also a Hollenbeck Tip Line to provide information to the police about possible law violations or to assist in solving a crime. The information can be provided anonymously, without being required to give your name on:

the Tip Line number at 323 / 526-3817

C-PAB welcomes residents to attend their meetings held at 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the community room at the station, 2111 E. First Street.

Dave Macpherson