To Protect and To Serve

August 23, 2024

Re "Officer Injured in Rifle Attack," Aug. 14

On Aug. 12, I said goodbye to my wife and kids and went to work like any other day. I am a police officer for the city of Los Angeles. I work Hollenbeck Division. That evening, two events occurred that were distressing for me. Early in the night, my partner and I chased a man who was trying to evade arrest on domestic violence warrants through the Ramona Gardens Housing Projects. His girlfriend, the alleged victim, was present during the arrest and was extremely angry. She called us "corrupt pigs," among many choice words. She did not understand that we were simply doing our jobs. A few hours later, my partner and I conducted a traffic stop for a burned-out headlight. The passenger in the car met us with a hail of bullets from an AK-47 assault rifle. Again, we were just doing our jobs.

ADVERTISEMENT Neither event will deter me from going to work every day and serving the community of Hollenbeck Division in a professional and compassionate way. I am proud to be a police officer, and I work with some of the finest police officers in the world.

Like me or not, respect me or not, shoot at me or not, I will keep doing my job.

JOHN C. PORRAS

Los Angeles

Comments

[Sue]

Good for you! Hang in there and may God bless you and keep you safe!

[C.Andrade]

John C.Porras, one of the many that make LAPD the greatest Law Enforcement Agency in the country. Prayers and Blessing to you and yours as you make life safe for mine and ours.

[kIM]

PRAISE GOD FOR YOU AND YOUR FELLOW OFFICERS!
I am thankful that you all have the courage to do this work. Not many people do!
Thank you so much!

[Lt. De La Torre]

Sir, well said. You are a man of strong values and character.

[CPA. Fuentes]

HOORAHHH!!!!

[rob]

Wow, Dedicated officers like yourself brighten this world!

[rob]

Wow, Dedicated officers like yourself brighten this world!

[Sgt. K. Ahlemeir GSD Police]

You and Tuck did great work that night. I hope your boot recovers and returns to work. General Services Police salute you and were proud to help out that crazy night.

[Gail]

Keep fighting the fight John. We need more people in the world like you. God Bless you and watch your back.

[Anne]

We're lucky that there are people like you, willing to put their lives on the line every day for the rest of us. God bless you and your family.

[Mike]

What I always want too know in situations like this is WHERE IS OUR CITY COUNCIL, ILLUSTRIOUS MAYOR, AND POLICE COMMISSION (except for the ONE that actually backs us) standing forward to denounce this ATTACK on our defenders of the City of Los Angeles? Unfortunately, in this day and this city, you need to take a couple of rounds just so you are not filed against by the DA! But then there is always the "civil" trial. God Bless Brother! I am glad you made it through your ordeal, the physical one at least. KJC-625...

[Steve Torres]

Good Bless you John, the Angels were surely wactching you and your partner that evening.

I was placed an a similar circumstance, however my Department has single man Patrols, and I had the misfortune to roll up on my patrol partner just after he was gunned down with an AK 47, and saw what kind of damage it can cause, (the low-life was was arrested and sent to death row).

I believe you John had God watching over you, combined with your experience and will to survive is the reason you and your partner are alive today.

[Vincent]

I am from Ontario Canada in a city called Peterborough. If I were to get caught with a hand gun, I would go to jail for many years. I can turne any corner and can go into any neighborhood without feeling like I could get killed at any time. When I was in L.A, Phoenix,and Detroit, there were times when I felt very unsafe. I can not understand why alot of U.S states will sell almost anybody a gun,MADE FOR KILLING HUMANS in the middle of cities with only millions of people to hunt! I can not imagine having a job like yours; or even live in a city where people can carry A-K47's around. I pray that you don't get shot! I hope that your government will some day have legislation in place protecting you and people just like you, who are going to work, providing for your families and just doing your jobs. It seams very unfair that anybody can buy a gun and play GOD. One bullet can destroy many lives and bullets are spraying all over L.A, what a shame.

[Elizabeth]

As an LAPD wife, all I have to say is "Right On"!

What's funny is that this woman is the victim, but continues to support her abuser, and call you guys "corrupt pigs". She seems so brilliant. I see red everytime I hear or read stories like this, but after being married 10 years to my husband, I have learned to accept it. He too is proud,and I'm proud, of him being a police officer. He comes from a family of law enforcement, and they are carried their badges with honor. Long gone are the days when my father-in-law was an LAPD Officer and things were so different. I commend you on speaking up, and as usual, stay stong and safe.

[Grade F]

Thank you, Ofcr Porras, for being a total professional before, during, and after this incident. You faced this nightmare of a threat and, despite being outgunned as we often are, your skills and mindset allowed you to prevail and save lives out there.

I'm a Det-I working somewhere to the west of you, and I've never met you, but your experience inspires me (as it should all of us in the LE community) to do our jobs better, train even harder, and love our families more.

[m officer]

John, you couldn't have said it better. You are a "TRUE HERO". You are why the LAPD is still the best department in the world. Thank you for being such a great officer, person, role model, and leader.

To the Supervision of LAPD: you could learn alot from this Officer. Don't let your arrogance get in the way!

[Kane]

Very well spoken.... partner and good friend.

You speak the spirit and pride of all at Hollenbeck Division.

[Mark]

Thank you officer Porras. Hope you and your partner are doing well.

Stay safe!

[Sac PD Sergeant]

LAPD should name an award after Porras and Tuck! They are both extremely inspiring.

[Jim Reed]

Great job John. Your LAPD training kicked in in a time of need.

HOWEVER, now Command Staff gets to look at the facts over and over again from their ivory tower in Parker Center.....months after the incident. Let see, his tactics or lack of tactics resulted in this officer involved shooting. Maybe he should have put the patrol car in reverse and sped out of the shooting zone and thus avoided the officer involved shooting........or maybe he should not have stopped the suspect's car at all because it was a minor traffic equipment violation. Therefore their find will be "In Policy.....review tactics."

This group of Command Staff who is quick to judge probably has not been in the field and made arrests for 20 or more years. You acted instinctively based of years of training and experience.....I wonder if in your shoes Command Staff would have frozen and failed to do anything and the result would have been two dead officers.

You did a great job and no matter what Command Staff says in the end, you did what you were trained to do........

[Monica]

Hope you saw the card from the Boyle Heights community John and Ofcr. Tuck. I'm glad the media reported that residents came out with blankets to help the officers. More community members need to be vocal and support their officers and voice their outrage at these cowards. I agree the politicans need to step forward and make a statement in support of our rank and file. John, you make every officer wearing their badge proud.

[Mike]

I can't get enough of this blog. I was surprised that my initial post was even allowed on the board because it obviously stated my lack of trust and faith in our city leaders.

My next concern lies in our "command staff." Ladies and gentlemen, if you are reading this, if you have a half a care for YOUR officers' safety and their willingness to put their lives on the line for the citizens of this city, then think twice before you start picking apart this shooting. The trust in our leaders, both civilian city management and sworn command staff, has suffered much in lieu of such OIS's as the SWAT shooting involving a minor child who was being held as shield by her CRIMINAL father and the Devin Brown OIS. Remember Devin Brown, the GANGSTER who tried to KILL one of your officers, who's mother received $1,000,000.00 because she could not control her CRIMINAL son? Think hard before you start your hand-wringing...KJC-625.

[Taylor]

WHERE IS THE THE CITY LEADERSHIP?!!! WHERE IS THE COMMAND STAFF AND MAYOR??! WHY ARE THEY NOT SAYING THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!!!!!? You can see the problem here. They do not speak out for their officers. But you can be sure that if you screw up they will be all over you and the media. STEP UP, you so called leaders. Where are you now?

[fan of John C Porras & Hollenbeck]

Is Ofcr Porras back on the job? I continue to offer prayers on his behalf, on behalf of other officers including but not limited to E Chavez, S Garcia, C Ripatti, and on behalf of Los Angeles law enforcement officers and their families in general. May you all enjoy the peace and blessings you deliver so generously to the rest of us. I thank G-d for you and the angels that protect you.

[ruben]

liar cops are all liars