Los Angeles Police Detective Arrested

On June 5, 2009, detectives assigned to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division arrested Los Angeles Police Detective Stephanie Lazarus for the 1986 murder of Sherri Rasmussen.  The arrest was made at the Los Angeles Police Administrative Building (PAB) in downtown Los Angeles.

On February 24, 1986, Sherri Rasmussen, who was 29 years old, was alone in her residence in Van Nuys, California.  Her husband had left for the day, and when he returned in the early evening hours he found his wife brutally murdered.  Ms. Rasmussen died as a result of multiple gunshots.

In February 2009, the murder of Sherri Rasmussen was reviewed by Los Angeles Police Department Detectives in a systematic review of “Cold Cases.”  The current investigation, combined with technology available today lead to the identification of Lazarus as the suspect in this case.  The investigation revealed that Lazarus had a previous relationship with the victim’s husband prior to the murder.

DNA processing and analysis provided a key piece of evidence in this investigation.

Robbery-Homicide Division Detectives served search warrants at several locations to further the investigation following the detective’s arrest.

Lazarus is 49 years old, and has been a member of the Department for 25 years.  At the time of the murder Lazarus had been a member of the Department for two years.  Lazarus resides in Simi Valley.

All inquiries should be directed to the Los Angeles Police Department Detective Bureau at 213-847-4491.

Comments

[Molly]

"If" she did do this: Someone once told me (I think it was good ol grandma) "Honey,when you're going through a painful or strssful situation in your life and it's consuming you,ask yourself if it will matter in five years." In her case it would have been a painful break up she was having a hard time moving on from. The answer to the question will almost ALWAYS be "No,it won't matter.
This is so sad! "If" she did do it it's so unfortunate she didn't have a friend or two to do a intervention with. This was so long ago and she she created a great life for herself contributing to many wonderful causes,but if found guilty then she needs to pay. My prayers not just go out to the family of the victim but her and her family aswell. If found guilty I hope she heals and learns from this in her life what she needs to without any judgement. People need to remember Cops are human FIRST and every single human being is capable of murder under under the right curcumstances.

Sending the families of both sides prayers and strength.

[Loves LA LEOs]

I hope the DA recuses itself from this case and that LAPD turns it over to another agency. For Beck to say it was a crime of passion indicates bias. She sounds like a cold blooded sociopath to me. This case has implications in other cases. It is ironic that Lazarus, who led such a fraudulent life, was so interested in the imitations of others.

[ICORP Investigations, Inc.]

Wondering if this story is getting lots of media attention in LA?

[CITIZEN]

Wow 23 years later. You sure blew this. but you did make up for it. Maybe.

[Southender]

More proof that the LAPD needs to remain under President Barrack Obama's Federal oversight via the Consent Decree. Also another shining example of why Obama snubbed Bill Bratton and wisely chose Janet Napolitano for the Homeland Security Security. As the always have done, LAPD takes one step forward and three back. The LAPD clearly cannot be trusted to police itself. Judge Feuss please keep the Consent Decree in place for the next decade. We LA residents have suffered enough!

[Ed O'Shea]

Boy, oh boy, they'll give anyone a keyboard.

[CODE ONE]

Southender,

The LAPD can obviously police it's own. They opened a cold case, found out the suspect was one of its own, arrested her, and got a felony filing for murder from the DA's office. This case has absolutely nothing to do with the Consent Decree. This happened over 23 years ago. Some of the Officers on the department werent even born when this happened or even employed by the LAPD for that matter.

I am in no way defending Det Lazarus or what she did. If she is found guilty, I hope she gets the maximum sentence. If this case shows anything, it shows the LAPD can police their own and seek the proper punishment.

[BOB]

cops cannot be trusted anywhere

[Brady v Maryland]

While I don't necessarily agree that LAPD or any police agency is capable of policing themselves, I do know that Detective Lazarus' crime will open the flood-gates to appeals from every defendant that Lazurus had anything to do with. The result? Millions of taxpayer dollars spent on cleaning up her mess. How sad!

[Insider]

Southender - you have no clue what you are talking about...

[CITIZEN]

You have a keyboard too Ed.