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Valley Traffic Division Fallen Officer Memorial

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Thursday January 24, 2025 - LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division (VTD) honored 7 of their fallen heroes with a ceremony that brought retired officers, elected officials, and command staff under one tent on a rainy afternoon. The ceremony was a reunion of family, friends, and former patrol partners assigned to VTD.

Chief Beck was on hand for the ceremony that ended with the unveiling of the Fallen Officer Memorial, an artistic monument that stands 20 feet tall located in the main lobby/front desk of VTD.  Incorporated in the monument are glass squares with an inscription of each fallen officer’s name.

Officer Chad Bigley with artist Tim Lampros presented Chief Beck with a metal LAPD badge art piece for the Chief's office.  Also recognized at the ceremony was Captain Ivan Minsal who was presented an appreciation art piece by Officer Bryce Verna, Tim Lampros and the Valley Traffic Advisory Council.  Councilmember Dennis P. Zine presented VTD a recognition certificate for their efforts in honoring the men and women who sacrificed their lives.

Speakers also included Congressmen Tony Cardenas, Councilmembers Tom LaBonge, Mitchell Englander, and Paul Kortez.

VTD officers honored:
Charles Caraccilo End of Watch 6/21/1973
Paul Verna End of Watch 6/2/2025
Jack Evnas End of Watch 10/22/1983
Randy Marshall End of Watch 6/2/2025
Raymond Messerly End of Watch 10/21/1992
David Schmid End of Watch 12/16/1992
Clarence Dean End of Watch 1/17/1994

Chief’s Message February 2013

This month marks the formal addition of General Services Police Department into the ranks of the LAPD family.  I take great satisfaction knowing we have complemented our organization with such dedicated and talented individuals.  I know together we will continue to have a positive impact on the communities we serve.

Community Relations

With every radio call you handle and every interaction you have, you have an opportunity to make a positive and lasting impression on the community we serve.  I truly believe in treating people as you would like to be treated or as you would expect the police to treat one of your family members.  The value of unsolicited explanations or chats with those who live and work in our City, as you drive from radio call to radio call, is priceless.  I challenge each of you to stop and take a moment to engage your community.  I’m not saying that every contact will be positive but for the most part the public appreciates our service and is happy to see us in and around their neighborhoods and businesses.  You never know when you are going to need the community’s good faith to work to your advantage.  Whether it’s to generate votes for positive budgets for the Department, or to get a community member to call in a tip on a crime that has occurred, it is the positive impressions of our Department that can go a long way.  It’s a two way street, and when we continue to extend ourselves the others will follow. 

Crime reduction and community engagement assists us in building and maintaining our partnerships with the community, schools, and clergy as we all can help one another when an incident occurs in our City.  When community members receive a friendly smile and a wave from a street cop, you have instantly calmed their fears and eased their sense of anxiety.  For many of you now tasked with visiting our schools, in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut shooting, please recognize that you are making a difference each day you put on your LAPD uniform and badge.        

History of Newton Area

Newton Division was established February 23, 1925.  The first station to house Newton officers was located at 1354 Newton Street.  The boundaries were 6th Street to Slauson and Avalon to the Los Angeles River.  The 42,000 citizens living within Newton’s boundaries were served by 105 officers, covering approximately 5.57 square miles. 
 
In 1964, the original station was renovated to accommodate more personnel.  The western border was extended to the 110 Freeway and the southern border became Florence.  The boundaries have remained unchanged since.  Recognizing the need for larger facilities and closer proximity to the residential side of the division, Newton moved to its third and current station, located at 3400 South Central Avenue, in 1997. 

Today, 350 employees call Newton home, covering nine square miles, serving a population of 150,000 people.  The community is home to the largest Produce Market in the world.  The
Coca-Cola Plant, Santa Fe Railroad, Guess and Los Angeles Trade Technical College are some of the recognizable institutions found within the division. 



Fallen Heroes of Newton

Policeman Norbert Huseman, Serial No. 7425
End of Watch:  December 31, 2024

Police Officer Ricardo Lizarraga, Serial No. 36046
End of Watch:  February 20, 2025

Gone but NEVER forgotten…May you both rest in peace.


Newton Area Significant Events

On December 9, 1969, police served search warrants for illegal weapons at the Black Panther Headquarters at 41st and Central.  The Black Panthers resisted with vigor as more than 5,000 rounds were exchanged during a four hour standoff.  This was the first major, televised event of its kind in the history of American policing and infamously known as The Black Panther Shootout. 

Ask The Chief:

Now, this is where I need your help.  I need to know what’s on your mind, whether it is about changes within the Department or what my stance is on current police related issues.  There is much to be said about our ever evolving role in law enforcement and how we fight crime in our great City.  So, beginning with this month’s message, I’d like to address some questions which I‘ve received through my email account.    

Question:  What are the chances of re-implementing the divisional ALPO Units ? 

The Office of Operations collaborated with Detective Bureau and SID in a pilot program that re-instituted the ALPO officer position in each of the 21 Areas; based on divisional deployment needs and at the discretion of the specific Area’s Commanding Officer.  This program was largely initiated due to the loss in SID personnel and the increase of property crimes requiring print analysis. Each of the 21 Areas were to select two officers from their Area to investigate property crime scenes and any lifted prints, containing evidentiary value.  This effort would then free up SID personnel to focus additional resources on violent crime scenes.  In exchange for the assistance, SID committed to a quick analysis of 10 property crimes, per Area, per month in addition to the violent crime results that they would normally provide.  SID’s goal is to return these results to the Areas within 8 weeks.

Question:  When will 484 arrests be added to the revised Direct Cite RFC procedures?  

It is anticipated that a Department Notice will be published in the next 60 days that details the requirements in order to issue an RFC in lieu of a physical booking for a first-time shoplift arrest.   Detective Bureau is finalizing their research on the feasibility of completing an RFC in lieu of a physical booking for first time 484 shoplift offenders.  They have researched procedures used by other law enforcement agencies in the region as well as the results of earlier pilot programs.  Key to the success of the time-saving strategy is ensuring the revision does not result in more shoplift activity by those involved.  Once completed, the proposed procedure will be reviewed by the Chief of Police. 

Question:  Is it true you showed up to work patrol on Christmas Eve so an officer could take the night off?

Yes, it is.  I worked a Mid-PM Watch A-car on Christmas Eve in Rampart Division.  This came about last month when I met with your patrol watch commanders during a recent training session.  I offered them the opportunity to recommend an officer I should work for and in exchange, the officer was given the opportunity to take the night off and enjoy Christmas Eve with his/her loved ones.  Amazing and to his credit the officer, Police Officer II John “Troll” Chavez, Serial No.  25399, elected not to take the night off but instead came to work and participated in the Watch’s potluck dinner.  Many thanks to the men and women at Rampart Area, they fed me well and I enjoyed another busy night at The Castle!

Thank you for your email.  Please keep them coming!
chiefcharliebeck@lapd.lacity.org


Take care of each other as brothers and sisters in blue and be safe,

Charlie

Notes from the January 29, 2025 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

• Police Commissioner Rafael Bernardino said he attended the inauguration of President Barack Obama last week and called it a joyous occasion.

• Police Chief Charlie Beck thanked Commissioner Bernardino for attending the police recruit graduation last Friday and said it was a nice event.  He also said Department bureaus are reporting crime figures which are lower than at this same time one year ago.

• The verbal presentation and update from the Commanding Officer and Community Police Advisory Board (C-PAB) representative regarding community initiated problem solving, crime strategies, and other programs and goals within the Northeast Area was given by Captain Bill Murphy.  Captain Murphy informed the Board the Northeast Area C-PAB has five goals for the year which include increasing their presence on social media; establishing a fund for youth programs; increase the membership numbers; increase camera surveillance in the area; and reducing the number auto-related crime. Captain Murphy added the monthly C-PAB meetings are held at different locations in the community and their Police Cadet program has more than 100 members.

• The Department’s report, dated January 24, 2013, relative to the foreign language telephone call procedures inspection (IAID No. 12-092), as given by Commander Matthew Blake, was approved.  Commander Blake informed the Board the goal of previous recommendations was to eliminate the use of automated responses. To date, approximately half of all calls are being handled appropriately with officers having been trained on procedures.  One issue the system is experiencing is in the event there are three or more callers online the phone call will disconnect or be transferred to a Police Service Representative at Communications Division.  The Department has met with Information Technology Division representatives to try and resolve this issue.  The Board asked the Department to report back in a few months to present them with another update.

• The Department’s report, dated January 24, 2013, relative to the annual review of intelligence investigations was approved.

• The Department’s report, dated January 24, 2013, relative to the request for approval of the professional services agreement with Donna Cline for police composite artist services, was approved and transmitted to the Mayor and City Council.

• The Department’s report, dated January 24, 2013, relative to the transmittal of the report for supplemental funding for the 2012/13 Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act program, was approved and transmitted concurrently to Mayor and City Council.

• The Department’s report, dated January 16, 2013, relative to the request for authority to destroy obsolete duplicate records for North Hollywood Area, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

• The Department’s report, dated January 16, 2013, relative to the request for authority to destroy obsolete duplicate records for Commercial Crimes Division, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

• The Department’s report, dated January 16, 2013, relative to the request for authority to destroy obsolete duplicate records for Rampart and Pacific Areas, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

• The Department’s report, dated January 15, 2013, relative to the request for authority to destroy obsolete duplicate records for West Los Angeles Area, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

• The Department’s report, dated January 16, 2013, relative to the request for authority to destroy obsolete duplicate records for Hollenbeck and Harbor Areas, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

• The Department’s report, dated January 22, 2013, relative to the request for authority to destroy obsolete duplicate records for Gang and Narcotics Division, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

• The Department’s report, dated January 22, 2013, relative to the request for authority to destroy obsolete duplicate records for Devonshire Area, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

• The Department’s report, dated January 22, 2013, relative to the request for authority to destroy obsolete duplicate records for Valley Traffic Division, was approved and transmitted to the City Clerk, Records Management Officer.

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