LAPD Blog

NOTES March 3, 2025 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

Download Commission Mtg 3-3-15

Commission President Steve Soboroff opened the meeting and a quorum was established. Commission comments revolved around an officer-involved shooting (OIS) that occurred two days ago on Sunday, March 1, in the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles. Commissioner Soboroff briefly described the incident and mentioned it would be completely investigated. He reminded everyone of the police commission’s responsibility not to comment or pass judgment on what happened till all of the evidence and details are revealed. He also stressed the importance of fairness and that no one should “rush to judgment,” including the public. He made it clear the incident will be reviewed by many others, including the Los Angeles County district attorney. Commissioner Kathleen Kim expressed her concern about the incident and promised to serve in her role as commissioner to the best of her ability. Commissioner Robert Saltzman emphasized the commission will take its assessment responsibility very carefully, seriously and transparently.

For the Report of the Chief of Police, Chief Charlie Beck began by mentioning that Sunday’s OIS will be reviewed very carefully at all levels. Chief Beck continued with his customary crime report overview, including traffic statistics and data on the number of personnel in the Department.

For the Report of the Executive Director, Executive Director Richard Tefank noted Item 8F in the Regular Agenda Items of the meeting agenda would be continued to Tuesday, March 17.

Consent Agenda Items proceeded with approval of all items.

Regular Agenda Items proceeded with two items. Items 8A and 8B were verbal presentations. Commissioner Saltzman pulled Item 8D for discussion and moved to approve Items 8C and 8E. Consequently, Item 8C, the Executive Director’s Report, dated February 25, 2015, relative to the approval of the Proposed Adjustments to Police Permit Fees for fiscal year 2015-2016, as set forth, was approved. Then Item 8E, the Department’s Report, dated February 20, 2015, relative to the request for proposals for the Internet Auctioning Services for Unclaimed Personal Property, as set forth, was also approved.

The meeting proceeded with Item 8A, a verbal presentation about community initiated problem solving, crime strategies, and other programs and goals within LAPD’s Harbor Area. Representing the Department before the commission was Captain Kathy Meek, Commanding Officer of the Harbor Area, along with Sergeant Catherine Plows and two Harbor Area Community Police Advisory Board members.

The meeting continued with Item 8B, a verbal presentation from the Department and the Inspector General relative to the current status of patrol deployment practices. Deputy Chief Jorge Villegas and Commander Jon Peters from LAPD’s Office of Operations represented the Department before the commission.

Item 8D, which had been pulled for discussion, was next on the agenda. Assistant Inspector General Kevin Rogan and others spoke before the commission. After Assistant Inspector General Rogan spoke briefly about results of ethics enforcement section tests, the Inspector General’s Report, dated February 25, 2015, relative to the Review of the Ethics Enforcement Section Tests for Fiscal Year 2013-2014, as set forth, was approved.

Before proceeding to the final public comment section of the meeting, Commissioner Soboroff asked to return to Item 8E, which has already been approved, in order to make an additional comment/suggestion. Executive Director Richard Tefank interjected that as a point of order, a motion would have to be made to reconsider the item. After that, the item could be resurrected at a subsequent meeting and Commissioner Soboroff’s questions could be addressed. As a result, Chief Beck concurred and a successful motion was put forth to reopen the item at next week’s meeting. The commission’s secretary reiterated that Item 8E was not approved (even though it had been approved earlier in the meeting) and would be reintroduced at the next meeting.

Police Commission Meeting; Chief Beck Speaks about Skid Row Officer-Involved Shooting

After Police Commission Meeting, Chief Beck Speaks about Skid Row Officer-Involved Shooting on March 1

Download Skid Row OIS News Conf with COP 3-3-15

 

Montecito Heights Burglars Caught on Camera

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck burglary detectives are asking for the public's help in identifying the suspects responsible for a series of burglaries in the Montecito Heights area.

The two male suspects were caught on camera during a burglary on November 12, 2014, which occurred in the 3900 block of Elderbank Drive at around 2 a.m. According to detectives, this incident appears to be related to burglaries in the area.

The most recent burglary occurred in the early morning hours of February 25, 2025 in the 3900 block of Paige Street. According to investigators, in the latest burglary, the suspects broke into the victim's residence while she barricaded herself in a bathroom. The burglars took her property and fled the scene.


Detectives are asking for anyone with information to call Hollenbeck Burglary Detectives at (323) 224-0110. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipster may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters "LAPD." Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

DA Filed Charges on Driver that Killed Officer Nicholas Lee

Los Angeles: After a nearly yearlong investigation of the accident that took the life of LAPD Officer Nicholas Lee, California Highway Patrol investigators have arrested the driver, identified as Roberto Maldonado for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.

Officer Lee was killed on March 7, 2025 around 8 a.m., during a traffic collision in the City of Beverly Hills. Officer Lee and his partner were responding to an "unknown trouble" radio call in the City of Los Angeles when a large truck lost control and collided with their patrol car at Robert Lane and Loma Vista Drive in the City of Beverly Hills.

Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded and pronounced Officer Lee dead at scene. Officer Lee's partner was transported to a local hospital and was later released.

Officer Lee was a 16 year veteran of the Department. His past assignments included Van Nuys Area, Wilshire Area and Hollywood Area.

Maldonado was arrested on February 27, 2025 and booked for 192(c) 1 PC,-Vehicular Manslaughter with Gross Negligence. Maldonado is being held in lieu of $50, 000 bail.

"This was a terrible tragedy and the Los Angeles Police Department thanks the CHP for all their efforts throughout this investigation. We hope this arrest can bring some small piece of closure to the family. Officer Nick Lee was a great cop and a great man. The LAPD is forever grateful for the 16 years he spent protecting our great city. We will never forget him or his sacrifice." Chief of Police Charlie Beck

Any additional questions can be directed to the California Highway Patrol, Southern Division Public Information Unit at (818) 240-8200.

34-year-old Man stabbed to death

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department Northeast Division Homicide detectives are asking for the public's help in providing any information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect(s) responsible for the murder of 34-year-old Olugbenga A. Oni.

On March 1, 2015, around 9:30 p.m., Northeast Area patrol officers received a radio call of an ambulance death investigation in the 6000 block of North Figueroa Street. Upon arrival officers met with Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics who directed them to the victim who was lying on the ground with a stab wound to the upper torso.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics pronounced the victim dead at scene.

The suspect(s) have not been identified and no weapons have been recovered. The motive for this crime is unknown.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Northeast Division Homicide Detectives Governo or Zesati at (323) 344-5731. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters "LAPD." Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips."

Central Area Officer Involved Shooting

Chief Speaks to media regarding OIS in Downtown LA

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Central Area officers and Safer City Initiative officers attempted to detain a robbery suspect in the 500 Block of San Pedro Street, and an Officer Involved Shooting occurred.

At approximately noon today, a private citizen placed a 9-1-1 emergency call to report a robbery near 545 South San Pedro Street in downtown Los Angeles. LAPD Communications Division subsequently dispatched Central Area officers to the location who located the suspect and attempted to contact him. After making contact, however, the suspect began fighting and physically resisting the officers attempts to take him into custody. The officers attempted to use a TASER to subdue him but the suspect continued to fight and resist the officers and fell to the ground. While on the ground, the suspect and officers struggled over one of the officer's handguns and then an officer-involved shooting occurred. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded and pronounced the suspect deceased at the scene. LAFD paramedics then transported the suspect's body to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Officer. Two of the responding officers involved in the incident suffered minor injuries and were treated and released.

As in all officer-involved shootings, LAPD's specialized Force Investigative Division (FID) personnel responded to preserve and collect evidence and interview witnesses to the incident. Portions of the incident captured on video from various sources will be reviewed and analyzed as part of the ongoing use of force investigation. FID's comprehensive investigation will be conducted in coordination with the LAPD's Office of Inspector General and presented to the Board of Police Commissioners to determine whether the use of deadly force was consistent with Department policies and procedures. Additionally, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Justice System Integrity Division will conduct a comprehensive review of the facts of the officer-involved shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call Force Investigation Division at (213) 486-5230. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.

March COP Message

I hope this message finds you well. Recent events in law enforcement across the country have spurred conversations, debates, and protests regarding the legitimacy of law enforcement today. I wish to discuss one key element as it pertains to OUR authority. The authority you earned from graduating the academy is legal authority. It is prescribed in multiple sections of law. However, there is another authority that I believe is more important. That is moral authority. What is the difference between moral authority and legal authority? Legal authority is given to you by the State. Moral authority is given to you by the People. Moral authority is created by the public’s general belief that you will do the right thing - that you will treat them fairly, that you will have compassion, that you will display empathy...that you will understand that no human being is perfect, including you and me.

As I have learned with almost 40 years of law enforcement experience, you can make a difference in people’s lives in a number of ways that don’t include incarceration. Now, you may arrest thousands of people during your career, just as I did, but arrest is an indication of a system’s failure. Not its success. Not your success and not the success of this Department. Our success is measured by how safe our City is, not by how many people we lock up. They are two very different things. When this City was at the height of the crime waves of the 1990’s, we arrested three times as many people as we do now. Did that make us a safer City? No. The crime rate was four times greater than it was last year. But now, this is a Department that understands building community is just as important as responding to 911 calls. As you respond to those calls-for-service, you will build that moral authority that is absolutely crucial to our job, and you do it every time you interact with somebody. No matter what that interaction is, you should do everything you can do so when that person walks away they think, “Well, I might not have been happy with the outcome, but the officer was fair.” That is hard to do, but you have done it successfully and you will continue to do it successfully.

We have earned it and must continue to earn it in every interaction we have with the People of Los Angeles. We are part of one of the largest and best police departments in the nation, but we are far too small for the task at hand. Without the support of the men and women of Los Angeles, we will never achieve our goals.

Thank you for all you do and be safe,
Charlie

Twitter @LAPDChiefBeck
Instagram @LAPDChiefCharlieBeck

 

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