What:
Year 2001 Gunfire Reduction Campaign Press Conference

Who:
Los Angles Police Department Deputy Chief David Gascon,
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca,
Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley,
City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, and
Los Angeles Unified School District Director of Integrated Health & Human Services Arturo Valdez.

Where:
Los Angeles Police Academy Gymnasium
1880 North Academy Drive, Los Angeles, California

When:
Friday, December 28, 2001
10:00 a.m.

Los Angeles: Each year, as part of the New Year celebration, many individuals ritually discharge their firearms into the air, not realizing the potential consequences of their actions. In an effort to educate and warn the public of the problem, the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Unified School District and other school districts from throughout Los Angeles County have embarked upon an awareness campaign. This campaign is designed to help reduce incidents of indiscriminate gunfire that have become a deadly tradition in our City. Research indicates that a bullet fired into the sky can climb and remain in flight for 30 seconds or longer. As the bullet falls, it can hit a ground level velocity of approximately 140 miles per hour; a velocity which can penetrate the human skull. The Gunfire Reduction Campaign aims to advise the community that celebrating the New Year with gunfire will not be tolerated in the City of Los Angeles.

California Penal Code Section 246.3 prohibits negligent discharging of firearms. Any person who violates Section 246.3, will have their firearms confiscated and will be arrested for the felony crime. Shooters can and will be prosecuted for every negligent discharge of a firearm that results in a homicide.

The media is invited to join Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo, Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief David Gascon, and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, along with their guests in getting the word out that those bringing in the New Year with celebratory gunfire will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Among the guests will be student winners in the countywide Gunfire Reduction Campaign poster contest. Join these students and their teachers, principals and families in receiving poster contest prizes.

Although Public Service Announcements have already been distributed to the media, press packets and additional videotapes will be given to the media at the Press Conference.

Refreshments and baked goods will be served.

For additional information regarding the 2001-2002 Gunfire Reduction Campaign or the Press Conference, please contact Officer Guillermo Campos, Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

The press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Guillermo Campos, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.

List of Dignitaries

County Supervisor Michael Antonovich

Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley

Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo

Los Angeles City Councilmember Ed Reyes

Los Angeles City Councilmember Dennis Zine

Los Angeles City Councilmember Jack Weiss

Los Angeles City Councilmember Ruth Galanter

Los Angeles City Councilmember Alex Padilla

Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas

Los Angeles City Councilmember Jan Perry

Los Angeles City Councilmember Nate Holden

Los Angeles City Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski

Los Angeles City Councilmember Hal Berson

Los Angeles City Councilmember Eric Garcetti

Los Angeles City Councilmember Nick Pacheco

Los Angeles City Councilmember Janice Hahn

Los Angeles City Councilmember Tom LaBonge

Lawrence E. Lewis, Alhambra Police Department

David H. Hinig, Arcadia Police Department

King F. Davis, Jr. Azusa Police Department

Mark P. Kling, Baldwin Park Police Department

Michael J. Trevis, Bell Police Department

Manuel Ortega, Bell Gardens Police Department

Marvin D. Iannonne, Beverly Hills Police Department

Thomas Hoefel, Burbank Police Department

Roy A. Brown, Claremont Police Department

Kim Raney, Covina Police Department

Ted E. Cooke, Culver City Police Department

John Finch, Downey Police Department

James W. Ankeny, El Monte Police Department

John Wayt, El Segundo Police Department

Mike Skogh, Gardena Police Department

Russel K. Siverling, Glendale Police Department

Stephen R. Port, Hawthorne Police Department

Michael Lavin, Hermosa Beach Police Department

Randy E. Narramote, Huntington Park Police Department

Ronald Banks, Inglewood Police Department

Joseph V. De Ladurantey, Irwindale Police Department

Ronald R. Ingels, Laverne Police Department

Jerome E. Lance, Long Beach Police Department

Ernest M. Kieveshal, Jr., Manhattan Beach Police Department

Rick Lopez, Maywood Police Department

Joseph A. Santoro, Monrovia Police Department

Garry A. Couso-Vasquez, Montebello Police Department

Daniel G. Cross, Monterey Park Police Department

Timm Browne, Palos Verdes Police Department

Bernard K. Melian, Pasadena Police Department

Fred Sanchez, Pomona Police Department.

Mel E. Nichols, Redondo Beach Police Department

Robert Ordelheide, San Fernando Police Department

David A. Lawton, San Gabriel Police Department

James Butts, Jr., Santa Monica Police Department

Wayne Bailey, Sierra Madre Police Department

Don W. Pedersen, Signal Hill Police Department

Douglas F Christ, South Gate Police Department

James Anthony, South Pasadena Police Department

James D. Herren, Torrance Police Department

Bruce W. Olson, Vernon Police Department

Frank J. Wills, West Covina Police Department

David M. Singer, Whittier Police Department

Bayan Lewis, Los Angeles County Safety Police