Who:
Los Angeles Police Department Hollenbeck Division, Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, Councilmember Antonio R. Villaraigosa and Boyle Heights Community Volunteers

What:
Hollenbeck Gun Exchange

When:
Saturday, January 22, 2005, at 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Where:
Our Lady of Talpa Church (auditorium), 2914 E. Fourth Street Los Angeles, CA 90033

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Hollenbeck Division and the Boyle Heights Public Safety Task Force are encouraging residents to bring in any operable gun(s) that they have in their households this weekend in exchange for cash or food voucher. Only the first 200 residents will receive a fifty-dollar ($50.00) food voucher or cash for each gun they turn in.

Guns in the home have fallen into the hands of children causing injuries sometimes fatal. This worthy event is to help promote safer neighborhoods and to protect the ones you love.

The Violence Prevention Committee, which consist of the LAPD Hollenbeck Division, Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, The Office of Councilmember Antonio R. Villaraigosa, 14th District, Youth Opportunity Movement, City of Los Angeles Mayor's Office, Los Angeles Unified School District Local District 5, and Boyle Heights Community Volunteers will be hosting the event. The Los Angeles Police Department's Gun Unit along with Hollenbeck Senior Lead Officers will also be on hand to organize the collection of all guns.

For further information you can contact Sergeant Milt Hernandez, Hollenbeck Community Relation Office at 323-562-3188.

This news advisory was prepared by the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section. For additional information, please call 213-485-3586.