WHAT: 
The Grand Opening of the Los Angeles Police Department's 21st Police Station,
Topanga Division

WHEN: 
Saturday, January 3, 2009
10:00 a.m.

WHERE: 
Topanga Area Community Police Station
21501 Schoenborn Street
Canoga Park, CA  91303

WHO:
Mayor of the City of Los Angeles
Councilmember Greig Smith, 12th Council District
Councilmember Dennis Zine, 3rd Council District
Los Angeles Police Commissioner Alan Skobin    
Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton
First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell, Chief of Staff
Assistant Chief Sharon Papa, Office of Support Services
Deputy Chief Michel Moore, Operations Valley Bureau
Police Administrator Rhonda Sims-Lewis, Administrative & Technical Services Bureau
Captain John Sherman, Area Commanding Officer, Topanga Area Community Police Station
Captain Maureen Ryan, Patrol Commanding Officer, Topanga Area Community Police Station
Commissioner Ernesto Cardenas, Board of Public Works
Mr. Gary Lee Moore, City Engineer
Ms. Sharon Bruno, Proposition Q Citizen Oversight Committee
  

WHY: 
In March 2002, the voters in Los Angeles passed Proposition Q, a $600 million dollar public safety measure to improve, renovate and expand public safety facilities. 

Topanga Station, LAPD's newest police station, is 54,000 square feet, state-of-the-art and is a "Green" facility.  It will house more than 250 patrol officers, detectives and support staff who will serve the diverse communities who live, work or visit the area from west of Corbin Avenue to the Los Angeles County line and south of Roscoe Boulevard to Mulholland Drive. Topanga Area will also cover a portion of West Hills north of Roscoe Boulevard near the Chatsworth Reservoir.
 
At the Grand Opening Ceremony, Chief Bratton will kick off the year-long celebration of the Department's 140th Year Anniversary and Captain Sherman will welcome the public to tour the new police station and its grounds which are embellished with significant artwork reflecting the history and heritage of the community. 

Those attending the event will view displays from some of the Department's specialized units, be entertained by local talent and enjoy a "Taste of Topanga," samples of cuisine from the many restaurants that are encompassed within Topanga Area.

PARKING:

Parking for the Media has been reserved on the south curb of Schoenborn Street just west of the facility.  The Media is asked to arrive eastbound on Schoenborn Street from Owensmouth Avenue. (Owensmouth is one block west of Canoga Avenue.)

For additional information, please contact Sergeant Kimberly Harper, Topanga Station at  818-756-3180, or Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.