Captain's Newletter

This is an exciting month for this community.  Rampart Patrol and Detectives will move into our new station located at 1401 West 6th Street.  We have been anxiously awaiting the completion of our new facility and the time is finally here.  We will be fully operational during this transition.  Additionally, the grand opening of the station will take place on Thursday, September 4.

Our National Night Out festivities will take place on Tuesday, August 5.  There will be two community walks which will end at our new station.  As usual, we will have plenty of food and entertainment.  We hope you can join us.

We recently held interviews for the two vacant Senior Lead Officer positions.  As soon as the selections are made, the information will be posted on this web page.    

The Rampart Booster held a very successful luncheon at La Fonda on June 25.  It was a fun event with outstanding food and prizes for the attendees.

JOHN F. EGAN, Captain
Commanding Officer
Rampart Area

Basic Car 2A15
Senior Lead Officer Justin Stewart, Cell Phone 213-793-0770
E-mail:  32415@lapd.lacity.org

The boundaries for basic car 2A15 are Sunset Boulevard to the north, Temple Street to the south, Hoover Street to the west and Glendale Boulevard to the east.  There are four reporting districts (RD) within this basic car area: 213, 214, 215, and 224.

I'm interested in establishing more community watch groups in our neighborhood.  Remember, the police can't do it alone. I'm looking forward to working together to improve the quality of life in your neighborhoods.  I'm familiar with the area and the quality of life issues that affect our neighborhood.  Anyone interested in setting up a neighborhood watch or community meeting, please contact me.  I look forward to hearing from you.  

Crime Statistics For 2A15's Basic Car Area for the following extraction period (05/25/08-06/21/08)
Aggravated Assaults - (5)
Burglary Theft From Motor Vehicle - (11)
Burglaries - (5)
Grand Theft Auto - (10)
Rape - (0)
Robberies - (1)

Property crimes have and still continue to be the most reported crime in 2A15's basic car, so don't leave anything of value (.i.e- Ipod, GPS, computers, money or packages) visible inside your vehicle.

Now that summer is here, I know that you might like to leave your house windows open when you leave for the day, but DON'T DO IT!  I tend to see an increase in houses being burglarized because people leave a bedroom or bathroom window open when they leave for the day.

Rampart Division will be moving to 1401 W. 6th St.  The projected move-in date is July 2008.  It is a new state of the art facility with all the bells and whistles.  As you may or may not know, the Rampart Detectives are currently located at 301 S. Union Ave.  I think the biggest improvement to our move is that the Detectives are moving to the new station as well.  This will allow the Patrol Officers to work closer with our Detectives and allow a better pipeline of information to be shared with each other.  It is believed that Metropolitan Division will be moving into the old Rampart Station.

I know that graffiti is a huge concern for many of you. I ask that if you see graffiti, get an address and call 311 to have the graffiti painted out.

Remember LAPD is hiring and if you or anyone you know might be a qualified candidate call (866) 444-5273 or log onto www.joinlapd.com

Take care, Officer Stewart

Basic Car 2A18
Senior Lead Officer Lewis Ford, Cell Phone No. 213-793-0775
E-mail:  27387@lapd.lacity.org

The boundaries for 2A18 are Sunset Boulevard to the North, the 110 Freeway to the East, 3rd Street to the South and Glendale Boulevard/Union Avenue to the West.  The Reporting Districts in the basic car area are 217, 219, 237, 238 and 239.

Basic Car 2A21
Senior Lead Officer Matthew Zeigler, Cell Phone 213-793-0771
E-mail:  34208@lapd.lacity.org

The boundaries for Basic Car 2A21 are Santa Monica Boulevard on the north, Beverly Boulevard on the south, Normandie Avenue on the west and Hoover Street on the east.  There are four reporting districts (RD) within this basic car area: 211, 212, 221, and 222.

Crime Report
There have been a total of ninety-five reported part 1 crimes between May 18, 2008 and June 21, 2008 with property crime representing the majority.  Burglaries from residences and vehicles always seem to be leading in part 1 crimes.  The most common method of entry is into a residence is through an open window or screen door.  Small items, such as jewelry and electronics are being taken and are usually completed in less than ten minutes.  Never leave valuables in your vehicle when you leave it unattended.  Fortunately, violent crimes, such as robberies and assaults, are down. 

Here is a breakdown of the part one crimes for car 2A21.   
Homicide: 0
Rape:  0
Robbery:  14
Assault:  13
Burglary from vehicle: 29
GTA:  32      
Burglary:  7 

It is important to remember that criminals often prey on those who are unaware of their surroundings or preoccupied with something else.  Be aware at all times and pay particular attention as you walk or drive down streets.  Lock all residential doors and windows when you are away.  Never leave valuables in your car or at least in plain sight when you park your car.  It is worth noting that most of the crimes are occurring between the hours of 6:00 PM and 3:00 AM.  That is not an opinion, it is fact.  

Traffic Issues
The intersection of Melrose and Vermont and Beverly and Vermont are always a problem location for traffic accidents.  The intersection of Beverly, Silverlake and Virgil can also be a confusing location.  Always pay attention to the traffic light that controls your direction of travel and always drive defensively.  Remember to slow down, follow the rules of the road and be a courteous and cautious driver.  We finally installed the stop sign at the intersection of Edgemont and Monroe.  Thank you to all the residents that helped out with that by writing letters and making phone calls.  Also, a big thank you to Alejandra Marroquin from Councilman Garcetti's office for assisting us with that.   

Vandalism
Typically, summer time is when we see an increase in graffiti.  This is obviously due to the local schools being out for summer break, increased hours of day light and the summer heat.  Please remember to call 311 when you see graffiti so we can get it painted out as soon as possible.  Never confront a "tagger" if you catch him in the act.  "Taggers" often carry weapons, including guns and will fight back.  Instead, call the police and give a detailed description of the suspect, what he is spray painting and the location.  The City of Los Angeles offers a $1000 reward if a "tagger" is arrested and convicted and you are the person reporting.     

Miscellaneous
We will be moving into the new Rampart station on July 25.  We should be fully functioning two days later.  The address is 1401 W 6th Street, on the corner of 6th Street and Witmer, where the old Central receiving hospital was located. 

Community Group Information
Virgil Village neighborhood watch meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM.

Ambassador Hill Neighborhood Association (Beverly and Edgemont) meets on the first Thursday of every month, at 7:00 P.M.

Rampart Village Neighborhood Council (Beverly and Virgil) meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 P.M.

East Hollywood Neighborhood Council meets on the third Monday of the month

Community Police Advisory Board meets the first Tuesday of the month.

Important Numbers to Remember

Front desk: 213-485-4061
Gang Unit: 213-427-1530
Vice Unit: 213-485-4080
Narcotics: 213-847-3214
Community Relations: 213-847-1903
Graffiti Hotline: 800-611-2489
City Information: 311

Basic Car 2A31
Senior Lead Officer Susanne Gras, Cell Phone No. 213-793-0769
E-mail:  33290@lapd.lacity.org

The boundaries for Basic Car 2A31 are from Temple Street / Beverly Boulevard on the north to 3rd Street (east of Vermont Avenue) and 1st Street (west of Vermont Avenue) on the south.  Basic Car 2A31 covers from Normandie Avenue on the west, to Coronado Street on the east.  The assigned Reporting Districts for Basic Car 2A31 are 231, 233 and 234. 

How To Get Involved
I would encourage all citizens within this basic car area to get involved in the community.  The Community Police Advisory Board meets every 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:00 PM, Rampart Village Neighborhood Council meets every 3rd Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM and the Ambassador Hill Neighborhood watch meets every 1st Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM.  If you are interested in becoming more informed about what is occurring in your community or would like to meet additional residents in the area who share the same interest in keeping your community safe and clean, please contact me for the above meeting locations.

Ambassador Hill Neighborhood Association
My thanks and appreciation goes out to all that attended the Ambassador Hill Neighborhood Association meeting on June 5th.  The meeting was very successful with 40 new attendees.  With consistent community involvement, together we can beautify the area and create a community where we look after each other and feel safe and secure. 

We are tentatively planning a Green upkeep of Beverly between Kenmore and Catalina on July 5th, 2008.  If you are interested in helping with this 1-2 hour beautification project, please contact me for the meet time and location.  Dress comfortably for the heat and bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated.  If you have available to you gardening gloves, yard trash bags, brooms and watering cans, please bring them. 

Upcoming Events
I am currently in the process of planning events for getting out in the community this month.  These are to include a four hour Community Graffiti Removal and Citizen Patrol. 

Basic Car 2A42
Senior Lead Officer Alexander Bautista, Cell Phone No. 213-793-0714
E-mail:  32919@lapd.lacity.org

The boundaries for basic car 2A42 are 1st Street to the north, Vermont to the east, 5th Street to the south, and Normandie to the west.

Basic Car 2A44
Senior Lead Officer Dikran Melkonian, Cell Phone No. 213-793-0781
E-mail:  31366@lapd.lacity.org

The boundaries for Basic Car 2A44 are from 3rd Street on the north, Wilshire Boulevard and 7th Street on the south, Coronado Street on the east, and Vermont Avenue on the west.  The assigned reporting districts for the area are 243 and 244.

Upcoming Meetings/Events
Rampart Neighborhood Council- Tuesday July 15, 2008 at 5:30 PM

Rampart National Night Out- August 5, 2008.  Please bring your friends and family for an evening of food and entertainment at the brand new Rampart Station located at 1401 West 6th Street.

Crime Stats/Trends
For up-to date crime statistics and crime prevention tips for variety of crimes, please log onto www.LAPDonline.org
 
The following are part-1 crimes that occurred between from 5/25/2008 thru 6/21/2008:

Homicide (0)
Rape  (1)
Robbery (4)
Aggravated Assault (1)
Burglary (2)
Theft from Vehicles (3)
Auto Theft (5)

Briefing
The above crime statistics have remained consistent.  The area of concern should be upon the street robberies, along with auto thefts, and burglary from auto thefts.  There has been an increased theft of portable GPS systems from vehicles.  These are extremely profitable for thieves to re-sell. Please remove your system from the vehicle and actually take it with you.  Thieves will check in the vehicle glove compartment and underneath the seats for the concealed items. 

Attempt to park your vehicle in a well-lit location. When attending events at certain areas, take advantage of secured parking lots compared to the dark side streets. You might save a few dollars in the short term by parking on the street. However, it only takes one incident and you could potentially have your car stolen, or your valued property inside the vehicle removed.

Safety
Have your cell phone programmed with the LAPD 911 number at 213-928-8206.  This will get you immediate 911 LA city operator, rather than possibly being placed on hold due to numerous cell-phone calls to CHP.  Use this number when using your cell-phone only.  For a regular wired (hard-lined) phone, use 911.

Report graffiti to the 311 City resource hotline in order to have it removed.  If citizens allow the graffiti to stay up on the walls, the incidence of possible gang violence increases dramatically. Please don't give up the fight and make the call.

Problem Traffic Locations And Year-To Date Traffic Accidents

Wilshire Blvd/ Vermont Ave:  Red Light and unsafe left turn violations (16)

3rd St/ Vermont Ave:
Red Light and Speed violations (Red-light camera system)  (18)

6th St between Rampart Blvd and Vermont Ave  (No stats at present time)
Speed Violations/ unsafe lane change

Additional
Please remember: For non-emergency police response, use the 1-877-ASK-LAPD number.  This is useful for reporting problems such as loitering, drinking in public, landlord/tenant disputes, neighbor disputes, as well as loud party and noises.  Moreover, this will help cut down the non-emergency calls to our overly used 911 service.  Please pass this message along to your friends and families.

You may also utilize the "311" City resource number this will allow you to request city services for graffiti, bulky items removal, such as mattresses and sofas which are often discarded on the streets/sidewalks.

Have a safe one!

Basic Car 2A45
Senior Lead Officer (Vacant), Cell Phone No. 213-793-0778

Basic Car 2A45 covers the area of Alvarado Street to the East, Temple Street to the north, Coronado Street to the west, and James M. Wood (formerly 9th Street) to the south.  Please call me or send an e-mail if you have any questions or would like me to attend your community meetings.

Senior Lead Officer Mark Hubert is now assigned to Air Support Division.  We are in the process of conducting interviews to fill this spot.  As soon as a decision is made, the information will be provided.  We wish Mark well in his new assignment!

Basic Car 2A51
Senior Lead Officer (Vacant), Cell Phone No. 213-793-0774

The boundaries for Basic Car are 5th St to the north, 8th Street to the south, Vermont & Hoover to the east and Normandie Ave to the west.  There are 3 reporting districts (RD) within this basic car area: RD 0242, RD 0251 and RD 0252.

Paul Hendry has promoted to the rank of Sergeant and is no longer assigned to Rampart Area.  Interviews are currently being conducted to fill this spot.  As soon as a decision is made, the information will be provided.  We congratulate Paul on his promotion!

Basic Car 2A56
Senior Lead Officer Victor Gutierrez, Phone No. 213-793-0784
E-mail:  26802@lapd.lacity.org

The boundaries of Basic Car 2A56 are Temple Street on the North, Union Avenue to the East, 7th Street on the South, and Alvarado Street on the West. There are three reporting district's (RD's): 236, 246, and 256.

Basic Car 2A75
Senior Lead Officer John Wolfe, Cell Phone No. 213-793-0772
E-mail:  31472@lapd.lacity.org

The boundaries for basic car 2A75 are 7th Street to the north, 11th Street to the south, Hoover Street to the west, and Union Avenue to the east.  The west boundary north of James M. Wood Boulevard is Lake Street.  There are three reporting districts within this basic car area: 266, 267, and 275.

Car Burglaries and Vehicle Thefts are on the Rise
Avoid leaving your car running with the doors unlocked and windows down
Avoid leaving valuables in plain view of passing pedestrians.
Install anti-theft devices such as, alarm systems and ignition cut-off switches
Park in well lighted areas
Consider the installation of a portable steering wheel lock
Avoid leaving hidden spare keys where suspects can easily find them
Report all suspicious activity to police immediately
Consider starting a neighborhood watch program 

Limit Your Chances of Becoming a Crime Victim
Remember criminals prey on easy targets
Keep your valuables out of sight
Avoid displaying money in public
Avoid giving rides to strangers
Shop in pairs whenever possible
Report all suspicious activity to police immediately

Consider becoming a Block Captain and forming a Neighborhood Watch Program.  For details, please call Senior Lead Officer John Wolfe at 213-793-0772.  Remember to be a good witness when crime strikes.  Call 1-877 ASK-LAPD for non-emergency calls and 911 for crimes in progress.  For narcotics related offenses with follow-up information call 1-800-662-BUST.  If you have information on outstanding wanted suspects please call the crime hotline at 1-877-LAWFULL.

The following statistics are based on crimes that occurred between May 25, 2008 and June 21, 2008.

Homicides: 0
Sex Crime: 0
Robberies: 9
Aggravated Assaults: 6
Burglaries: 5
Car thefts: 2
Burglaries from vehicles: 3

Upcoming Meetings
The Westlake Protectors will be meeting on July 3, 2008 at 6:00 PM at 1810 James M Wood Bl.

The JR Protectors will be meeting on July 16, 2008 at 4:30 PM at 1810 James M Wood Bl.

If you or someone you know is having discipline problems with a child, contact the Community Relations Office for guidance at 213-847-1903.

Basic Car 2A79
Senior Lead Officer Amanda Serrano, Cell Phone No. 213-793-0776
E-mail:  26603@lapd.lacity.org

The boundaries for Basic Car 2A79 are from Third Street, south to 11th Street and Union Avenue east to the 110 freeway.

SLO News
I will be on vacation from June 18 through July 6.  During my vacation, please feel free to call SLO Braendle at 213 793-0777 should you have any questions.

As a reminder, 3-1-1 is the City number for most non-emergency services i.e.:  graffiti removal, bulky item pick-up, tree trimming and pot holes.  This number is available to Angelenos 24/7.   You do not need to be the property owner to call in for services.  If you see graffiti on a wall, call 3-1-1  and  report it.  The operator will ask you for the location address, whether it is a business, residence, wall, and they will usually ask you for the color of the wall and the color of the graffiti so that they can request the best possible paint for removal.  Should you see bulky items on the sidewalk or in the street, please call 3-1-1 with the address and a description of the items to be picked up i.e. furniture, mattresses, etc.  Calling 3-1-1 will take 2 minutes out of your day, but it will be a tremendous help to the community.

Should you require police service for a non-emergency matter, please call 1-877-ASK-LAPD.   The non-emergency number is perfect for situations where either a person is not in immediate danger of injury or death, and property is not being stolen.  9-1-1 remains the number to call for immediate police assistance.  9-1-1 will provide quicker response than calling the division's front desk or calling the Senior Lead Officer's cell phone.

Crime Trends
RAMPART  RANKINGS AS OF 5/31/2008
              RAMPART        OCB      CITY

Violent           -2.4             -4.4         -6.5

Property         -7.9             -0.7        -7.1

Shot Fired       -13           -20.7       -22.9

Shooting Victim  0              3.4         -9.7

New Station Update

We are still on track for moving into the new station located at1401 W. 6th St.  Detectives and patrol will move in during the weekend of July 25.  The grand opening will take place on Thursday, September 4.

A Final Farewell
I'm sad to report that one of my Block Captains passed away this month.   Adriana Vasquez was a well known fixture in the Rampart Community.  Adriana lived in the area 37 years and was one of the original members of the MASH-LA neighborhood watch groups.  I first met Adriana in 1994.  She was a strong willed woman determined to regain her neighborhood.   In addition to MASH-LA, Adriana volunteered with the Kid's Watch group and the Senior's Group.  In 2006, Adriana was honored by the District Attorney's Office for her dedication to the community.  Adriana will be greatly missed.

Basic Car 2A91
Senior Lead Officer Iris Santin, Cell Phone No. 213-793-0773
E-mail:  31383@lapd.lacity.org

The boundaries for Basic Car 2A91 start south from Pico Boulevard to the Santa Monica Freeway, between Hoover Street and Normandie Avenue.  Our area is divided up into four districts which we refer to as Reporting Districts or "RD's." Our RD's are 281, 282, 291 and 292.

Crime Trends
Burglary from Motor Vehicle crimes have decreased throughout 2A91's basic car area.  Patrol officers have made arrests on several suspects in areas where burglary from vehicles have been excessive.  Remember, if you must leave valuable items in your car, lock them in your trunk.  Do not leave any items inside your car that may be visible to potential burglars.

Robberies have been on the decline.  Patrol officers have also made excellent robbery arrests in the area of Pico Bl and Magnolia Av.   Be sure to remember that it is safer to travel in a group than by yourself.  If potential robbers approach you, cooperate with their instructions.  Immediately contact the police by calling 911 (Emergency).  Obtain a description of the suspect's physical appearance, clothing, weapons, actions and any vehicle descriptions including license plate numbers. 

Gangs
Heavy graffiti has been seen in the area of 1750 S Westmoreland Av.  If you see any graffiti that needs to be removed contact Central City Action Committee at 213-241-0908.  If you have any information regarding gang activity please contact Rampart Gang Detail at 213-427-1530.

Significant Arrest
On 06-03-08, LAPD Rampart Officers Abner and Santos arrested two violent "Drifters" gang members.  These gangsters were robbing and harassing citizens in the area of Pico/Union for several weeks.  The arrest was based on information received from a citizen in the area.  Based on this information, the officers were able to conduct a follow-up and make an arrest.

Meetings
Everyone is invited to the Pico-Union Neighborhood Council Meeting:
July 14, 2008  6:00 PM
Magnolia Elementary School
1626 S Orchard Av (Staff Lunch Area)

Recruitment
www.lapdonline.org

Basic Car 2A98
Senior Lead Officer Patty Braendle, Cell Phone No. 213-793-0777
E-mail:  33655@lapd.lacity.org

The boundaries for Basic Car 2A98 include 11th Street to the north, the 10 freeway to the south, the 110 freeway to the east, and Hoover to the west.  There are five reporting districts (RD's) within this basic car; 276, 286, 296, 289 and 299.  Pico-Union has an active Neighborhood council that can be contacted at phone number (213) 386-0016.  I would encourage all citizens in Pico-Union to become involved with the Neighborhood Council and the pro-active work in the area.

Crime Trends
Please lock all your windows and doors at your residence when you leave the house.  The heat tends to have people keep windows or sliders open to keep the house from getting too hot and stuffy.  This is what the criminals look for an easy target such as a vehicle window cracked open or a house window left open. 

Grand Theft Auto
A grand theft auto occurred on 6/20/08 between 6:00 and 8:00 PM at Venice and Burlington.  The vehicle taken was a 1994 Dodge Caravan.  There were no suspects seen.

A grand theft auto occurred on 6/15/08 at 10:30 PM and 6/16/08 at 6:00 AM  at 1350 S Bonnie Brae.  The vehicle taken was a 1989 Oldsmobile.  There were no suspects seen.

Burglary
A residential burglary occurred at 2024 W 12th St on 6/14/08 between 7:00 AM and 10:00 PM.  Unknown suspects pried the front door open and entered residence taking a camera and stereo.

Traffic Concerns
It is summer so please be careful of more pedestrians out and about walking.  Children are out of school so please be aware of your driving and give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.  Also, please be aware of all the pedestrians in the area of 11th St and Union when the Salvation Army programs are released.

Additional
Upcoming events: The Pico Union Neighborhood Watch Meeting will be held at 1030 S Alvarado on July 15th at 6:00 PM. The CRA meeting will be held on July 8th at 6:30 PM at 1200 S Union.  The Pico Union Neighborhood Council Meeting will be held at Pico Union Villa on July 14th at 6:30 PM. The Rampart C-PAB meeting will be held on July 1st at 6:30 PM at Good Samaritan Hospital.  If you would like more information on either of these meetings or would like to start a new neighborhood watch in your area please feel free to contact me.  You can also find information on our LAPD website: www.lapdonline.org.