Mountain Views News          Saturday, February 9, 2013

4

Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 9, 2013 


Officer Placed On 
Administrative Leave

Rose Bowl 
Officials 
Probe Super 
Bowl Power 
Failure

 Keeping to his word, 
Pasadena Police Chief 
Phillip Sanchez took action 
Thursday against two officers 
following a mistrial ruling by 
Los Angeles Superior Court 
Judge Larry Fidler involving 
a 2007 Homicide. 

 Sanchez placed Officer 
Kevin Okamoto on paid 
administrative leave and 
temporarily re-assigned 
Corporal William Broghamer 
from the Homicide/Assaults 
Unit, pending an internal 
investigation. 

 “The Pasadena Police 
Department has an 
obligation to swiftly and 
thoroughly investigate 
allegations of misconduct. 
The allegations that have 
been levied against these 
officers are serious and the 
Pasadena Police Department 
will conduct a thorough 
investigation,” Sanchez said 
in a press statement.

 Allegations against 
Okamoto started with a 
complaint by Michael Kraut, 
an attorney for Edward 
Damas, one of the co-
defendants in a 2009 case 
involving a bar fight. Kraut 
claimed violations of “hiding 
or failure to turn over to 
the defense evidence that is 
either exonerating evidence, 
or leads to exonerating 
evidence, towards guilt or 
punishment.”

 The case, thrown out 
Thursday, involved Pasadena 
resident Jerrell Sanford, 
accused of being the getaway 
driver, in of killing Shawn 
Baptiste during a drive by 
shooting 2007. According 
to the defense attorney, 
Andrew Stein, Okamoto 
and Broghamer purposely 
withheld information from 
a woman who said Sanford 
was not involved. The witness 
said someone else was. 

Kraut, said in an interview 
six months ago, he thought 
Okamoto was playing by his 
own rules. 

 Numerous reports also 
alleged officers made death 
threats, kidnapped witnesses, 
engaged in beating a witness 
in custody and committed 
bribery.

 The allegations are being 
investigated by the Los 
Angeles County Sheriff’s 
Department.

 The district attorney’s 
office said Thursday that 
prosecutors have not decided 
to either drop the case or 
retry Sanford.


By Dean Lee

 Local officials said they will 
review extensively the strange 
power failure during the 
Super Bowl Sunday night at 
the Superdome to make sure 
safeguards are in place should 
such a situation happen at the 
Rose Bowl Stadium.

 “Out of all the things that we 
worry about in the operations 
of the stadium, it’s actually the 
one [power failure] that I worry 
the most about,” City manager 
Michael Beck said. “In all the 
areas, there is just so much that 
can go wrong. 

Beck said Monday night that 
specific procedures would not 
be revealed, “So they can’t be 
interfered with on a terrorist 
perspective. I can tell you we 
provide multiple redundancies 
on the power supply side.”

 He also said they are capable 
of taking away the automatic 
functionality of the electric 
system for a Rose Bowl or BCS 
championship game.

 “We are looking very closely at 
what happen at the stadium in 
New Orleans and find out what 
the issues were,” beck said. 

 He also said they have more 
options because the city owns 
and runs its power company 
the PWP, Pasadena Water and 
Power. 

 Superdome officials said the 
cause of the 34 minute blackout 
was a piece of equipment that is 
designed to monitor electrical 
load sensed an abnormality in 
the system. Once the issue was 
detected, the sensing equipment 
operated as designed and 
opened a breaker, causing 
power to be partially cut to the 
Superdome in order to isolate 
the issue. Backup generators 
kicked in immediately as 
designed. 

Work Begins On Fire Station 39

 

 Construction workers 
began removing windows 
and other preliminary stuff 
this week as part of the $1.78 
million seismic retrofit and 
rehabilitation of Pasadena 
Fire Station 39 —expected to 
be completed later this year. 

 Pasadena Public Information 
Officer, William Boyer, 
said there will be a formal 
groundbreaking ceremony 
planned for 11:30 a.m., 
Saturday, March 2. Mayor Bill 
Bogaard, Councilmember 
Steve Madison, Fire Chief 
Calvin Wells and other city 
officials will be on hand for 
the ceremony he said. 

 “Our firefighters serve the 
public every day and this 
important seismic retrofit 
and remodel will provide 
our personnel with an 
environmentally friendly 
and safe building to operate 
from while on duty. The 
fire station will also meet 
essential facility standards 
and improve public access to 
the station,” Fire Wells said. 

 Project highlights includes 
seismic and engineering 
improvements to help 
the building withstand 
a major earthquake; 
improving accessibility and 
meeting ADA standards; 
increasing the building’s 
energy efficiency; extensive 
remodeling of all interior 
living, kitchen and office 
spaces; new utility systems, 
fire sprinklers and alarm 
systems; a new patio deck and 
a new emergency generator 
room. The project is 
estimated to be completed in 
late 2013, weather permitting 
Boyer said. 

 Built in 1952, the brick 
exterior of the two-story, 
4,400-square-foot building 
has historic significance 
and improvement work was 
specifically planned to retain 
the exterior while completing 
the extensive interior remodel 
and seismic upgrade. The 
city design team worked 
with Pasadena Heritage, to 
develop a sensible project 
that retains the building’s 
historic brick exterior using 
State historic preservation 
guidelines. 

 The project is being managed 
by the Pasadena Department 
of Public Works. 

 Funding came from the 
City’s Capital Improvement 
Project Fund. The project 
bid went to local general 
contractor Mallcraft Inc. 

 For more information, 
contact Assistant City 
Engineer Steve Wright at 
(626) 744-4695.

 Groundbreaking 
Ceremony Set 
March 2


Chief Phillip Sanchez

Deputies Arrest Suspect 

for Indecent Exposure 

 Deputies from the Altadena 
Station arrested Dejuan 
Robertson after he reportedly 
entered the residence of a 91 
year-old Altadena woman and 
exposed himself to her. The 
victim reportedly was able to 
convince the suspect to leave 
the location without harming 
her. 

 Robertson was located a few 
blocks away from the victim’s 
residence and then was arrested 
after the victim positively 
identified him. 

 The case was presented to the 
Los Angeles District Attorney’s 
Office on Tuesday where 
they charged Robertson with 
one felony count of Indecent 
Exposure after Unlawful Entry. 

 The suspect has previous 
convictions for Auto Theft, 
Burglary, Battery on a Police 
Officer, and a Weapons 
Violation.

legislation 
Introduced 
to Regulate 
Helicopter 
Noise

Free Tours of Tournament 

of Roses House to Resume

 
Congressman Adam Schiff 
and Senators Dianne Feinstein 
and Barbara Boxer introduced 
legislation last week that would 
require the Federal Aviation 
Administration to provide 
Los Angeles County residents 
relief from the noise and safety 
concerns caused by low-flying 
helicopters above residential 
neighborhoods. 

 The Los Angeles Residential 
Helicopter Noise Relief Act 
would establish regulations 
on flight paths and minimum 
altitudes for helicopter 
operations in Los Angeles 
County. Feinstein and Schiff 
hope that the legislation will 
prompt the FAA to act, and if 
passed, will require the agency 
to finally address numerous 
resident complaints. They were 
joined by other Los Angeles 
congressional colleagues, 
including Congressmen 
Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and 
Brad Sherman (D-Calif.).

 “Los Angeles area residents 
living in Glendale, Pasadena, 
the Valley, the Hollywood 
Hills, West Hollywood and 
other areas are especially 
affected by intrusive, disruptive 
and often non-emergency 
related helicopter traffic above 
their neighborhoods,” said 
Congressman Schiff. “The 
terrain of canyons around the 
Rose Bowl concentrates low-
flying helicopter noise to high 
levels, and Hollywood Hills 
and West Hollywood residents 
frequently suffer from noise 
generated by celebrity news 
media that follow stars to 
the beach, the grocery store, 
or for court appearances. 
The residents in these areas 
deserve peace and quiet, and if 
the FAA won’t act, Congress 
must pass this legislation to 
give residents the relief they 
need.”

 Under the legislation 
sponsored by Schiff, Feinstein 
and Boxer, the FAA would be 
required to exercise its legal 
authority to set guidelines on 
flight paths and minimum 
altitudes for helicopter 
operators in residential areas 
in Los Angeles County within 
12 months of being signed 
into law. Exemptions would be 
provided for law enforcement, 
emergency responders and the 
U.S. military.

Symphony Makes Statement 
on Passing of James DePreist

Pet of the 
Week

 

 The Pasadena Symphony is 
saddened to learn about James 
DePreist’s sudden passing. Our 
thoughts and prayers are with 
his wife Ginette, his family, and 
his friends and colleagues.

 “It is with the heaviest of hearts 
that we mourn the passing of 
our dear friend and Artistic 
Advisor James DePreist. 
Maestro DePreist, or Jimmy 
as he preferred to be called, 
was not only a consummate 
musician and trailblazing 
conductor, but also the most 
thoughtful, loving and centered 
human being who touched us 
all so deeply”, states Paul Jan 
Zdunek, Chief Executive Officer 
of the Pasadena Symphony 
Association, “It is fitting that we 
remember his life and spirit this 
weekend with the previously 
scheduled Symphony No. 4 
of Gustav Mahler which ends 
with an ethereal movement 
describing ‘The Heavenly Life.’”

 
During his time in Pasadena, he 
was beloved in our community 
and made an enormous impact 
with everyone he encountered 
as our Artistic Advisor. DePreist 
made an indelible impact 
with his vision and artistic 
guidance. He was a great friend 
and his work with orchestras 
around the world will leave an 
unforgettable legacy. His was a 
giant in American music and a 
true national treasure.

 
Tournament House, part of 
the operating headquarters 
of the Pasadena Tournament 
of Roses Association, which 
oversees the annual Rose 
Parade presented by Honda 
and Rose Bowl Game 
presented by VIZIO, will 
re-open for weekly public 
tours on Feb. 7. Tours will 
be offered, at no cost, each 
Thursday, at 2 p.m. and 3 
p.m. through August 29. 
Reservations are not required 
except for groups of 15 or 
more.

Located at 391 S. Orange 
Grove Blvd, the house was 
once the home of chewing 
gum magnate William 
Wrigley Jr. and his wife, 
Ada. After Ada’s death in 
1958, the Wrigley family 
presented the property to 
the city of Pasadena, with 
the request that it become 
the base of operations for 
the Tournament of Roses 
Association; the Wrigley 
family had long enjoyed the 
Rose Parade as it unfolded 
just beyond their front yard.

Guided tours allow visitors 
to see the 21-room Italian-
Renaissance-style mansion 
designed and built in 1906 
by architect G. Lawrence 
Stimson and his father George 
W. Stimson, a local builder. 
Tournament volunteers from 
its Heritage Committee, well-
versed in the organization’s 
history as well as in the details 
of the house itself, conduct 
the tours.

 Papo is a very friendly and 
outgoing two-year-old New 
Zealand white rabbit. He 
loves affection and enjoys 
having his head scratched.

 Papo’s regular adoption 
fee is $30, which includes 
his neuter surgery, a 
microchip, the first set of 
vaccinations, as well as 
a free follow-up health 
check at a participating vet. 
New adopters will receive 
complimentary health and 
wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well 
as a goody bag filled with 
information on how to 
care for your pet. Ask an 
adoptions counselor for 
more information during 
your visit 

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA at 
626.792.7151 to ask about 
A320486, or visit at 361 S. 
Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. 
Adoption hours are 11-4 
Sunday, 9-5 Tuesday –
Friday, 9-4 Saturday. Pets 
may not be available for 
adoption and cannot be 
held for potential adopters 
from phone calls or email. 
Directions and photos of all 
pets can be found at www.
pasadenahumane.org. 

Learn How to Produce 
Your Own TV Show

 Pasadena Media offers a free 
television-training program 
for volunteers. Various Areas 
of training are available to 
Pasadena residents. Plan 
to attend an orientation to 
discover the right classes for 
you. Producers’ Training 
teaches citizens how to 
produce their own show for 
The Arroyo Channel. Studio 
Production/Equipment 
training is also offered for 
volunteer crewmembers. In 
addition, on-going training 
and memberships are available 
in our citizen journalism and 
digital film groups. Call the 
office (626) 794-8585 or go 
to PASADENAMEDIA.ORG 
explore all that Pasadena Media 
has to offer.


Free Gun Disposal Offered 

By Police Department 

 

 Police Chief Phillip Sanchez 
reminds citizens that they may 
dispose of unwanted firearms 
through the Pasadena Police 
Department. All types of 
firearms are accepted, including 
pistols, rifles, shotguns, antiques, 
or replicas, regardless of their 
condition. There is no cost 
associated with surrendering 
your firearm. 

 Community members can 
request a police officer to 
respond to their home or 
business in Pasadena, where 
they can surrender the weapon. 
Individuals may also transport 
the unloaded weapon to the 
Pasadena Police Department 
at 207 N. Garfield Avenue, 
Pasadena CA. If you intend to 
transport the firearm into the 
police station, call beforehand at 
(626) 744-4241. 

 Gun registration or related 
paperwork is helpful, although 
not necessary to voluntarily 
surrender the firearm. 

 The police department also 
accepts unwanted ammunition; 
however, military ordinance 
requires special handling and 
will be evaluated for safe disposal 
by law enforcement personnel 
on a case by case basis. 

 Removing unwanted firearms 
by turning them into law 
enforcement is an important 
step citizens can take to ensure 
guns never end up in unintended 
hands and possibly used in a 
violent crime.

Class Offerings 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Nightly

Orientation: 1st & 3rd Monday

Producers’ Training 2nd & 4th Monday

Camera 1st & 3rd Tuesday

Character Generator 2nd & 4th Tuesday

Lighting 1st & 3rd Wednesday

Audio 2nd & 4th Wednesday

Video Tape Operator 1st & 3rd Thursday

Technical Director 2nd & 4th Thursday

Stage Manager 1st & 3rd Friday

Teleprompter 2nd & 4th Friday

Citizen Journalism Every Tuesday

Digital Film Group Every Thursday