Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, January 12, 2019

SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2019

AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

NEWS FROM THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT


By Joan Schmidt

 On December 3, retired Lieutenant Alex Villanueva 
was sworn in as our new Sheriff and appointed a new 
Executive Staff: Undersheriff Ray Leyva, Assistant 
Sheriffs Bob Olmsted, Maria Gutierrez and Tim 
Murakami. After contacting Leyva and Lieutenant 
Valencia, I have received many media releases to 
share each month. Many are sad; LASD Homicide 
Department is usually called in to assist other agencies. 
But many are good news to report.

 Since taking office, Sheriff Villanueva met with 
LA County C.E.O. Sachi Hanai to discuss body 
worn cameras to provide transparency and clarity in 
protecting residents. (As promised in his campaign.) 
The original estimation was four years, $55 million per 
year and 200 new personnel. Now, a lower cost- $1.3 
million per year, minimal staffing increase. Next step: 
meet with the Board of Supervisors.

 Sheriff Villanueva attended Christmas Mass, 
presided by Archbishop Gomez at County Jail with 
inmates. In the jail system, all religious needs are met. 
The Religious and Volunteer Services Office (RVS) 
administers the Jail Chaplaincy who coordinate all 
religious activity within the jail and ensures that 
inmates have access to ministers of their own faith. 
Assisting RVS is the Religious Advisory Council- six 
liaison chaplains representing Catholic, Protestant, 
Jewish, Islamic, Christ Scientist and Jehovah Witness 
Faiths. An important part of rehabilitation, the Jail 
Chaplaincy Program aids in reducing recidivism, by 
fostering stronger community relations.

 On January 4, Sheriff Villanueva presided over 
graduation ceremonies of Academy Class 433. He 
was joined by Chief Sandra Spagnoli, Beverly Hills 
PD; Chief Carl Povilaitis, Glendale PD; Interim 
Chief Michael Ishii, Hawthorne PD; Chief Mark 
Fronterotta, Inglewood PD; and Chief Steven K. 
Zipperman, LA School PD. Of the 82 graduating 
recruits, 8 were born outside the US in the countries 
of El Salvador, Guatemala, Israel, Mexico, Philippines 
and South Korea; 10 recruits lived abroad in the 
countries of Afghanistan, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Japan, 
Korea, Mexico and Philippines; 44 speak a language 
other than English: German, Greek, Hebrew, Ilocano, 
Korean, Spanish and Tagalog.

 On December 27, Deputy Garrett Rifkin returned 
to West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station to full duty, patrol 
car with a prosthetic left leg! The prior August 3, on 
the way to work, he was involved in a hit and run, 
sustaining serious injury to his lower left leg, which 
could not be saved, but Deputy Rifkin is not a quitter. 
Welcome back. You are a very brave man and real asset 
to the Department.

 Among the Media alerts I received from LASD 
were their Homicide Bureau assisting other agencies 
with homicide investigations; Lieutenant Moiner 
and the SEB (Special Enforcement Bureau) assisting 
Culver City PD with an armed barricaded suspect 
in the 3900 block of Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City on 
January 7. SEB deputies and the Crisis Negotiation 
Team responded to the location to bring about a 
peaceful resolution which occurred after several hours 
of negotiations.

 Those with information pertaining to an 
investigation or missing person, please call LASD 
Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5555. If you with to 
remain Anonymous- call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-
TIPS (8477)

 VERY SPECIAL THANKS to LASD’s 
OUTSTANDING Sheriff’s Information Bureau, 
providing me with so much info. I am sorry there isn’t 
more space to share more.


THE FROSTIG CENTER TO HOST BENEFIT 

FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DIFFERENCES


Benefit organizers, Left to Right—Volunteer Heather Fung, Frostig Trustee Nancy Hogg, Frostig Executive 
Director Dean Conklin, and Trustees Phyllis Kochavi and Linda Moore.

Pasadena, CA – The Frostig Center, a non-profit 
organization dedicated to improving the lives 
of children with learning differences, will hold 
its benefit dinner on Saturday, February 9, at the 
Altadena Town & Country Club.

 Guests will enjoy an evening of dining and 
entertainment and have opportunities to bid on 
a tempting array of vacations, 
artwork, jewelry and special 
events. NBC4 Southern California 
Weathercaster Fritz Coleman will 
be the master of ceremonies.

 Proceeds from the event will 
support Frostig School, which 
enrolls 130 students in grades 1-12 
who have learning challenges. 

 The silent and live auctions will 
have something for everyone. Art 
lovers, for instance, may bid on 
work by Frank Gehry, Kenton 
Nelson and David Trulli, while 
music fans will have the chance to 
take home a copy of The Beatles’ 
White Album signed by Paul 
McCartney and Ringo Starr and 
a guitar autographed by members 
of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. 

 “The Frostig benefit dinner is always a fun 
and uplifting evening,” Executive Director Dean 
Conklin said. “It gives the community a moment 
to celebrate and support students who work hard 
every day to overcome their learning challenges.”

 Frostig School enrolls boys and girls in 
grades 1-12 who have learning 
differences such as dyslexia, 
auditory processing disorders, 
ADHD, and high functioning 
autism. Frostig School draws 
students from throughout the 
greater Los Angeles area with 
its strong academic curriculum, 
robust arts program, and on-site 
clinical services.

 

 The benefit begins at 6 p.m. 
Saturday, February 9 at the 
Altadena Town & Country Club, 
2290 Country Club Drive in 
Altadena. Tickets are $150 per 
person and can be purchased by 
calling The Frostig Center at 626-
791-1255.


NBC4 Southern California 
Weathercaster Fritz Coleman


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com