Report on Monrovia's Operation Safe Neighborhood

Stats for Operation Safe Neighborhood

At the March 5 meeting of the Monrovia City Council, Police Chief Jim Hunt will recommend continuing the Operation Safe Neighborhoods Program ( http://goo.gl/OMcBR ). He listed "a number of significant events over the past year from the City’s Operation Safe Neighborhoods and Gang Task Force efforts." Here are some, from Hunt's report:

- On September 15, 2012, Monrovia Nuevo Varrio gang members drove by a house in the 100 block of East Los Angeles Street and shot at subjects sitting on the front porch. They struck a   female adult with a shotgun round. The victim was not a gang member. Monrovia officers were  handling a loud party call nearby and heard the shots. Officers responded to the location while other officers checked the freeway for the suspects. Officers located the suspect vehicle on the 210 freeway and followed it south on the 605 freeway. The suspects tossed the shotgun out on the 605 freeway. Three gang members were in the vehicle and were arrested. The shotgun was recovered. The victim survived her injuries and the suspects are being prosecuted for attempted murder.

- Chaplain Jerry Johnson responded to the death of a sixteen year old teenager who had committed suicide on July 11, 2012. He counseled the family and assisted with the process of dealing with the coroner. Chaplain Johnson also counseled the young lady’s boyfriend who arrived on the scene. On his return, he met with the officers who had responded to deal with the initial call.

- Several weeks later, the team who works with MAGIC, Lt. Ortlund, Officer Bushmeyer and Chaplain Brown participated in an event addressing teenage suicide at Monrovia High School. This is one more example of how our personnel interact with the community regarding at-risk youth.

- The Monrovia Police Department was recognized by the California Regional Community Policing Institute with the Community Policing Finalist Award for the Operation Safe Neighborhoods program. This program which included innovative suppression, intervention and prevention components resulted in a 64% decrease in gang crime in Monrovia over the last five years.

- Brad Haugaard