Police Department Citizens Academy Class to Begin January 2019

For community members looking for an insider’s view of the Monterey Park Police Department, the Citizens Academy may be just what they’re looking for. Citizens Academy provides an exciting, dynamic and informative course that meets once a week for eleven weeks. It is designed to provide residents and non-residents an interactive, hands-on, comprehensive overview of the Monterey Park Police Department and the city. Classes include an introduction to the detective bureau, K-9 units, patrol procedures and other various department programs.

Sign up now to participate in this exciting and informative experience. The class meets Thursday evenings for eleven weeks from 6:15 to 9 p.m. The first class will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2019. The course will culminate on Thursday, April 11, 2019. Upon completion of the program participants will receive a certificate of achievement.

Applications may be picked up at the Monterey Park Police Department’s Community Services Bureau at 320 W. Newmark Avenue, mailed to you, or downloaded from the department’s website under the Community Services Bureau tab.

Minimum age of participants is 16 years; minors under the age of 18 years must have a signed parental consent form on file. Participants cannot have any felony convictions, be on parole or probation, or have been arrested within the past year. Participants do not need to be Monterey Park residents to enroll in this class, but residents do get priority admission. For further information or to have an application mailed to you, please contact Sergeant Paul Yniguez at 626-307-1253 or any other member of the Community Services Bureau at 626-307-1215.

Pedestrian Involved Injury Traffic Collision on North Atlantic Boulevard

On October 23, 2018 at 6:41 a.m., Monterey Park Police officers responded to a call of a traffic collision in the 100 block of North Atlantic Boulevard. An elderly male pedestrian was crossing Atlantic Boulevard mid-block between Garvey Avenue and Emerson Avenue when he was struck by a vehicle travelling northbound on Atlantic Boulevard.

The Monterey Park Fire Department transported the pedestrian to a nearby hospital where he is being treated for his injuries.

The cause of the collision is under investigation by the Monterey Park Police Department Traffic Bureau. The 62 year old female driver of the vehicle stopped after the collision and is cooperating with the investigation. Alcohol and/or drugs are not believed to be a factor at this time.

Investigators are asking that if anyone witnessed the collision they contact the Monterey Park Police Department Watch Commander at 626-307-1200.

Monterey Park Police Department Receives Traffic Education and Enforcement Grant

The Monterey Park Police Department has been awarded a $105,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long enforcement and public awareness program. The traffic safety program is intended to educate the public on safe roadway habits and deter people from violating traffic laws or practicing other unsafe behaviors that lead to injuries and fatalities.

“We appreciate the partnership we have with the California Office of Traffic Safety. The grant funds we receive will be well spent in educating our community on safe driving and pedestrian habits. Additionally, it will assist us in providing for enforcement of violations that are the primary factor in collisions that result in injury or death,” said Monterey Park Police Chief Jim Smith. “The goal is to make our community safer.”

The grant from OTS will fund various education and enforcement activities for the 2019 federal fiscal year (October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019):

• DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols to take suspected alcohol/drug-impaired drivers – and those unlicensed or with a revoked/suspended license – off the road.

• Traffic safety education presentations for youth and community members on distracted, impaired and teen driving, and bicycle/pedestrian safety.
• Patrols at intersections with increased incidents of pedestrian and bike collisions.
• Checking for seat belt and child safety seat compliance.
• Motorcycle safety operations in areas with high rider volume and where higher rate of motorcycle crashes occur.
• Speeding, red light and stop sign enforcement.
• Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets” identifying repeat DUI offenders
• Specialized DUI and drugged driving training to identify and apprehend suspected impaired drivers.

In 2016, 3,623 people were killed in crashes across the state, a 7 percent increase from 2015 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Particularly alarming is the rise in pedestrian deaths, with 867 pedestrians killed on California roadways in 2016, a nearly 33 percent increase from 2012. Along with the growing dangers of distracting technologies like phones and drug-impaired driving, this grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these dangerous and illegal behaviors.

“Almost all crashes are preventable,” OTS director Rhonda Craft said. “Education and enforcement go hand in hand helping change behaviors that cause devastating crashes.”

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Monterey Park Police Warn of Phone Fraudsters Posing as Water Department Employees

The Monterey Park Police Department has recently investigated cases of theft by false pretense. This fraud has occurred when the victim received a telephone call from a male or female suspect posing as an employee of the City of Monterey Park Water Department. The suspects have told the victim that they were in jeopardy of having their water shut off unless they called a toll-free number and establish a payment plan. If the call was made to the number provided, an official-sounding person requested payment using pre-paid cash cards to clear the account.

The City of Monterey Park does not make solicitation phone calls for utility payments. The City of Monterey Park does not accept pre-paid cash cards for utility payments.

Tips to prevent phone fraud:

• Never reveal personal information, credit card numbers, PIN numbers or account numbers to anyone.
• Never call back the number provided by an unknown caller.
• Always ask for the name, agency, department and business number.
• Never send payment to anyone using cash cards or pre-paid cards unless the caller’s identity is verified. Most businesses do not accept payment to settle accounts using these methods.
• If you have questions, call the police non-emergency number in your area. Not all incidents are crimes, however the information is important.

If you suspect you may be a victim of this type of fraud and reside or own a business in the City of Monterey Park, please contact the Monterey Park Police Department at 626-573-1311. If you reside or own a business outside of the City of Monterey Park and suspect you have been a victim of this scheme please contact your local police department to report the crime.

Monterey Park Police Announce Arrests of Auto Burglary Suspects

On November 3, 2018 at approximately 2:25 a.m., an officer stopped a vehicle in the 2000 block of South Atlantic Boulevard in the City of Monterey Park. The subsequent investigation led to the identification of property that had been taken in numerous vehicle burglaries that night.

The driver and both passengers were subsequently arrested for numerous charges including burglary (459 PC) and possession of stolen property (496 PC).

The suspects are identified as:

Luis Antonio Flores, 31. Claudia Victoria Moreno, 25. Adrian Alfonso Molina, 26.

All three subjects are from Los Angeles and appeared at the Alhambra Superior Court on November 6, 2018 for arraignment.