UPDATE: Vehicle Involved in Felony Hit and Run Traffic Collision Has Been Located

On October 18, 2023, at 4:36 p.m., Monterey Park Police Officers responded to a call of a hit-and-run injury traffic collision at the intersection of New Avenue and Garvey Avenue. Surveillance cameras captured a driver of a white Ford box truck failing to stop for a red light and broadsiding a sedan. The driver fled the scene in the box truck, last seen traveling southbound on Garfield Avenue toward the 60 freeway. The box truck sustained significant front-end damage.

The Monterey Park Fire Department extricated the injured occupants of the sedan with the jaws of life and transported them to a nearby hospital where they are being treated for life-threatening injuries. The collision is under investigation by the Monterey Park Police Department Traffic Bureau.

The still images are of the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run collision. Investigators are asking persons who witnessed the collision or who have any information to contact Traffic Investigator D. Castellano at (626) 307-1240 or the Watch Commander at (626) 307-1200.

MPK City Council Extends Condolences to Lewiston, Maine, Mass Shooting Victims and Their Families

The City Council of Monterey Park extends its deepest condolences and sympathy to the victims and their families affected by the tragic mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine. Our thoughts are with you during this incredibly difficult time.

The entire nation was shaken by the recent events in Lewiston, and we stand in solidarity with the residents of your city as they cope with the aftermath of this senseless act of violence. No community should ever have to endure such a devastating tragedy.

As a city that has also experienced the pain and heartache of mass gun violence, we know the heavy burden and scars that such events leave on a community. Our residents understand all too well the pain of loss and the long road to healing. It is in this shared experience of tragedy that we offer our heartfelt condolences and unwavering support to the people of Lewiston.

As the City of Monterey Park offers its heartfelt condolences to the people of Lewiston, Maine, we also stand united in our determination to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. The City of Monterey Park, in the spirit of unity and national concern, urges our country’s leaders to prioritize the need for comprehensive reforms to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future.

MPPD Awarded Grant for Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program from the Office of Traffic Safety

Monterey Park Police Department has received a $25,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to support its Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program. This grant will allow us to promote safe practices for pedestrians and bicyclists and provide education about the importance of sharing the road.

“Everyone deserves a safe environment to travel, regardless of how people get to places,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “The safety of people walking and biking on our roads is a high priority. Education plays a pivotal role in creating a strong road safety culture that prioritizes traffic safety, especially for our most vulnerable road users.”

Grant funds will support a variety of activities focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety:

• Bicycle training courses that educate youth on safe riding behaviors.
• Helmet fitting inspections and distribution of helmets to those in need.
• Community and school education presentations.

The grant program will run through September 2024. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

MPPD Awarded Grant from the OTS for Traffic Enforcement Program to Increase Safety on Roads

The Monterey Park Police Department was awarded a $178,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). The grant will support our ongoing enforcement and education programs to help reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths on our roads.

“This funding will strengthen our commitment to public safety in our community,” Police Chief Scott Wiese said. “We will be able to increase our efforts in making our roads safer for everyone and focus on critical areas such as distracted driving, impaired driving and speeding.”

The grant will provide additional programs and resources, including:

• DUI checkpoints and patrols focused on stopping suspected impaired drivers.
• High-visibility distracted driving enforcement operations targeting drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.
• Enforcement operations focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of people biking or walking at risk.
• Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running, and improper turning or lane changes.
• Community presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
• Collaborative enforcement efforts with neighboring agencies.
• Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

The grant program will run through September 2024. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.