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Portrait of Captain Mark Reyes in uniform, sitting infront of the American Flag
MARK REYES PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN- TEMPLE STATION 819 1024 SIB Staff

MARK REYES PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN- TEMPLE STATION

PROMOTION ANNOUNCEMENT – MARK REYES PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN, TEMPLE STATION

Mark Reyes has been selected by the area contract cities and Sheriff Alex Villanueva as the next Captain of Temple Sheriff Station (TEM), following the recent retirement of Captain David Flores.  This will be Reyes’ second tour at TEM, having previously been assigned there as a lieutenant.

Reyes began his time on the Department as an explorer at 16 years old.  He was also a community service officer and a custody assistant prior to becoming a deputy.  In 1995, he became a custody deputy at Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood.  He worked in patrol at Transit Services Bureau and Industry Station.  He was a field training officer and a member of a gang task force with the Community Oriented Policing Bureau before promoting to sergeant.

Reyes served five years as a sergeant, both in custody and in the field.  He also worked as an investigator at Internal Affairs Bureau.
When Reyes promoted to lieutenant, he transferred to North County Correctional Facility where he worked as a watch commander.  He then transferred to TEM, where he served as a watch commander and Detective Bureau lieutenant.  From there, he moved to Narcotics Bureau where he was assigned as the operations lieutenant.

Since 2019, Reyes has served as an executive aide for Central Patrol Division, the Assistant Sheriff of Patrol Operations, and lastly, for the Undersheriff’s Office.

This will be Reyes’ first assignment as a captain.  He grew up in the TEM area and is a graduate of Rosemead High School.  He has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Union Institute & University and is fluent in reading, writing and speaking Spanish.  Reyes has two adult children; his daughter is a graduate of Azusa Pacific University and his son is a police officer for another local agency.  He enjoys traveling, golfing and spending time with his family and friends.  Reyes is also a recipient of the Department’s Meritorious Conduct Gold award for rescuing a pilot after an airplane crash.

Temple Station was established in 1926 and provides law enforcement services for the cities of Bradbury, Duarte, Rosemead, South El Monte, and Temple City, as well as the unincorporated areas of Arcadia, Monrovia, Pasadena and San Gabriel.  Reyes will be in charge of approximately 200 professional and sworn personnel who handle an average of 3,900 calls for service per month.

Multi-Agency Effort Nets Recovery of 33 Missing Children in Operation “Lost Angels” 506 414 SIB Staff

Multi-Agency Effort Nets Recovery of 33 Missing Children in Operation “Lost Angels”

Multi-Agency Effort Nets Recovery of 33 Missing Children in Operation “Lost Angels”

During the month of January, which is also Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department worked in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and two dozen other local law enforcement and non-governmental agencies to help identify, locate and safely recover children that had been missing or were possibly being sexually exploited and/or trafficked.

As a result of this multi-agency effort, which began on Monday, January 11, 2021, 33 children have successfully been found. 8 of those children were confirmed as being sexually exploited at the time they were found and 2 of them were rescued multiple times from a location in which commercial sex trafficking is known to operate.

This operation resulted in the arrest of one suspected Human Trafficker, on state charges, and helped to initiate several new investigations.

Throughout these operations, victims are provided with information about resources on how to obtain housing, continue their education and childcare, just to name a few. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the California Department of Child & Family Services and other non-government victim advocacy organizations were also on hand to provide their services and assist in any way.  

“Collaboration with our law enforcement partners is key to ending the vicious cycle of modern day slavery. I’m committed to doing everything we can to stop human trafficking,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the below partner agencies who helped make this operation successful:

California Highway Patrol

Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office

United States Attorney’s Office

United States Marshall’s Service

Internal Revenue Service

Drug Enforcement Agency

Health and Human Services

Inglewood Police Department

El Segundo Police Department

Pomona Police Department

Glendale Police Department

Long Beach Police Department

San Diego Police Department

Wichita Police Department

Langston University Police (Oklahoma)

San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office

Ventura County Sheriff’s Office

San Luis Obispo District Attorney Bureau of Investigation

Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

California Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services

Los Angeles County Probation Office

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Wayfinder Family Services

Arizona Department of Child Safety

For more information about this operation, visit:

33 missing children, including some who were sexually exploited, found during operation in SoCal: FBI
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/33-missing-children-including-some-who-were-sexually-exploited-found-during-multi-agency-operation-in-socal/

Anyone who believes they may be victims of human trafficking may call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline (NHTRC) at 888-373-7888 or visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org/ The NHTRC is a national, confidential, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls at all times.

Those who wish to report incidents of suspected human trafficking may call their Sheriff’s Station or local FBI office.

For more information about this operation, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department-Special Victims/Human Trafficking Bureau or the FBI Media Relations Office.

Picture of Sheriff Alex Villanueva infront of the L A City Skyline, Text reads, In the Community with Sheriff Villanueva – Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Monthly Update of Community Events, Press Conferences and Announcements
In the Community – January 15, 2021 1024 428 SIB Staff

In the Community – January 15, 2021

Transparency via SB 1421: Update

January 12, 2021

Since January 1, 2019, LASD received 3,725 SB-1421 record requests, and to date, 3,593 of those requests have been fulfilled.  In addition, 335 cases have been publicly posted on www.sheriff33.lasd.org under the “Transparency” tab.  There is more to come, now that funding has been approved for the much needed tracking and redaction software… READ MORE

LASD Sheriff Villanueva Responds to #VictimsMatter

January 7, 2021

Los Angeles County Sheriff Villanueva firmly believes, “We are not safer by putting the interests of offenders over the needs of victims of crime.”… READ MORE AND VIEW VIDEO

LASD Assists Our Public Health Partners in Distributing the COVID-19 Vaccine

January 6, 2021

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is proud to assist our public health partners in this historical and monumental mission to distribute the Covid-19 vaccine. The goal is to help slow the spread of COVID-19… READ MORE

Malibu Search and Rescue Team Rescues Injured Hiker 

January 05, 2021

Never a dull moment with the Malibu Search and Rescue Team. These types of specialized teams have been utilized during a critical call for service. Their swift action has resulted in saving countless lives. Just recently, an injured hiker recently was rescued from Malibu State Creek Park… READ MORE

Sheriff Alex Villanueva Recaps LASD and Super-Spreader Enforcement for December, 2020

DECEMBER 30, 2020

LASD Super-Spreader Enforcement Team has been hard at work tracking Super-Spreader events during the Month December, 2020… READ MORE

LASD Sheriff Alex Villanueva and the Dream Center Co-Founder Pastor Matthew Barnett Build Community Partnerships

December 31, 2020

The year 2020 has been a difficult and challenging time for many families and communities. It was a privilege to be a part of “The First Responders Toy Giveaway” event to show appreciation to the residents we serve… READ MORE AND VIEW VIDEO

Sheriff alex villanueva graphic. portrait of sheriff in tan shirt black tie. Sheriff's uniform, on greeen background with the hall of justice building behind him faded in the back ground.
DOJ NON-CRIMINAL “PATTERN AND PRACTICE” INVESTIGATION 1024 249 SIB Staff

DOJ NON-CRIMINAL “PATTERN AND PRACTICE” INVESTIGATION

DOJ NON-CRIMINAL “PATTERN AND PRACTICE” INVESTIGATION

January 22, 2021

As Sheriff, I look forward to this non-criminal “pattern and practice” investigation. Our Department may finally have an impartial, objective assessment of our operations, and recommendations on any areas we can improve our service to the community.  During my administration, we have routinely requested the State Office of the Attorney General to monitor our investigations, and we will provide immediate access to all information in our possession.  We are eager to get this process started, in the interest of transparency and accountability.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva

Sheriff alex villanueva graphic. portrait of sheriff in tan shirt black tie. Sheriff's uniform, on greeen background with the hall of justice building behind him faded in the back ground.
U.S. CAPITOL INCIDENT ALLEGEDLY INVOLVING OFF-DUTY DEPUTY 1024 249 SIB Staff

U.S. CAPITOL INCIDENT ALLEGEDLY INVOLVING OFF-DUTY DEPUTY

U.S. CAPITOL INCIDENT ALLEGEDLY INVOLVING OFF-DUTY DEPUTY

January 14, 2021

As I indicated today during my Instagram/Facebook live briefing, I am very concerned one of my deputies may have been involved in wrongdoing at the U.S. Capitol. Upon learning, I contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation and briefed them. Additionally, we have initiated an administrative inquiry into the matter. Anyone with additional information, please contact LASD.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva

LASD Sheriff's Department Logo
Transparency SB 1421 – Update 600 128 SIB Staff

Transparency SB 1421 – Update

Transparency via SB 1421: Update

Effective January 1, 2019, Senate Bill 1421, the Right to Know Act, went into effect.

This CA bill essentially made public previously confidential records about law enforcement officers involved in shootings or other serious uses of force, as well as those who committed sexual assaults or acts of dishonesty. 

As this law went into effect, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) had very little infrastructure in place to prepare for the onslaught of Public Records Act (PRA) requests that were to come.  As the requests began to pour in, Sheriff Villanueva had been in office for one month and was left with no infrastructure to handle this massive undertaking.  The Sheriff understands the value of transparency and accountability, to that end, the LASD requested funding for personnel, and tracking and redaction software, but was denied multiple times.

As a temporary fix to meet the law’s requirements, Sheriff Villanueva temporarily re-assigned personnel in an effort to meet the demand and instructed LASD’s Data Systems Bureau to create software to move forward at a faster pace.

We are thankful that In November of 2020, the CEO provided funding for the software which is currently in the procurement stage.

Since January 1, 2019, LASD has received 3,725 SB-1421 requests, and Sheriff Villanueva is proud to announce we have managed to fulfill 3,593 of those requests to date.  Given the extraordinary amount of meticulous tracking and legally mandated redacting necessary for every document requested, it is a huge feat that LASD has nearly accomplished the enormous number of SB-1421 requests.  Also noteworthy, LASD currently has 335 SB-1421 cases PUBLICLY posted on www.sheriff33.lasd.org under a new digital page titled “LASD Transparency.”  As new records are released to the requestor, they will be continued to be posted online to that page.  Finally, only those cases that are still being investigated and/or involve civil litigation, cannot be publicly released.

LASD, being the largest Sheriff’s Department in the nation, is the recipient of probably the highest number of PRA requests given the sheer size of our Department and the 10 million residents we serve.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Continues Enforcement of Super-Spreader Events in LA County  1024 497 SIB Staff

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Continues Enforcement of Super-Spreader Events in LA County 

On Saturday, December 19, 2020, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) continued enforcement of the Los Angeles County health orders to address underground party events.  The driving concern was the fact these incidents violated the Los Angeles County Health Officer Orders regarding COVID protocols, also known as a “Super Spreader Event.”

We monitored parties across Los Angeles County and the following resources were deployed:

  • Sheriff’s Response Team
  • Human Trafficking Taskforce
  • Operation Safe Streets Bureau
  • Fraud and Cyber Crime Bureau
  • Aero Bureau

At approximately 1045 pm, Department members responded to an underground party event in the 400 block of South Hewitt Avenue, Los Angeles.  Just prior to our arrival, a shooting incident occurred within the party and two persons were shot.  One of the victims was pronounced deceased.   The incident occurred in Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) jurisdiction, and LAPD personnel responded to handle the investigation, while LASD personnel assisted with crowd control and crime scene containment.

At approximately 1230 am, Department personnel responded to another underground party at the 1900 block of East Rosecrans Avenue, Compton.  Announcements were made and the location was secured.  The results of the operation include the following:

  • 67 Arrests
    • 60 Adult, Misdemeanors (cite out)
    • 6 Juvenile, Misdemeanors (cite out)
    • 1 Possession of a firearm (Adult)
  • One firearm was recovered (adult arrest)
  • Evidence of illegal NOS usage

A third underground party in the 3600 block of Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, was monitored for a possible Department enforcement mission; however, a shooting at the location resulted in the event being shut down by LAPD personnel.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva has made it clear he will seek out and take law enforcement action against all underground party events occurring anywhere within Los Angeles County, who fall under the Health Orders of the County’s Department of Public Health.  The goal of these enforcement actions is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the risk to our vulnerable populations.  We thank the Board of Supervisors for their commitment to resource COVID-19 enforcement action (Amendment to Motion S-1, December 8, 2020)

Photo Link of 12/19/2020 Incident
https://www.lasdvideos.org/mediaportal/super-spreader-enforcement/

Homicide Det & Family Members Ask for the Public’s Help to solve Murder of Luis Paul Rivera 819 1024 SIB Staff

Homicide Det & Family Members Ask for the Public’s Help to solve Murder of Luis Paul Rivera

Detectives and family members are asking for the public’s help for any information that will lead them to those responsible for the murder of 40-year-old victim Luis Paul Rivera, known as Paul by family and friends.

Paul was a single father of two teenagers and on Monday, July 1, 2019, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Paul was making lunch for his daughter and went to his garage to get hot dog buns from a refrigerator and that’s where he was shot and killed, in his own home. Detectives showed pictures of two vehicles involved in the murder: a black Chevrolet SUV and a red Lincoln SUV. The case is considered a gang murder even though Paul was not a gang member. Paul was a truck driver who was on the final process to be hired as a long shore man. A gang murder occurred the night before on the 15400 block of Temple Ave. in the City of La Puente, and it is believed that Rivera’s murder was in retaliation, but the murderers simply got the wrong house. Paul was a true innocent victim.

The victim’s mother made an emotional plea to find those who murdered her son. “Every day I talk to him in the garage because that’s the last place he had life. I want justice for my son’s death,” said Paul’s mother, Connie Rivera.

Anyone with information about the murder of Luis Paul Rivera is encouraged to call Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you may call “L.A. Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” on Google Play or the App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

LASD ACADEMY Class 453 DEDICATES COLORS RUN TO OFFICER ANTHONY DIA 985 658 SIB Staff

LASD ACADEMY Class 453 DEDICATES COLORS RUN TO OFFICER ANTHONY DIA

On Monday, October 26, 2020, recruits from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Class 453 dedicated their “Colors Run” to Officer Anthony Dia of the Toledo Police Department in Toledo, Ohio. A “Colors Run” is a run in which every graduating academy class participates in and dedicates it to a fallen officer around the nation. The run helps to promote unity and pride among the recruits, and it’s a way of earning their Sheriff patches to be worn on their uniforms.

On Saturday, July 4, 2020, Officer Anthony Dia was shot after responding to a disturbance call at a local hardware store. Despite his wounds, he was able to return fire as the suspect fled. While Officer Dia was receiving medical aid from witnesses at the scene, he was able to put out a heartbreaking recorded radio broadcast in which he said, “Tell my family I love them.” Officer Dia was transported to a local hospital but unfortunately, succumbed to his wounds. He was a police officer for a total of 4 years and is survived by his wife, two sons and his parents.

Class 453 arranged for the entire Dia family to fly out to Los Angeles to be a part of their special run dedicated to their loved one, Anthony. “As far as I know, this is the first run that we’ve done dedicating it to an officer outside of the state, so having the family here was a tremendous honor and privilege for the class,” said Recruit Training Unit Deputy Jeff Rupert.On Friday, November 20, 2020, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva swore in 71 graduates from Class 453 compiling 20 female and 51 male graduates.

Thank you for your service Officer Dia, your family will always be in our thoughts and prayers.

LASD Relaxes Parking Enforcement in unincorporated LA County Areas 600 410 SIB Staff

LASD Relaxes Parking Enforcement in unincorporated LA County Areas

Effective Immediately, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Relaxes Parking Enforcement in Unincorporated Los Angeles County Areas

The recent stay-at-home order issued in early December, brought to light once again the need for additional parking across Los Angeles County. Understanding the needs and challenges of those in the communities we serve, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Parking Enforcement Detail will temporarily relax parking enforcement, effective immediately, to help cope with parking availability.

Temporary relaxed enforcement in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will include:

  • Street sweeping:  All streets with posted signs for street sweeping, per 15.20.07(2) LACVC, will not be enforced.
  • Expired registration:  Vehicles with expired registration will not be cited for 5204 (a) CVC.
    Registrations expired in excess of six months, in violation of 4000(a)(1) CVC are subject to citation, per 22651 (o)(1)(A) CVC, will not be towed.

Enforcement in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County will continue for:

  • Blocking fire hydrants.
  • Red zone parking and/or fire lane.
  • Handicap parking violations.
  • Blocking driveway.
  • Parked vehicles which disrupt the flow of traffic.
  • Metered parking in business districts.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will continue to enforce violations which pose an immediate risk to public safety.