SEE PAGE 2 FOR tournament of roses royal court 2015
Pasadena Press
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 - SEPTEMBER 28, 2014
pasadenapress.com
City ordered not to release McDade Report, as planned
Pasadena Police union granted second TRO by Superior Court Judge
involved fatal shooting of Kendrec McDade last March. The matter heard this morning before Superior Court Judge James Chalfant renewed the TRO at the request of Pasa-
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By SHEL SEGAL of his duties at the church where he had been for approximately two years. And network spokesperson Joelle Casteix wanted more information about an alleged incident of sexual abuse that happened when Wellems was younger. The network also held press conferences on that day in San Gabriel and Chicago, where Wellems now lives and
Pasadena to host athletes for Special Olympics World Games LA 2015
lived before he came to San Gabriel. Casteix said her network recently learned of two letters sent by the Claretian Missionary Fathers order in Chicago to the parish here about Wellems’ departure and called the letters a “smoking gun,” the published report said.
dena Police Officers Association, preventing the release of even the redacted OIR Report that the City intended to re-
San Gabriel Priest accused of sexual abuse Questions about a priest’s past came to the surface on Sept. 10 as representatives from Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests had words with parishioners from the San Gabriel Mission regarding why a priest was removed in June, according to a published report. Representatives from that network were looking into why Fr. Bruce Wellems was relieved
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City officials joined members of the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 (LA2015) and Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) formally announced the City of Pasadena’s participation in Host Town Program for the Special Olympics World Games LA2015. Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard The City of Pasadena is participating in the Special Olympics World Games (2015) Organizing Committee’s threeday Host Town Program. Pasadena will welcome and celebrate athletes from around the world and will help raise awareness about the challenges people with intellectual disabilities face. During their stay next year, the City will introduce the athletes to community members and officials, familiarize the athletes with Pasadena’s cultural activities and allow the athletes to practice and rest at City facilities ahead of the July 25, 2015 Opening Ceremony. An estimated 500,000 spectators are expected to cheer on the 7,000 athletes representing 177 countries during the World Games in Los Angeles, July 25 through Aug. 2, 2015. The event features 25 Olympic-style sports in venues throughout the Los Angeles region. For more information on the 2015 Special Olympics World Games, including vol-
Kendrec McDade’s paperents, Anya Slaugheter and Kenneth McDade, are upset the PPOA has filed another motion to suppress the release of the OIR.-Photo by Terry Miller
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge Tuesday granted a temporary restraining order preventing the City of Pasadena from releasing a 70 page redacted report on the officer
SEE PAGE 3 for pasadena schools among best in la county
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Heat is on for 2015 Tournament of Roses Royal Court By Terry miller Hundreds of Pasadena area young women braved the excessive triple digit heat Saturday and Monday for a chance to become part of Pasadena’s History. Unmarried women 17-21 years of age who reside in the Pasadena Area Community College District are eligible to take part in the application process and initial tryout sessions, which were held Saturday and Monday in record California heat. Applicants must also be full-time students in the Pasadena area, possess at least a 2.0 grade point average and not have any children. Nearly 900 women tried out this year but only seven are chosen to become part of the Royal Court as is tradition. After initial tryouts , 250 women are invited back for a second round of tryouts, 75 women for a third round and
- Photo by Terry Miller
only 25 candidates for the final round. The final seven members of the Royal Court will be announced Oct. 6, with the Rose Queen coronation taking place on Oct. 23. Members of the Tourna-
Change lives. Make wishes come true.
ment of Roses Royal Court attend dozens of events and cap off their experience with a float ride in the Rose Parade and the opportunity to attend the Rose Bowl football game on New Year’s Day.
Cops raise $3,319 in 4 hours for Special Olympics at Urth Caffe Wednesday A “Tip a Cop” fundraiser that was held to benefit the Special Olympics Wednesday proved hugely successful. Officers from the Pasadena Police Department acted as Celebrity Servers at the Urth Caffe in Pasadena from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. In four hours, the Pasadena Police Department received $3,319 in tips. All of the tips go directly to the Special Olympics. “I am very proud of my Officers who volunteered their time to come out and work in support of such a worthy cause.,” Pasadena police Lieutenant Vasken Gourdikian said.
Special Olympics Continued from page 1
Become a Make-A-Wish ®
unteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LA2015.org. • Patrick McClenahan, President and CEO, Special Olympics World Games LA2015 • Dustin Plunkett, Global Messenger, Special Olympics World Games LA2015 • Rafer Johnson, Founder, SOSC and 1960 Olympic
Gold Medalist (Decathlon) • Bill Shumard, President and CEO, SOCS • Kathleen Turknette, Chair, Host Town Pasadena Committee • Kathy Robinson Young, daughter of Mack Robinson, Special Olympics volunteer and mother of SOSC VIP Ambassador
VOLUNTEER
Volunteers for Make-A-Wish give their time and talents to help bring hope, strength and joy to children who are battling life-threatening medical conditions. We have a special need for volunteers in the Inland Empire to help local children.
Get Involved Today ocie.wish.org | 714-573-9474 - Photo by Terry Miller
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Pasadena Unified’s Marshall Fundamental School ranked as the eighth best high school in Los Angeles County Blair High School ranks 67th in county's top 75 high schools Marshall Fundamental School in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) has been recognized as the eighth best high school among both public and private high schools in Los Angeles County, according to rankings published by Los Angeles Magazine in their September issue. PUSD’s Blair High School also made the list due to their status as an International Baccalaureate (IB) school, coming in at 67 of the 250+ LA County public and private schools considered for the rankings. Marshall was also the third highest ranked public school in the county and the top rated public high school in the San Gabriel Valley. “Marshall maintains a commitment to high standards and equity,” said Marshall Fundamental Principal Dr. Mark Anderson. “The collaborative effort between students, parents, teachers, counselors, and staff has led to our success. Each member of the Marshall family believes in the school, works hard to educate students and feel it is the greatest place in the world to be.” Los Angeles Magazine used the Challenge Index, which was developed by Washington Post education columnist Jay Mathews, to formulate their rankings. The Challenge Index took the total number of Advanced Placement (AP) and IB exams taken by students in 2013 and divided that number by the number of graduating seniors that year. Mathews points out in the magazine that the Challenge Index “recognizes schools that try hardest to improve the critical thinking and writing skills needed to thrive in tough college courses and the job market.” Citing the almost sevenfold increase of students taking Advanced Placement (AP) tests from 1998 to today and the teaching of the critical thinking skills in sixth grade that are needed
to be successful on AP tests and ultimately in college, Los Angeles Magazine notes that Marshall has performed just as well as affluent private schools even though 70 percent of students are lowincome. At Marshall, “students aren’t chosen on the basis of STAR, PSAT or any other test scores but on their willingness to work hard,” wrote Mathews about Marshall Fundamental. “I am proud of both Marshall and Blair for being recognized as two of the top high
schools in the county,” said PUSD Interim Superintendent Dr. Brian McDonald. “As noted in the article, these two PUSD schools are near the top because they excel at preparing students to succeed and thrive in college and career.” Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre families can choose to attend Marshall or Blair as part of the district’s open enrollment process. General open enrollment for the 2015-2016 school year will take place in January 2015.
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4 | SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 - SEPTEMBER 28, 2014
San Gabriel Priest accused of sexual abuse Continued from page 1
Casteix added “it doesn’t look good” from Wellems’ angle, the published report said. But several parishioners did come to the press conference and lend their voices in behalf of Wellems’ defense and his two years at the mission. “The parishioners said they were informed that Wellems was asked to resign after a record surfaced of inappropriate
behavior with another minor when Wellems was 15 years old. Wellems returned to Chicago, where he previously worked with impoverished youths,” the report said. Wellems responded to his critics that he is a priest in Chicago and on sabbatical. And as he believes in the network’s mission, he is saddened by the accusations it has made against
him. “I am appalled and disappointed in their poor judgment to reveal my juvenile past, thus discrediting my good work,” Wellems said in a statement. “Worse still for me, in their quest to protect victims, I feel as if (the network), with this announcement, is victimizing the thousands of families in the parishes where I have worked.
These people have made great strides to be transparent and understand what it is to be healthy faith families.” Parishioners said Wellems told them the Los Angeles Archdiocese gave him three days to leave. (Shel Segal can be reached at ssegal@beaconmedianews. com and followed via Twitter @ segallanded).
City ordered not to release McDade Report, as planned Continued from page 1
lease. The matter returns to his court on October 14, 2014. City Manager, Michael Beck issued the following after Judge James Chalfant renewed the TRO: “The City understands and appreciates the interest of the public and the news media in accessing the Office of Independent Review’s report on the shooting of Kendrec McDade. The City continues to support both the principles of open government and our officers’ privacy rights as guaranteed by state law. We believe we had the right balance between the two and we were prepared to issue a redacted report. However, as a result of the Court’s action this morning, the City has been ordered not to disclose the report or any elements thereof at this time. It is important for the City to be able to release as much information as permissible and
we look forward to a fair resolution of this issue.” This is the second attempt for Pasadena Police Officers’ Association to stop the release of the report, saying the contents include personnel information and releasing it would violate the police officers’ rights. The City of Pasadena late Thursday announced that it will release next Thursday (today) the Office of Independent Review (“OIR”) Report on its police department shooting of the unarmed Kendrec McDade. The City qualified its notice to requesters of the OIR Report “unless there is a court order directing us otherwise.” Which, of course, is exactly what happened. Attorney Elbie J. Hickambottom, counsel for McDade’s mother Anya Slaughter, the Pasadena NAACP, the Interdenomina-
tional Ministerial Alliance, ACT, and ACLU activist Kris Ockershauser, responded to the City’s notice with cautious optimism, saying “We’ve succeeded in moving the City forward in two ways. First, the city is no longer hiding behind the Pasadena Police Officers Association (“PPOA”) skirts and its collusive lawsuit with the PPOA to avoid deciding on release of the OIR Report. Second, the City has gone from City Manager Beck’s unacceptable position a month ago that it would release only the OIR Report recommendations but not the rest of the report; now the City says it will release all of the report except for its redacting information that is legally protected against disclosure. We are concerned that the City may over-redact the report in order to protect itself against damaging information, and we intend to take steps to make sure that does not happen.” Hickambottom added that “we agree that disclosure of the contents of police officer personnel records cannot and should not be disclosed, but only if that information has not already been put into the public record. But, for instance, there is a great deal of deposition testimony by Officers Newlen and Griffin in the federal court wrongful death case against them by McDade’s mother that
is now public information. You cannot put that horse back in the barn. If the information is out in the public domain, it cannot be redacted from the OIR Report. An attorney representing the Los Angeles Times along with McDade’s mother, Anya Slaughter , Pasadena chapter of the NAACP, a community activist and local ACLU board member Kris Ockershauser, ACT and Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Pasadena have all filed objections Tuesday to the union’s renewed attempt to now seal the report. James Chalfant, already granted the temporary restraining order earlier this month, but later withdrew it to oblige the city of Pasadena to make a decision on what portions of the report it actually intended to release. Last Thursday, Pasadena issued a statement saying they would release a redacted version of the report today. Chalfant will hear a permanent seal request next month. The city has already agreed to a $1 million settlement in two separate lawsuits filed by McDade’s parents for civil rights violations and wrongful death. In the 2009 officer involved shooting of Leroy Barnes, the city also contracted with OIRG and under Chief Bernard Melichian’s watch, released that entire report to the public and press.