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Burglary charges filed against parolee who barricaded himself in Monterey Park home The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office filed two felony counts of residential burglary and one felony count of attempted residential burglary against Jorge Meraz, 45 of Monterey Park. Meraz, a parolee, was arrested on 09-0613 after a nine hour standoff with police after he refused to surrender. Monterey Park Police used a number of methods to gain Meraz’ surrender including public address announcements, phone calls and tear gas. He was eventually found hiding in the attic of a residence located in the 600 block of W. Hamel Avenue in Monterey Park and a police canine had to be used to remove him. Meraz is currently on parole for residential burglary. He was released on parole from state prison in July 2013. He is being housed at the Los Angeles County jail. His bail has been set at $1.5 million.
Monday, SEPTEMBER 16 - SEPTEMBER 22, 2013 - Volume 2, No. 37
Pilot program to open carpool lanes for solo drivers during off-peak hours goes to Governor’s desk
to access the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes during non-peak hours. The Senate approved the bill earlier this week with an unanimous 38-0 vote. “Carpool lanes are supposed to provide an incentive for carpooling during peak travel hours, and be good for the environment,” explained Gatto.
“I support these goals. But, when motorists are stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic at midnight while carpool lanes sit empty, those goals are not met.” Although most HOV lanes in Northern California are operated on a weekday, peak-hour only basis, access to HOV lanes in Southern California is re-
Bill by Los Angeles Assemblyman would extend the statute of limitations for hit-andrun offenders, bringing time, and hope, to injured victims.
stricted twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Gatto’s floor speech jokingly mentioned how “this is the one thing Northern California does right.” Gatto’s measure would create a pilot program allowing access to HOV lanes during off-peak hours
Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s (D-Los Angeles) bill to address the epidemic of hit-and-run offenses in California cleared its final legislative hurdle today, passing the Assembly by a 68-0 vote. The Senate passed the same legislation yesterday by a vote of 37-0. The legislation, AB 184, provides an additional tool to law-enforcement officers investigating hit-and-run offenses by extending the current three-year statute of limitations for such offenses to six years from the date of the offense. “AB 184 will allow victims of hit-and-runs and law enforcement to obtain justice from cowards who do everything possible to avoid responsibility for their actions,”
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Drivers on the 210 and 134 freeways may soon have to option to drive solo in the carpool lanes during off peak hours if Governor Brown signs one of the latest bills to cross his desk – Photo by Terry Miller
Assemblyman Gatto’s (DLos Angeles) bill to ease traffic congestion on the Los Angeles freeway system passed the Assembly today by a vote of 69-1. The bill, AB 405, addresses the infuriating midday and late-night traffic jams characteristic of the Los Angeles-area by permitting single-occupancy vehicles
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Glendale police department announces swearing in of deputy chief and civilian commander The Glendale Police Department has announced the swearing in of Deputy Chief Carl Povilaitis and Civilian Commander Theresa Goldman. Both were ceremonially sworn into their positions by Chief Ronald L. De Pompa on Wednesday, September 11. Theresa Goldman was appointed to her position of Commander on
August 1st, 2013. Her law enforcement career began in 1981 with the Burbank Police Department, spending 16 years in the ranks of work trainee, police cadet and dispatch operator. In 1997, her career path took her to the Beverly Hills Police Department, where she served 15 years in the capacities of 9-1-1 Communications Manager, Assistant Division Commander
and ultimately as Administrative Services Division Commander of the Personnel and Training, Records, Jail, Dispatch, Property and Evidence, Homeland Security and Special Projects Bureaus. She has extensive technology project management experience including closed circuit television, automated license plate recognition, radio infrastructure, and
computer aided dispatch systems. Commander Goldman joined the Glendale Police Department in 2012 as the Communications and Technology Administrator managing 9-1-1 dispatch services, and coordinating the department’s technology initiatives. In 2013, she was promoted Please see page 2
Commander Theresa Goldman -Courtesy Photo
Deputy Chief Carl Povilaitis -Courtesy Photo