COMPLIMENTARY COPY
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20 - DECEMBER 26, 2018
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VOL. 22, NO. 51
JOHN E. PEREZ IS ‘HONORED’ TO BE SELECTED AS PASADENA CHIEF OF POLICE Story & Photos Terry MILLER tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
C
ity Manager Steve Mermell told Pasadena Independent that the final three candidates went through the conclusive selection process for the coveted position of Pasadena police chief last week. One out of town candidate voluntarily withdrew at the eleventh hour. And then last week the city manager met with the final candidates and ultimately picked the top contender, John Perez who is a 33-year veteran of the department. A few weeks ago, Pasadena Independent sat down with the then interim chief about his goals for the department, in his office near city hall. Perez had been serving as the interim chief of police since April 2018, after former Chief Phil Sanchez announced his retirement. The genuinely motivated chief expressed remarkable candor about his department and future plans which heavily lean on community policing and use of force issues that have tarnished police departments throughout the country in recent years. Starting his storied SEE CHIEF PAGE 12
After months of speculation, City Manager Steve Mermell has officially appointed John E. Perez as Chief of Pasadena Police. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
Community Members Support Housing Concept for Pasadena’s Homeless Seniors John ORONA john.orona@gmail.com
Backed by strong community support, the Pasadena City Council approved a development concept for Heritage Square South that will include up to 70 units of permanent supportive housing for homeless seniors and 10,000-square-feet of retail space, on Monday night.
The 1.3-acre property located at the northwest corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard was appraised at more than $5 million in October and is part of a larger development which already houses 70 units of affordable housing for very low-income seniors on the north end of the development. “Heritage Square North has proven to be an extraordinarily positive change in the district I SEE HOUSING CONCEPT PAGE 13
Interns Wanted
Pasadena Pot Dispensary Owner Claims Recent Bust Was ‘Discriminatory’ Kenya BARRETT kenya_barrett@outlook.com
Shaun Szameit, owner of Golden State Collective, located on 50 N. Mentor Ave. in Pasadena, was present at the Pasadena City Council meeting on Dec. 17 to discuss
Pasadena Man Gets 13 Years Staff WRITER editorial@beaconmedianews.com
a recent raid on his property. Golden State Collective, an unlicensed medical marijuana dispensary was busted by the Pasadena Police Department on Wednesday, Dec. 12. Three employees were arrested and
A Pasadena man who organized and directed a conspiracy to ship multikilogram quantities of heroin and cocaine in airplane luggage from Los Angeles
SEE BUST PAGE 12
SEE 13 YEARS PAGE 13
Contact 626.301.1010 intern@HLRmedia.com 121 E. Chestnut ave., monrovia, ca