SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2003
Volume 2, Issue 281
FR
EE
Santa Monica Daily Press A newspaper with issues
L O T T O FANTASY 5 32, 21, 3, 13, 11 DAILY 3 Afternoon picks: 3, 9, 7 Evening picks: 8, 6, 4 DAILY DERBY 1st Place: 1, Gold Rush 2nd Place: 4, Big Ben 3rd Place: 10, Solid Gold
Race Time: 1:47.41
NEWS OF THE WEIRD by Chuck Shepard
A July Wall Street Journal report revealed that some women’s clothing stores in Tehran, Iran, do a brisk backroom business in tight, colorful, sheer, form-fitting robes that are severely frowned upon by the conservative Islamic government, which prescribes the formless hijab robe. One clerk showed one that was actually a “paper-thin beige tunic made of stretchy material with two slits on each side,” and “a matching tank top.” Other popular robes make strategic use of zippers for women who have to convert their flashy clothing into something conservative in a hurry.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Writers should be read, but neither seen nor heard.” — Daphne Du Maurier
INDEX Horoscopes Make yourself scarce, Gemini . . . .2
Local Rock ’n’ roll with a candidate . . . . .3
Opinion Apology not accepted . . . . . . . . . . .6
State Which Arnold shall lead us? . . . . . .8
National Family feud draws fanfare . . . . . . .10
International Nobel smiles on Iranian judge . . .11
People in the News Limbaugh airs drug problem . . . .16
Citizen cops get lesson in policing 11-week course sets out to put human face on the department BY CAROLYN SACKARIASON Daily Press Staff Writer
Ever want to know what it’s like to be a cop? As a reporter, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what the job entails — it’s thankless, dangerous and emotional at times. But after spending 11 weeks delving into the core of the Santa Monica Police Department, I’ve realized it’s much more than that. And so have hundreds of others. Those people, including myself, are graduates of the Santa Monica Police Department Citizen Police Academy. Several years ago, SMPD Chief James T. Butts Jr. created the class so the community at-large could gain a better understanding of how the police force operates. It also was an attempt to humanize an organization that is stereotypically all about procedure.
Carolyn Sackariason/Daily Press
See ACADEMY, page 4 Citizen police student Maggi Cox takes aim during a simulated firearms exercise.
Keeping the peace is all in a day’s work Citizens allow SMPD to take them for ride BY CAROLYN SACKARIASON Daily Press Staff Writer
I usually steer clear of cops on a Saturday night in Santa Monica. But one rainy night last fall, I decided to stay out of trouble by getting into the thick of it. All 20 students in my Citizen Police Academy class last fall did a “ride along” with patrol officers. Thinking it would garner the most action, I signed up for a Saturday Carolyn Sackariason/Daily Press night. Unfortunately, it rained that Santa Monica Police Officer Dan Kurtz, a three-year veteran, night and many criminals seemingloves the department cama- ly stayed under their rocks. Despite there being less crime, it still proved raderie and variety of the job.
See POLICING, page 5
Man pleads not guilty to holding 24 kilos of cocaine By Daily Press staff
The man police say had more than $5 million worth of cocaine stashed in his Santa Monica apartment pleaded not guilty to possession on Friday. Amir Ali, a 24-year-old Middle Eastern, Canadian national, is charged with one count of possession for sale of a controlled substance — over 20 kilos, which carries more jail time. If convicted, he faces up to 19 years in jail. He appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court downtown on Friday with his attorney,
Alex Kessel. Kessel did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment. Ali was arrested by police last Monday after police responded to a suspicious circumstances call from an unknown man on the 1200 block of 18th Street, where Ali lives. When patrol officers arrived, they located 24 kilos in Ali’s apartment, said Santa Monica Police Department Lt. Frank Fabrega. Then a search warrant was obtained and police found more kilos inside the apartment, as well as
Introduces
THE UNDER $10 DINNER SPECIAL ,
shift that night. The then-25-year-old had just completed his rookie year and was assigned to beat four — north of Wilshire Boulevard. Kurtz was primarily responsible for patrolling that section of town, but other calls for service took us throughout the entire city. Kurtz, a soft-spoken and intuitive young police officer who hails from my home state of Minnesota, briefed me on what to expect that night — anything and everything. Kurtz joined the SMPD in September 2001, when the department hired a slew of new recruits. Kurtz said he was drawn to SMPD because of its opportunities — the department has a host of specialized
to be an action-packed shift. Santa Monica is a unique city to keep the peace in because, while its population is about 80,000, it swells to more than 300,000 on any given day as a result of tourism, the beach and its business districts. “This is an interesting city, it acts bigger than it is,” said Santa Monica police officer Dan Kurtz. “I like this city and I like the people I work with.” I showed up at 4 p.m. for roll call in the squad room where officers are briefed before heading out on patrol. The sergeant briefed the crew about the day’s events and what to look for when they patrol the streets. While surprises on the job are almost routine, Kurtz didn’t expect a reporter to be tagging along with him during his 10-hour
several thousand dollars. It is unknown how the officers initially found the cocaine or how police gained entry to the apartment. Ali wasn’t home, but he arrived shortly after police were investigating the scene. When he drove up and saw police, he fled, according to Fabrega. Police were able to apprehend him soon after. Ali, whose preliminary trial is set for Oct. 23, remains in jail with no bail because of an Immigration and Naturalization Services hold while it considers his status in the United States.
Back to School Band Instrument
Rentals
Served from 4pm - 10pm
(310) 453-1928
1433 Wilshire Blvd at 15th St
310-394-1131
www.santamonicamusic.com
1901 SANTA MONICA BLVD.