Spring greetings from the Los Angeles Police Department. The following is the monthly update for April 2002. I hope you find the information useful. I encourage you to continue to visit our Web site at www.LAPDOnline.org as it has grown to over 10,000 pages since its inception in 1998. MARCH OF DIMES – WALK AMERICA The March of Dimes Walk America is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2002, at 8:00 am, beginning at Park Center in Griffith Park. This annual event raises money for the March of Dimes for its work preventing birth defects through research, community service and education. This year, the LAPD is spearheading the City of Los Angeles’ fundraising efforts and has set the Department’s goal of $25,000. Last year, the Department raised more than $20,000 through donations, pledges and various events. LAPD won the Mayor’s Trophy as the top City of Los Angeles team for overall fundraising and for the number of walkers participating. Please come out and support this outstanding event. LAPD CENTURIONS FOOTBALL The LAPD Centurions Football team, formed in 1978, is made up entirely of Los Angeles police officers who play and practice on their own time to be part of the team. In 2001, the team won the Nation’s Public Safety Football League Championship defeating the Gunners from the Houston, Texas Police Department. The LAPD Centurions play football for kids, as proceeds from the season go to support the Blind Children’s Center of Los Angeles. We invite you to come out and support our football team and the Blind Children’s Center at our next game as we play against the Orange County Lawmen, Saturday, April 6 at 5 pm. The game will be played at the Santa Ana Municipal Stadium, on the corner of Civic Center Drive and Flower Street in downtown Santa Ana. On Friday, April 19, at 7:15 pm, the Centurions will play the South Bay Blue Knights at the Baker to Vegas Bowl at Durango High School in Las Vegas. LAPD ARCHIVES PHOTO GALLERY SHOW The Department is continuing to coordinate the touring photo gallery show titled “LAPD - 100 Years of Photography” featuring law enforcement and crime scene photographs from LAPD photo archives. The gallery show will travel to all Community Police Stations and various City landmarks. The Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union is sponsoring this traveling exhibit. The public is invited to attend the show to view these historic photographs. The April show schedule continues at the Brewer Branch of the Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union through April 7 and moves to the 77th Street Community Police Station on April 8. The show moves to Southeast Community Police Station on April 15, to Harbor Community Police Station beginning April 22, and to the Manchester Branch of the Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union at the Ahmanson Recruit Training Center beginning on April 29. NATIONAL POLICE WEEK – MAY 11 THROUGH MAY 19 In October 1962, a joint-resolution became public law authorizing President John F. Kennedy to proclaim May 15 of each year, as Police Officers’ Memorial Day and the calendar week of each year which May 15 occurs as National Police Week. The Los Angeles Police Department will commemorate National Police Week with the following events that the public is invited to attend: * LAPD Memorial Relay at Dockweiler Beach on Saturday, May 11, 2002 beginning at 8:15 am with a series of foot races. This event helps to raise money for the LAPD Family Support Group and will feature a memorial service. The Los Angeles Police Revolver and Athletic Club present this event. * LAPD Memorial Ceremony on Friday, May 17, 2002, at 1 pm. The ceremony takes place at the Los Angeles Police Memorial in front of Parker Center, 150 North Los Angeles Street in downtown Los Angeles. This somber ceremony of remembrance will include a roll call of the names of every fallen officer who wore the LAPD badge. The public is welcome to attend this event as we remember our past heroes. * Los Angeles Police-Celebrity Golf Tournament. Preparations are underway for the 31st Annual Los Angeles Police-Celebrity Golf Tournament scheduled for Saturday, May 18, 2002, at Rancho Park Golf Course in West Los Angeles. More than 30 movie, television and sports stars will play golf to raise money for the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation. This year’s host will be Joe Mantegna from the new television series “First Monday.” Celebrities that have agreed to play this year include Joe Pesci, Chad Everett, Eddie Van Halen, Thomas Gibson, Shawn Parr, Michael De Lorenzo, and Gordon Clapp, just to name a few. Aside from just golf, this tournament serves as an LAPD open house event that features displays and demonstrations of the various police units. Anyone interested in the Los Angeles Police Department will not want to miss this day of family fun. Tickets are available for $4 and are available at all Los Angeles Community Police Stations and at the gates at the day of the event. * Interfaith Day of Prayer on Sunday May 19, 2002, at the First AME Church, 2270 South Harvard Boulevard, Los Angeles, at 5 pm. This non- denominational service will again be held to acknowledge and support the commitment to public service that the men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department uphold daily. This grateful expression of appreciation will continue to focus on enhancing the faith and trust between the Department and the greater Los Angeles community. Please join us on this momentous occasion as Department members affirm our mission to “enhance public safety while working with the diverse communities to improve their quality of life.” APRIL SAFETY TIPS – VEHICLE ROBBERY / CARJACKING Vehicle Robbery or carjacking is the taking of a motor vehicle from another using force or fear. Carjacking is by no means a new crime, nor is it sweeping the nation in epidemic proportions. Vehicle owners have been victims of this crime for decades. The term carjacking was coined by the news media. The term has raised fear levels out of proportion, as compared to the actual probability of becoming a victim. Realistically, this is a crime of low probability, but potentially high consequences. The Vehicle Robbery/Carjacking Crime Prevention Circular for the month of March contains important crime prevention strategies aimed at protecting motorists. Carjackers focus on people who are unaware or unprepared. The circular is full of tips to help people reduce the risk of becoming a victim. Crime Prevention Tips: * Always keep your vehicle door locked. When possible, drive in the lane nearest the center of the road to distance any would-be pedestrian attackers from your vehicle. * Know the area in which you are travelling. Take the time to learn the locations of the police and fire stations, and hospital emergency rooms. Avoid shortcuts that take you on dark, isolated streets. * If you feel you are being followed by another vehicle, do not drive home. Drive to the nearest police or fire station, hospital emergency room, or nearest open business for help. * If you are confronted by someone who has a weapon and demands your vehicle, COMPLY! There are many more strategies outlined in the Vehicle Robbery/Carjacking Crime Prevention Circular. For more information, or to obtain copies of the Community Crime Prevention Circulars, contact the Community Relations Section, Crime Prevention Unit, at (213) 485-3134 or visit our Web site at www.lapdonline.org. BERNARD C. PARKS Chief of Police