Thursday, February 05, 2009

Attacked Officers Deserve Reward Help Regardless Where Assault Occurs

After LAPD Officer Anthony Razo was assaulted and shot by two teenagers outside his City Terrace home the morning of January 31, I was asked to look into the possibility of a reward motion to help apprehend his attackers. Since Razo lived outside of City limits (by mere blocks) and was not on-duty, no reward motion could be sought. This is unfair and a real disservice to the brave men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department. The very nature of their job dictates that their duties do not end simply because they are not on-duty and out of City limits. With a good number of LAPD officers living outside of City limits and many of those working dangerous gang, narcotics and vice detail, it is imperative that we change the City rules that currently do not allow for reward motions to be issued for officers killed or attacked outside of City limits while off-duty. I introduced a motion to do just that. I’m hoping it moves quickly through Council. Our officers deserve no less. In the meantime, if you have information on the shooting of Officer Razo, please call Sheriff’s Detectives at (323) 890-5500.