ABC DEBRIEFER COMMITTED TO SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES Volume 12, Issue 3 January - March 2008 LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT OPERATION ABC Detective Support and Vice Division EEFT Fines $152,250 / ABC Arrests 1480 OWB Task Force Enforces Labor Laws + A Multi-agency Approach to Crime Prevention ith the assistance of Wilshire and West Los Angeles Area vice, Operation ABC conducted a multi-agency Employment Enforcement Task Force (EETF) in Operations-West Bureau on January 18, 2008. Inspectors from Wthe California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and Employment Development Department (EDD) assisted LAPD personnel with the inspection of five licensed ABC premises and an adult entertainment location. Locations targeted during the task force operation were alleged to be violating state labor laws and deriving illegal income from an underground economy created through their failure to adhere to laws designed to protect employees. All fines issued by DIR or EDD personnel related to violations of state labor laws pertaining to workers' compensation issuance requirements, appropriate wage documentation and minimum wage violations. Locations inspected and found in violation included: Byblos restaurant, 1964 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles, fined $28,250; Silver Reign Gentlemen's Club, 11908 Mississippi Avenue, Los Angeles, fined $9000; Cottage, 5050 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, fined $3,000; Baccus, 4159 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, fined $18,500; Simple, 3208 West 8th Street, Los Angeles, fined $7,000; and Live City 4001, 4001 West 6th Street, Los Angeles, fined $6,000. This extremely successful operation concluded with the issuance of $71,750 in EETF fines and the arrest of two individuals for permit violations. Five of the locations inspected were ordered closed by EETF personnel pending the acquisition of valid workers' compensation issuance. Not only do EETF operations provide enforcement options to deal with irresponsibly operated locations, but through their use, significant gains are made in reducing the underground economy while leveling the playing field between competitive businesses by insuring that workers' rights are protected. OPERATION ABC OFFICER IN CHARGE Detective III Rick McElroy ABC COORDINATORS Sergeant II Lifernando Garcia Sergeant II Steve Moore Operation ABC Detective Support and Vice Division Los Angeles Police Department 251 East 6th Street, Room 332 Los Angeles, CA 90014 (213) 972-2500 (213) 626-6928 (fax) POLICE WORKING WITH POLICE: West LA Vice Sergeant Ronald Crump and Web Page: www.LAPDOnline.org Officer Siamone Bangphraxay assist State labor investigator with interview of Search: Vice Division Byblos restaurant (1964 Westwood Boulevard, Los Angeles) kitchen employee during OWB task force. A Valued Member of the Department Retires + A Legacy of Excellence n January 31, 2008, Lieutenant II Gregory Correa retired after more than 37 years of dedicated service with the Los Angles Police ODepartment. Lieutenant Correa honorably served both the Department and citizens of Los Angeles throughout his career and was an extremely strong supporter of ABC enforcement. His management style and daily working relationship with Operation ABC allowed tremendous gains to be made at reducing ABC-related crime in the San Fernando Valley. Lieutenant Correa began his career with the LAPD in February 1968, as a Reserve Officer assigned to Rampart Area. On November 2, 1970, Lieutenant Correa entered the Police Academy and began his career as a sworn officer. Upon completion of the academy his assignments include: Hollenbeck Patrol, Rampart Patrol, West Los Angeles Patrol, Communications Division, Bureau Special Investigations and Training Division. Promoting to the rank of Sergeant in August 1981, his assignments include: Pacific Patrol, DARE, Internal Affairs Division, and Anti Terrorist Division. DEDICATED SERVICE: Lieutenant Greg Correa retires after 37 years of commitment to the LAPD and citizens of the City of Los Angeles. In October 1998, Sergeant Correa was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He was initially assigned to Devonshire Patrol Division as a watch commander and later transferred to Van Nuys Area to oversee Detective operations. During the last five years of his career, Lieutenant Correa was assigned as the Vice Coordinator for Operations-Valley Bureau (OVB) where he remained until his retirement. Through his leadership in this capacity, OVB vice personnel were awarded the Department's Police Meritorious Unit Citation for their work at reducing vice-related crime in the San Fernando Valley during 2005. The Los Angeles Police Department, as well as the citizens of Los Angeles, would like to extend their thanks to Greg for his 37 years of dedicationed service and loyalty he gave the men and women he served. The vacancy caused by Lieutenant Correa's retirement has been filled by Lieutenant II Robert Marino. Lieutenant Marino has an extensive background in vice enforcement and will undoubtedly enhance the strong foundation of work product excellence of vice personnel established during Lieutenant Correa's tour as the OVB Vice Coordinator. OVB St. Patrick’s Day Enforcement Operation n March 17, 2008, Operation ABC coordinated an ABC enforcement operation aimed at reducing DUI and alcohol- related crime problems at Operations-Valley Bureau (OVB) on-sale licensed locations. Specifically targeted were Othose locations that have been known to promote St Patrick's Day celebrations or have had a history of past alcohol-related problems associated with the holiday festivities. Eleven ABC locations were operated during the late afternoon and evening operation, resulting in three arrests at two locations. An intoxicated driver was arrested for DUI by point officers, after he was involved in a single vehicle traffic collision in front of Pickwick Pub (21010 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills). The driver had just left the pub and lost control of his motorcycle as he over-accelerated from the curb in front of the location. Apparently, other patrons had unsuccessfully attempted to stop the driver from leaving the location due to his level of intoxication. (Continued page 3) 2 St. Patrick’s Day Continued from page 2 A bartender at Paolis Pizzeria (21020 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills) was arrested after he furnished an alcoholic beverage to an obviously intoxicated patron. Undercover officers observed the drunken patron earlier in the evening as he was ejected from Pickwick Pub due to his level of intoxication. The individual's level of intoxication was increased due to his excessive alcohol consumption combined with multiple anti-anxiety medications. The results of any ABC task force at reducing alcohol-related crime are extremely difficult to quantify. However, the absence of fatal or serious injury DUI traffic collisions as report by Valley Traffic Division would suggest that the OVB St. Patrick's Day ABC task force did benefit the community. The limited number of arrests would also suggest that a majority of the bars operated were indeed conducting business in a responsible manner. 53 Arrested in City-wide Shoulder Tap Operation + Multi-agency Partnership Draws Media Attention REDUCING ALCOHOL AVAILABILITY: A minor decoy working with the West Los Angeles vice unit (left) solicits two adults in front of Mobil Gas and Mini Market (15281 West Sunset Boulevard, Pacific Palisades). The responsible adults refuse the decoy’s request for alcohol and chastize him for making the solicitation. (Right) KNX- 1070 reporter, John Baird, conducts a follow-up interview with adult taken into custody during Newton Area shoulder tap operation at Pee Wee Jr. Market (5323 South Broadway, Los Angeles). n March 15, 2008, Operation ABC coordinated a City-wide Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation as part of a multi- jurisdictional operation facilitated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD). A total of 13 police Oagencies from throughout Southern California and the Department of ABC were involved in the task force operation and conducted shoulder tap operations in their respective communities. The operation was conducted in 20 different cities in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Santa Barbara Counties to reduce youth access to alcohol during the St. Patrick's Day Holiday weekend and send a strong safety message to underage students prior to spring break activities. LAPD Area vice units conducted operations outside of 63 ABC licensed locations in an attempt to curtail the furnishing of alcoholic beverages to underage individuals. A total of 562 adults were solicited within the City of Los Angeles resulting in the arrest of 53 individuals. This represents approximately 50 percent of the total work product of all involved agencies and speaks volumes as to the involved officers' commitment at reducing alcohol-related crime. The LAPD portion of the operation resulted in overall compliance rate of 91 percent which is consistent with our 2007 compliance rate. This was the first time LAPD and LASD worked together in such a large state-wide operation that was covered by numerous media outlets. Due to the success of this operation, similar multi-agency projects with be incorporated into future Operation ABC endeavors aimed at curtailing the accessibility of alcoholic beverages to underage individuals. 3 Operation ABC Provides Training to Korean Business CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY: Korean speaking licensees from the mid-Wilshire Area participate in a bilingual STAR presentation conducted by Operation ABC at the Operations-West