The Third District serves the communities of DENNIS P. ZINE Canoga Park, Reseda, Tarzana, West Hills, Winnetka, & Woodland Hills Councilman, Third District SPRING 2011 th MISSION STATEMENT 9 Annual Z Awards For ExZellence Recognizing outstanding public safety personnel As your public servant, By Jessica Tarman, Communications Director Topanga Area Gang Enforcement Detail my staff and I pledge (GED). His understanding of gang issues to… and gang enforcement T he 9th Annual “Z • Improve the quality of Awards for ExZellence” techniques has led to a life in our district luncheon was held on direct impact on crime • Ensure public safety Thursday, April 21st at reduction in the valley. Topanga GED is • Follow-up with your the Warner Center Mar- among the leaders in concerns in a timely riott in Woodland Hills Operations-Valley Bu- manner to honor public safety reau (OVB) in total ar- • Keep you informed of personnel who go rests and productivity issues in the district above and beyond what is expected of them in consistently for the past • Attend your meetings order to serve the citizens of the Third two years, finishing and events Council District and the greater Los Ange- number one in the OVB in 2009 with a • Put the community’s les community. CBS2 News Anchor Pat 275% increase from 2008. In 2009, gang priorities first Harvey presented the awards and the crime dropped 20% and in 20I0, gang Honorable Richard Katz served as the crime dropped an additional 11%. In Master of Ceremonies. 2010, Topanga GED made 395 arrests, of those arrested, 261 were for felony In its ninth year, the “Z Awards for ExZel- crimes. The officers conducted 193 proba- Inside this issue: lence” recognizes individuals who have tion searches and 103 parole searches, demonstrated ongoing dedication, com- which resulted in the arrest of 44 parolee/ Special Projects 2-3 mitment, and “exzellence” in their respec- probationers and the confiscation of ten tive fields and for their outstanding contri- guns. In addition, Topanga GED made butions in the areas of law enforcement, Community News 4-5 102 gang injunction arrests, which again emergency services, and public safety. At led the bureau and was second overall this year’s award ceremony, the commu- citywide in gang injunction arrest totals. Planning 6 nity honored personnel from the LAPD, Sergeant Alferez's leadership and gang LAFD, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s De- expertise is the driving force behind the partment, California Highway Patrol, and success of Topanga GED. Legislation 7 the California Department of Motor Vehi- cles. Police Officer II+2 Tim Gal- lick, LAPD Valley Traffic Senior News 8 2011 Recipients: Division: Officer Gallick has Sergeant I Frank Alferez, been a member of the Los LAPD Topanga Area: Ser- Community Meetings 9 Angeles Police Department geant Alferez is a 14-year since 1995 and is currently a veteran of the Los Angeles member of the Valley Traffic Around Z Town 10-11 Police Department. He Division Community Traffic Services Unit. joined the LAPD's Topanga As a Traffic Safety Officer, he works dili- Division in December of The Z Team 12 gently to address the needs of the com- 2008 and quickly estab- munity by working closely with LAUSD lished himself as an extraordinary, hard- officials in implementing student drop-off/ working supervisor. He was instrumental in putting together the newly established Z AWARDS CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 PAGE 2 Z AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 interviewed on national television, including the Today show, CNN, and Fox News Network to answer ques- pick-up stations to ensure student safety. Officer Gallick tions regarding distracted drivers and also providing nar- has also been involved with the Valley Traffic Advisory ration for active pursuits on these programs. Along with Council’s “Still Saving Lives Car Show,” which educates her other tasks, she was chosen to head the Keeping constituents on child safety seat inspections. He also Everyone Safe (KEYS) grant. This program permitted represented the department during a recent taping of an Officer Hoglund to coordinate 12 allied agencies in Los Univision Television weekly program to illustrate the Angeles County thereby creating an educational task dangers of texting and driving. Officer Gallick was hon- force for elderly drivers on driving safely as they age. In ored with the Police Star Award for his bravery above early 2010, she transferred back to the West Valley to and beyond the normal demands of duty when he become a field training officer. She wanted the opportu- evacuated residents from their homes during the 2008 nity to influence new officers, guiding and teaching them Sesnon Fire. And he received the Top Gun award from to be productive and valued members of the depart- the Los Angeles Chief of Police Charlie Beck for his ex- ment. She is also the newest member of the Southern ceptional motorcycle riding skills. Division Color Guard, where she represented the de- Sergeant I Michael Henderson, LAPD partment at the Women Leaders in Law Enforcement West Valley Area: Sergeant Henderson Conference in Pasadena. has been with the Los Angeles Police De- Captain John D. Holtby, Los Angeles partment since 1988 and has been a su- City Fire Department: Captain Holtby was pervisor in the West Valley area since hired onto the Department in August of January 2009. He is frequently called 1980 and transferred to Fire Station 93 in upon to serve as the incident commander Tarzana in November of 2002 where he at dangerous crime scenes. On May 1, 2009, two armed is stationed with the “B” Platoon. Captain suspects entered and robbed the First Bank on Ventura Holtby’s faith has been a cornerstone in Blvd. As the suspects departed, they placed a suspi- both his professional and personal life. cious device inside the front door of the bank. Sergeant He is involved with the Firefighters for Christ Ministry, an Henderson immediately responded to the scene and organization that helps firefighters in need. He continues took over as the incident commander. He ensured that to volunteer at Hume Lake Christian Camp for children all necessary notifications were made, set up a com- and their families. He has traveled abroad to help the mand post, and initiated the Incident Command System. needy in Mexico and Uganda. While in Uganda he As a result of his excellent leadership and planning, the worked alongside Africa Renewal Ministry (ARM) and Robbery Homicide Division, the FBI, and the Bomb Children's Hunger Fund to help Bethany Village (an or- Squad were able to conduct their investigations in a phanage) become self-sustaining. The mission team timely and effective manner. Sergeant Henderson was provided medical care, educational instruction, and con- honored as both West Valley Area Supervisor of the 2nd struction assistance. Currently, Captain Holtby and his Quarter in 2010 and the 2010 Supervisor of the Year. wife help with the disabled ministry at their church. He He is an inspiration to both the sworn and civilian staff, plans to retire in three more years, giving him a total of alike, and is a great friend and protector of the citizens 34 years of dedicated service to the Fire Department. of the West Valley. Deputy Gabriel Perez, Los Angeles Officer Heather Hoglund, California County Sheriff’s Department: Deputy Highway Patrol: Officer Hoglund gradu- Perez has been with the Los Angeles ated seventh out of her class of 137 ca- County Sheriff’s Department for five years dets from the CHP Academy in June of and has been assigned to the Transit Ser- 2003 and transferred to the West Valley vices Bureau for three of those years at office in October of 2005. During her ten- the Chatsworth Sub Station. In 1998, he ure at West Valley, she was the recipient enlisted in the Unites States Marine Corps. He spent a of the 2007 MADD Award for outstanding total of eight years in the Marine Corps seeing combat in DUI enforcement activity. She was selected to be a Enduring Freedom in Kuwait and in Enduring Iraq. Dur- member of the Southern Division Public Information and ing this time, he was awarded three Naval Achievement Recruiting Office where she became one of the instruc- Medals. Last year, while working on the PM shift, Dep- tors for the child passenger safety seat installation, a very important national safety program. She has been Z AWARDS CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 PAGE 3 Below is a summary of items collected at the event: Los Angeles River Beautification Total participants = 636 cars Used Oil collected = 1,100 gallons I t was a windy Satur- UO filters collected = 2 drums day morning, but this E-waste collected = 30,000 lbs. did not stop the volun- The next e-waste event is scheduled for the fall. For teers from participating more information, email [email protected] or in the Los Angeles call 1-800-98-TOXIC. River Beautification Day of Service Project Z AWARDS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 in Reseda. The pro- ject, spearheaded by the Office of Councilman Dennis uty Perez made more than 297 arrests and wrote more P. Zine, the Office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the than 559 citations. 137 of those were vehicle code viola- Reseda Neighborhood Council, and the Trust for Public tions, 321 were fare enforcement violations, and 101 Land sought to improve a two-mile stretch of the Los were parking citations. During the past year, Deputy Angeles River along Crebs Avenue in Reseda. The work Perez’s primary job was to patrol the bus routes that consisted of removing weeds, trimming trees, and clean- traverse the San Fernando Valley. In 2010, while work- ing debris along the river.