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    Pomona POA standing strong and united against Council Member Carrizosa

    Date: August 2008

    Issue: Unlicensed & DUI Drivers, Enforcement of all Laws

    Pomona Police Officers' Association

    Date: August 2008

    Issue: Unlicensed & DUI Drivers, Enforcement of all Laws

    This is to notify the public and the City of Pomona leaders of the PPOA’s position on drunk and unlicensed drivers.

    On Friday night, August 15th at approximately 11:30pm, a traffic collision occurred on Temple Avenue. A 19 year old woman from Ontario was walking across Temple Avenue and was struck by a vehicle traveling southbound on Temple. The young woman sustained life threatening injuries and was left lying on the street.

    The young woman was airlifted to an LA hospital and, unfortunately, died of her injuries yesterday. The driver of the vehicle that struck this young woman fled the scene. A massive search for this hit and run driver resulted in his capture in the City of Ontario. He was found to be an unlicensed driver and a resident of Ontario.

    On Sunday, August 17th at approximately 2:30pm, a Pomona Police K9 Officer was on normal patrol when a van failed to stop for a stop sign and struck the officer’s vehicle, causing his vehicle to strike another innocent Pomona citizen. The Officer was transported to Pomona Valley Hospital and treated for his injuries. The Officer sustained injuries serious enough to remove him from police duty and require physical therapy. The other innocent driver, and a passenger, sustained moderate to minor injuries. The officer’s partner, K9 “Buddy”, was transported to a local veterinarian hospital for observation.

    This investigation led Pomona Police Officers to determine that the suspect who caused the collision was under the influence of alcohol. The driver was also found to be unlicensed and also attempted to flee the scene before being taken into custody.

    On Saturday, August 23rd, a Pomona motorcycle officer was almost struck by an unlicensed driver attempting to escape from a checkpoint. The driver accelerated in the wrong direction, causing the officer to jump from his motorcycle avoiding serious injury.

    On Monday, August 25th, a Pomona motorcycle officer was assaulted by a unlicensed driver in a stolen vehicle. The driver intentionally slammed on his brakes causing the motorcycle to strike the vehicle. The motorcycle sustained over $6,000 in damage and the officer was fortunate that he was not seriously injured.

    These are just a few recent examples of the increased dangers our community faces, as residents, employees, and visitors. Some of these examples involve police officers, which just validates that anyone can be involved in serious traffic collisions involving drunk and unlicensed drivers and that Police Officers are not immune to these dangers.

    With the recent verbal assaults by Councilperson Cristina Carrizosa, the unlicensed and DUI drivers are learning that the City of Pomona is becoming a safe haven.

    Our PPOA members have always taken traffic safety very seriously and have taken a zero tolerance approach to all traffic laws.

    Recently, Councilperson Cristina Carrizosa called the members of the Police Department “Gestapo’s”, liars, cheaters, and accused them of attempting a cover up regarding statistics.

    With the recent injuries sustained by a police officer and the death of an innocent girl trying to cross the street, the Pomona Police Officers’ Association can not tolerate this any longer. We have remained steadfast in our support for this community and in the preservation of their safety. We have refrained from responding to Carrizosa’s blatant, rude, accusatory, defamatory, slanderous remarks and accusations and have not wavered from our goals and mission of protecting the citizens of this community. Now that members of this community are being injured and killed we can no longer tolerate the continual attacks on our members that have divided the community and those who protect it.

    President Phil Bozoich stated, “Councilperson Carrizosa has continued to attack the members of this Association and the loyal and dedicated employees of this City. I will not allow it to continue. She is not only creating a hostile work environment for the Police Department employees, but she is now the reason for causing injury to the people I represent and the citizens of this city that I protect.”

    I can assure you that any methods employed by our officers is within department policy, and within our legal authority. We employ some of the most advanced traffic safety methods in Southern California. The City of Pomona had one of the most significant decreases in fatal traffic collisions, from 24 to 2. If one were to ask any one of the 24 families affected by the loss of their loved one, I assure you their response would be unequivocally, more traffic safety enforcement. No one wants a loved one taken from them by a driver ignorant to the rules of the road. We stand by the oath that each one of us made when we were sworn into this profession, to enforce all laws of this State, equally and fairly.

    The most recent traffic collisions prove very clearly that DUI drivers and unlicensed drivers are known to flee the scenes of traffic collisions. Consumption of alcohol occurs during all hours of the day, and unlicensed drivers can be found on our streets and highways at any time. Councilperson Cristina Carrizosa has now perpetuated the problem.

    Our goal is to make this community safe for those who visit, live, or work here.

    I can assure you as President of the Pomona Police Officers’ Association we will continue to diligently enforce all laws to keep the citizens of this community safe from the criminal element that certain City leaders welcome.

    Any questions regarding our stance on the enforcement of all laws equally and fairly throughout the City of Pomona, please contact Pomona Police Officers’ Association at PomonaPOA@aol.com or (909) 392-8982.