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Four suicides rock the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department

By
Judy Abel
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(Brittany Murray/MediaNews Group/Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images)

Three current and one former employee take own lives in 24 hour period 

Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna is pleading with his deputies throughout the county to check in on the well being of their fellow colleagues and friends. 

The county’s top law enforcement official made his plea Wednesday when the department announced the suicide deaths of three current employees and one former employee all in the span of a 24-hour period beginning Monday through Tuesday. The department says it does not appear the four deaths were related in any way nor does it suspect foul play in any of the cases. 

Studies have shown there is an elevated risk of suicide among law enforcement workers than other occupations. Researchers have attributed the higher numbers to the stresses of police work, heightened public scrutiny over recent high-profile law enforcement killings, and easy access to firearms. 

There have been four other suicides in the department in 2023. Luna said there are counseling units to support officers and their families.

(Brittany Murray:MediaNews Group:Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images).webp

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna speaks at a news conference addressing a rash of suicides among Sheriff’s Department employees. Brittany Murray: MediaNews Group: Long Beach Press-Telegram via Getty Images

UPDATED ARTICLE BELOW:

LA Sheriff’s Department rocked by four suicides in 24-hour period

Sheriff Robert Luna says deaths are not related, expresses concern for his employees’ well-being

Three active and one former employees of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department took their own lives in one 24-hour period beginning Nov. 6. The deaths have shaken not only the Sheriff’s Department, but law enforcement agencies in general who reportedly have a higher rate of suicide than other occupations. 

One of the deceased found Monday in his Santa Clarita home was Cmdr. Darren Harris. Harris was a jailer and was also recognizable to many after serving for years as a department spokesperson during TV news reports. He is said to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Later that same day, the body of Greg Hovland was found at his Quartz Hill home. Hovland was a sergeant who worked in the Antelope Valley before his retirement from the force. 

Another LASD employee was found that evening at a home in Stevenson Ranch. The fourth death was reported Tuesday morning, Nov. 7, at 7:30 a.m. when sheriff’s homicide detectives were called to the scene at a Pomona hospital after an employee was found unresponsive at home. The jail worker was pronounced dead at the hospital.

At a news conference, Sheriff Robert Luna said the four most recent suicides were not related to each other and that no foul play was suspected in any of the cases. Luna pleaded with his employees to check in with their colleagues. He said he had the “deepest concern for our employees’ well-being.” Luna encouraged his deputies and employees to seek help through counseling services offered by the department.

Recent studies have been identifying a disturbing trend in law enforcement across the country. Research statistics cited in the National Library of Medicine are showing more police officers have died in recent years than the number killed in the line of duty. Studies have also shown that police officers are at higher risk of suicide than the general population or than employees in other lines of work. Identifying factors are high stress police work, heightened public scrutiny over recent high-profile police shootings, allegations of excessive force, allegations of misconduct, and easy access to firearms.

Still, the LASD has recently faced its own trauma and stress. Just last September, Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, an eight-year department veteran recently engaged to be married, was shot and killed while on duty in Palmdale. Clinkunbroomer was in uniform and in his patrol car when he was shot for no apparent reason while stopped at a red light outside the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station. Clinkunbroomer was just 30 years old.

In 2023, a total of nine LASD employees or former employees have taken their own lives. Four suicides in a short period, however, shook the department to its core. Luna called the events shocking adding, “The Sheriff’s Department is beyond saddened to learn of the deaths involving four LASD employees. We are stunned. It has sent shockwaves of emotions throughout the department as we try to cope with the loss of not just one, but four beloved active and retired members of our department family.” 

Luna this week has repeatedly called on his employees to not be embarrassed if they feel the need to talk through problems and stresses and to seek help if needed.

If you or someone you love is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. Additional support is available at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/rescources.

Fire crews put out brush fire in Topanga; power outage in Eastern Malibu, be prepared for potential fire/evacuations 

By
Samantha Bravo
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LA County Fire Department

Fire crews put out a brushfire in Topanga Canyon around 4:35 a.m., the fire started around 12 a.m., according to the City of Malibu utility advisory.

SCE has shut off power to parts of Nicholas circuit in eastern Malibu (Las Flores Canyon). East Malibu, be prepared for potential fire and evacuations. 

Monitor local AM/FM news using handcrank, solar powered, battery or car radios, which will operate when power is out. Under CA law, come to a complete stop at any malfunctioning traffic signal.

Check on elderly or disabled neighbors. Seniors, people who rely on wheelchairs, medical devices, or are otherwise not mobile, and owners of horses and large animals should consider leaving the area early. Ensure that you know how to open your garage door or electric gate when the power is out. 

For updates subscribe to the City of Malibu’s alert center. Alert Center allows you to view all alerts and emergencies in your area. If there are alerts or emergencies, they will be listed below by category. To be instantly notified of alerts and emergencies subscribe to Notify Me or RSS.

UPDATED ARTICLE BELOW:

Fire crews put out a 3.6-acre brush fire in Topanga

Fire Department says last Thursday’s blaze is still under investigation

Last week, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Red Flag Warning from Wednesday, Nov. 8, through Thurs, Nov. 9, and on Thursday morning, fire crews responded to a 3.6-acre brushfire on Topanga Canyon. 

The City of Malibu released a utility advisory stating the brush fire started around 12 a.m. Wednesday, and was put out on Thursday, Nov. 9, around 4:35 a.m.

“If fire ignition occurs there could be rapid spread of wildfire that would lead to a threat to life and property,” the advisory says. “Be prepared for potential power outages, fire, evacuations, hazardous road conditions due to branches in the road and malfunctioning traffic signals.” 

Los Angeles County Fire Department District 7 Community Service Liaison Megan Currier provided a report on the brush fire and said the fire is still under investigation. 

“Crews remained on scene overnight to make sure there were no flare-ups,” Currier said. “The fire department investigators arrived this morning (Thursday, Nov. 9) and they’re going to determine what the cause was.”

Currier said an occupied two-story building structure was damaged in the fire. 

East Malibu residents were encouraged to be prepared for potential fire and evacuations. Parts of eastern Malibu (Las Flores Canyon) were without power for a few hours while the brush fire was under control.

Southern California Edison temporarily shuts power off during dangerous weather conditions to prevent our electric system from becoming a source of ignition. 

The city is coordinating on preparedness with the LA County Fire and Sheriff’s departments, Caltrans and LA County Public Works. The Public Safety Team coordinates with the Sheriff’s Host Team and Malibu Homeless Outreach Team to engage with people experiencing homelessness in Malibu about fire prevention and being prepared for potential evacuations. The Public Works Team monitors and patrols road hazards, debris, and downed power lines.

The city and Malibu CERT Team volunteers encourage residents to be prepared by using radio repeaters and handheld radios and setting up the Emergency Information Station to communicate and share information with the community in case of widespread power outage. 

The city and KBUU 99.1 FM coordinate to post emergency information in the local radio broadcast.

According to the city website, as of Nov. 7, Live Fuel Moisture (LFM) is at 108 percent, down from 109 percent. This means that much of the lighter fuels are still retaining their moisture due to late summer rains. Last year at this time, Malibu was below the critical threshold of 60 percent. The LFM is the percentage of water content to dry matter in live vegetation and indicates how likely a fire is to grow large and spread quickly. 

Historically, throughout 40 years of data collection, LFM has been around 63 percent at this time of year. However, with the Red Flag event last week and current Santa Ana winds and low humidity, light fuels are drying out. The fire hazard rating is currently “Moderate.” That means the lighter fuels that are not part of the green up will be susceptible to ignition and spread under certain conditions. Although LFM is above the historic average in the Santa Monica Mountains for this time of year, the vegetation is still in a vulnerable state and the community is urged to be diligent with home hardening and brush clearance efforts. The City of Malibu also provides free Home Wildfire Assessments.

The LA County Fire Department takes plant samples every two weeks and posts the results on their website (fire.lacounty.gov/fire-weather-danger/).

For local fire weather information, visit the National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard website at weather.gov. 

For updates subscribe to the City of Malibu’s Alert Center, which allows you to view all alerts and emergencies in your area. If there are alerts or emergencies, they will be listed below by category. To be instantly notified of alerts and emergencies subscribe to Notify Me or RSS. 

SAG-AFTRA reach tentative deal with AMPTP

By
Judy Abel
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SAG-AFTRA reach tentative deal with AMPTP

Longest Hollywood strike comes to a close 

Actors could soon be back at work now that their union, SAG-AFTRA, and major Hollywood studios have reached a tentative agreement to end their strike. Guild actors have been walking picket lines for 118 days making this the longest strike in entertainment history. The guild’s 17-member negotiating committee unanimously voted on November 8 to recommend an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. 160,000 rank and file members are expected to go along with their leaders and ratify the agreement which could officially end the historic strike as soon as 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, November 9.Negotiations focused on protections for actors against artificial intelligence and a significant pay raise. Most pay minimums are said to increase by 7% –two percent above the increases received by the Writers Guild and the Directors Guild. Less than one month ago the Writers Guild of America settled its strike the AMPTP.

Coffee with a Deputy at Malibu Country Mart on Tues, Nov. 14

By
Samantha Bravo
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Join the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriffs Station next Tues, Nov. 14 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at The Malibu Country Mart Playground/Courtyard in the City of Malibu for #CoffeewithaDeputy.

Stop by to meet deputies from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station. Chat with them about questions or concerns you have, or just enjoy a cup of coffee and say hi. 

Household Hazardous and Electronic Waste Collection event on Nov. 18

By
Samantha Bravo
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The City of Malibu offered a limited drive through HHW/E-Waste collection event on Saturday Oct. 21. Photo submitted by Sally Dibaei.

Los Angeles County is hosting a semi-annual household hazardous waste (HHW) and electronic waste collection event on Saturday, November 18, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM located at the Malibu Civic Center rear parking lot. Items must be carefully secured in the vehicle’s trunk or pick-up bed. Hazardous waste cannot be placed with other items. Waste should be in a sturdy box, preferably in their original containers. Limit 15 gallons or 125 pounds of hazardous waste per trip. Business hazardous waste and electronic waste is not accepted. For a complete list of accepted materials, visit the County’s website.

Malibu High School reveals new mural on campus

By
The Malibu Times
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(From left) Jolynn Regan, Daniella Torres, mural designer Tom Hacker, Arts Angels Treasurer Luhanda Garvin, mural artist Marcel "Sel" Blanco, and Arts Angels President Jo Drummond are seen in front of the mural at Malibu High School. Contributed photo. 

At least 200 kids from Malibu Middle and High schools were involved in the project

By Barbara Burke

Special to The Malibu Times

​Students, faculty members, and visitors were able to enjoy some new scenery at Malibu High School — a mural wrapping around a storage/utility campus building, painted by students from the high school and Malibu Middle School.

“We’ve worked on the mural for one week and lots of kids contributed to it by helping to paint,” said muralist Marcel “Sel” Blanco on Oct. 23 as he stepped back from the large art project and admired the artistic creation depicting azure blue waves crashing against a beach and a stunningly yellow sun with white puffy clouds calmly floating above. A lifeguard tower is juxtaposed against the cliffs and the bright and cheerful scene adds both beauty and joy to the lawn where students gather. On the horizon behind, the Santa Monica Mountains embrace the new mural. The other side of the mural, which wraps around all four sides of the small building, highlights Pt. Dume.

​“Some kids love to be creative and thoroughly enjoy using the brush and paint,” Cel said, noting his murals can be found @sel_dog and that he has murals displayed in London, DTLA, Santa Monica, and Long Beach but that he especially enjoys helping create murals on school campuses. 

Students from Malibu Middle and High schools help paint a mural wrapping around a utility building on campus. Contributed Photos.

“Stan Nunez is assisting me here in Malibu’s school and I’ve helped to create murals on about 10 school campuses,” Cel said. “In some schools there is no art program so doing the murals is especially important. Without art programs, the schools are not reaching about one-third of the school population of kids who want to explore the arts.”

Longtime Malibu art teacher Tom Hacker designed the mural.

“I wanted to create something that fits with the landscape and the mountains beyond,” Hacker said. 

“The mural is something permanent that the students can enjoy and remember, and then again — there’s the large empty gray wall space across the lawn that encases the elevator tower!” Hacker smiled at the thought that the other structure could also provide a canvas for a mural in the future.

Parent-led organizations Arts Angels and the Shark Fund assisted in paying for and providing the materials and arranging the project which is part of Red Ribbon Week, a nationwide initiative held at high schools that seeks to help middle and high school students avoid becoming involved in drugs and instead choose to be kind to their minds and find their natural high. 

“It was incredible to see the transformation when the kids got involved and grabbed a paint brush!” said Greg Schellenberg, who’s in his first year as Malibu Middle School’s principal. “A dull old stone brick building just popped with color.”

Beaming at the beautiful mural, Jo Drummond, Arts Angels president, commented, “At least 200 kids from Malibu Middle and High schools were involved in the project.” 

Daniela Torres-Mattus, director of education for Beautify Earth, a nonprofit organization that helps to create murals on school campuses, helped to coordinate the project. 

“When students grab a brush and create, it inspires them to know that they can change their environment,” Torres-Mattus said. “We take murals to kids in schools that need some love — for every mural a school pays for, we provide a school in disadvantaged neighborhoods a free mural. A school in Inglewood will benefit from the Malibu mural.”

With the murals, she noted, “one sees a small change on a drab surface, but all it takes to help someone be happy is color and art. I do this because it changes lives — there’s nothing that art can’t heal.”

World Kindness Week is also from November 13-16.

The finished mural is shown at Malibu High School, wrapped around a utility building on campus. Photo by Barbara Burke

Malibu’s Best Shot: Westward Beach

By
Samantha Bravo
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Westward Beach captured on film. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMT.

Westward Beach captured on film with a Pentax K1000 film camera. Developed at Woodland Hills Camera and Telescope. Photo by Samantha Bravo.

Pepperdine men’s water polo dominates in eighth straight victory

By
McKenzie Jackson
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Waves senior attacker Anthony D'Ambra (No. 5) tosses the ball toward the Cal Lutheran goal. Photo by McKenzie Jackson.

Waves have four regular season games left before they host the Nov. 17-19 WCC Championships

The Pepperdine Waves men’s water polo team ended the first quarter of their home match against the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen on Oct. 29 with a 7-0 advantage. 

The Kingsman began the second quarter with their first score of the contest in Pepperdine’s Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool. The Waves responded by going on a scoring tear led by sophomore attacker Sandor Gal. Gal scored two of his three goals in the contest on consecutive possessions. Sophomore center defender Tanner Turrall followed Gal’s goals, by tossing in a score of his own to give Pepperdine a 10-1 lead. 

The Waves didn’t score on their fourth possession of the quarter, but sophomore utility Milo Joseph scored his lone goal of game the fifth time Pepperdine had the ball. Cal Lutheran scored once more before halftime, so the Waves held an 11-3 lead at the break. Pepperdine rang up six more goals after halftime to capture a 17-6 victory. 

Pepperdine head coach Terry Schroeder said the Waves’ variety of scorers propelled them to victory. Eleven Waves had scoring tosses in the match. 

“We played well enough to win, but I don’t think we played our best,” Schroeder said. “We gave up some easy goals that we have to do a better job of defending.”

The win was the Waves’ second of the day and third of the weekend. Pepperdine downed visiting Air Force 16-11 hours before beating Cal Lutheran. The day before, Pepperdine traveled to Riverside and defeated California Baptist 16-11. 

The Waves, the fourth-ranked team in college water polo, go into Saturday’s game at San Jose State on an eight-game winning streak and with a 22-4 record. 

Pepperdine’s last loss was on Oct. 7 to Long Beach State, another squad ranked in the top 10. Schroeder said that one-goal, overtime loss was a “wake-up call.”

Waves senior attacker Anthony D’Ambra (No. 5) tosses the ball toward the Cal Lutheran goal. Photo by McKenzie Jackson.
The Waves men’s water polo squad is on an eight-game winning streak. Photo by McKenzie Jackson.
Pepperdine’s Kaden Kaneko makes an offensive play against Cal Lutheran. Photo by McKenzie Jackson.

“That was probably a team we should beat most of the time but we lost to them,” he recalled. “The guys have been more focused since then — a little bit hungrier.”

The head coach knows a lot about stacking victories. He reached 500-win mark when Pepperdine beat Bucknell on Oct. 21. Schroeder, who has coached the Waves in two stints for 31 seasons, now has 505 wins. He is the seventh coach in men’s collegiate water polo history to reach the 500-victory plateau. 

The former Pepperdine water polo player and four-time Olympian said reaching the wins milestone is an honor.

“It made me reflect a lot on the years I have been here,” said Schroeder on coaching at Pepperdine. “I’m grateful to Pepperdine. I’m grateful to the people that have allowed me to be here — all the players and coaches. I’ve had a lot of good people around me. Its been a fantastic journey.”

The coach first stepped on the Waves’ pool deck as a volunteer assistant coach. He took the head coaching reigns in 1986 after he finished chiropractor school. Schroeder was a member of the U.S. National Team when he began coaching. He constantly fought the urge to want to jump in the pool to compete with his players.

Pepperdine head coach Terry Schroeder talks to his team during their victory over Cal Lutheran. Photo by McKenzie Jackson.

“I was not so comfortable on the deck,” Schroeder recalled. “I was a little bit fierier, a little bit more emotional. Realizing that on the deck you can’t affect the game as much as you can in the water was a learning process for me.”

Schroeder was a member of the USA’s national water polo squad during his first six seasons as Pepperdine’s coach. Coaching made him a better player.

“I became more cerebral about the game and learned little intricacies,” Schroeder said. 

He initially planned to coach for one or two years, but he grew to love the job. Schroeder became a better coach when he left the national team after the 1992 Olympics.

Schroeder tallied 340 victories before leaving Pepperdine in 2005 to coach the U.S. team. He guided the red, white, and blue watermen to a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics and coached them at the 2012 version of the summer sports spectacle. 

Schroeder returned to the Waves as volunteer assistant again in 2012. He was named the head coach again 2013. 

Schroeder said defeating rival USC 8-7 in overtime to win the NCAA national title in 1997 is a victory he will always cherish, as well as a time the Waves downed Stanford.

“They are all pretty sweet,” he said. “Its fun to win.” 

Collecting over 500 Ws, Schroeder noted, taught him that the gap between wins and losses isn’t that wide.

“The fine line is oftentimes found in little moments in the game,” he said. “Whether it is how you are passing the ball to the setter or moving the ball on the perimeter. You learn from your wins and losses. Winning consistently can be a bit of a trap. You start not being as hungry, not being as focused.” 

Kaden Kaneko tied Gal with three goals in Schroeder’s team’s win over Cal Lutheran. Matty Walsh and Chase Wilson each scored twice. Joseph, Turrall, Jon Carcarey, Anthony D’Ambra, Christian Hosea, Clay Kaneko, and Curtis Jarvis all had a goal. 

Ryan Brosnan and Adam Csapo led Pepperdine with three scores apiece against Air Force. Hosea, Jarvis, and Travis Reynolds had two scores each. Carcarey, Walsh, Dane Howell, and Chase Wilson all scored a single goal.

Carcarey led Pepperdine with four goals against Cal Baptist. Csapo scored three times and Brosnan and Walsh scored twice. Gal, Hosea, Jarvis, Reynolds, and Wilson all tossed in lone scores.

Pepperdine has four regular season games left before they host the Nov. 17-19 West Coast Conference Championships. The NCAA Championships begin on Dec. 2. 

Schroeder said the Waves are playing well but have to continue to compete hard to be successful.

“We have a really good group,” Schroeder said. “We have all the pieces. We just have to do the little things right. We have to be really hungry to win our conference tournament and make the NCAAs and hopefully win a few games and have a chance to win the championship again.”

A Waves men’s water polo player looks to pass the ball against Cal Lutheran. Photo by McKenzie Jackson.

Veterans Day Celebration at Malibu City Hall

By
Samantha Bravo
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Malibu City Hall will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. Celebrate Veterans and current members of the military who have served our country and our community at the Malibu Veteran’s Day Public Ceremony on Sat, Nov. 11, at Malibu City Hall's Civic Theater. Photo by Samantha Bravo/TMT.

Malibu City Hall will be closed on Friday, Nov. 10, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday. Celebrate Veterans and current members of the military who have served our country and our community at the Malibu Veteran’s Day Public Ceremony on Sat, Nov. 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Malibu City Hall’s Civic Theater.

The theme of this year’s event is “Legacy of Generations In Service.” The event is sponsored by the Malibu Navy League, Pepperdine University, the City of Malibu, the Malibu Association of Realtors, International Protective Service (IPS) and Malibu Times.

The free public event will feature Veteran speakers, poetry, dancers, musical performances, a Color Guard, and a visit from the Mini Therapy Horses. Students from local schools in Malibu, ROTC and Sea Cadets will participate. Lunch and refreshments will be served after the ceremony. 
 
 All current and former members of the military are invited to arrive early at 10:30 AM to be greeted and escorted to VIP seating by the Pepperdine Ambassadors Council. The program begins at 11:00 AM, and lunch will be served 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM. Malibu City Hall is located at 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu. 

Any person, business, school or other organization may sponsor the event, or have the name of a current or former member of the military listed in the Tribute Section of the event program book. For more information, call Ani Dermenjian at 310-738-0499.

Thousand Oaks man dies from injuries suffered at Palestinian/Israel rally in Westlake Village

By
Judy Abel
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0

Police are now calling the death of Paul Kessler of Thousand Oaks a homocide. 

The 69-year-old was a counter protester Sunday at a pro Palestinian rally in Westlake Village on Sunday. Kessler was hit on the head with a megaphone by an unidentified person. 

On November 5, 2023, at approximately 3:20 p.m. multiple citizens called the Ventura County Sheriff’s Communication Center to report a battery had occurred at the intersection of Westlake Boulevard and Thousand Oaks Boulevard in the City of Thousand Oaks. The intersection was the location of a Pro-Israeli / Pro-Palestinian demonstration. Upon arrival, responding deputies located Kessler, who was suffering from a head injury. 

According to the sheriffs report, witness accounts indicated that Kessler was involved in a physical altercation with counter-protestor(s). During the altercation, Kessler fell backwards and struck his head on the ground. Kessler was transported to an area hospital for advanced medical treatment. On November 6. 2023. Kessler succumbed to his injuries. 

An autopsy was performed on November 6th and the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be blunt force head injury and the manner of death homicide. This is an active and ongoing investigation, and the incident appears to be isolated and not part of a large effort. 

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance from the public regarding this ongoing investigation. Anyone who witnessed or has knowledge of the incident, or who was present at the demonstration is encouraged to contact Detective Stump at (805) 384-4745.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office will host a press conference regarding the recent death of a pro-Israeli protester that occurred in the City of Thousand Oaks on 11/5/23. The event will stream live online here: vimeo.com/event/3858855.

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