Officers Help Out a Grieving Station

As the seemingly endless procession of squad cars and motorcycles visibly testified Friday, the LAPD stands behind its own.

Less visible were the efforts of three Los Angeles police divisions--Wilshire, Hollywood and West Los Angeles--as well as a host of volunteers and civilian staff who stepped in and shouldered the burden Friday for not just a fallen officer but a grieving division.

“There’s sorrow in my heart for him and his family, but we still have to do what we have to do,” said Sgt. Angela McGee of the Hollywood Division. “Someone still has to patrol the city and take care of the people.”

Almost the entire 380-member force in the Pacific Division took the day off for Officer Brian Brown’s funeral, leaving the usually bustling station virtually empty. But out in the streets of Venice, Palms, Mar Vista and Los Angeles International Airport, officers from other stations answered calls, made arrests and generally kept the peace.

Lending officers to other LAPD divisions is not uncommon and usually occurs for special events or stationwide celebrations and inspections.

But Friday was different. Eighty-two officers, from a captain on down to patrol officers, were lent to Pacific for the 24-hour period.

The mood at the morning roll call meeting was somber, although Sgt. Al Zardenetta, from the West Bureau Traffic Division and watch commander for the day, tried to lighten the atmosphere when he introduced himself.

“Sgt. Al Zardenetta--common spelling,” he deadpanned.

But Zardenetta quickly turned serious and thanked the officers for coming. “I appreciate you guys showing up and backing up Pacific,” he said.

Zardenetta later had to scramble to get enough squad cars to deploy his patrol because Pacific had taken all but a few cars to the funeral. Other glitches provided brief moments of comic relief on an otherwise solemn day.

An officer who worked the front desk for the day answered the phone “Hollywood Community Police Station--I mean, Pacific.” Others fumbled when trying to give a civilian directions to nearby LAX.

Being in unfamiliar neighborhoods had more serious implications for officers on patrol. They had to pay closer attention to street signs and consulted maps. In most ways, though, the day was business as usual. Officers still answered complaints and made arrests. But they half-jokingly prayed that the red crisis phone that signals a serious accident at LAX wouldn’t ring.

Also on hand to help were a handful of Pacific personnel who chose to stay behind. Officer Allison Ashnault, who was unable to attend the funeral because of a back injury, came in for the day to help out with administrative tasks.

Those who stayed were paying their respects to Brown in their own way, she said.

But if a crisis did occur, Pacific’s commanding officer, Capt. Gary Williams, said Thursday, reinforcements could be summoned.

“We’re on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week--even at a funeral,” Williams said. “We’re a family. When a crisis hits, we do what all families do. We get it done.”