What’s up with PPD anyway?
They’ve done everything possible to limit the flow of infomation to the public from their investigation into the shooting death of Jennifer Avina-Ortega. Fortunately, reporter Robert Hong spoke to a witness early on and was able to get some details about what happened and description of the two cars seen fleeing the scene.
Not sure why Pasadena thinks this stuff won’t get out… Anyway here’s the latest:
PASADENA – Detectives spoke with several people of interest Wednesday in connection with the shooting death of a 20-year-old woman last month, Pasadena police officials said, but no new arrests were made as of press time.
So far, police have only arrested one man, 30-year-old Roberto Barajas, in the death of Jennifer Ortega.
Barajas was arrested without incident on Aug. 29 and was charged with murder by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, police said.
Police have not released any further details about the shooting or arrest, saying that the case is an “ongoing and very fluid investigation.”
From the perspective of a 30 year Pasadena Police officer and one that has worked a fair share of high profile homicides, the Pasadena Police Department strives to be transparent to our community and works hard to maintain an open relationship with the media.
That said, the fundamental role PPD plays in solving crime is to identify and arrest those responsible for crimes. In doing so we also hope to develop the necessary evidence to ensure the guilty are convicted and the innocent set free.
When this requires delaying the release of vital investigative information to the media, in order to respect the integrity of the case, under all circumstances, I will instruct those in my command to do so.
Equally, if that information is available for release I strongly advise those same people to share it with the media and public. In fact on more than a couple recent occasions, I’ve personally invited our local media to join us on search warrants and other operations.
We welcome questions and suggestions as to how we can improve upon our relationship with our community and the media but in turn I would ask that both keep in mind that our fundamental objective is to keep our community safe.
Regards – M. Korpal
Joe Friday here. Did Mike answer you well enough Frank? As someone who worked with him on a few incidents, though I was an outside agency gunslinger, back in the 80’s he always seemed like a straight shooter. Now, because he’s made rank I’m sure he deserves, he has to talk the way people in that rank do. I’ll translate in my 80’s verbage that I’m sure he would have used back then if he could.
Dude, we can’t tell you guys everything, you’re the media and you can’t keep a lid on anything for Christ’s sake. When we feel it won’t harm the case we’ll give you what we can but until then quit your bitching!
Unlike reporters who want everything right now and want to meet some editor’s deadline that’s crawling up their ass, we actually want to buil a solid case so all the assholes involved in this crime can be put away forever, or get the needle trip they richly deserve.
That’s our goal Frank, to see that the system takes these assholes to the joint and we won’t let anything stand in our way of doing things in a methodical and ethical manner to meet that goal. That takes time, it doesn’t usually happen overnight.
We’ve been more than accesible to the media when able to be so how about trusting us on this instead of moaning and groaning like we’re the enemy. These investigations are what we do, trust us for a change OK?