By Terry Miller
A local civil rights attorney, who has been extremely vocal regarding the police beating case last year where Chris Ballew’s leg was broken, sent the following letter to the city of Pasadena last week:
“The press reports yesterday and this morning largely interpret your decision concerning the Altadena Town Council and police reform group’s requests to take Officers Esparza and Lujan off patrol during the pendency of the investigation of their conduct in the incident with Chris Ballew as meeting that demand. However, some of the press reports indicate that the police administration is only confirming that their assignment has changed but not confirming that they are off patrol. We’ve received reports that after Chief Sanchez’ communication to the NAACP yesterday morning, Officers Esparza and Lujan were on patrol but just not wearing the gang-suppression-unit’s identification.
The Altadena Town Council and community groups need to know what you have done without any evasion on your part. Please clarify whether you have taken Officers Lujan and Esparza off patrol or whether you have merely removed them from their assignment in the gang-suppression-unit.” – Dale L. Gronemeier
Chief Sanchez responded with the following statement:
“Dale, Steve et al.
Thank you for your communication. The officers involved in the Ballew matter were transferred from the Special Enforcement Section (SES) to Administrative Services, which is now their primary assignment.” Pasadena Chief of Police, Phillip Sanchez.
