Pasadena Police Schedule Additional Patrols to Combat Weekend Violence

The Pasadena Police Department says that because of violence over the weekend, it will be deploying additional resources the next several weeks to prevent further violence. Assaults with deadly weapons have increased more than 40% this year as compared to last year and this weekend there was a stabbing which resulted in a homicide, a car to car shooting where nearly 20 bullets were fired, a person arrested with a firearm at La Pintoresca Park and a shooting of two victims at Villa Park, both who are in critical condition. Additionally, there was a spike in overdose deaths which preliminarily appear to be related to opiates, possibly fentanyl.

There will be a noticeable increase in uniformed police officers patrolling the impacted areas of Pasadena.

In a press release issued by the department, “This trend of increased violence in Pasadena is very concerning to the Pasadena Police Department and the City’s leaders.” Officers have already recovered more than 200 firearms this year and there have been close to 30 reported shootings during the same time period, the majority of which are from car to car. Police say they’ve noted an increase in gang activity and gang violence, which over the last several years, was on the decline.

Police Chief John E. Perez stated, “While the country addresses the recent demands for change to the socioeconomic issues, the City of Pasadena continues to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to both the local economy and to issues of mental health. Unfortunately, these issues seem to be having a direct effect on the level of violence in recent months. This increased activity cannot continue and the Pasadena Police Department will deploy additional patrol officers to combat and prevent any further acts of violence.”

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