Don Knabe. Working for you.

Public Safety Accomplishments

2010

Collecting Millions for Families of Worst Child Support Evaders
Over $9 million in unpaid child support has been collected in the past two years from Los Angeles County’s worst local child support evaders – a small group of parents who go to great lengths to avoid the law and avoid caring for their children by not paying their child support obligations. In March 2008, Supervisor Don Knabe unveiled a new partnership between the County’s Child Support Services Department (CSSD) and the District Attorney’s Office (DA) to criminally prosecute parents who spend years avoiding child support payments.
 

Seeking Service Improvements for Mental Health Patients

The three public hospitals operated by Los Angeles County receive more than 14,000 patients every year who are on involuntary psychiatric holds, commonly known as a “5150.” Of these patients, over 7,000 arrive at County hospitals in the back of police and Sheriff patrol cars, even if they have not committed any crimes. In response, Supervisor Don Knabe is seeking a way to provide better transportation services to patients on 5150 holds and save money from the expensive costs of moving patients in law enforcement vehicles.

Extending Reward for Murder of 16-Year Old Long Beach Student

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously extended a $20,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, for information related to the shooting death of 16-year old, Wilson High School student, Melody Ross.

Calling for Reinstatement of Body Armor Ban

The Board of Supervisors, on a motion by Supervisor Don Knabe, will support the District Attorney’s efforts to seek new legislation to reinstate the ban and use or possession of body armor for violent felons. On December 17, 2009, the California Court of Appeals overturned a decade-old law banning the possession of body armor by violent felons. The California legislature banned felons from having body armor in 1998 after a nationally televised shootout in North Hollywood between Los Angeles police officers and two heavily armed bank robbers who were equipped with ballistic vests.

2009

Working to Close a Marijuana Dispensary in South Whittier

Supervisor Knabe announced that a medical marijuana dispensary operating illegally in unincorporated South Whittier will be forced to close immediately after Los Angeles County successfully won a preliminary injunction against the dispensary’s operators. The Starlight 420 Center had been operating at 15640 Leffingwell Road for more than six months. The County sought to close the dispensary because of multiple code violations, including proximity to children’s play areas. The dispensary opened without obtaining or applying for a legally required business license or a conditional use permit. Additionally, the dispensary was operating 285 feet from a McDonald’s playground and 595 feet from a child care center. The County’s zoning ordinance for marijuana dispensaries was adopted in 2006 and prevents dispensaries from operating within 1000 feet of facilities for children.

Continuing Anti-Gang Program in the Cities of Bellflower and Paramount

The Board of Supervisors has authorized two separate one-year agreements between the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Cities of Bellflower and Paramount for the continuance of a successful gang abatement program in the two cities. The Strategies Against Gang Environments (SAGE) Program decreases street gang violence and narcotics-related activities by utilizing civil injunctions and other procedures to enhance a city’s efforts to reduce gang violence and graffiti problems.

Establishing Reward for the Rape and Robbery of an Elderly Blind Woman

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $10,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, for information related to the robbery and sexual assault of an 82-year old, Norwalk resident that is legally blind.

Collecting Firearms During Gifts for Guns Program
653 guns, including one grenade, were surrendered by local residents during the first weekend of a two-month expansion of the Gifts for Guns program, Supervisor Don Knabe announced. Supervisor Knabe joined Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, and Sheriff Lee Baca at a press conference to kick-off the Gifts for Guns program. The Gifts for Guns program allows County residents to anonymously and safely turn in guns and firearms to law enforcement.
 

Renewing Reward for Shooting of Sheriff’s Deputy in Whittier

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors renewed a $50,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information related to the shooting of Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Schaap.

Establishing Reward for Murder of 28-Year Old Torrance Resident

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $10,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, for information related to the murder of 28-year old, Torrance resident, Cori Daye Desmond. On Valentine’s Day night, Cori went to visit some friends working at the Bac Street Lounge in Redondo Beach. While at the lounge, Cori reportedly was involved in an argument with an unidentified patron. She was last seen walking to her car alone at 2:30 a.m. Her body was found stuffed in a bag and dumped on a snowy San Bernardino County road on February 16.

Re-establishing Reward for Shooting Deaths of Five Homeless Persons in Long Beach

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors re-established a $20,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, for information related to shooting incidents that led to the death of five homeless persons in the City of Long Beach.

Establishing Reward for Long Beach Double Murder

A $10,000 reward has been unanimously approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, to assist in the investigation of a double murder that claimed the lives of Sarith Em and Vannaly Tim in the City of Long Beach on New Year’s Day.

Establishing Reward for Murder of 20-Year Old Man in Artesia

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $10,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, for information related to a shooting incident that led to the death of a 20-year old man in the City of Artesia.

2008

Establishing Reward for Shooting Deaths of Five Homeless Persons in Long Beach

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $20,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Don Knabe, for information related to shooting incidents that led to the death of five homeless persons in the City of Long Beach.

Overhauling Education in the County Juvenile Justice System Supervisor Knabe’s proposed overhaul of educational opportunities in Los Angeles County’s juvenile camps and halls was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors. The reforms were proposed by Supervisor Knabe in June 2007 after a study revealed students were seriously underserved by the schools designed to teach children incarcerated in the Los Angeles County juvenile justice system. Among the reforms will be the creation of charter schools in the probation system. The reforms will also customize educational opportunities based on the individual needs of the student, including a vocational education path, a college-bound path, and a GED completion path, among others.
 

Hosting Youth Trauma Conference
Supervisor Knabe sponsored a conference for mental health professionals, probation officers, community workers, school administrators and teachers that examined how trauma and violence shapes the behaviors of young people. The one-day training was developed in partnership with the Probation Department, Department of Mental Health, Los Angeles Unified School District and the Children’s Council of Los Angeles County, and focused on those engaged in delinquent behavior and under the supervision of the Probation Department.
 

Funding Plan to Slow Jail Early Release Program

The Board of Supervisors approved nearly $3 million to be spent on electronic monitoring devices so more nonviolent offenders can serve home detention and help ease crowding in Los Angeles County jails. The plan was born out of a proposal made by Supervisor Knabe that ultimately led to a change in State law last year.

Taggers to Pay for Graffiti Damage
The Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance to fine graffiti taggers for the damage they cause. The average taxpayer cost to catch a tagger is $665, and the average cost of removing or painting over graffiti is $552 per incident. Los Angeles County spends over $30 million per year in graffiti cleanup costs in the unincorporated areas. Supervisor Gloria Molina and Supervisor Don Knabe introduced a motion with the idea last year after a Pico Rivera grandmother was killed, when she tried to stop a graffiti vandal from defacing a wall near her home.
 

Calling for Report on Internet-Based 911 Calls

Seeking to ensure that all 9-1-1 calls receive a fast and complete response, Supervisor Knabe called for a report looking at the issues surrounding cell phone and internet-based 9-1-1 calls.

Authorizing Reward Payout In Beating of Rowland Unified School District Police Officer

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the payout of two $5,000 rewards for information that led to the conviction of four juveniles responsible for the beating of a Rowland Unified School District Police Officer at Jellick Elementary School in Rowland Heights.

Tracking Down Child Support Payment Evaders
The County of Los Angeles launched a new program, modeled after the FBI’s successful most wanted list, to track down and capture the County’s most egregious child support payment evaders. The program was announced at a press conference by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, and the Director of the County’s Child Support Services Department, Steven J. Golightly. The new Most Wanted List features some of the County’s worst child support offenders, and eight members that have been placed on the list have either been arrested or surrendered in court.

Establishing Reward for Murder of Long Beach Boy
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $10,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information related to the shooting death of an 11-year old boy in the City of Long Beach.
 

Preventing Graffiti Vandalism in the Fourth District

Supervisor Knabe in partnership with Helpline Youth Counseling, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Cities of Downey, La Mirada, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, and Unincorporated Whittier launched the Aware Teens Against Graffiti or A.T.A.G., which is an innovative delinquency prevention program that targets first time tagging and vandalism offenders between the ages of 9 to 15 and their parents. The weekend-long program focuses on the parents receiving an intensive two-day skill-building training, and the youth offenders participating in community service projects and group discussions while being supervised by law enforcement.

Busting a Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Ring

A widespread child care fraud ring that involved the theft of over $3 million in taxpayer’s funds was busted recently. Supervisor Knabe led the effort to pass State legislation to combat fraudulent use of funds for government-subsidized child care programs – fraud which costs California’s taxpayers millions of dollars per year. The bust involved charges being filed against 55 different people, which were spread across five separate criminal complaints. The fraud ring was allegedly run, in part, by a convict currently in federal prison on a narcotic trafficking term. The $3 million bust is believed to the largest of its kind to date in the nation.

Establishing Reward for Shooting of Sheriff’s Deputy in Whittier

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $50,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information related to the shooting of Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Schaap.

Establishing Rewards for Three Shooting Deaths in Long Beach

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved three $10,000 rewards, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information related to two different shooting incidents in Long Beach that led to the deaths of Dennis Moses, Breon Taylor, and Ikime Sims.

2007

Funding New Avalon Lifeguard and Paramedic Headquarters

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $3.897 million project to construct a state-of-the-art lifeguard and paramedic headquarters building in the City of Avalon on Catalina Island. Of the $3.897 million budget, $2.915 will be used for actual construction costs, while the remaining funds will be used for project management costs, furnishing and equipping the building, and a public art project for the exterior of the building.

Reducing Early Release of Jail Inmates
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill proposed by Supervisor Knabe that will increase the electronic monitoring of convicted felons. The legislation will thousands of inmates sentenced for minor, non-violent crimes to be shifted out of County jail beds and into electronic monitoring instead. This would allow the additional jail beds to be used to ensure violent criminals serve longer portions of their sentences, a problem that now exists under the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Early Release Program.
 

Reducing Juvenile Probation Caseloads
The Los Angeles County Probation Department added dozens of new jobs that will benefit juvenile service programs, thanks to new funding totaling $4.6 million that was successfully sought by Supervisor Knabe. The new funding came after Supervisor Knabe directed County budget staff to fund a reduction in field caseload levels within the Probation Department, and the resulting recommendations include the $4.6 million allocation, which will fund the 71 new positions.
 

Taking Steps to Replace Long Beach Courthouse

Los Angeles County officially transferred the title and ownership of the Long Beach Superior Courthouse to the State of California, completing a critical step in the planned replacement of the building with a new Courthouse nearby. By expediting the title transfer of the Long Beach Courthouse, it accelerates the State’s ability to use construction funding to replace the building or to enter into a public/private partnership with a developer to build a new courthouse and lease it back to the State. In addition, Supervisor Knabe has worked with Judge Bradford Andrews and other state and local leaders over the course of several years to lobby for funds to construct a new courthouse in Long Beach.
 

Establishing Reward for Double Homicide in Cerritos
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors established a $10,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information related to the double homicide of Joshua Shin and Matthew Morrison in the City of Cerritos.

Establishing Reward for Shooting of Retired-LAPD Officer

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $20,000 reward, at the request of Supervisors Knabe and Molina, for information related to murder of Diamond Bar resident and retired Los Angeles Police Department Officer Ruben Whittington.
 

New Graffiti Cleanup Services
Graffiti cleanup services will soon be offered in the communities of Rowland Heights and Hacienda Heights seven days a week after approval by Supervisor Knabe. Previously graffiti cleanup only occurred on weekdays. Crews are able to respond to individual service calls made to the County graffiti hotline as well as focus on cleanup near schools, parks and major intersections.

Improving Safety at Bus Shelters
Bus riders in Hacienda Heights are benefiting from new, safety-enhanced bus shelters installed by the County. The new shelters include solar-powered lighting and are located at Foothill Transit routes. The old shelters had no illumination.

Closing Down the Marijuana Dispensary in Hacienda Heights
The Hacienda Heights dispensary, which was the first medical marijuana dispensary in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, agreed to close. Supervisor Knabe led the effort to make sure that these dispensaries would be adequately regulated in order to keep neighborhoods safe, and the Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance that regulated marijuana dispensaries in the County.

Marina del Rey Seawall Upgrades
A $5.3 million upgrade project was started on the seawalls surrounding Marina del Rey. The improvements to 17,600 linear feet of the seawall will help protect against deterioration caused by tidal changes. The Marina contains more than 7.2 miles of underwater seawalls designed to protect the community.

Establishing Reward for Shooting of Sheriff’s Deputy in the City of Whittier

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $50,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information related to the shooting of Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Schaap.

Establishing Reward for Murder of Security Guard in Unincorporated Whittier
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $25,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information related to the shooting death of security guard, Reyes Armando Garcia.

Establishing Reward for Murder of Norwalk Man

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $10,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information related to the stabbing death of Norwalk resident, Manuel Marquez.

Cleaning Up Short-Stay Hotels in the Wilmington/Harbor Area
Supervisor Knabe initiated a partnership between the City and County of Los Angeles to address the numerous criminal activity and public nuisance complaints at short-stay hotels in the Wilmington and Harbor Gateway neighborhoods.

Renewing Reward for Hit-and-Run Death of Marina del Rey Man
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors renewed a $10,000 reward, at the request of Supervisor Knabe, for information related to the hit-and-run death of Marina del Rey resident, Patrick Conarpe.

Funding New Street Lights in Downtown Long Beach
The County of Los Angeles has funded a major portion of a project designed to improve pedestrian safety through enhanced street lighting in parts of downtown Long Beach. The street lighting replacement project will occur on both Broadway and 3rd Street between Pacific Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard, with the existing City-owned high pressure sodium lights being replaced with brighter metal halide lights.

Overhauling Education in the County Juvenile Justice System
Schools designed to teach children incarcerated in the Los Angeles County juvenile justice system may be seriously underserving students, according to a report by the Children’s Planning Council. As a result, Supervisor Knabe called for a top-to-bottom reform of the education system in the County’s juvenile halls and probation camps, including the possible use of charter schools.

2006

Expanding Lifeguard Services

Supervisor Knabe secured $428,250 in the County's Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Budget to fund 24-hour staffing for Los Angeles County Lifeguards at Baywatch Cabrillo. Funding will provide the first-ever 24-hour lifeguard coverage on the coastline from San Pedro all the way up to the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
 

Balanced Law Enforcement Services

Members of the Board of Supervisors gave unanimous support to an effort by Supervisor Knabe to ensure the Sheriff’s Department provides a level of law enforcement services in unincorporated communities that is equitable to service levels in Contract Cities.
 

Targeting Graffiti Vandalism

The past year saw the funding and introduction of the “Graffiti Tracker” system in South Whittier, which is designed to capture and store graffiti data. The system gives law enforcement personnel real-time, street-level intelligence that allows them to not only focus on the worst graffiti offenders and their damage, but also to monitor potential gang violence that is associated with the graffiti.
 

Improving Identity Protection

Based on reforms introduced by Supervisor Knabe, the County adopts sweeping changes for the retention and destruction of confidential documents, ensuring that any confidential or personal information is secured and disposed of properly in all County departments and agencies. Knabe’s plan was the first top-to-bottom overhaul of the County’s document destruction policy in nearly 50 years. The last time the Board of Supervisors addressed the issue was May 1958.
 

New Lifeguard Headquarters

A state-of-the-art lifeguard and paramedic headquarters building is being constructed in the City of Avalon on Catalina Island. The Avalon Lifeguard facility will also have one unique feature among all of the County’s similar buildings. This will be the first to include dormitory space for workers. County lifeguards are on-call for 24-hour periods in Avalon, meaning that anyone stationed there would need to secure housing in the City’s limited housing market. With the new building, workers will be able to complete their shifts without having to acquire housing off-site.
 

Restoring Jail Funding

An effort by Supervisor Knabe to close funding shortfalls led to the successful reopening of 4,474 beds in County jails that had previously been closed by budget cuts. This will return the County’s facilities back to about 22,000 jail beds and reduce the Sheriff’s early release program.
 

New Deputies in South Whittier

Three new patrol deputies from the Sheriff’s Department were funded by Supervisor Knabe. These additional deputies will exclusively serve the unincorporated areas of South Whittier.
 

Reopening Jail Beds

Legislation authored by Supervisor Knabe and unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors resulted in $168 million being allocated to refurbish and reopen the shuttered Sybil Brand Jail. Reopening this facility, which is designed for female inmates, will free up more jail beds throughout the system and help ensure that inmates serve longer portions of their sentences.
 

Lakewood Station Remodel

A multi-million dollar modernization and expansion project is underway at the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station. Supervisor Knabe pledged $2 million in capital project funds to the remodel, which includes the construction of a 15,400-square-foot, two-story addition, remodeling two existing buildings, and enlarging one of them by 2,300 square feet. The station serves a population of about 260,000 in five cities, including Lakewood, Artesia, Bellflower, Hawaiian Gardens, and Paramount.
 

Modernizing Court Facilities

Replacement of the outdated Long Beach Courthouse moved a step closer to reality, thanks in part to the advocacy efforts of Supervisor Knabe, Judge Bradford Andrews and others. A key vote by the State Judicial Council listed a new Long Beach Courthouse as one of the four highest-priority construction project in the entire state. The proposed $342.1 million facility would include 34 courtrooms, seven more than the current courthouse.

2005

Provided over $2 million in funding to construct new Hermosa Beach Pier Lifeguard Headquarters.
 

Funded a new self-help center at the Long Beach Courthouse to provide County residents with free legal assistance.
 

Supervisor Knabe provided funding for a Town Sheriff for Hacienda Heights and one for Rowland Heights.
 

New funding to resurrect the Sheriff’s Community Oriented Policing Bureau, which provides added Sheriff Personnel to tackle quality of life issues in Hacienda Heights and Rowland Heights. 12 deputies total.
 

Funded $5 million to greatly expand the Lakewood regional sheriff station servicing the 4th District cities of Lakewood, Paramount, Hawaiian Gardens, Artesia, and Bellflower.
 

Led legislative effort to add 100 new Community Oriented Policing deputies to the Sheriff’s Department to service the county’s 1.1 million unincorporated residents.
 

Carried a Board motion to reform county workers compensation program that has saved the taxpayers millions of dollars directly related to the Sheriff’s budget.
 

Secured new funding for the District Attorney to hire an additional 40 deputy district attorneys.

2004

Lifeguard budget increased for new emergency vehicles and equipment.

Helped secure a federal grant to the Sheriff’s Department to purchase a new Homeland Security boat that will patrol Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as well as the County’s coastline.
 

Assisted the Sheriff’s Department in the establishment of a new Homeland Security Division.
 

Donated $50,000 towards the building of a new youth boxing/community center that will serve underprivileged youth at the Sheriff’s training academy in South Whittier.
 

Legislative leadership to secure the District Attorney additional funding for his Hard Core Gang Prosecution Unit.

2003

Funded the Lakewood Sheriff Memorial Dedication Wall to honor deputies killed in the line of duty.
 

Funding for new fire boat approved for Marina Del Rey.
 

Supported the creation of a Office of Independent Review to oversee internal and external complaints against the Sheriff’s Department.

2002

Supported the creation and funding of the Probation Department’s DISARM program that allows armed deputy probation officers to assist local police departments in removing guns, drugs, and probation/parole violator criminals from our streets.
 

Gave up Long Beach field office within the Long Beach Superior Courthouse in order to build a child care waiting room for the children of parents with business before the court.