Domestic violence incident

Officer Jeanette Flores

On the night of August 9, 2007, Officer Jeanette Flores and her partner, assigned to Hollenbeck Area, responded to a domestic violence radio call. The victim, who was nine months pregnant, told the officers that her common–law husband punched her in the face and stomach and had run from their house. After documenting the woman’s injuries, Officer Flores stayed with the victim while her partner went to their squad car to get the reports necessary to document the assault.

While walking back to the victim’s house, Officer Flores’ partner saw a man standing on the sidewalk who matched the physical description of the suspect. The officer ordered the man to place his hands behind his head and made his approach to handcuff the suspect.

As one handcuff was secured to the suspect’s right wrist, the suspect turned in a clockwise direction and thrust his left arm around the officer’s neck. The suspect now had the officer in a strangle hold. Officer Flores did not hesitate to assist her partner. She jumped on the suspect’s back and wrapped her right arm around his neck in an attempt to restrain him.

The suspect’s attack turned vicious. He used his body weight to drive the officer he was holding head first onto the concrete, knocking him unconscious. Officer Flores was unable to keep her hold on the suspect and tried to distract him with three punches to the head. She heard the unmistakable sound of the unsnapping of the retention strap of her partner’s’ gun holster. As the suspect reached for her partner’s gun, Officer Flores made the split-second decision to save their lives and fired one shot to the suspect’s head, ending the deadly threat.

The injured officer was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for a fractured left clavicle, a concussion, and a laceration to the left side of his head. Officer Flores was treated for a sprained right hand.

Officer Flores is commended for her tactics, attention to duty and bravery while engaging a violent suspect who had attacked an officer of the law and was attempting to use a police officer’s firearm against them. If it was not for Officer Flores’ quick reaction, the suspect would have surely shot, and possibly killed both officers.

Officer Jeanette Flores’ tactical skills, teamwork, clear and collected thinking in an exceptionally dangerous situation, and her ability to function under the most stressful, chaotic and perilous conditions embody the finest traditions of the Los Angeles Police Department.