Hostage incident

Officer Maura Tercero

Officer Gina Holmstrom

On Sunday, July 10, 2005, a desperate 16-year-old girl called 911, telling the dispatcher her stepfather had threatened her life.

Patrol officers from Southeast Division responded to a used car lot and found the teenage girl locked behind a chain link fence. Her stepfather came out of the car lot office carrying his 19-month old daughter in his arms. After talking to the officers, the stepfather retreated to his office and returned carrying the infant and a semi-automatic gun and began shooting at officers and his stepdaughter. The officers broadcasted a “help call.”

Sergeant Sean Kinchla

Officer Jeffrey Ennis

Officer Gina Holmstrom, assigned to Metropolitan Division, heard the help call, responded and took tactical control of the incident. Officers from several divisions responded. Among them were Officer Maura Tercero, Officer Sean Kinchla, Officer Jeffrey Ennis, Officer Lyman Doster and Officer Benjamin Santero.

While the suspect continued shooting at his stepdaughter and the officers, Santero, Ennis and Doster geared up with their urban police rifles, a rescue plan was formulated. Ennis quickly briefed Santero and delegated to him the responsibility of rear guard high ground. Kinchla and Tercero, without hesitation, volunteered for the dangerous task of being the rescue officers.

With help from the LAPD Airship, Holmstrom devised a plan to safely approach the girl.

Officer Lyman Doster

Officer Benjamin Santero

Working as a team, the officers moved forward and reached the cover of a police car. There they found several of their fellow officers crouched down, unable to move as they too were under fire.

Now close to the teenager, Holmstrom began talking to her, telling her to stay down. The teenager was paralyzed with fear, lying between two parked cars. Realizing a bolt cutter was needed to cut the fence, Kinchla placed himself at great risk and ran from the safety of cover to retrieve the bolt cutter. After obtaining the bolt cutter, Kinchla returned to the rescue team.

Officer Enrique Anzaldo

Officer Eduardo Perez

With the team now ready to rescue the trapped victim, the officers stepped away from their cover and moved toward the gate in a diamond formation. As soon as they left cover, the suspect again opened fire on the advancing team. However, the rescue team was determined to continue in their efforts to save the panic stricken teenage girl.

Doster and his partner crawled on their stomachs to the gate and made several attempts to breech the fence with the bolt cutters. However, the suspect fired numerous rounds at them which impacted within a foot of the officers. At that moment, SWAT personnel, including Officer Enrique Anzaldo, Officer Daniel Sanchez, Officer Eduardo Perez and Officer Dennis O’Sullivan arrived to assist. While Sanchez and Perez provided cover, O’Sullivan exposed himself to gunfire and opened the gate. Anzaldo then left his position of cover, grabbed the teenage girl and took her outside the suspect’s field of fire.

Officer Dnaiel Sanchez

Officer Dennis O'Sullivan

Shortly thereafter, additional SWAT personnel arrived, including Officer Robert Gallegos, Officer Chester McMillion, Officer David Stambaugh, Officer William Casey, Officer Todd Rheingold and Officer Joseph Rubert.

For the next hour, information about the suspect was obtained and negotiations were initiated.

SWAT officers, trained as crisis negotiators, encouraged the suspect to let his daughter go and surrender. Believing the suspect was about to harm his daughter, O’Sullivan fired one round at him. The suspect spun to his left and dropped to the ground out of view.

Officer Robert Gallegos

Sergeant Chester McMillion

In their attempts to save the life of the 19-month old, Perez, Sanchez, Gallegos, Casey, McMillion, and Stambaugh initiated a rescue plan. As the rescue team approached the office entrance, the suspect ran into the office still holding his daughter and began firing his weapon through the drywall at the approaching officers.

Perez was the first to enter the work bay and provided cover for his fellow officers. As Sanchez ran toward the office, he felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder and knew he had been shot. As the remaining officers lined up along the wall, the suspect continued shooting at them through the dry wall, showering the officers with bullets and debris.

Officer David Stambaugh

Officer William Casey

One by one, the officers entered the office, providing cover for the officer before them. Knowing Sanchez was wounded; Gallegos used his body as a shield to protect him and engaged the suspect.

McMillion moved toward the door as the gun battle erupted and provided direction. With bullets and debris coming through the drywall, Rubert and Stambaugh entered the office and physically extracted Sanchez. Anzaldo and Rheingold were the last to enter the bay area to assist with the rescue.

Officer Todd Rheingold

Officer Joseph Rubert

The 17 officers had never trained together for this event. They all responded and trusted one another. Each officer relied on the training they had received. Each performed with exemplary skill, courage and professionalism. They put their own lives on the line to save a 16-month-old teenager and a 19-month-old baby they had never met. They never hesitated, no matter the risk. Each officer is recognized for their bravery, courage, teamwork, and willingness to place themselves in harm’s way to protect their fellow citizens and brothers and sisters in law enforcement.

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidness in action at the risk of their own lives, these men and women went above and beyond the call of duty. These officers have earned the gratitude and respect of every officer in the Department and are given the Department’s highest honor.