In this undated photo released by the Los Angeles Police Department Monday April 4, 2011 showing Los Angeles police officer Steve Jenkins, a dog handler and 22-year LAPD veteran, who was shot in the jaw and shoulder on Monday April 4,2011, after responding to a domestic violence call at a gated community in Sylmar, Calif. Jenkins was in critical condition and the gunman was believed to be barricaded inside the home, authorities said. (AP Photo/Los Angeles Police Dept.)
SYLMAR - A Los Angeles police officer who was shot in the face during a standoff in Sylmar was upgraded to serious condition today, while donors lined up to give blood at a collection drive in the officer's name.
Officer Steven Jenkins, a 22-year LAPD veteran, was shot around 2:15 a.m. Monday as he and other officers approached a home in the 13600 block of Dronfield Avenue. The shooting prompted a daylong standoff that included exchanges of gunfire and ended late Monday night when the suspect was found dead inside the home.
The suspect -- whose name has not been officially released but was identified by the Los Angeles Times as Sergio O. Salazar, 53 -- was found dead on the second-floor hallway of his home. Police said a rifle was near his body.
Police Chief Charlie Beck told the Police Commission today that Jenkins' condition had been upgraded from critical to serious.
"He still is not out of the woods. There is still a considerable medical procedure that he will have to undergo, including reconstruction of his jaw," Beck said, calling Jenkins an incredible fighter and a very tough guy.
Beck said the LAPD has made a huge outreach effort and will continue to support Jenkins' wife and triplets "to make sure they are kept whole."
Jenkins' wife and son are both LAPD officers.
Beck and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa were among the first in line today at a blood drive being held in Jenkins' name at the LAPD's Central Station at Sixth and Wall streets in downtown Los Angeles. Another blood drive was held Monday at Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills, where Jenkins was being treated.
The chief encouraged everyone to donate blood, not just for Jenkins, but for anyone in need.
"Contrary to popular belief, my blood was not blue," Beck told the commission.
"Nobody in this room, nobody in this audience knows the day you will be making a withdrawal from that bank," he said.
Sergio Salazar was found dead last night after an hours-long standoff with the police.
Meanwhile, investigators were sifting through the scene of the standoff, which began at 10:38 p.m. Sunday when Salazar's wife called police and reported that her husband had beaten her. Jenkins was among the officers who responded to the scene.
After Jenkins was shot, the gunman remained holed up in his residence, which was surrounded by SWAT officers who used tear gas and more potent "hot gas" to try to flush him out. More shots were exchanged with the suspect late Monday morning.
As the standoff dragged on, police deployed a Bat Cat, a kind of hydraulic forklift and crane which has cameras mounted on it and was being used as a battering ram. Using the Bat Cat, police ripped large holes in the home in hopes of getting a better look at the suspect. The machinery also picked up and moved a vehicle that was in the way of the device.
LAPD Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese said "it had been a very long day in which we tried to get him to surrender multiple times. ...We even took extra time even to the point where we set up a PA system because he wouldn't talk to us."
Albanese said the investigations at the scene would probably continue into Wednesday.
The Bat Cat clawed its way into the home and the home next door so officers could see the suspect without having to go inside themselves. The equipment cost the Los Angeles Police Department nearly $1 million.
Albanese said he didn't believe it had ever been used in this manner, but adamantly defended its use.
Albanese said the Bat Cat was "a unique piece of equipment" used in "extreme circumstances and we had extreme circumstances today."
"It proved to be very useful in securing the safety of our officers," Albanese said. "I'd much rather use a mechanical instrument to keep our officers safe."
Albanese said he hoped the investigation would explain why the man fired shots at officers.
"We collectively scratched our heads," Albanese said. "The man had a criminal history but it was relatively old. Hopefully we can learn more as we interview family members and neighbors."
Salazar has a previous conviction for carrying a loaded firearm in a public place in the Antelope Valley in 1993, according to media reports.
Albanese said police would attempt to explain why such extreme actions had been taken to nearby neighbors who had to be evacuated and promised that the police department would pay for any needed repairs.
At Providence Holy Cross, emergency room Dr. Bradley Roth said surgeons inserted a breathing tube to protect Jenkins' airway.
"Because the patient suffered a gunshot wound to his face, which went in on his right side and actually exited out his (lower jaw), that type of injury ... results usually in a possible airway emergency," Roth said.
A second bullet entered near Jenkins' left collarbone, and exited his chest cavity, resulting in lung damage, rib fractures and blood-vessel damage, Roth said.
