Authorities Conduct Beach, Hillside Homeless Sweep

By ALEXANDRIA BORDAS | Reporter

Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Officers Jimmy Lavenson and Jon Iniguez have been conducting sunrise beach sweeps of homeless encampments along Will Rogers State Beach for over a month and do not plan on stopping anytime soon.

At 6:45 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 17 Senior Lead Officer (SLO) Michael Moore and LAPD Sergeant Justin Scott met with four additional LAPD officers to conduct a “tent city” beach sweep and investigate the growing homeless encampments along Potrero Canyon in Pacific Palisades.

Lifeguards briefed the team of LAPD officers on where they were having the most problems with aggressive homeless people.

In addition, both Beach Patrol and Caltrans were standing by to collect garbage and leftover camps during the sweep.

Because of the recent efforts by Lavenson and Iniguez to clear out the beach encampments known as “tent city,” only a few sites could be seen left standing on the beach as the officers drove slowly along the shoreline.

Lavenson and Iniguez have been consistently warning and citing illegal campers to clear off the beach by sunrise.

“I would give Jimmy and his accompanying officers in this area 90 percent of the credit for all of the progress you’re seeing in this community today,” Moore told the Palisadian-Post, who followed the officers on the sunrise sweep.

Scott accompanies Moore weekly to check in on the homeless situation and to address Palisadian concerns.

“You have to get your boots on and get out there or else this seemingly unsolvable problem will never get solved,” Scott said. “The only way to get a hold on it is if we’re consistent.”

After combing the beach, Lavenson suggested they start patrolling the canyons.

“I’m assuming the homeless people we move off the beach are running into the canyons and setting up there,” Lavenson said.

Moore directed the team of officers to a well-hidden encampment near the entrance to Potrero Canyon right off Pacific Coast Highway. Once inside, the officers saw an extensive set-up.

Inside the encampment were running water, hot plates, a solar panel, a raised platform bed and an intricate organizational system.

There were three people residing there including a man known to LAPD as “The Beast” who had been living there for five years.

“I’m always worried when interacting with the homeless during these sweeps and we are always on the alert in case of a sudden attack,” Scott said.

“The thing is you just never know and if a situation ever got unstable we would have to make arrests.”

As officers continued their investigation in the canyon, Moore approached encampments while Scott and back-up officers had their guns by their sides providing cover.

One woman became verbally aggressive toward Moore claiming LAPD had been harassing her daily. She said she had every right to camp freely in the hillside.

As officers filled out field interview (FI) cards for each homeless person, Moore discussed the importance of their work.

“Patrol is the backbone of LAPD. Without patrol, nothing like this would ever get accomplished,” he said.

Moore and Scott had nothing but high praises for Lavenson’s continued efforts in the Palisades.

“Jimmy has all the makings of a great future SLO,” Moore said. “He has a heart for service to this community and he is absolutely making positive community impacts.”

In response, Lavenson said he is focused on doing the best job he can.

“I truly enjoy waking up each morning and going to work. What else do I need?” Lavenson told the Post.

“I get to do work on a daily basis and actually see the results of my work. That’s not something I take lightly.”

Lavenson added that he loves being out in the field making a difference, speaking to residents and responding to their needs.

“I still learn so much everyday and there are encampments that I am just now exploring in order to come up with a solution,” Lavenson said.

As far as a long-term solution to the rising homeless crisis, Moore said many homeless people need a self-esteem boost and a sense of purpose.

“Until they feel that, I fear that there is no hope for them because everyone needs that,” Moore noted.

Scott said that he and his team of LAPD officers will continue doing what they are doing every single day until the issue is resolved for the time being.