CHP joins LASD at LLA WATCH

Lake Los Angeles – Tuesday night the March Lake Los Angeles Community Watch met with 18 participants at M&G’s restaurant. Joining Resident/Resource Deputy Gilberto Borruel were CHP Officer Derek Tirado, Deputy Borruel and CHP Officer Anthony Talavera. Officer Tirado graduated from Challenger Middle School, so he was on familiar turf. Officer Talavera is the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Lancaster CHP Station.

Borruel opened with a comment about the heat and suggesting we might have a long hot summer this year. He said to please make sure your windows are closed when leaving the house as an open window is inviting a crime. Don’t leave kids and pets in the car.

The Crime Part I stats were presented for February 2026 compared to February 2025. He said some crime stats are going down because now there are arrests, citations and no releases. People are going to jail, unlike being released to commit more crimes under the DA Gascon era.

Borruel said, “We had an isolated incident on Sunday between two neighbors fighting and the suspect is no longer with us, unfortunately. It is an ongoing investigation so there is nothing more I can share with you. The roads are pretty open but with some flow. Our Cargo Theft Unit has been active out here and there has been theft recoveries, also under investigation.”

Officer Talavera spoke of being out here, patrolling around the schools, looking for DUI. He remarked, “Being a school crossing guard is the most dangerous job out here!” He explained the staffing at the station remains at the same level of 48 officers, nothing has changed, but there is a justifiable request sent to Sacramento to increase the staffing levels by 15 more officers. Lancaster used to be a sub-station to the Newhall station. Lancaster covers 1,400 square miles county line to county line.

CHP will furnish us with a traffic complaint form which will be available to residents. The Radar Trailer can be requested to place in the community. A discussion followed about truck inspections including Deputy Borruel who is an experienced traffic accident inspector and went to Sacramento for two weeks of training for commercial traffic inspections. LASD and CHP can use the same radio frequency with a flip of a switch.

Borruel quipped with the truck he drives now, he has been taken for an inspector vehicle, and notices trucks slow down when he is spotted.

TIPS! LASD Narcotics investigators created the email address MarijuanaTips@lasd.org in July 2021, and anyone who can provide information to detectives investigating marijuana cultivation cases was encouraged to contact via email.

Shootings, off-roading and all-night music and parties were discussed. The meeting ended at 7:30pm after going 30 minutes over the meeting time.