Posted on 07/22/2005 7:38:50 AM PDT by SmithL
BURBANK, Calif. - Vandals spray painted a gang term for death on two freeway memorials to slain police Officer Matthew Pavelka, prompting police to take down the markers.
"What you have here is an individual who has given his life to a particular cause, and people just vandalize it," said Sgt. Jay Jette. "It gets to be a little bit emotional."
The signs on both sides of the Interstate 5 were sprayed with "187" - the section for murder in the California penal code - and a gang nickname. Burbank police are investigating the case as vandalism.
Pavelka, a rookie officer, died during a Nov. 15, 2003 shootout with alleged members of a San Fernando Valley gang. The memorial signs were put up on the first anniversary of his death.
After his slaying, officials filed federal charges against about 64 of the gang's members and associates, accusing them of engaging in more than a decade of violence and killing two police officers.
Last week, a police task force formed to fight the gang arrested Burbank Councilwoman Stacey Murphy on suspicion of cocaine possession and child endangerment. Police also arrested her boyfriend, Scott Schaffer, on suspicion of trading guns for cocaine with suspected gang's members.
On Tuesday, authorities conducted additional raids on 21 people accused of being midlevel drug dealers working with the gang.
City officials said they consider the graffiti on the Pavelka memorials to be a threat.
"Why else would you put that on that sign?" Burbank Councilwoman Marsha Ramos said. "You know what it means, and it's a police officer. It's absolutely awful."
Round 'em all up and practice a lil Sharia-style law on public TV....a couple whippings, a couple stonings....
They're only here to do the jobs Americans won't.
Why can't they ever name the gang?
#s 5 and 6 removed because of LA Times excerpting requirement.
Here to join the gangs Americans won't join?
The Vineland Boyz.
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