Senior Lead Officer Helps Transient

 
On March 15, 2001, Southeast Area officers attended a crime and quality-of- life problem solving meeting that was held by Special Assistant to the Chief, Deputy Chief Maurice Moore. The officers were questioned concerning problem solving projects and quality of life issues in the community. The Chief presented three photographs depicting quality of life issues located in the Southeast Area. One of the photographs was of a male transient living along the railroad tracks at 110th Street and Compton Avenue. There was no existing problem solving project concerning this problem.
After the meeting, Senior Lead Officer Phil Thompson, was directed to open a problem solving project and address the problem. On April 26, 2001, Officer Thompson located the transient living along the railroad tracks. Officer Thompson identified the male as Carl Wright and discovered that during the past ten years, he was receiving Social Security and oil royalty checks. However, the checks were being cashed and deposited into the personal account of an alleged trusted female acquaintance. Mr. Wright was receiving no assistance from the acquaintance. Officer Thompson contacted the Social Security Fraud Unit and an investigation was opened. In addition, Officer Thompson with Mr. Wright’s cooperation took him to the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services office to be issued a Medi-Cal Card and receive immediate medical services, motel vouchers and food stamps. Officer Thompson did not stop there. Mr. Wright received a shower, new donated clothes, and shoes from Southeast Station Jail. Mr. Wright expressed to Officer Thompson that he had a dependency problem with alcohol. Officer Thompson contacted One Nation Under God Sober Living House and Mr. Wright was accepted into the program that provides him with counseling and immediate housing.
Officer Thompson went beyond the call of duty and is to be commended for his humanitarian act and caring attitude.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact Officer La Donna Cissell, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.