By Jodi Hutak – Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Pico Rivera Station
Spring is coming, COVID-19 is slowing, and life is back in full swing! So it has been five months since I was selected to be your Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Station Captain, and I wanted to personally check in with our wonderful community. We had a busy holiday season beginning in October with an amazing Halloween event, following up with our monthly, senior drivethru event to celebrate the fall holidays. I absolutely love our seniors! Our November Veteran’s event left me speechless (which is pretty amazing in and of itself). Our local Veterans have a deep and rich history in Pico Rivera, and it was an honor to meet so many. It was also a privilege to honor the service of fallen motor Deputy Thomas Albanese who was a combat Marine Corps veteran. December brought toys, treats, and a new four-legged friend for me named Luna, who I met at the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. For 2022, there has been no shortage of events and opportunities to get out and meet our community members, and I am enjoying every minute of it.
So now that many of the COVID19 restrictions are starting to lift and we are out and about, it is very important that we all go out with “personal safety” as priority one. Some quick and basic tips: (1) Always keep your head and eyes moving around and be aware of anything suspicious. If you see something, say something; (2) Hide and lock (or better REMOVE) your valuables from the car when it will be parked in a shopping center, park, next to the bike trail, or anywhere else for a long period of time; (3) If you use an online marketplace to shop, take advantage of the “Safe Exchange” right in our Sheriff’s Station parking lot. Remember, the best way to COMBAT crime is to PREVENT it! You are your first line of defense against criminals who try to victimize.
Calling all Watch Groups! Both Neighborhood Watch Groups and our new Business Watch Groups! Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Station is looking to re-open our Watch Meetings. If you are a current block captain or interested in starting a Watch Group in your
area, contact the Pico Sheriff’s Community Relations Office at (562) 949-2421, x5559. Law Enforcement is stronger with a strong and involved community. We want you!
With summer on the horizon, and more city events to come, I hope to meet many more of you in my travels. In the coming months, I will begin hosting regular “Coffee with a Cop” meetings. So keep an eye out on social media for further information.
Since becoming the Station Captain, I have pledged to be a Community Captain, YOUR
Community Captain! Events are the avenue for me to meet you and hear what you want and how we, as a Sheriff’s Station, can best serve you as a member of the Pico Rivera Community. There are many ways to connect with us. Check us out or
message us through Instagram (@lasdprv), Twitter (@prvlasd) and Facebook (picoriverasheriffsstation) for upcoming events, news and activities. There is also a link through the City of Pico Rivera website and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Department/Pico Rivera Station website to contact us. If you have thoughts or ideas, I would love to hear from you. Till we meet…Stay Safe.
Sheriff's Shorts
Congratulations to these 
new explorers. Nine explorers from the Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Station graduated from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Explorer program and will now be part of the Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Station family. The new explorers will now be able to participate in ride-alongs with patrol deputies, assist with front counter operations, and serve the residents of Pico Rivera. Congratulations.
Captain Jodi Hutak (pictured here) and Deputy Jesus Perez took some time during their busy schedules to visit students of Rivera Elementary to take part in the school’s annual Read Across America Program. Both Captain Hutak and Deputy Perez read to the Kindergarten class and gave them a tour of their patrol vehicle.
Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Station Deputy Sean Leake was recognized by the City Council last month for receiving the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – South Patrol Chief’s All-Star Award. Deputy Leake was selected amongst over 800 deputies from six patrol stations in the South Patrol Division, exemplifying excellence through performance, productivity, and community partnership.
