LOS CERRITOS
Winner of Nineteen LA Press Club Awards from 2012-2021 Serving Cerritos and ten other surrounding communities since 1985 • May 29, 2026 • Vol. 41, No. 30 • LOSCERRITOSNEWS.NET
LCCN EXCLUSIVE:
Questions Mount Over La Palma Police Oversight Policies After Judge Adds Nearly $1 Million to Recent Verdict Judge slams witness credibility as La Palma taxpayers face nearly $1 million more in legal costs following explosive court ruling. By Brian Hews
MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE HELD AT ROSE HILLS MEMORIAL HONORING HEROES: State Sen. Bob Archuleta (center-front) joined fellow veterans during Memorial Day ceremonies at Rose Hills Memorial Park, honoring the men and women who gave their lives in service to the nation. The annual gathering brought together veterans, families and community members for a solemn tribute to America’s fallen heroes. Photo courtesy Rose Hills.
Pico Rivera Earns SCAG Sustainability Award the City Council directed that for Climate Leadership
Cerritos Expands Mobile License Plate Surveillance Program After Reporting 50% Burglary Drop Council approves broader citywide deployment of mobile surveillance trailer following sharp decline in residential burglaries. By Brian Hews
The Cerritos City Council approved expanded deployment of the city’s mobile automated license plate reader trailer Thursday night after city officials reported a major decline in residential burglaries tied to Cerritos’ growing network of surveillance technology and proactive policing measures. The council authorized city staff to relocate the city’s mobile Automated License Plate Reader trailer throughout Cerritos on an as-needed basis rather than keeping it stationed permanently in a single neighborhood. The trailer was originally deployed in February 2025 near Bigelow Street in the neighborhood east of Studebaker Road and north of 195th Street following a series of residential burglaries. One month later,
it remain in the neighborhood until further council action. According to city officials, residential burglaries across Cerritos have declined 50.7% since March 2024 following implementation of multiple crime-prevention measures, including the mobile ALPR trailer, expanded fixed camera systems, private patrol services and aerial drone deployment by the Cerritos Sheriff’s Station. The city also reported that the neighborhood where the trailer has remained stationed has experienced no residential burglaries since March 2025, compared to five reported burglaries during the previous 12-month period. In addition to the mobile trailer, Cerritos has completed installation of three phases of fixed ALPR camera systems at 15 strategic intersections throughout the city. The Cerritos Sheriff’s Station is also among the first stations in Los Angeles County authorized to deploy See CERRITOS, Page 5
By Brian Hews The City of Pico Rivera announced it has been selected as the 2026 Southern California Association of Governments Sustainability Award winner in
Pico Rivera Councilman Andrew Lara and Víctor Ferrer, Director, Office of Sustainability and PRIME accept SCAG award.
the Climate Leadership category, earning regional recognition for a series of environmental and clean energy initiatives launched over the past two years. The See PICO RIVERA, Page 9
In April, Los Cerritos Community News reported that an $8.4 million jury verdict against the City of La Palma was triggering broader questions about supervision and responsibility inside the La Palma Police Department after a jury found the City liable for discrimination, retaliation, and failure to prevent discrimination in a lawsuit brought by former officer Ross Byer. The report detailed allegations that Byer’s complaints were never formally investigated and highlighted calls from a La Palma resident for an independent, outside review of the department. The story also examined broader concerns about City Hall turnover, internal promotion practices, and whether systemic failures existed in the City’s handling of employee complaints. Now, those questions are drawing even more attention. In a sharply worded new ruling, a Superior Court judge not only ordered La Palma taxpayers to pay nearly an additional $1 million in attorney, expert witness, and paralegal fees on top of the original verdict, but also raised concerns about testimony presented by key City witnesses during the trial. The court awarded former officer Ross Byer an additional $987,000 in legal fees and costs after rejecting most of the City’s objections. But buried inside the ruling was language that could
have lasting implications beyond the financial impact. The judge stated the City “vehemently denied all liability” despite what the court described as the “undeniable reality” that two City witnesses, Sergeant Koh and Captain Amend, were “less-than-credible witnesses.” In other words, after hearing the evidence and testimony presented at trial, the court found significant credibility issues with witnesses central to the City’s defense while the City continued aggressively contesting the claims. The ruling further praised See LA PALMA, Page 7
Lakewood Cracks Down on Unsafe E-Bike Riding Amid Safety Concerns City officials say reckless riding, illegal e-motorcycles and growing pedestrian dangers are driving tougher enforcement efforts across Lakewood. LCCN Staff Report
The City of Lakewood is stepping up enforcement against unsafe e-bike and e-motorcycle riding as officials warn of increasing injuries, reckless behavior and growing safety concerns involving young riders on local streets and sidewalks. In a recent city newsletter, Lakewood officials said the rapid growth of e-bikes, e-scooters and electric motorcycles has created serious public safety concerns throughout the region, citing recent fatal incidents involving both a 13-year-old boy See LAKEWOOD, Page 7