Heroic Measures Save LAPD Officer's Life, Police face rash of Armed Assaults

Los Angeles:  I would like to recognize six officers and two Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics who kept Officer Kristina Ripatti alive last Saturday night after she was shot by an armed robber. 

"If it weren't for the immediate actions and professional training of these men, we would have lost Kristina that night." "Not only did they save the life of a fellow police officer, they saved the life of a mother, daughter and wife."

Officer Ripatti, 33, was shot by James McNeal, unbeknownst to the officers, McNeal had just robbed a gas station.  Her partner, Officer Joel Meyer, 35, immediately returned fire, killing McNeal.  Within seconds of hearing Meyer's radio call, "Officer needs help. Officer Down," plainclothes Sergeant Robin Brown arrived and with Officer Meyer they worked frantically to control Kristina's bleeding.

Nearby, four SWAT officers, Ralph Ward, Gary Koba, Gil Pinel, and Keith Bertonneau, all veteran officers had just completed a crime suppression detail and were at Southwest Police Station, two blocks from the shooting. Within one minute of the help call, the four officers, all Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) were at Officer Ripatti's side with their medical equipment. 

The four EMT-trained officers took over from Officer Meyer and Sergeant Brown. One bullet went through Ripatti's arm, and the second one entered her chest near the armpit, above her ballistic vest. "The officers' actions in aid of their comrade were nothing less than extraordinary."

The decisive actions of the two Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics, Gerald Puga and Adrian Vasquez from Rescue Ambulance 34 must also be recognized. They along with Engine Company 34, led by Captain Christopher Grahek, and manned by Firefighter/EMTs Max Dino, Eddie Matamoros and Engineer Dae-Ho Moon, assisted in the rescue, and have the Department's sincerest gratitude.

There is a significant uptrend of assaults on police officers where suspects fire upon officers, often completely unprovoked.  Since January, 18 police officers have been shot at in 11 incidents, as compared to 6 such incidents for the same period last year, and 15 total for 2005.

Updates on Officer Kristina Ripatti's condition will be posted as they become available. 

William J. Bratton

Chief of Police

Comments

[Don Farajian]

Dear Officers,

Considering everything and in this day and age I think that the LAPD is doing a great job and please keep up the good work! I sincerly hope that Officer Ripatti is OK. And that the suspect is dealt with accordingly.
God Bless all of you Officers! Sincerely yours, Don

[Mark]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to Officer Ripatti, and thanks for a great job to the officers and firefighters mentioned by Chief Bratton.

Mark
Portland, OR

[Monica]

Fox 11 has posted the following information for Ofcr. Ripatti.
Community members should be outraged by the assaults against our officers. We need to speak out and use our voices to say this is not acceptable. The media need to be held accountable for not reporting these assaults. Your voice can make a difference.

LAPD Cop Shot Fund
If you would like to help the family of Officer Christina Ripatti, donate at the following location:

Christina Ripatti
C/O LAFCU
16150 Sherman Way
Van Nuys, 91410
www.fox11.com/sections/news/onair.asp

[Crista]

Also for those whom are lowwer income..
I think actions are louder than words..
Next time you see ANY officer be it LAPD, Sherriffs etc
Thank them and encourage them that their actions are noticed and appreciated.

Warmest regards,
Crista

[Patrick Drohan]

God Bless Her

[Ben EMT-B]

The four LAPD SWAT EMTs did a great job in helping their fellow officer. I knew LAPD SWAT had EMTs in the Platoon but I know it isn't widely known Nationwide because the media doesn't mention it, but they should be commended.

[T LOOP]

The LAPD had done a great job fighting sex in LA.

[SLL]

Tonight I am watching Extreme Makeover. This family is so very deserving of everything that Ty and his team do for them. I personally wish I could do something for this family. The Ripatti family will remain in our daily thoughts and prayers

[Sally Sherman]

My daughter Maggie is an LAPD officer about the age of Officer Ripatti. She works graveyard patrol in a very rough part of Los Angeles. I worry about and pray for my daughter every night. She protects all of us living behind the Orange curtain so that we can live the plentiful and safe lives that we are lucky enough to live largely because of brave officers like this woman and my daughter. Seeing this woman on TV tonight reminded me one more time of how fortunate we are to be protected by the LAPD and like departments.

[Sharlyn Franzen]

WOW! Ty and his team designed a beautiful home for the Ripatti family that was not only built around Christina's recovery needs, but is handicap friendly. My prayers and thoughts go out to the family....God bless you.

In regards to the LAPD, I live in the Midwest, so if any news comes our way from the west coast about LAPD, its always negative. I don't think too much about it, because there's always the other side of the story or parts that were left out.

[Greg Rozar]

I hope and pray that Officer Ripatti walks again and fully recovers. Kristina, I do not know if you read these comments. But if you do, God is the same as he was in the Bible days. He still heals and I know that because he healed me many years ago of what the doc's thought was cancer. I watched the show Sunday and I am in much prayer for you. Read your bible, when Jesus was beaten he suffered the stripes on his back for out healing. You are a very strong person, keep fighting and never give up. God bless

[Patrick]

I just saw the Extreme Makeover with the Pearce-Ripatti family. How deserving they were to receive such a beautiful new home. I hope they'll be most happy in their new home and Mrs. Ripatti will heal.

[Constable Todd Taylor]

Christina and Tim:
Hopefully this post finds you. My wife Krista and I are both law enforcement professionals who serve with pride on Canada's east coast. Your courage and strength is inspirational. Warm healing thoughts from our police family to yours. We love your motto: "Work hard, play harder!" Here's to playing harder, in spite of the challenges.

Todd and Krista. Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.