South Bureau Narcotics Force

I am a police officer for the City of Los Angeles who has spent the last 16 months assigned to the South Bureau Narcotics Task Force.

The task force was disbanded Oct. 10. This letter is to inform the citizens of Los Angeles of the officers who worked for them and served them well with pride and integrity.

For the undercover officers who made “buys” from street dealers and placed themselves in potential dangerous situations when buying from inside fortified “rock” houses, I had admiration.

For the officers who were assigned to the arrest teams who all too often had to chase suspects through yards, traffic and across rooftops or forcing their way into fortified “rock” houses with an oversized crowbar and hand-held battering ram to make the arrest, I have the utmost respect.

For the lieutenants and sergeants who were in charge of us and guided the operation, also for letting us “air out” when the heat was on, I thank you with gratitude.

For the citizens and businesses that supported the operation and called in locations, then calling back or quietly approaching us to say thank you when we were in the field--it is for you that we worked so hard for. I thank you.

I also thank all of the officers of the task force whose days for the most part started at 7 a.m. and didn’t often end until midnight or later.

For the deputy district attorneys and judges who gave their advice and support, we are grateful.

Because of these facts, the South Bureau Narcotics Task Force made nearly 6,000 arrests, closed more than 500 “rock” house and recovered nearly 600 guns. Pounds of narcotics were confiscated and close to a half a million dollars of money and property was seized.

I want to thank everyone involved in this operation. You are a major part of the reason I became a police officer and more than that, I met a lot of friends.

MATT JAROSCAK

Los Angeles