Studio City Group Presents 2 Radar Guns to L.A. Police

Three Studio City children Monday presented Los Angeles police with two gift-wrapped radar guns, purchased with some loose change from the youngsters’ allowances and nearly $1,600 from residents concerned about speeding motorists in their hillside neighborhood, organizers of the event said.

Joseph T. Rinella said he got the idea for the gift because speeding cars made it unsafe for his son, Ryan, 8, to ride a bicycle on neighborhood streets. Ryan Rinella donated two weeks’ worth of allowances--totaling $10--to help pay for the guns, his father said. Two other children, Matthew Schofield, 8, and Tiffany Shields, 14, also contributed their allowances and joined Ryan Rinella in presenting the guns to police.

The guns are designed for hand-held use by motorcycle officers, Rinella said.

Rinella, chairman of the traffic and safety committee of the Studio City Residents’ Assn., said he decided last week to ask friends and neighbors to help pay for the guns. Rinella said it took five hours of phone calls to raise the money. The donations averaged $10 to $20, he said.

Police Capt. Bruce W. Mitchell said that before the donation, the department had 17 radar guns for the 205 traffic officers assigned to the San Fernando Valley. He said one of the guns will be used to check speeds of cars near schools in the Studio City area and the other will be used in residential areas.