STUDIO CITY : Heroes Honored at Police Luncheon

Although Elizabeth Pantoja has largely recovered from the cuts received last May when her father, Luis Pantoja, slashed her with a machete in a bizarre attack in Van Nuys, the teen-ager says she still feels guilty about the death of her brother, 13-year-old Luis Pantoja Jr.

Elizabeth on Thursday accepted a posthumous honor for her late brother for his bravery in distracting their father long enough to allow her to escape with her infant--an act that led to his own death at the hands of his father. Luis Pantoja Sr. later died in a fire he set after the slaying.

“Since this happened, I’ve been very depressed at not being able to help my brother. But this helps,” said Elizabeth, 17, clutching the award and an American flag that was flown over the nation’s Capitol this month in her brother’s honor.

The award for heroism was one of 17 bestowed by the Los Angeles Police Department and the Mid-Valley Community Police Council at the council’s 14th annual Citizen’s Recognition Luncheon in Studio City.

The 1993 honorees, which were applauded by about 450 residents, police officers and business and city leaders, included both individual and joint acts of heroism.

Individuals who were recognized for their efforts included: David Copado of Sylmar, who dove into a flood control channel in February to save a 10-year-old boy in Sylmar; Mark Bashaar of Van Nuys, who thwarted an attempted car theft in May by holding a felony suspect until police arrived; John Atzinger of Van Nuys, who ran outside clad only in shorts in September, 1992, to apprehend a purse-snatching suspect; and Michael Garcia of Van Nuys, who helped a police officer handcuff a robbery suspect in March.

Group recognition included: John Montoya of Van Nuys, Marco Melendez of Long Beach and Reginaldo Silvas of Sepulveda, who captured a Van Nuys arsonist in February who was later sent to prison for 12 years; Kayumba Kanama of Woodland Hills and Van Nuys residents Bob Court and Constantine Balanos, who apprehended a tagger in July; and Lefty Blasco, Walter Schulte and Ardean and Peter Smith of the Panorama City Grafitti Busters, who have donated more than 3,000 hours to removing graffiti throughout the Valley.

Capt. Jim McMurray, who oversees the Van Nuys Division of the Los Angeles Police Department, commended the honorees, saying that “their degree of heroism today is exceptional.”

For those whose lives were touched by the citizens’ heroics, however, it was just a chance to say “thank you.” Ten-year-old Bret Caillouet of Van Nuys, the boy Copado saved from drowning in the flood control channel, perhaps said it best.

“If he wasn’t there, I wouldn’t be here,” he said.