San Fernando Valley : BEYOND THE CALL
A watch commander with the Los Angeles Police Department has been honored by the City Council for fast action that led to the arrest of a rape suspect.
The council gave Lt. Ray Lombardo, a watch commander with the LAPD’s West Valley Division, a certificate of recognition for work “above and beyond the call of duty,” according to Councilwoman Laura Chick, who presented the award to Lombardo.
On Jan. 22, Lombardo was supervising officers on a different case when a call came over his radio at 4:30 a.m. Although a supervisor would not be sent out on such calls, Lombardo decided to go because his officers were involved in the other case.
Lombardo drove to the 6600 block of Berquist Avenue in West Hills and entered an apartment where, according to police, a rape was occurring involving a 36-year-old man and an 86-year-old victim. Lombardo interrupted the crime and arrested the man on suspicion of rape, police said. The suspect, Christopher D. Wilson, is in jail on $185,000 bail.
“It’s nice to get recognition,” Lombardo said, “but I didn’t do anything that any other police officer wouldn’t have done.”
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