Officers Lift Car in Futile Bid to Save Colleague

In a desperate and futile effort to save one of their own, 10 Los Angeles Police Department officers grabbed a mangled black-and-white and lifted it away from the light pole it had been wrapped around early Tuesday.

But they couldn’t save Officer Robert “Bobby” Mata, 26, who had lost control of his patrol car while responding to another officer’s call for help in the Harbor area and slammed into the pole, police said.

Sgt. John Pasqualo witnessed the frantic effort.

“Ten cops literally lifted the wreckage and moved it,” he said. “It’s a very emotional experience for a police officer to see a black-and-white cracked up like that; unfortunately we’ve seen it too many times.”

Mata, 26, died about 7 a.m. after surgery at Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. His partner and passenger, Officer Sonny Patsenhan, also 26, was treated at the hospital and released later in the day.

The 10 officers at the scene had managed to pull Patsenhan out through the passenger window. But it took Fire Department personnel an hour to cut the car’s roof off and extricate Mata.

Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, who spoke with reporters at the hospital, said Mata was nearing the end of his shift at the LAPD’s Harbor Division when another officer, who had come across a suspected auto thief, called for backup about 2:30 a.m.

Mata and Patsenhan jumped into their car and, with Mata at the wheel, headed east along John S. Gibson Boulevard. Where the portside road curves before crossing Figueroa Street, Mata lost control, striking the concrete base of a light standard.

Parks said it was too early to estimate the speed the car was traveling, and that the vehicle was too badly mangled to know initially whether either officer was wearing a seat belt. The investigation is continuing.

Mata talked with paramedics but went into cardiac arrest as he was being extracted from the wreckage, Parks said. Surgeon Tracey Arnell said Mata underwent two hours of surgery. But his injuries, coupled with the length of time his heart had not beaten on its own, could not be overcome.

Parks said Mata, a six-year veteran, had been with the Harbor Division a little more than a year and had been assigned to its special enforcement unit, an anti-gang program.

The chief said he met with Mata’s parents and wife, Holly, a recent graduate of the Sheriff’s Academy, at the hospital. The couple have two small daughters, Pi-lani, 2, and Kalei, who had celebrated her fifth birthday Monday.

Neighbors recalled Mata as a jovial, energetic man best known for walking barefoot, regardless of the weather.

“He and his wife were always busy with work and the girls,” said neighbor Rene Estrada.

Neighbor and family friend Tauribio Ramirez said Mata “was such a good kid, and so careful about avoiding trouble. He never wanted to have anything to do with criminals or gang kids.”

Mata was the fifth LAPD officer in three years to die in the line of duty, Parks said.

Gov. Gray Davis ordered flags to be flown at half-staff over the state Capitol in honor of Mata until his funeral, which has not yet been set. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors also ordered flags at half-staff on county buildings and adjourned their meeting in his honor.

“Today, Angelenos everywhere mourn the death of Officer Bobby Mata. . . .” Mayor Richard Riordan said in a written statement. “I can only hope that this tragedy helps us understand the kind of sacrifice we ask our LAPD to make every day.”

Deputy City Atty. Elizabeth Greenwood, who worked with Mata for 18 months, said he received a commendation from the Los Angeles City Council in June.

“It was for outstanding service in crime suppression and reclaiming the community,” she said. “I’ll miss him. He was a sweet, quiet, outstanding police officer who dealt with everybody with honor and respect. A joy to be around.”

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Times staff writer Joe Mathews contributed to this story.