Claremont Is Pressed to Revoke Awards to 2 Officers

A Claremont city committee has renewed pressure on the City Council to take back employee of the year awards given to two police officers who were involved in the controversial shooting of a young black man more than two years ago.

At the end of a 2 1/2-hour meeting Monday, Claremont’s Committee on Human Relations passed a resolution saying the awards undermine the city’s commitment to racial and ethnic cooperation and harmony. It is the fourth recommendation from a city panel to revoke the awards. Last year, three citizen groups organized by the city made similar recommendations.

Officers Kent Jacks and Hany Hanna were named the 1999 employees of the year, 11 months after they shot and killed 18-year-old Irvin Landrum Jr. during a traffic stop late at night. The $1,000 awards were given to the officers in recognition of the intense public pressure the officers endured after the shooting, Lt. Gary Jenkins said. “We would feel offended that they would be taken away,” he said.

The two officers told investigators that Landrum pulled a gun on them. Originally, Hanna told investigators that Landrum had fired, but the gun found at his feet had not been fired and investigators found no fingerprints.

The conflicting story and the awards fueled heated protests for nearly two years. A small weekly rally continues in front of City Hall.

The referendum’s author said the awards continue to taint the city’s reputation.

“We were trying to . . . [put an end] to what many of us feel is a symbol of division in the community,” said Dean McHenry, a professor of government at Claremont Graduate University.