Police memorial ‘Shield’ takes shape

Gary Moskowitz

In her words, the sculpture M.L. Snowden is making as a memorial

for fallen Glendale police officers is “full of idealistic

intentions.”

Several Glendale Police officers came to Decker Studios in North

Hollywood on Friday to view a clay “maquette,” or a small study of

what will become the Glendale Police Memorial statue.

Snowden has completed clay renditions of the head and bust of a

male figure called “The Shield.” Ultimately, the statue will show a

man in motion who is holding one arm forward while the other arm is

holding an abstract object the artist describes as “chaos.”

The clay enlargements will be used to make molds that will

eventually produce a statue that will stand more than 12 feet tall.

Bronze will eventually be poured into molds made from rubber and wax

impressions to create individual bronze pieces that must be welded

together, said Decker Studio head Sanford Decker.

The memorial is scheduled to be in place in front of the new

police headquarters May 1.

“Every pin-point of life is connected to the police,” said

Snowden, 50. “This is, in my mind, a timeless expression that has the

ability to cast a mood and profound emotion.”

The completed memorial statue will include a relief of the faces

of the four Glendale Police officers -- Charles Smith, Leslie O.

Clem, John Isaacson and Charles Lazzaretto -- who died in the line of

duty.

“The memorial will serve as a reminder to people that officers can

be and have been asked to make the ultimate sacrifice,” said Glendale

Police Chief Randy Adams. “This is so the community knows we will

never forget.”

A private fund-raiser hosted by the Armenian National Committee

and the Glendale Police Memorial Committee last week drummed up

$35,000 for the memorial project. The Police Department’s

fund-raising committee is about halfway toward its goal of raising

$600,000.

“It will be a significant piece of artwork for the city,” police

spokesman Sgt. Kirk Palmer said. “It will be something to be proud of

and something that will endure.”