S IGNA L T R I BU N E Serving Bixby Knolls, California Heights, Los Cerritos, Wrigley and Signal Hill VOL. XL NO. 2
Your Weekly Community Newspaper
www.signaltribune.com
January 5, 2018
Wagging the dog?
After audit of Animal Care Services shelter, watchdog group criticizes Long Beach for allowing spcaLA to hinder its adoption program. Cory Bilicko Managing Editor
Perhaps city officials were trying to look on the bright side, or maybe they wanted to commend the work of employees in an unenviable position, but when the City of Long Beach issued a press release last month announcing the results of phase one of an independent audit of its animal shelter, the first finding it emphasized
was that the animal-care provider is performing “above average” in recognizing the need for programming targeted at increasing positive outcomes for animals. While local animal lovers– and the community at-large– may appreciate that animal-shelter workers are doing a good job of seeing the necessity for better programs, one local watchdog group wants the City to address the not-so-bright side– the 173 recom-
mendations made in the audit. What has surfaced as the primary focus of those recommendations is that Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) should develop “a clear, shared vision with an effective, feasible strategic plan,” including the consideration of a formal operating agreement with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals– see SHELTER page 14
Denny Cristales | Signal Tribune
On Friday, Dec. 29, Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) officers responded to a workplace shooting at a Bixby Knolls business in the 300 block of East San Antonio Drive at around 2:25pm. The incident resulted in the deaths of two people– including the shooter– and the injuring of a third. A motive is unconfirmed, according to the LBPD.
Shooting at Bixby Knolls law firm results in deaths of 2 people, 1 injury The fatalities included the gunman– an employee of the business– who took his life during the incident. Denny Cristales Online Editor
The senior manager of a law firm was killed and another victim is recovering from his injuries after a gunman opened fire inside a Bixby Knolls business in the east 300 block of San Antonio Drive on Friday, Dec. 29, according to the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD). At around 2:25pm, LBPD officers responded and arrived at the scene, where two male adults were found deceased with gunshot wounds inside the building of law firm Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin and Harrison (PLBSH). A gun was recovered at the crime scene. The gunman, identified as 58-yearold John Alexander Mendoza of Redondo Beach– an employee of the firm– shot two victims, killing one and injuring the other, before turning the gun on himself, according to the LBPD. The injured victim, attorney Ron Beck, 64, was transported to the hospital prior to officer arrival and is in stable condition after suffering injuries to the torso and lower body. The deceased victim is 75-year-old Major Langer, a Rolling Hills resident
and senior manager of PLBSH, who was struck in the torso. All parties involved were employees of PLBSH. A motive for the shooting is unconfirmed as of press time, but the Press-Telegram reported that Mendoza was either fired or in the process of being terminated. Other employees were present at the office, but no one else was injured. PLBSH released a statement on Dec. 30 about the incident. “We are shocked and saddened by the tragedy that occurred at the Law Offices of Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin and Harrison yesterday, leaving one of our partners dead and another injured in a senseless act of workplace violence,” the statement reads. “On behalf of our entire firm, we wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family of Major Langer, who was killed in this tragic incident. Major was a big part of the Law Offices of Perona, Langer, Beck, Serbin and Harrison’s success. Major leaves his wife, children and grandchildren a legacy that was truly as special as he was. Our thoughts and prayers are with Major’s family, as well as with the family of Ronald Beck, who was injured and remains hospitalized at this time.” The Signal Tribune made an attempt to follow-up with the LBPD via email on Wednesday to get confirmation see SHOOTING page 15
Courtesy Stayin’ Alive Long Beach
Records that animal-advocacy group Stayin’ Alive Long Beach acquired from Long Beach Animal Care Services (ACS) show that Blue, a 5-year-old pit bull who arrived at the local shelter “very sweet, friendly, approachable,” spent 71 days there before being euthanised for “moderate behavior.” Patricia Turner, co-founder of Stayin’ Alive Long Beach, said her group closely monitors the shelter’s numbers and that, during Blue’s stay at the shelter, ACS hosted three adoption events but did not take him to any of them. Turner explained that Blue’s case is not atypical– that dogs arrive at the shelter friendly and playful, according to the shelter staff’s notes, but are euthanised nevertheless. Turner said Blue’s case demonstrates that the shelter does not have a full, viable adoption program and should look to other comparable cities, like Sacramento, which implements a robust volunteer program and has dramatically lower euthanasia numbers compared to Long Beach.