The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

OFFICERS OF THE MONTH - JULY 2001

OFFICER TRACEY ANGELES
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (LAPD)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tracey Angeles grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Boston University in 1989. After graduation, she joined a friend in a cross-country trek to the West Coast, where she applied for and was accepted into the Los Angeles Police Academy the following year. The residents of North Hollywood are fortunate this dedicated young woman headed west.

Early in her career, then Officer Angeles earned tremendous recognition from her department and peers. In 1993 she received the LAPD Commendation for apprehending a bank robbery suspect and the following year she was awarded the LAPD Chief of Police Commendation for Achievement on Community and Employee Focus Groups.

In November 1994 she was promoted to Detective I and shortly after was named the LAPD Detective of the Quarter while assigned to the Domestic Violence unit. Although she had investigated all types of crimes, including every type of assault, robberies as well as homicides, nothing could have prepared her for watch she would face one sunny winter morning.

On February 28, 1997, two men dressed in fully body armor, wielding AK-47 assault rifles robbed a bank on a busy street in Los Angeles. While attempting to escape, the suspects showered the community the hundreds of round of armor piercing ammunition, injuring more than 20 individuals in the melee.

Detective Angeles and her partner had responded to an "officer needs help" radio call. Arriving at the scene they observed the suspects exit the bank and begin firing rounds into the crowd. In the exchange of gunfire, Detective Angeles and her partner, Officer Stuart Guy were hit. Detective Angeles, who had lost her radio, knew her partner was very seriously wounded and was loosing blood rapidly. Determined not to leave him alone, she stayed crouched down 15 away reassuring him that help was on the way and encouraging him to hold on.

Throughout the ordeal Detective Angeles remained calm in the center of this battle zone. When back up arrived, she knowingly placed herself directly in the line of fire as she assisted in placing him in the rear of the police rescue vehicle. In the City of Angeles, she was one angel who was the calm in the storm during one of the most shocking displays of criminal behavior as ever witnessed by the American public. Her courage, discipline and presence of mind on that chaotic day embody the finest traditions of law enforcement. For her selfless actions she was awarded the LAPD's Medal of Valor.

In October 1997 Detective Angeles received the LAPD Police Commissioner/City Council Women of Courage Award and in September 1998 received the LAPD Chief of Police Commendation for apprehending suspects for a series of robberies and rapes of women at ATM machines. She was promoted to Detective II in May 1998.

As a single parent, Tracey has little spare time. Her personal life is devoted to her four-year-old son, Ryan, who was diagnosed with Autism one year ago. "He's my bud," she says. "He is an interesting, fascinating friend."

Detective III Mike Coffey describes his young protégé as a "Fireball." "You give her an assignment and step aside until it is done. She does the work of two detectives with an intense drive to do the best job possible. Her work ethic is outstanding. She works hard on the behalf of victims, yet she is polite, kind and tenacious. She is a number one professional", say Captain Robert Marbray of the North Hollywood Operations Support Division.

When discussing her career, Tracy Angeles says, "I enjoy working as a detective; putting serious criminals away. I like working the case all the way through to conviction and I like helping people who are unfamiliar with Police procedures to understand what its all about. I want to give satisfaction to the families of he victims. There is nothing more rewarding than saying to the victim, 'The case is closed. You can put this behind you.' That's why I do this job."