Police Identify Officers Involved In Dec. 27 Shooting

Pasadena Police Chief Phillip L. Sanchez has identified the police officers involved in a shooting incident Monday, Dec. 27, near Lake Avenue and Mountain Street.

Officer Ken Florendo has been a veteran of the Pasadena Police Department for more than five years; for more than two years he has been assigned to the Special Enforcement Section, where his duties include working with gangs. In this capacity he has been commended for his work with at-risk youths. He also is a member of the Pasadena Police Department’s Honor Guard. He has not been involved in any prior officer-involved shooting incidents. He is recovering from an injury he sustained to his face as a result of the suspect in the Dec. 27 incident shooting at him.

Officer Alex Torres has been a veteran of the Pasadena Police Department for more than six years; for more than two years he has been assigned to the Special Enforcement Section, where his duties include working with gangs. Two years ago Officer Torres was commended for preventing a suicide at the Colorado Street Bridge. At great peril to his own personal safety, he wrestled a distraught woman to the ground before she could jump to certain death. He was involved in one prior officer-involved shooting in September 2007, when he observed a woman being stabbed by her estranged husband. The assailant then advanced on Officer Torres while armed with a knife. Torres was forced to shoot the assailant, who died. As a result, the woman’s life was saved despite life-threatening stab wounds.

Speaking about the Dec. 27 shooting this past Monday evening, Chief Sanchez said: “In every violent encounter wherein the use of force is required, police officers are forced to make split-second decisions. In this incident, these officers placed themselves in harm’s way to protect the life of a citizen by engaging an armed assailant who had fired his gun at them. I am extremely thankful that despite the violent actions of the suspect, nobody was seriously injured.”

Three felony criminal charges have been filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office against suspect Sherwin Williams of Fontana.