HAPCOA Hosts Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner

(Los Angeles) On Saturday, March 18, 2017 the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA) hosted, with the help of its Los Angeles sponsor CARS 911, its 2017 Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner.

CARS 911 President Onnik Mehrabian sponsored the event at the PEARL Banquet Hall in Sun Valley, CA.  Attendees were treated to a social hour, entertainment, a full dinner and presentations made by Hispanic leaders in law enforcement from the Los Angeles area.

The event attracted over 125 invited guests who included area business owners, LA area HAPCOA members and active/retired members of law enforcement.  The evenings presentations were emceed by Mr. Frank Motteck, of CBS all-news station KNX-1070 where he anchors the morning drive business report.  Frank is an award-winning broadcaster with more than 30 years of experience in radio and television news including KCAL-9, CBS-2 and KTLA Channel 5 in Los Angeles as well as The Nightly Business Report on PBS. 

Presenters at this years event included:  Captain Tina Nieto, LAPD, 2017 HAPCOA President; Dr. Garbis Der Yeghiayan, Mashdots College; Henry ‘Hank’ Aguilar, retired Commissioner of the California Parole Board & National Latino Peace Officers Association; Rafael Neives, California State President of National Latino Peace Officers Association; Alex Padilla, retired Captain, Santa Monica PD and Councilman City of Inglewood; John Torres, retired Deputy Assistant Director ATF, Office of Inspector General for Los Angeles & 2016 HAPCOA President; Anthony Chapa, retired Assistant Director US Secret Service & Executive Director of HAPCOA; Onnik Mehrabian, President, CARS 911; and Arthur Kassel, retired Chief of Law Enforcement Services CA State Department of Mental Health.

Special attendees attending this years event included:  Joaquin Herran, retired Commander LASD & former HAPCOA National President; Steve Noguera, Assistant Special in Charge NCIS & HAPCOA 3^rd Vice President; Alex Bustamante, Inspector General, LAPD Office of Inspector General; Jesus Holguin, Commander, California Highway Patrol; Victor Valdez, retired LT Hawthorne Police Department; Jake Katz, retired Assistant Director, LASD; and David Fryar, Executive Director, Los Angeles Police Museum.

A special thanks to all who attended this year’s event and to all LA area business owners who offered donations in support of HAPCOA.

Arthur Kassel, HAPCOA Director of Development and Onnik Mehrabian, President of Cars 911 / HAPCOA Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner Sponsor.

Tony Chapa, HAPCOA Executive Director and Hank Aguilar, NLPOA pose for a photo.

Tony Chapa presents the mission of HAPCOA.

Onnik Mehrabian receives a gift from Tony Chapa and HAPCOA 2017 National President Captain Tina Nieto, LAPD.

M/C Frank Motteck along with Tony Chapa and HAPCOA Director of Development Arthur Kassel.

Councilman Alex Padilla, City of Inglewood.

HAPCOA event advance team: Frank Mottek, Arthur Kassel, Tony Chapa, Vatache, Natalie Kojak and Richard Magyer.