Page 2 September 7, 2017 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
By Brian Simon
Ever wonder what it’s like to be a police
officer? A group of local citizens recently
got quite the overview as they attended and
eventually graduated from the first El Segundo
Police Department (ESPD) Community Police
Academy (CPA). The program debuted
on July 6, with eight consecutive Thursday
night sessions running from 6 to 9 p.m. that
covered topics including K9, SWAT, CSI, traffic
enforcement, crime scene investigations,
DUI, officer safety and a scenario night. The
first class graduated on August 24.
For ESPD Sergeant Aaron Corkins, the CPA
serves to strengthen the bond and partnership
between the officers and residents/business
members. “Most contact with a police officer
is negative,” he said. “Getting pulled over and
getting a ticket, watching negative publicity
on the news, or even being arrested. This
program gives us an opportunity to show
the community we are normal guys and gals
with families. The main goal is to maintain
our positive relationship with the community
as well as educate them as to what it takes
to be an ESPD officer.”
Sgt. Corkins noted that the impetus for
establishing the CPA was a suggestion from
a friend of several of the officers. “He approached
us and said he attended a community
academy at a nearby agency and thought this
would be perfect for our department and local
citizens,” he said. From there, Lieutenant Jeff
Leyman instituted the program and served
as a main proctor along with Sgt. Corkins
and Officer John Deer.
The aforementioned friend, Bob McCarthy,
admitted it was his “fault” that the ESPD
launched the CPA. “I went through it [a CPA]
in Redondo Beach, fell in love with the concept
and lobbied Captain Bob Turnbull that
ESPD should have one,” he said. “I believe
it’s imperative that police departments reach
out to their community any way possible.
This creates a non-adversarial situation that
puts cops in front of the folks. It is an open,
two-way conversation that allows the citizens
Obituaries
Ara Avak
Ara Avak passed away peacefully
in his sleep on 28 August
2017 at age 92. He was born in
Harbin, China in 1924 as his parents
traveled to the United States,
finally settling in Los Angeles.
He graduated from Manual Arts
High School in 1942 then attended
the Merchant Marine Academy at
Kings Point in New York. He
graduated in 1944 and, at one
point, was the youngest chief
engineer in U.S. Merchant Marine service,
serving on oil tankers until the end of WWII
and into the 1950’s. Ara met the love of his
life, Ellen, at a folk dance party. They married
in 1953 and moved to Inglewood, then to El
Segundo in 1966 to raise their two children.
Ara worked for Bell Telephone for many years
and served on the El Segundo School Board,
the Airport Advisory Committee,
and the Senior Housing Board.
He and Ellen continued to enjoy
folk dancing, ragtime (especially
at Old Town Music Hall) and
travel after retirement. They took
special delight in their two grandchildren.
his wife Ellen. Ara is survived
by his sisters Lydia Avak, Marena
Larson (Jack), and Aida McBride,
his children Tony Avak and Susan
Richardson (Patrick) and grandchildren Robin
and Eric Richardson. A memorial service
will be held at Old Town Music Hall, 140
Richmond Street, on Friday September 8th at
1:00 PM. All of Ara’s friends are invited to
attend and share their memories. In lieu of
flowers donations in his name can be made to
the Red Cross for Hurricane Harvey relief. •
Herald in Spain
He was predeceased by
The Jewelry Source
Anniversary Sale Contest
“Win $1,000
Shopping
Spree”
Celebrate the Joy of Jewelry!
Tell us what your favorite piece of jewelry is and why:
The Jewelry Source
337 Main St. El Segundo. 310-322-7110
www.jewelrysourceUSA.com
©2007
Name:
(100 word maximum, please)
Phone Number:
Fill out this form and drop it off at The Jewelry Source, before September 30, 2017. The winner
gets a Grand Prize of $1,000 shopping spree at The Jewelry Source. Winner will be picked on
October 1, 2017. See the store for details. Your name and comments could be published in the
El Segundo Herald during the Jewelry Source Anniversary Week. Thank you for your participation!
ESPD Engages Citizens Through
Community Police Academy
CPA Class #1 graduating class. Bottom Row: Officer John Deer, Chief Bill Whalen, Ryan Glennan, Vicky Moraga, Suzanne MacKusick,
Captain Bob Turnbull.Middle Row: Anna Pirkl, Joel Gerlach, Bob McCarthy, Nathan Kostelecky, Tom Marick, Allen Semerdjian, Casey
Cline from ESPD Special Operations. Back Row: Jay Morgan, Tyler Thomas, Dennis Falk, Matt MacKusick, Lt. Jeff Leyman, Sgt. Aaron
Corkins. Photos by Lieutenant Dan Kim.
CSI Night. Academy students were introduced to different methods to obtain evidence at crime scenes.
SWAT Night. Jay Morgan trying on an ESPD SWAT tactical vest.
Gavin McCaulley, Heath Shoepe, Cole Shoepe and Jack McCaulley brought the El Segundo Herald with them to Mallorca, Spain.
Now it’s back to school… Photo Provided by Heather McCaulley.
See Police Academy, page 6