Burbank Police Department Article Index for
Burbank
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Information About

Burbank Police Department




Thomas Hoefel is the Police Chief of the department.


OVERVIEW


Burbank Police yields jurisdiction within the city limits of Burbank, California. The Bob Hope Airport is served by the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority Police , which is independent of the Burbank Police Department.

The air support covers the cities of Burbank and Glendale.


ASSIGNMENTS


  • Patrol

  • K-9

  • Traffic

  • Bike Detail

  • School/Community Resource Officer

  • Gang Unit

  • Special Response Team

  • Air Support

  • Detective Bureau



FALLEN MEMBERS


The most notable fallen member is Officer Matthew Pavelka, who became the first Burbank Police officer to be killed in the line of duty in 83 years. He was on the job for only ten months, and was on patrol for four months. On November 15, 2003, Officer Pavelka was fatally shot while assisting Officer Gregory Campbell in a traffic stop. The incident began when Officer Gregory Campbell stopped a Cadillac Escalade without license plates in an area known for drug trafficking. He called for backup and Officer Pavelka arrived. When both officers approached the vehicle ordering the driver and passenger out of the vehicle, they opened fire on the officers, using automatic weapons. Both officers were wounded and were taken to the hospital, where Officer Pavelka died while in surgery. The driver was shot and killed while the passenger fled the scene. The passenger, David Garcia, was captured in Mexico two weeks later and Garcia was extradited back to the United States since he was a U.S. citizen and the U.S.-Mexico extradition treaty didn't apply. He faces the death penalty if convicted of first degree murder.

Memorial services took place at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills and many officers from numerous jurisdictions attended the service. The Burbank Police Department was closed for the day and some nearby cities contributed officers to the City of Burbank to replace the Burbank Police officers.


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