One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
LAFD And LAPD Suffer Covid Losses
The Los Angeles Fire Department is mourning the death of firefighter Jose Perez from COVID-19. LAFD
The Los Angeles Fire Department has lost its first member to the coronavirus.
Jose Perez died Saturday. The 44-year-old firefighter and paramedic had been with the department for more than 16 years. He is survived by his wife and three children.
The Los Angeles Police Department has also lost its first sworn officer to COVID-19. Valentin Martinez, who died Friday, was 45 and had served for 13 years. He is survived by his partner who is pregnant with twins.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced flags will be flown at half staff in honor of Martinez and an Alameda Sheriff's deputy who died from COVID-19 last week.
Since the pandemic began, more than 400 LAPD employees and 145 L.A. Fire Department employees have tested positive for the virus.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
