Family Protests Dispatcher's Failure in Fatal Shooting of El Monte Police Officer
Despite Departmental Changes, Family Believes Proper Communication Could Have Prevented Tragedy
- The family of slain El Monte police Officer Joseph Santana protested outside the El Monte Police Department over a dispatcher’s failure to communicate that the man who shot and killed him was armed with a gun and under the influence of PCP.
- The family is not seeking legal action or monetary compensation, but demanded that the dispatchers responsible for the communication failures be fired.
- Veteran dispatcher Kristen Juaregui failed to inform the officers that suspect Justin Flores was reported to have a gun and be under the influence of PCP and methamphetamine when they responded to a domestic violence call.
- El Monte Police Chief Jake Fisher stated that since the shooting, the department has improved its communications protocols and invested heavily in new equipment.
- Despite the changes, the family of Officer Santana felt they were kept in the dark about the communication breakdown and believe that had the officers been informed about the suspect's condition, the outcome could have been different.