City Council members wore dark clothes at the first Seal Beach meeting since the Oct. 12 murders on Pacific Coast Highway.
City and county officials gave an overview of the response to the Salon Meritage killings at the Monday, Oct. 24 Seal Beach City Council meeting.
Monday’s meeting won’t be the last time the incident response is reviewed. There will be a town hall meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27, at McGaugh School, to review the police response to the Salon Meritage case.
In related news, the council waived fees for memorial services and fundraising events related to the crime. The decision to waive fees was made as part of the Consent Calendar. There was no discussion of the item.
“The fiscal impact is unknown, but it is believed to be minimal.” according to the staff report by Assistant City Manager Sean Crumby.
“In order to assist the community during this difficult time, staff recommends that the council authorize the city manager to waive the city’s fees for use of city property and special event applications for all memorial services and fundraisers related to the shooting,” Crumby wrote.
During the report on the city’s response to the incident, City Manager Jill Ingram said she could not be more proud of the Seal Beach Police Department. Ingram said she was just as grateful to city support staff for performing under what she called unimaginable circumstances.
Ingram said over 40 agencies—police, fire, grief counseling services and ministries—helped during the response to the Oct. 12 shootings. Ingram said staff assisted in preparing for the candlelight vigil that was held outside Salon Meritage on Thursday, Oct. 13. Ingram said 3,000 people attended the event.
Ingram said City Clerk Linda Devine had been appointed to the Seal Beach Victims Trust fund to provide transparency.
Interim Chief Robert Luman said five and one-half minutes passed from the time police received the first call reporting the shootings to the apprehension of the suspect.
“I view this as exceptional police work,” Luman said.
Within 15 minutes, officers were tending to victims and performing triage—determining which patients had a chance of survival if treated immediately—were developing suspect information, identifying witnesses and protecting the public while keeping their own safety in mind.
“We had significant help,” Luman said. The Orange County Fire Authority treated victims and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office sent prosecutors to assist at the crime scene.
Luman asked that anyone with additional information about the crime call Detective Gary Krogman at (562) 799-4100, extension 1108.
Division Chief Ed Flemming, of the Orange County Fire Authority, said within one minute of receiving the call about the shootings, a medical unit was en route. Within three minutes, Seal Beach Fire Engine 44 was en route as were two units from Huntington Beach. Police and firefighters identified three patients who might be helped. All three were taken to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
Flemming said the Fire Authority sent fire chaplains to assist police chaplains with the victims’ families.
Susan King Schroeder, of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, said her agency would pour all of its resources into prosecuting the case.
Councilwoman Ellery Deaton commended Acting Police Chief Tim Olson, who was in charge of the Police Department on Oct. 12. Deaton said that through the funeral services and memorials, she had met eight lovely friends she never knew. Deaton said she would like the city manager to set up a process to receive suggestions for a permanent memorial.
Councilman Gordon Shanks said that the community of Seal Beach was bigger than the city limits and included Sunset Beach and Los Alamitos. He praised the generosity of people from the Sun Region for their efforts to help Seal Beach at this time.
