Behind the Badge
A group of Westminster police officers were recently commended for their teamwork to apprehend three burglary suspects.
A resident called police on July 16 to report a home burglary in progress in the 15000 block of Coronado Street.
As the resident was on the phone with police, the suspects got in their car and left the scene, police said.
The resident gave the dispatcher a description of the vehicle, but could not say which way the suspects went when they left the neighborhood.
Officers Bill Eifert and Komson Phaphui saw a vehicle matching the description traveling on Trask Avenue toward Beach Boulevard.
Eifert and Phaphui could not keep up with the vehicle at first, and lost sight of it, police said.
The officers headed toward the westbound 22 freeway because they guessed the suspects would likely get on the freeway to leave the city.
Eifert and Phaphui again found the car matching the description and stopped the vehicle on the westbound 22 freeway.
Three men were arrested under suspicion of burglary, police said.
Cmdr. Al Panella wrote in the commendation officers Brian Mayer and Matt Edinger should also be recognized for their work at the crime scene.
“(Mayer and Edinger) also did a great job identifying applicable crime elements and (worked) as a team to bring this case to a close,” Panella wrote.
Westminster Police Chief Kevin Baker recognized the officers with a commendation.
