Formal Remembrance of Bank Shootout Planned Sunday

Police officers, residents and business people involved in February’s siege at the Bank of America will join city officials and bank employees Sunday at the first formal remembrance of the event.

Bank Senior Vice President Barbara Robinson, Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief Bernard Parks and City Councilman Richard Alarcon, in whose district most of the shooting occurred, are scheduled to attend.

A barbecue and speeches by law enforcement officers are planned at the Appreciation Day, which will be held in the bank parking lot. The Feb. 28 shootout left 17 police officers and bystanders wounded and the two highly armed robbers dead.

Resident and activist Gloria Martino organized a June 7 block party for the neighborhood around the bank, but that event did not focus on the shootout. City officials initially wanted to combine their day of thanks for the Police Department’s efforts with Martino’s block party, but she resisted.

“It’s going to be interesting,” said Martino, who is scheduled to speak Sunday. “I’m nervous about even going over there. I never even walk by the bank anymore. If I have to tell them where I was [on the day of the shooting], I’ll probably start crying.”

Alarcon believes the day will allow old wounds to heal instead.

“The emotions will be very upbeat,” he said. “I think people will be celebrating the Police Department. If it’s emotional, I think it will be emotional in a positive way.”

Speeches are scheduled to begin at noon, with the event running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The bank is at 6600 Laurel Canyon Blvd.