April 17, 2003

Settlement opens way for community healing

By MIRA KATZ
STAFF WRITER

CLAREMONT — With the settlement of the Irvin Landrum Jr. lawsuit on Thursday, the shooting death of the 18-year-old black motorist and the public outrage that followed in its wake are a little closer to being in Claremont's rear-view mirror.

Now the city can focus on healing, community leaders said Thursday.

"There is no way that anyone can compensate the Landrum family or the police that were involved," said Claremont Councilwoman Sandra Baldonado. "This has been a long and arduous process for everyone involved, and this was a mostly fair resolution."

The city will continue to work on making the residents of Claremont feel they belong and are a necessary part of the community, and the Police Commission will continue to work with the Police Department on issues that people have with them, she said.

"I think it is a real opportunity for healing," said Mark Hobbs, director of the committee on human relations. "It is going to take a while for people to realize the ramifications of this settlement, but this will go a long way to healing the community."

This is the second major gesture by the city in the last six weeks to undo the damage caused by its actions following the shooting of Landrum in January 1999.

On March 12, the 1999 employee of the year awards, bestowed on the two officers involved in the Landrum shooting, were rescinded by City Manager Glenn Southard.

The awards were given to officers Hany Hanna and Kent Jacks in December 1999, 11 months after they shot and killed Landrum during a late-night traffic stop on Base Line Road.

Police officials say Landrum pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed at the officers before they shot him. Family and friends of Landrum say the gun found at his feet was planted there by police.

But there are those that still believe that these actions are not enough.

"This is a pointless solution because we are still not getting to the heart of the case," said Hal Fairchild, a professor at the Claremont Colleges and organizer of frequent protests outside City Hall throughout 1999. "What happened that night?"
 

Mira Katz can be reached by e-mail mira.katz@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-8551.