HAL NETKIN
COMMUNITY ACTIVIST
P.O. BOX 3465, VAN NUYS, CA 91407
tel 818-989-2201
fax: 818-989-1905

Stuart A. Maislin, CommanderRE: Public Information Request
Commanding Officer, LAPD Discovery Section      SUB: Mexican Matricula Consular ID
POB 30030    LAPD Ref Number: 2.7
Los Angeles, CA 90012

May 14, 2004Mailed certified with return signature

Dear Commander Maislin:

In my letter of March 22, 2004, I asked your department the following:

1. What training if any, have LAPD officers had to be able to detect genuine Matricula Consular IDs from fraudulent ones?
2. If training is given, do all LAPD officers receive it.
3. Who or what entity gives the training.

You responded with your letter of April 21, 2004, as follows:
The Department has researched and located the following information responsive to your request. A memorandum from the Chief of Police was issued to all sworn members of the Department informing them to accept the Matricula as proof of identification... A confidential information sheet, prepared by the Consulate of Mexico, was attached to provide law enforcement officers with detailed information on how to determine the authenticity of a Matricula card...

I responded with my letter of May 27, 2004 as follows:
Your department's letter to me states that all sworn members were issued a memorandum and a confidential information sheet. I have already obtained, from another source, the items consisting of the information sheet along with the 3.25 " X 2" transparent decoder, issued by the Mexican Government. Note from the enclosed copy of the information sheet, that an advisory states: "IMPORTANT: PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT A PREVIOUSLY ISSUED "MATRICULA CONSULAR" IS VALID UNTIL ITS EXPIRATION DATE." The decoder does not work on these cards. From my source, I was told that there are approximately two million of the previously issued Matricula IDs in circulation with expirations dates to 2007, and there is no recall by the Mexican government to exchange the old for the new.
Here were my questions.
1. Does every LAPD officer carry the decoder with them at all times while on duty?
2. What action must an LAPD officer take to verify the authenticity of the previously issued Matricula ID when presented by a suspect?

I refer you to your latest response to the above with your letter of May 12, 2004, in which you answered as follows: The Department has researched and located the following information responsive to your request. All Department stations, including all Watch Commanders, were issued decoder cards for purposes of verifying the authenticity of the Matricula. In addition, Department personnel may contact the Mexican Consulate and request verification against the Consulate database.

Your latest answer of May 12, did not answer my two questions which I will repeat:
1. Does every LAPD officer carry the decoder with them at all times while on duty?
2. What action must an LAPD officer take to verify the authenticity of the previously issued Matricula ID when presented by a suspect?

Also puzzling, is your latest statement that All Department stations, including all Watch Commanders, were issued decoder cards for purposes of verifying the authenticity of the Matricula which make no mention of "all sworn members,"  is in conflict with your previous answer that all sworn members of the department were provided with the means to determine the authenticity of the Matricula.

Moreover, Detective Mike Pavelka (father of slain Burbank PD officer Mathew Pavelka) who works in Van Nuys Division of LAPD in "Forgery" and who is investigating the theft of my identity, says that he has never heard of nor been issued the Mexican Matricula verification kit.

So let me ask once more these two very uncomplicated questions.

1. Does every LAPD officer including all detectives and rank-and-file officers carry the decoder with them at all times while on duty? Yes or No?

2. What action if any, must an LAPD officer take to verify the authenticity of the previously issued Matricula ID that cannot be tested with the decoder, when presented by a suspect?

Cordially,

Hal Netkin