MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (KERO) — Officials in Monterey Park are issuing apologies to firefighters and paramedics saying they should have done a better job recognizing their heroic actions during last month's Lunar New Year shooting.
“Our guys felt like they didn’t exist. So much focus was on the suspect and making sure the community felt safe and I understood that. But, as the days progressed, they just felt like the NINE lives they saved that night, they had nothing to do with it,” said Matt Hallock, the fire chief for Monterey Park.
“I would like to publicly apologize to the fire service community and our very own fire department for not intervening sooner as the dialogue continued throughout the first week," announced Monterey Park City Manager Ron Bow. "Thank you Monterey Park Fire Department for your dedicated service to our community.”
City officials are emphasizing that resources are available to the community and staff as the recovery process begins.
READ MORE ON THE SHOOTING:
- Los Angeles mass shooting suspect kills 10 near Lunar New Year fest
- Families remember those slain in California shooting
- Authorities search for motive in Lunar New Year massacre
- Chief defends delay telling public of mass shooter at-large
- 72-year-old suspect in Lunar New Year fest mass shooting found dead
- Bakersfield man remembers friend lost in Monterey Park: "It is sad to see that was her last dance."
- Monterey Park shooting victims named; police seek motive
- Vice President Harris travels to Monterey Park to honor mass shooting victims
- Death toll in Monterey Park mass shooting rises to 11
- Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaims Lunar New Year as state holiday in honor of Monterey Park shooting victims
