Security Breach at Mayor’s Residence: Lapse During Shift Change
On Sunday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s home, Getty House, was broken into during a security shift change. Interim Police Chief Dominic Choi explained that the break-in occurred when the overnight security officers were leaving and the oncoming shift was arriving, creating a temporary gap in coverage.
The suspect, Ephraim Hunter, allegedly smashed a window and entered the residence around 6:40 a.m., climbing the stairs to the second floor where the bedrooms are located. Choi noted that Hunter jumped over a fence and broke in through the back of the house, suggesting that the incident happened swiftly.
Despite concerns about the adequacy of security measures, Choi believes that one officer at the time may not have been able to physically stop Hunter or notice his presence due to the large size of the property. He emphasized that the security gap has been remedied to prevent recurrence.
Hunter, who has a history of assault with a deadly weapon and drug addiction, has been arrested and charged with burglary. Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón declined to provide specifics about the charges.
In response to the incident, Mayor Bass expressed gratitude to the LAPD and stated that her family is safe. Investigators have not publicly disclosed a motive for the break-in. Choi confirmed that cameras were installed on the property, but security personnel were not monitoring the feed at the time of the breach.
To address the security lapse, an overlap in shifts has been implemented to ensure continuous coverage. The mayor’s security detail, comprised of sworn LAPD officers, was en route to the residence when the incident occurred.
The break-in at Getty House highlights the importance of robust security measures to protect public officials and their residences. The shift change gap and lack of real-time camera monitoring during the incident underscore the need for constant vigilance and proactive countermeasures.
