Armenian American

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved Michael Antonovich's motion to direct county staffers to pursue the possibility of expanding a pharmaceutical disposal program to the entire county. The "No Drugs Down the Drain" program informs residents about the hazards of throwing away medications in places where they can reach surface waters and negatively affect the environment. Research has shown that medications in surface waters complicates human growth and reproduction.

Molly Shore A piece of history was at City Hall this week. Sam Kadorian, 93, one of the oldest living survivors of the Armenian Genocide, stood on the building's steps for a candlelight ceremony commemorating the deaths of more than 1.5 million Armenians. Among those killed during the eight-year genocide, which began April 24, 1915, at the hands of the Turkish Ottoman Empire, were Kadorian's father, two sisters and a brother. "My mother and I escaped from jail and were given refuge in a Swiss missionary doctor's home," Kadorian said.

Democrat Chahe Keuroghelian on Monday ended his candidacy for state Assembly, setting up a face off between two candidates to represent Glendale, Burbank and parts of Los Angeles in a Nov. 2 election. Keuroghelian, an Armenian-language television host and former public information officer for the Glendale Police Department, was one of two remaining candidates for the 43rd Assembly District in a June 8 Democratic primary ahead of the general election. He could not be reached for comment Monday evening after he sent out the announcement.

Hundreds of congregants packed into St. Kevork Armenian Apostolic Church on Tuesday to celebrate Christmas with the blessing of the water. A holy cross that symbolizes Jesus was dipped in holy water and “Holy Muron,” or oil, during the ceremony. The holy oil was boiled and blessed in Armenia and sent to Glendale for Tuesday’s ceremony, Deacon Tigran Garibjanyan said. “It is about clearing us from our sins, and we are also feeling Jesus coming into us,” Garibjanyan said.

The trial for a lawsuit filed by Burbank Police Officer Cindy Guillen - who is alleging racial and ethnic discrimination, in addition to harassment due to her marital status and pregnancy - is expected to start next week after attorneys wrapped up jury selection Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Guillen, who is Latino, also alleged in her lawsuit filed in 2009 that when she complained to commanders, she faced retaliation - echoing claims filed by other former and current officers who have sued the Police Department.

The Armenian American police detective who is suing the city over allegations he was harassed and discriminated against because of his ethnicity took the stand during his suit's trial this week, sharing with the jury years of alleged ethnic slurs directed at him and Armenians in general. Det. Steve Karagiosian testified that other officers, including detectives and sergeants, made disparaging remarks about Armenians from the moment he joined the department in 2004 to begin his training.

For the second time, Burbank has decided to continue fighting a jury verdict, this time involving a $150,000 award to an Armenian American police detective who said he was harassed and discriminated against because of his ethnicity. Burbank City Atty. Amy Albano announced the decision, reached in closed session with the City Council, to appeal the verdict involving current police Det. Steve Karagiosian, who was awarded $150,000 in April. In late March, Karagiosian testified in Los Angeles County Superior Court that detectives and sergeants in the police department regularly used derogative terms when referring to Armenians, including “towel heads.” Karagiosian was part of a multi-plaintiff lawsuit with four other former and current officers that was filed in 2009 alleging harassment and discrimination based on ethnicity and gender, among other claims.

Jurors in a trial brought by an Armenian American Burbank police detective who alleged he was harassed and faced discrimination were asked by his attorney Tuesday to award him $600,000 to $1 million. In his closing arguments in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Solomon Gresen, who is representing police Det. Steve Karagiosian, told jurors that the city does not deny that ethnic slurs were made, but instead is downplaying their significance. “The defense is not saying it didn't happen,” Gresen said.

In an effort to help law enforcement agencies investigate gun-related crimes, the California Assembly passed a bill on Tuesday that would require semi-automatic pistols to be equipped with a micro-stamping mechanism that would etch information on the cartridge case. Authored by Los Angeles Assemblyman Mike Feuer, AB1471, which is on its way to the Senate after passing 44-31 in the Assembly, is lauded by its supporters as a tool that would help solve gun-related crimes, especially homicides.