San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority
Encyclopedia
The San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority (SGVTA) was a very small private bus transit provider in Los Angeles County, California
providing free transport services to seniors and the disabled in the cities of Monrovia
and Sierra Madre
. The operator claimed this was done via Memoranda of Understanding
(MOU) with the two cities. Its equipment consisted primarily of a handful of lift-equipped coaches and its paid staff included fewer than a dozen coach operators.
force consisting primarily of volunteer commissioners
and auxiliaries
, allegedly started by Yosuf Maiwandi. Swedish national Stefan Eriksson
was a businessman who was found with police commissioner business cards from this "police agency" after being involved in a high profile traffic accident. It is presently unknown whether there were ever any fully qualified peace officer
s on the force.
The SGVTA founder and operator of an auto repair service in Monrovia was eventually arrested after trying to recover "police cars" which had been seized as part of the investigation into the "SGVTA Police" by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Authorities claimed that he had committed perjury in official documents by claiming that the SGVTA was a government entity.
A search of public records at Monrovia City Hall revealed no completed agreement between the Monrovia City Council and the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority (SGVTA), leaving many questions unanswered regarding the legal status of the "SGVTA" and the "San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority Police".
As of July 18, 2006, the SGVTA has stopped its services.
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
providing free transport services to seniors and the disabled in the cities of Monrovia
Monrovia, California
Monrovia is a city located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 36,590 at the 2010 census, down from 36,929 at the 2000 census...
and Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre, California
The city of Sierra Madre is a municipality in Los Angeles County, California whose population was 10,917 at the 2010 census, up from 10,580 at the time of the 2000 census. The city is located in the Foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains below the southern edge of the Angeles National Forest. ...
. The operator claimed this was done via Memoranda of Understanding
Memorandum of understanding
A memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
(MOU) with the two cities. Its equipment consisted primarily of a handful of lift-equipped coaches and its paid staff included fewer than a dozen coach operators.
Recent developments
The SGVTA was notable in recent news for having had a transit policeTransit police
Transit police are a specialized police agency or unit employed by a common carrier, which could be a transit district, railroad, bus line, other transport carrier, or the state...
force consisting primarily of volunteer commissioners
Police commissioner
Commissioner is a senior rank used in many police forces and may be rendered Police Commissioner or Commissioner of Police. In some organizations, the commissioner is a political appointee, and may or may not actually be a professional police officer. In these circumstances, there is often a...
and auxiliaries
Auxiliary police
Auxiliary police or special constables in England) are usually the part-time reserves of a regular police force. They may be armed or unarmed. They may be unpaid volunteers or paid members of the police service with which they are affiliated...
, allegedly started by Yosuf Maiwandi. Swedish national Stefan Eriksson
Stefan Eriksson
Bo Stefan M. Eriksson is a Swedish criminal from Uppsala involved in the UK gaming company Gizmondo until it became insolvent in 2005. In 2006 he became known for wrecking an Enzo Ferrari in southern California, USA...
was a businessman who was found with police commissioner business cards from this "police agency" after being involved in a high profile traffic accident. It is presently unknown whether there were ever any fully qualified peace officer
Peace officer
A law enforcement officer , in North America, is any public-sector employee or agent whose duties involve the enforcement of laws. The phrase can include police officers, prison officers, customs officers, immigration officers, bailiffs, probation officers, parole officers, auxiliary officers, and...
s on the force.
The SGVTA founder and operator of an auto repair service in Monrovia was eventually arrested after trying to recover "police cars" which had been seized as part of the investigation into the "SGVTA Police" by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Authorities claimed that he had committed perjury in official documents by claiming that the SGVTA was a government entity.
A search of public records at Monrovia City Hall revealed no completed agreement between the Monrovia City Council and the San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority (SGVTA), leaving many questions unanswered regarding the legal status of the "SGVTA" and the "San Gabriel Valley Transit Authority Police".
As of July 18, 2006, the SGVTA has stopped its services.