Who You Gonna Call? Meet the Team Keeping DTLA Safe & Welcoming
October is National Crime Prevention Month, and we’re taking the opportunity to tip our hat to the members of our team sporting purple, who keep Downtown safe and welcoming. Meet our Safe Team (and one member of our PATH team) and learn a little bit more about the services offers to Downtowners like you.
Pro tip: You can reach the Safe Team anytime by downloading the DTLA Safe & Clean App or visiting our website downtownLA.com/service request (or even using your phone 213- 624-2425). Submit a request for graffiti removal, a safety escort, or to connect someone to homeless outreach services—all at your fingertips.
Castro, Sergeant
Years with DTLA Alliance: Nine Years
Favorite DTLA Spots: Grand Central Market, Sandcouch, Andante
For Sergeant Castro, nine years in Downtown have brought no shortage of stories. He’s drawn to Downtown LA because no two days are ever the same. “You’ve got to keep an open mind in this kind of work,” he says. “Every day brings a new experience.”
A master of de-escalation, Castro helps keep the district safe by preventing tense situations from growing and offering support to those in need. As one of the longest-serving members of the team, Castro leads by example—training new officers, mentoring supervisors, and helping ensure operations run seamlessly across all three shifts (morning, night, and graveyard). For this spotlight, he shared a few of his favorite moments between 9-to-5(ish).
He recalls a day when a woman recovering from eye surgery became lost downtown. Castro literally became her eyes, guiding her safely back to her transportation. Another time, at the DTLA Halloween Festival for Kids, he sprang into action when a runaway toddler made a bold dash for the exit, eventually reuniting him with his family from the stage mic.
When he’s not in the field, Castro’s usually recharging with a bite at Sandcouch Café, where he can keep an ear on the radio while grabbing something quick. His team swears by Andante and Philz Coffee—although he jokes he doesn’t reveal those gems until recruits make it through training since “it gives them something to strive for.” Off duty, you’ll often find him exploring Grand Central Market. “Every day’s a different menu,” he says, “and you know I like new and interesting experiences.”
Leon, Supervisor
Years with DTLA Alliance: Three in January
Favorite DTLA Spots: Iced Mocha Tesora from Philz Coffee, Paris Baguette, Marie’s Café, a green juice from Movita or Qwench, 7-Eleven
For Leon, Downtown LA’s magic lies in its mix of big-city energy and small-town connections. Since starting his role almost 3 years ago, Leon has seen celebrities, important governmental figures, repeat visitors, and of course his favorite locals. “You never know who you’re going to run into,” he says. “There’s nowhere else like it.”
As a Supervisor with the DTLA Alliance Safety Team, Leon starts each morning leading a team huddle to make sure everyone’s on the same page. From there, the purple shirts are off! Responding to calls, assisting visitors, and keeping the district running smoothly.
Some of Leon’s favorite moments come from helping individuals. It could be tourists, office workers, or those experiencing homelessness. “A lot of people are going through things we don’t see,” he says. “It’s about building relationships so people know we’re here when they’re ready for help.” He recalls one evening walking a City National tenant to her car after she requested our free safety escort service via the Safe & Clean app for the first time. “She felt so much safer,” he says. “That’s what it’s all about—making people feel comfortable downtown.”
When he’s off duty, Leon’s all about the caffeine: his go-to is an iced Mocha Tesora from Philz, but he also recommends Paris Baguette, Marie’s Café, or a green juice from Movita or Quench on 9th. “And of course,” he laughs, “7-Eleven for a quick snack.”
Pendergrass, Safety Line Officer
Years with DTLA Alliance: Three years
Favorite DTLA Spots: Primo’s, Slices in City National Plaza’s basement, and Sandcouch (although he listed so many, he might need his own blog).
For Pendergrass, Downtown LA’s energy comes from its people — tourists, residents, and workers all sharing the same streets and stories. “That’s what I love about downtown,” he says. “Everyone’s talking, coexisting.”
As part of the DTLA Alliance Safety Team, Pendergrass takes pride in being a daily, uniformed presence in the district. During our Dog Day event, for example, he helped escort a woman who didn’t feel safe to public transportation. This is just one of many small acts that make a big difference. He recommends downloading the Clean & Safe app if you work downtown: “It sends your exact location to dispatch so help arrives fast.”
One of his proudest moments was connecting an unhoused woman who would sleep at Angel’s Knoll with PATH (People Assisting the Homeless). She was provided with services, and now has her own little apartment to call home every night. Remember, if you’d like to connect someone to outreach resources in our district, call 213-624-2425, use the app, or visit downtownLA.com/servicerequest (outside of our district visit epath.org/ for details).
Pendergrass had the usual favorites of Sandcouch and Philz, but he also added Slices in City National Plaza’s basement. When he’s off duty, Pendergrass might be found grabbing coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Primo’s or enjoying a break at Grand Hope Park. “It’s calm,” he says. “A perfect DTLA moment.”
Glory, Lead Case Manager, PATH Los Angeles
Years with DTLA Alliance: Three and a half years
Favorite DTLA Spots: Verve Coffee inside Capital One Café, Wow Bento, Chick-fil-A, and the patio at Whole Foods for some prime people-watching.
We couldn’t feature our Safe Team without mentioning our prime partner, PATH (people Assisting the Homeless) and Glory has been partnering with DTLA Alliance for almost 4 years. For Glory, every day in Downtown LA brings something new. “There’s always something happening,” she says. “DTLA is full of life, especially with all the events the DTLA Alliance puts on.”
As the Lead Case Manager for PATH Los Angeles, Glory spends her days connecting unhoused residents with the support and resources they need to thrive. Mornings often start with data entry and coordination, followed by outreach across different parts of the district. Her work ranges from helping clients replace IDs at the DMV to reuniting them with family or ensuring they make it safely to new housing.
One moment that sticks with her is when DTLA Alliance dispatch called about a man in crisis, and her team was able to get him into sober living that same day. “He still lives there,” she says proudly. “Moments like that remind me why we do what we do.”
When it’s time for a break, you’ll find Glory at Verve Coffee for her go-to caffeine fix inside Capital One Cafe or grabbing a quick lunch at Wow Bento or Chick-fil-A. When there’s time to linger, catch her outside Whole Foods, enjoying a longer lunch with prime people watching.
Thank you
As we celebrate National Crime Prevention Month, we’re grateful for our Safety Team and partners at PATH who help make Downtown feel a little safer, friendlier, and more connected every day. So next time you see a flash of a purple shirt downtown, give them a nod—they’re the real MVPs keeping our 9-to-5(ish) community and beyond running smoothly.