October is National Crime Prevention Month, and the DTLA Alliance is taking the opportunity to shine the spotlight on the crew in purple who keep Downtown safe, welcoming and full of heart. Meet a few members of the DTLA Alliance Safe Team and a partner from PATH People Assisting the Homeless and learn a little more about them, including their favorite spots around town and some of the services they offer to Downtowners.
Castro, a safety sergeant with the DTLA Alliance Safe Team.
DTLA Alliance/Submitted
Castro, Safety Sergeant
Years with DTLA Alliance: Nine Years
DTLA Favorites: Grand Central Market, Sandcouch and Andante
For Sgt. 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 said. “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, people often find him exploring Grand Central Market.
“Every day’s a different menu,” he said. “And you know I like new and interesting experiences.”
Leon, a safety supervisor with the DTLA Alliance Safe Team.
DTLA Alliance/Submitted
Leon, Safety Supervisor
Years with DTLA Alliance: Three years
DTLA Favorites: Iced Mocha Tesora from Philz Coffee, Paris Baguette, Marie’s Café, a green juice from Movita or Qwench and 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 three 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 said. “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 said. “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 Cafe or shaking things up with a green juice from Movita or Quench on 9th.
“And of course,” he laughs, “7-Eleven for a quick snack.”
Pendergrass, a safety patrol with the DTLA Alliance Safe Team.
DTLA Alliance/Submitted
Pendergrass, Safety Patrol
Years with DTLA Alliance: Three years
DTLA Favorites: Primo’s Expresso Americana, Slices in City National Plaza’s basement, Philz, Sandcouch and Grand Hope Park
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 said. “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 the annual DTLA Alliance Dog Day event, for example, he escorted an attendee to public transportation after they mentioned feeling uncomfortable walking alone. 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. She was provided with services and now has her own little apartment to call home every night. Anyone who wants to connect another to outreach resources in the district can call 213-624-2425, use the app, or visit downtownLA.com/servicerequest.
Pendergrass has the usual team favorites of Sandcouch and Philz, but he also recommends Slices in City National Plaza’s basement. Pendergrass also suggests grabbing coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Primo’s or enjoying a rest break at Grand Hope Park. “It’s calm,” he said. “A perfect DTLA moment.”
Glory, a lead case manager with PATH Los Angeles.
DTLA Alliance/Submitted
Glory, Lead Case Manager, PATH Los Angeles
Years with DTLA Alliance: Three and a half years
DTLA Favorites: Verve Coffee inside Capital One Café, Wow Bento, Chick-fil-A and the patio at Whole Foods for some prime people-watching
The DTLA Alliance couldn’t feature its Safe Team without mentioning its partner, PATH, or People Assisting the Homeless, and Glory, who has been teaming up with DTLA Alliance for almost four years. For Glory, every day in Downtown LA brings something new.
“There’s always something happening,” she said. “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 said proudly. “Moments like that remind me why we do what we do.”
When it’s time for a break, Glory is found 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.
More Information
Reach the Safe Team 24/7 by downloading the DTLA Safe & Clean App, visiting the website downtownLA.com/service request or calling 213-624-2425. People can request graffiti removal and a safety escort or connect someone to homeless outreach services all from their phone.