To further the cause, the Long Beach Police Officers Association (LBPOA) has sent us a letter to share with our readers. The letter is one that the board of the LBPOA created and hopes that our readers will cut out, sign and mail to the parole board.
The LBPOA often distributes emails to those who have requested to be on their contact list for receiving news and updates regarding law-enforcement issues. In their latest email, they told about the letter and offered the following words:
The convicted criminal who attempted to murder LBPD Sergeant Abel Dominguez is scheduled for a parole hearing in September. Please help keep this dangerous suspect in prison for the duration of his sentence.
We have provided an easy letter for you to sign and submit to the Parole Board to assist them in making the right decision. We need you to mail your letter before August 8.
California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation
Officer of Victim and Survivor Rights & Services
P.O. Box 942883
Sacramento, CA 94283
Re: Nathan Sims — CDC #J-32468
Parole Hearing Scheduled for Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Dear Representative:
With reference to the parole consideration hearing for inmate Nathan Sims, I am strongly opposed to an early release for the inmate.
On August 6, 1993, Officer Abel Dominguez was working alone in a marked black and white police vehicle when he made a routine traffic stop. Officer Dominguez sat the un-handcuffed driver in the rear of the police vehicle while he sat in the front seat writing a citation. While his attention was focused on his paperwork, Nathan Sims and co-defendant Cashus Ward crept up to the passenger side of the police vehicle. Inmate Sims fired gunshots through the closed front passenger side window, striking Officer Dominguez three times. After Sims stopped firing, Ward opened the rear door of the police vehicle, allowing the detained subject to exit and flee.
Officer Dominguez suffered gunshot wounds to his right temple, right cheek and right arm. He was placed on life support and remained in a coma for more than a week. The bullet that entered Officer Dominguez’s head fragmented in his brain. During the initial surgery, the surgeon removed approximately 1/2 cup of damaged brain and parts of the fragmented bullet. This injury disrupted all motor skills on his left side, and he lost all peripheral vision. He was hospitalized for three months and continued intense rehabilitation for over a year. The shooting also deeply affected his wife and his three children, who were 2, 4 and 11 years at the time. Mrs. Dominguez was forced to leave her job in order to provide nursing care for her husband.
In interviews with detectives, the arrested suspect, Nathan Sims, admitted he was a Rollin’ 20’s Crip gang member who had just been released from the California Youth Authority after serving four years for a previous crime. Sims denied shooting the officer and lied about his involvement in the crime. A check of his criminal history showed three arrests as a juvenile: one for burglary; a second for carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a loaded firearm and commission of a crime while armed; and a third for possession of a controlled substance.
In Nathan Sims’ own words, the officer was just doing his job. Sims’ unprovoked, murderous attack on the unsuspecting officer was both callous and cruel. He must be held accountable for his intentionally evil crime. I believe that inmate Sims is not suitable for release and should serve out the term of life in prison as prescribed by the sentencing court.
