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Robert Monzon addresses attendees at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Robert Monzon at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Pasadena Interim Police Chief Jason Clawson at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Emcee Sid Garcia, ABC Eyewitness News, at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Pasadena Police Foundation Officer of the Year Jordan Ling at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Pasadena Police Foundation Officer of the Year Jordan Ling with Robert Monzon and Pasadena Interim Police Chief Jason Clawson at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Pasadena Police Foundation Melekian Award Winner Carlon Lopez at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Pasadena Police Foundation Melekian Award Winner Carlon Lopez with Robert Monzon, and Pasadena Interim Police Chief Jason Clawson at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Pasadena City Manager Miguel Márquez at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Marilyn Buchanan, California State Assemblymember Chris Holden, Melanie Holden at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Tina Rios, Pasadena Interim Police Chief Jason Clawson, Susana Porras at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin, Gale Kohl, Ron Derderian, and Rene Chila at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Robert Monzon and Bob Reiter at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief's Breakfast 2022. October 18, 2022. [Paul Takizawa / Pasadena Now]
Just about five minutes into his address at the Pasadena Police Foundation Chief’s Breakfast Tuesday, Interim Police Chief Jason Clawson casually reached into his uniform pocket and produced a silver coin, just after inviting Police Explorer Carlon Lopez, this year’s Bernard Melekian“Outstanding Youth” honoree, to accompany him on the stage.
“This is an 1881 Morgan silver dollar,” he told the audience. “If you look at it, it says ‘E Pluribus Unum,’ on the front. “It’s a phrase that means ‘Out of many, one.’”
“If I go to Pasadena Federal Credit Union to turn this in, they would give me $1 for it,” said Clawson. “But in reality, it’s actually 90% silver. At the going rate on the silver market, I can actually melt it and I get $16.”
Clawson continued, “There’s so many different things about why these coins are worth what they’re. We all know that this coin is worth a dollar, but in reality it’s probably worth about $50 because of its ‘intrinsic value.’”
Then Clawson turned his focus on Explorer Lopez.
“Because what you see is somebody’s behavior. You see their posture. You see their expressions, you see their outside in their body language. You see their interactions and you see emotions. What you see on it is the luster, the grade, and the condition that it’s in.”
“But,” Clawson said, drawing the parallel to the human experience, “You don’t know where it’s traveled. You don’t know what this coin has been used for.
“We don’t see loss,” Clawson continued. “We don’t see his past, we don’t see his feelings, we don’t see his thoughts, we don’t see his struggles. And more importantly, we don’t see his traumas. We take everything for granted.”
Coming full circle, Clawson said, “This coin is worth a dollar, and its silver value is worth [$16]. But in numismatic value, it’s likely worth twice that … today,” he said, handing the coin to Lopez, “I’m going to invest this coin in this young man.”
Clawson then told Lopez, “I want you to do your research on that coin. Find out what you can find out about what the value is because when you do, you’re going find out a little bit about yourself as well.”
Lopez, who was honored with proclamations from State Assemblymember Chris Holden, and a $1,000 cash scholarship, was one of two honorees at the annual breakfast along with Yanish Family award winner and “Officer of the Year” Corporal Jordan Ling.
Ling, who works as a Robbery/Homicide detective, called out his team and his wife as he accepted his honor.
“No matter where we go,” he said, “the best we have is our family, and this is my family.”
The event—which was chaired by Pasadena Police Foundation President Robert Monzon and emceed by ABC7 News reporter Sid Garcia—also honored the memory of former Pasadena Councilmember John J. Kennedy who died this past summer. Kennedy was honored with a video tribute from U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu and former Pasadena Police Chief Jerry Oliver.
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