Customer Pulls Gun on DWP Workers

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power officials said on May 20 that two employees were threatened verbally and with a firearm while performing official duties at a private residence in a Westside neighborhood. The department said the workers were making a routine visit tied to utility service when the customer confronted them. No injuries were reported, according to LADWP. The agency used the incident to urge residents to treat field crews with respect and to provide safe access to meters and service equipment. ### Where did the confrontation happen, and what were the workers doing? A Westside residence was the site of the confrontation, LADWP said in a statement published May 20. The department said the two employees were carrying out official duties during a routine visit when the customer threatened them verbally and with a gun. LADWP did not identify the customer or give a more precise address. (ladwpnews.com) The department said customer water and electric meters remain LADWP property and that crews have a legal right of ingress and egress to access, inspect, maintain or replace that equipment as needed. LADWP said customers are expected to keep that access safe and unobstructed. ### What did LADWP say after the incident? (ladwpnews.com) May 20 was the date LADWP publicly disclosed the incident and paired it with a broader message to residents about worker safety. The department said utility employees perform essential functions in neighborhoods across Los Angeles and should be able to do that work without threats or intimidation. (ladwpnews.com) The agency also told customers to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be from LADWP if they have doubts. LADWP’s scam-alert guidance says customers who are uncertain should contact the utility directly through its customer service channels rather than rely on an unexpected visitor alone. ### Did anyone get hurt or arrested? No injuries were reported in the May 20 statement. (ladwpnews.com) LADWP’s public release and follow-on local coverage did not name an arrest, charges or a law-enforcement agency response tied to the Westside encounter. MyNewsLA, citing the department, likewise reported that the employees were threatened while working at a private residence and that LADWP responded by calling for respect toward utility workers. (ladwp.com) That account also did not report injuries. ### Why did LADWP emphasize meter access? LADWP said the confrontation involved workers performing duties connected to department-owned equipment on private property. (ladwpnews.com) The utility’s statement stressed that meters are not owned by the customer and that crews may need entry to inspect, maintain or replace them. (mynewsla.com) That detail appears central to the department’s response. By restating its access rights and asking for unobstructed entry, LADWP signaled that routine service visits can require employees to approach homes and meters even when the customer did not request an in-person appointment that day, according to the agency’s description of field work. This is an inference based on LADWP’s statement about meter access and official duties. (ladwpnews.com) ### How can customers check whether a worker is really from LADWP? LADWP says customers who suspect a scam or are unsure about a visitor’s identity should contact the utility directly at 1-800-DIAL-DWP, or 800-342-5397. The department’s scam-alert page says legitimate representatives can verify account information through official channels. The utility’s website also directs customers to report problems and manage service through official LADWP pages. (ladwpnews.com) Those channels are likely to be the next place the department posts any additional public guidance related to worker safety or customer verification. That is an inference based on the functions listed on LADWP’s site. (ladwp.com) (ladwp.com)