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Monrovia residents press council for permanent memorial and transparency after day laborer’s death
Summary
Multiple community members called on the City of Monrovia to support a permanent memorial for Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez, urged greater transparency about the California Highway Patrol investigation into his death and asked how city camera data is used and shared with federal agencies.
Several Monrovia residents urged the City Council on Sept. 16 to support a permanent memorial for Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez and to provide more transparency about the investigation into his death.
At a public-comment period that drew multiple speakers, Anna (Immigration Resource Center of the San Gabriel Valley) told the council, “we wanted to add our voices to the call for a permanent memorial for Roberto Carlos Montoya Valdez, the day laborer who was killed at the Monrovia Home Depot last month.”
Community organizer Ally said volunteers continue “organizing and at the Home Depot helping, protect day laborers” and asked the council to keep the matter on an upcoming agenda so the city can respond to community requests. “We will continue to rebuild that memorial even though it gets torn down every single week,” she said, noting organizers have rebuilt it three times.
Resident Sherry Lochner described Montoya Valdez as “a beloved father, grandfather and member of our community” and said his death occurred “while fleeing a reckless unnecessary immigration raid conducted by border patrol agents who descended on the Monrovia Home Depot parking lot on the 08/14/2025.” She asked the council for “full disclosure into the circumstances resulting in his death.”
Speakers also asked how the city’s camera systems are used and whether data are shared with federal agencies. During staff reports, City Manager and police staff reiterated that the city uses automated license-plate reader cameras (ALPR) under state law and a local policy adopted before the city deployed the cameras. City staff told the council the city does not own or operate Flock-branded cameras at the Home Depot site and said city ALPR data are not knowingly shared with federal agencies for routine use; Monrovia law enforcement accesses ALPR data when needed for active investigations. The city manager said, “We have put in a request to ask for copies of the California Highway Patrol report” and that the city is seeking more information from CHP but does not control whether CHP releases the report publicly.
Council members did not take formal action on the requests during the meeting. Council and staff said they would continue to pursue information from state and federal partners and that the city is hosting a regional meeting with the Immigration Resource Center to share information.
Community members who urged action emphasized they want a permanent site where the family and community can honor Montoya Valdez and asked the council to publicly state whether it will join calls for an independent investigation. The council confirmed it is requesting CHP materials but said federal and state agencies have not always shared investigative records with the city.
The public-comment period on this topic included at least five speakers representing local immigrant advocacy groups and residents; no ordinance or resolution was introduced in response to the requests during the meeting.
