Law Enforcement

Public safety: Government's top obligation
As City leaders consider the consequences of Governor Jerry Brown's proposed budget, it behooves them to remember that government's top obligation is public safety; their actions should reflect that. Recent gains in public safety have not been accidental. The Mayor and the Chief of Police correctly credited historic lows in crime to years of dedicated work by LAPD officers and adequate public safety funding. But some people mistakenly believe we can hold on to these gains while "policing on the cheap." That's why it's important to recognize some of the early negative effects of this approach. Keeping detectives at home to preclude overtime pay is bringing down the homicide clearance rate. Leaving these crimes unsolved until the budget allows a detective to work the case is bad news for everyone except the suspect.
LAPPL Blog

LAPD detectives reveal two new Grim Sleeper cases
Detectives said Wednesday night that they are investigating two additional killings that may have been committed by Lonnie Franklin Jr., the Grim Sleeper serial slaying suspect. The revelation came during a meeting with about 100 residents at the Bethel AME Church in South Los Angeles. The detectives' comments were prompted by a question from a relative of a victim in one of the two new cases. The detectives acknowledged the new probes had been launched but declined to elaborate.
Los Angeles Times

Oakland grapples with depleted force
The Oakland Police Department is down to 650 officers from 800 a year ago. With the cutbacks, the department says it is struggling to maintain law and order in high-crime neighborhoods like East Oakland. A year ago, about eight officers patrolled the area near the eastern border of the city, a roughly 10-square-mile zone. Today, during most shifts, just three officers walk the beat in the neighborhood, which is known for its drug problems and prostitution. On some days, there are so few officers that none visits some beats in East Oakland at all, says the police department.
Wall Street Journal

Calif. bank robberies decline again, despite slumping economy
Despite one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and a brutal housing slump, Californians aren't turning to bank heists for money: The number of bank robberies in the Golden State declined during the third quarter of 2010, according to the FBI. So far, the reports show 541 bank robberies in the state during 2010, with 136 in the first quarter, 219 in the second quarter and 186 in the third quarter.
California Watch

Pensions

Prisons

Lawmakers express frustration over excessive outlays for prison health
Amid California's budget crisis, the receiver put in charge of the prison health system by a federal judge has spent $82 million on blueprints for medical facilities that have been largely scrapped, more than $50,000 a month on an architectural consultant and millions hiring medical professionals - more per inmate than in many other states. After four years of pouring money into the system, however, receiver J. Clark Kelso told legislators Wednesday that he didn't know when the federal oversight might stop and suggested early release of chronically sick inmates as one quick way to cut costs.
Los Angeles Times

City Government