Law Enforcement

LAPD increases patrols of religious institutions, 'high profile' terrorist targets
Local authorities are increasing patrols at religious institutions and other potential terrorist targets in the wake of the death of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden. LAPD Deputy Chief Mike Downing, commanding officer of the Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau, said Sunday night that in the near term, there would be additional patrols around "high-profile targets." Police will be on the lookout for terrorist activities and possible hate crimes.
Los Angeles Times

Cellphone crackdown: Hang up and drive, cops say
In any other month, some officers might have turned a blind eye to Osvaldo DeAguiar as he chatted on his cellphone while driving his Volvo down Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks. But DeAguiar became one of tens of thousands of drivers caught up in a distracted-driving crackdown this month by law enforcement agencies throughout the state. To mark the state's first Distracted Driving Awareness Month, officers followed a nearly zero-tolerance policy on those violating the law requiring the use of hands-free cell phone devices while driving, or engaging in other distractions.
Los Angeles Daily News

Law enforcement organization hit by hackers
Computer hackers have stolen names, addresses, Social Security numbers and credit card information of about 2,000 retired public safety officers belonging to the Peace Officers Research Association of California, according to an email sent to them on Thursday night. PORAC informed its members that its data server was breached earlier this month. The hackers stole application files of retired associate members going back to 2008, including dates of birth, addresses and phone numbers and email addresses.
Sacramento Bee

City police across U.S. learn sad lessons from shootings of officers
Police commanders from Lakewood, Wash.; Oakland, Calif.; and Seattle attending a national conference in Seattle on Thursday described the huge emotional toll on their departments after officers were slain in the line of duty. "March 21 (2009) was our version of 9-11," Oakland Assistant Chief Howard Jordan said, referring to when a parolee took the lives of four Oakland officers.
The Oregonian

Municipal Budget Crises

Residents, union members protest cuts to Wilmington fire station
Wilmington residents and union members gathered Tuesday morning to protest proposed cuts to Fire Station 38 near the Los Angeles Harbor. The mayor's proposed 2011-12 budget calls for across-the-board cuts, but the City Council is still reviewing the spending plan. Critics said cutting fire and rescue service in Wilmington, a community that is at risk because of industry that serves the rest of the city, is the wrong move.
Torrance Daily Breeze

Immigration

California may let locals opt out of immigration checks
California lawmakers are the latest to weigh joining efforts in other states to gain control over a controversial national program that automatically checks the immigration status of arrestees. The Golden State accounts for more than a third of the deportations under the Immigration and Customs Enforcement program, and some local officials are saying they were misled by the federal government about the program's extent.
Associated Press

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