Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Boyle Heights, Florence and 13 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 15 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Four neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Boyle Heights was the most unusual, recording 16 reports compared with a weekly average of 9.8 over the last three months. Florence topped the list of 11 neighborhoods with property-crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

At least five people are killed in Los Angeles over weekend
At least five people were killed in four separate incidents in Los Angeles over the weekend, police said Sunday. On Saturday, shortly after 8:30 p.m., an 18-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were killed in a drive-by shooting in Watts, Officer Karen Rayner said. Late Saturday night, a motorcyclist died after being struck in a hit-and-run. About 2:15 a.m. Sunday, a man in his 20s was shot and killed in Harbor Gateway. Also about 2:15 Sunday, Ulises Mendoza, 20, was riding his skateboard on Denker Avenue just north of 219th Street when someone opened fire on him, police said. He died at a hospital.
Los Angeles Times

After impassioned pleas, debate on red-light cameras put off by L.A. City Council
After a series of speakers Friday presented impassioned pleas to the Los Angeles City Council to either remove or keep the city's red-light camera program, the council agreed to put off discussing the issue until Tuesday. The Los Angeles Police Commission voted unanimously earlier this month to end the program. Commissioners at the time balked at the idea that the cameras -- which are installed at 32 intersections -- cost more than the revenue they generate.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD reports surge in vehicle thefts
Los Angeles Police Department officials said a rise in vehicle thefts took place across San Pedro from mid-May through the middle of this month. During that time, 43 vehicles were reported stolen, mostly from the central and northern sections of the community, officials said. The majority of those were Hondas and Toyotas. In addition, 64 vehicle burglaries occurred in the community during that time, police officials said. Items stolen included laptop computers, cellphones, wallets, cash and purses.
Torrance Daily Breeze

Calif. agents seize 1,200 firearms from people who cannot legally own them, say 34,000 remain
California law enforcement agents have seized 1,200 firearms from people who cannot legally own them because of mental illness or restraining orders. However, Attorney General Kamala Harris said Thursday that more than 34,000 handguns and nearly 1,600 assault weapons are still believed to be held statewide by people who should not have them. Most people bought the weapons legally but were later prohibited from owning guns.
Associated Press

City Government

Villaraigosa to lead national group of mayors
In a new role that will raise his national profile, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa assumes the presidency of the U.S. Conference of Mayors on Monday, putting him on the front lines in the fight over federal budget cuts and in a good position to secure Washington's help with his pet project: speeding expansion of the transportation system back home. Villaraigosa is the first L.A. mayor to head the group since Norris Poulson did more than 50 years ago.
Los Angeles Times

Immigration

ICE reforms Secure Communities program
Federal authorities announced Friday that a key immigration enforcement program that has drawn protests from some state and local governments will offer greater protection to crime victims and witnesses. Through the Secure Communities program, the FBI shares the fingerprint data of people arrested by local and state law enforcement agencies with federal authorities, who can use the information to check for immigration violations. Immigrant organizations have complained that the program does not distinguish enough between minor offenders and serious criminals.
Washington Post

Prisons

Death penalty costs California $184 million a year, study says
Taxpayers have spent more than $4 billion on capital punishment in California since it was reinstated in 1978, or about $308 million for each of the 13 executions carried out since then, according to a comprehensive analysis of the death penalty's costs. The examination of state, federal and local expenditures for capital cases, conducted over three years by a senior federal judge and a law professor, estimated that the additional costs of capital trials, enhanced security on death row and legal representation for the condemned adds $184 million to the budget each year.
Los Angeles Times

Legislation

Bill seeks to expand color requirement for some firearms
A proposal to curb officer-involved shootings by ordering BB and air guns to look less like Glocks and Berettas is drawing fire from makers, sellers and users of a wide class of weapons. Law enforcement leaders from Los Angeles want the state to add "airsoft" guns powered by air, gas or springs - those that shoot BBs, plastic pellets or paintballs - to the list of semi- and nonlethal weapons that must have a brightly colored exterior.
Los Angeles Times