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Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch
LA Police Protective League

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Los Angeles
Police Protective League

the union that represents the
rank and file LAPD officers

 

Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch

Daily News Digest

from LA Police Protective League

September 6, 2011

Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Highland Park, University Park
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in eight 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. Highland Park was the most unusual, recording seven reports compared with a weekly average of 3.2 over the last three months. University Park topped the list of five neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times


LAPD makes example of Panorama City gang
Showing that they've made good on a new hard-line approach to stopping gang violence, police said they have made an example of a Panorama City gang by arresting dozens of its members after a spate of shootings, regardless of whether those individuals were directly involved. After 12 incidents, including five shootings believed to involve the Columbus Street gang in June, LAPD arrested 34 members, some on unrelated charges, police told a group of nine gang members at a meeting last week.
Los Angeles Daily News


Soccer game between rival San Fernando Valley gangs helps keep the peace

What began this spring as a police call for San Fernando Valley gangs to drop their guns ended this summer in a peaceful soccer match between rival gangs. And when the floodlights darkened last weekend on Los Angeles' vaunted Summer Night Lights program, a systematic campaign rolled forward to keep the peace. "A flicker can turn into a flame, a flame into a bonfire, if you're not paying attention," said William "Blinky" Rodriguez, whose North Hills-based Communities in Schools of the San Fernando Valley is part of a comprehensive Los Angeles strategy to lure youth away from gangs and gang violence.
Los Angeles Daily News


Man found stabbed to death in his apartment

Los Angeles police are investigating the stabbing of a middle-aged man found dead in his apartment, authorities said. Los Angeles Police Department officers were dispatched to the man's home on the 400 block of South Le Doux Road near Cedars-Sinai Medical Center late Saturday after friends reported him missing. When they arrived, they found the man dead, LAPD spokesman Cleon Joseph said.
Los Angeles Times


Santa Rosa hit-and-run ignites debate over impounding vehicles

The decision by a Santa Rosa Police officer not to impound the car of the unlicensed driver accused five days later in a fatal hit-and-run crash has reignited a debate that is playing out in community groups as well as in the state legislature. Santa Rosa Police Chief Tom Schwedhelm said he is sensitive to the tragedy that followed. But he said his officer was within his discretion under department policy to allow the car of the unlicensed driver to be parked at the scene until a licensed driver could move it, even though it was Garcia's second driving without a license offense.
Santa Rosa Press Democrat


Prisons & Parole

Police chiefs warn overcrowding plan could lead to crime wave
Warning of a possible crime wave, the California Police Chiefs Association met with Gov. Jerry Brown this week to request money for new officers they say will be needed as lower-risk criminals are released early or supervised more loosely under the state's plan to reduce prison overcrowding. The chiefs expressed their concerns to Brown and Corrections Secretary Matt Cate at a half-hour meeting Thursday in Sacramento.
San Jose Mercury-News

Death penalty distortions
A recent legislative hearing in Sacramento focused on the death penalty and its implementation costs. Ventura County Star writer Timm Herdt reports that no one at the hearing was able to answer a key question: Why are other states like Texas and Virginia able to hand down death sentences and have them upheld through the federal appeals process? Could it be that the high costs of capital punishment in California are not inherent to the penalty, but rather, the result of deliberate and improper delaying by penalty opponents who see the current economic climate as an opportunity to abolish it in California once and for all?
LAPPL Blog


More inmates, shorter terms possible in isolation lockup

Corrections officials are studying changes in the classification system used to determine which inmates are locked in the state's controversial Security Housing Units. The move could mean more inmates are assigned to the windowless, isolated units but for shorter time periods, provided they participate in special programming and remain "disciplinary free." The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation already has notified prison wardens that inmates in the Security Housing Units will be allowed more personal items as "earned privileges" beginning Oct. 1.
California Watch


Immigration

California lawmakers send Brown bill granting college aid to illegal immigrants
The state Assembly voted Friday to send Gov. Jerry Brown a bill that allows undocumented immigrant college students to receive publicly funded financial aid. After a lengthy debate, Assembly Bill 131 - the second part of the controversial measure known as the California Dream Act - cleared the lower house on a 45-27 vote. The bill allows access to taxpayer-funded financial aid for students who came to the country before age 16, attended a California high school for at least three years and graduated.
Sacramento Bee


Healthcare

Nearly 40% of North Hollywood, Sun Valley homeless found at risk
Nearly 40% of the homeless population in North Hollywood and Sun Valley are at risk of premature death, according to a survey completed this week. Of the 271 people surveyed, 106 were found to have health conditions associated with a high mortality risk, said organizers from the San Fernando Valley Homeless Coalition, a network of service providers.
Los Angeles Times

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About the LAPPL Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at:

www.LAPD.com


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