Law Enforcement

Memorial services announced for Los Angeles police veteran killed in motorcycle crash
Services have been scheduled at a La Verne church for a 24-year Los Angeles police veteran and West Covina resident killed in a motorcycle crash while on his way to work last week. Jesus Ravega, 48, died following Friday's crash on the 101 Freeway at the 110 Freeway interchange, according to LAPD and coroner's officials. A celebration of Ravega's life will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Lighthouse Baptist Church, 2600 N. White Ave. in La Verne. A funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Faith Community Church in West Covina, 1211 E. Badillo St., followed by an entombment ceremony at Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary in Whittier.
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Crime alerts for Mid-City, University Park, 3 other neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in five L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Three neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Mid-City was the most unusual, recording 12 reports compared with a weekly average of 5.5 over the last three months. University Park topped the list of three neighborhoods with property crime alerts. It recorded 24 property crimes compared with its weekly average of 15.2 over the last three months. One neighborhood triggered alerts for both violent and property crime.
Los Angeles Times

Police investigating skid row murder
Detectives are investigating the death of a man who was found dead early Tuesday in Skid Row. Rafael N. Hughes, 39, was found at about 4:40 a.m. with blunt force trauma wounds to the back of his head, police said. Witnesses told police that Hughes had confronted another man about a debt. Police believe that a fist-fight ensued and Hughes fell back and hit his head on the pavement on Gladys Street, just north of Sixth Street. He died at the scene. "Unfortunately, these fights and the resulting injuries are too common here in Skid Row," said Lt. Paul Vernon in a statement.
Los Angeles Downtown News

Man allegedly throws bottle into LAPD squad car, breaks window, injures 2 officers
A man was in custody Tuesday on suspicion of hurling a beer bottle at an LAPD squad car, shattering a window and injuring two Los Angeles police officers responding to a robbery call in North Hollywood, authorities said. The incident occurred at Oxnard Street and Vineland Avenue at 9:30 p.m. Monday, said Sgt. Glenn McNeil of the Los Angeles Police Department's North Hollywood Station. The two officers were taken to Providence Saint Joseph's Medical Center in Burbank, where the one who had been driving was treated for cuts to his face and neck while his partner was treated for a cut cornea expected to heal on its own, McNeil said. Both officers were later released.
Los Angeles Daily News

Police are warning those with gold to exercise extra caution
With the rise in robberies and muggings by criminals seeking to cash in on high gold prices, local authorities are urging caution for people who sell or wear gold jewelry. Tone down those flashy displays to avoid having heirlooms and baubles snatched off fingers, necks and wrists. "If you're going to be wearing gold jewelry, either don't wear it or be extremely discreet with it," said Cmdr. Jim Cansler of Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Division.
Los Angeles Daily News

'Officer, I just stole this car,' man tells LAPD
Few arrests come this easy and few motives for surrender are this clear cut. Two Los Angeles police officers were stopped at a light near Olympic Boulevard and Broadway about noon Monday when a motorist pulled alongside them and made a startling admission: "Officer, I just stole this car," the man reportedly told the incredulous cops. After follow-up questions, Christian Borro, 27, said he had stolen the 2000 Honda Civic from an apartment complex in San Diego using a screwdriver to bypass the ignition, said LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon.
Los Angeles Times

Homeland Security

Counter-terrorism becomes part of law enforcement
From the New York Police Department to small rural sheriff's departments, agencies have added counter-terrorism to their traditional crime-fighting duties - a shift that has cost billions of dollars and changed not just the equipment police use, but the way they approach law enforcement. In Los Angeles, 700 police officers work in the LAPD's Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau, including some who speak Urdu and Arabic. That's more than twice as many officers as are assigned to any police station in the city, even those in the highest-crime areas.
Los Angeles Times

State Budget Crisis

California Democrats getting nervous about trigger cuts
Lagging tax revenues are making California officials nervous about "trigger" budget cuts to schools and services that appear likely unless more money flows into state coffers or the economic outlook improves. A newly amended Democratic bill would require the Department of Finance to give at least 10 days notice if it determines the state must install various cuts in December. The proposal, Assembly Bill X1 20, also would require Finance to "consult" with lawmakers on alternatives to cuts already prescribed in the existing budget act.
Sacramento Bee

Prisons & Parole

State auditor calls for end to prisoner rehabilitation test
The state auditor is recommending that California's corrections system shut down tests that determine what rehabilitation prisoners need, calling the tools unproven and little used. Since 2006, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has developed and repeatedly revised the assessments, called Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions (COMPAS for short). In a report released Tuesday, auditors found numerous shortcomings in how prisons have used assessment scores.
California Watch

Politics

Villaraigosa: Washington must end bickering, invest in America
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called on congressional leaders and the White House Tuesday to end partisan bickering and act swiftly to invest in the nation's infrastructure, calling such spending necessary to rebuild the economy and boost employment. "Across the country you can hear a bipartisan chorus -- including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO and more than 120 mayors -- singing the same note and urging Congress to invest more -- not less -- to meet our pressing infrastructure needs," Villaraigosa told a crowd of about 1,000 in the opening session of the Mobility 21 transportation summit in downtown L.A.
Los Angeles Times