Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Woodland Hills, Rancho Park and six other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in eight L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of Los Angeles Police Department data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Three neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Woodland Hills was the most unusual, recording four reports compared with a weekly average of two over the last three months. Rancho Park topped the list of five neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Number of police officers killed in line of duty spikes in 2011
The number of police officers who have died in the line of duty in 2011 has increased 14% nationwide from last year, according to The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. "We're hearing about more brazen, violent activity today, more cold-blooded murders," said Craig Floyd, chairman and CEO of the fund. The shooting death of a New York police officer early Monday morning marks the 166th death nationwide in the past 11 months, up from last year's 146, Floyd said.
CNN

Posting of LAPD commanders' personal data prompts city action
Anonymous postings of personal information on more than two dozen L.A. police commanders prompted a councilman to propose supporting legislation that would keep such records confidential, officials said Monday. Last week, the Los Angeles Police Department opened an investigation into who listed officers' property records, campaign contributions, biographical information and, in a few cases, the names of children and other family members on sites that allow users to anonymously input data.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD officers shoot man in chest in Boyle Heights
Los Angeles police shot and wounded a man about 12:45 p.m. Monday, authorities said. The man suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, a police source said. His condition was not immediately available. LAPD spokesman Cleon Joseph said officers were responding to reports of a man with a knife in the 1400 block of East 3rd Street. No other details were available. In the last week, there have been 14 other violent crimes reported in the Boyle Heights neighborhood where the shooting occurred.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD probes racist graffiti at Korean church fire scene
Los Angeles police Monday night were investigating racist scrawls left with a marker and baby powder at a Korean church where a small fire broke out earlier in the day. Officers initially responded to a possible burglary call at the Valley Korean Central Presbyterian Church in North Hills and found a toaster oven on fire in one of the buildings on the property, a law enforcement source told The Times.
Los Angeles Times

Hollywood shootout: Music executive dies of injuries
A music executive who was critically injured by a gunman who opened fire Friday on passing motorists in Hollywood has died of the gunshot wounds he sustained, Los Angeles police said. Music and real estate executive John Atterberry was driving near Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street when he was blasted three times in the face and neck by the gunman, later identified by authorities as Tyler Brehm, 26.
Los Angeles Times

Santa Claus sleigh coming to Westchester and Playa del Rey
The Los Angeles Police Department holiday sleigh, featuring Santa Claus, comes to Westchester and Playa del Rey neighborhoods on Wednesday. Bring the children to any of the stops for a visit with Santa.
Torrance Daily Breeze

No felony charges for Walmart pepper-sprayer
Prosecutors say a Los Angeles woman accused of attacking Black Friday shoppers with pepper spray won't face felony charges. A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney says the case of 32-year-old Elizabeth Macias was referred to city attorneys Thursday after no evidence of a felony was found. The spokeswoman, Sandi Gibbons, says Macias could still face misdemeanor prosecution.
Associated Press

FBI says Carrier IQ may be used in 'law enforcement proceedings'
Want to know if Carrier IQ, the dialer- and location-sniffing software installed in millions of phones, is being used by the FBI for law enforcement investigations? The FBI won't reveal much about the controversial application. And why not? Because, the Bureau says, doing so might interfere with ongoing or prospective law enforcement investigations.
Forbes

Immigration

Far fewer enter U.S. illegally from Mexico
Arrests of people trying to sneak into the U.S. from Mexico have plunged to the lowest level in four decades, the latest sign that illegal immigration is on the retreat even as legislatures, Congress and presidential candidates hotly debate the issue. Behind the historic drop is a steep decline in the birthrate in Mexico and greater opportunities there relative to the weak U.S. economy.
Wall Street Journal