Law Enforcement

LAPD chief backs driver's licenses for illegal immigrants
Wading into a politically charged debate, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said California should issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. The chief becomes one of the most prominent local figures to support the idea and his stance is certain to further inflame critics who are already angry at Beck's efforts to liberalize the rules on how his officers impound the cars of unlicensed drivers.
Los Angeles Times

Father, son murder team arrested in Hesperia
Following a tip and a hunch, Hesperia SMASH Gang Team arrested a father and son Tuesday wanted for a murder out of Los Angeles, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Hesperia station officials said. Jack Saucedo Sr., 36, and his juvenile son - both 18th Street gang members - were arrested Tuesday afternoon for a murder case out of Los Angeles, sheriff's officials said. Hesperia authorities received information from Los Angeles Police Department officials that the duo were in the Hesperia area, Detective Stan Wijnhamer said.
Victorville Daily Press

Los Angeles approves limits on truancy fines for students
The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to limit fines for public school students who are late to school. During the hour-long meeting, more than 30 people spoke, criticizing the rule as financially crippling and penalizing students who, despite being late, were still trying to attend school. The previous plan enacted in 1995 in a push for zero tolerance mandated sizable fines as high as $250. Under the new policy, students would have to be late three times before facing fines, which have been reduced to $20.
Los Angeles Times

Arson suspect's mother may have entered U.S. illegally, feds say
Dorothee Burkhart, the mother of suspected Hollywood arsonist Harry Burkhart and a German fugitive, may have illegally entered the U.S. using fake documents, federal authorities alleged in court documents. Authorities believe Harry Burkhart launched a four-day arson spree over the long New Year's Eve weekend after his mother was arrested for possible extradition to Germany.
Los Angeles Times

5-year-old declared dead in drowning, allegedly at mother's hands
A 5-year-old girl has died, police said Wednesday, a week after her mother allegedly tried to kill her while drowning her 1-year-old sister. Los Angeles police officials said the girl, named Marian, was taken off life support at Children's Hospital Los Angeles late Tuesday after her organs were donated. She had been declared brain-dead on Sunday, but doctors waited to take her off life support until organ donation arrangements could be made.
Los Angeles Times

Lake Balboa crash sends two LAPD officers to hospital
Two LAPD officers were injured Wednesday when a car crashed into their patrol cruiser in Lake Balboa, according to police. The cruiser was heading east on Vanowen Street and was waiting to turn left onto Louise Avenue when a sedan heading west collided with the cruiser, according to Lt. Orlando Moreno of LAPD Valley Traffic Division. Both officers in the patrol car were taken to Northridge Hospital with non-life threatening injuries in the 6:40 a.m. crash, Moreno said.
Los Angeles Daily News

Homeless deaths revive controversy over property seizure ban along skid row
The recent death of another transient on the streets of Skid Row in Los Angeles has reignited the debate over a court ruling prohibiting the seizure of property from homeless people. KNX 1070s Claudia Peschiutta reports the sight of a dead body on the streets of downtown Los Angeles has become all too commonplace. "We see it all the time," said LAPD Sgt. Doug Bowler, who works out of the department's Central division. "I've been here seven months and I've seen way too many."
KNX1070

Cops cleared for broad search of gang member
The Supreme Court on Wednesday revived immunity for a group of Los Angeles police officers who executed a warrant for all guns and gang-related material after a known gang member tried to kill his ex-girlfriend. Angry that Shelly Kelly had called the sheriff's department to help her end their abusive relationship, Jerry Ray Bowen tried to throw the woman off a second-floor landing, tried to drag her into her apartment by her hair and then fired five bullets at her car as she sped away. Bowen used a pistol-gripped, sawed-off shotgun in the attack.
Courthouse News

Pensions

In curveball, GOP leaders back Gov. Jerry Brown's pension overhaul
Throwing a political curveball, Republican lawmakers lined up behind Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to overhaul public pensions Wednesday, and called on Democrats to support the leader of their party. Backed by the GOP caucus at a Capitol news conference, Republican leaders said they had introduced a series of bills that mirror the 12-point plan the governor introduced last fall. Lawmakers said the action was necessary, accusing Democrats of doing little more than paying lip service to the issue.
Los Angeles Times

Politics

Obama campaign names seven Californians among co-chairs
President Barack Obama rolled out a list of national co-chairs for his re-election campaign that includes some familiar faces from both the political and entertainment worlds in the Golden State. Seven Californians made the list of 35 co-chairs, including state Attorney General Kamala Harris, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and actress Eva Longoria. Also included on the list were Democratic Rep. Judy Chu, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Executive Secretary-Treasurer Maria Elena Durazo, actor and former White House aide Kalpen Modi and Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff.
Sacramento Bee