Law Enforcement

Lawsuit challenges LAPD impound policy
A group of civil rights attorneys filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging the Los Angeles Police Department's recently approved policy on impounding the cars of unlicensed drivers. The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court argues the LAPD policy change illegally requires a mandatory 30-day impound of drivers stopped with an expired California driver's license or a foreign driver's license.
Los Angeles Daily News

Judge: Lawsuit over traffic ticket quotas may move forward
A judge said Thursday she is inclined to allow 10 Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officers to move forward with their lawsuit alleging that their supervisors retaliated against them for not complying with traffic ticket quotas. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ramona See issued a tentative ruling rejecting arguments by lawyers for the city that the officers had not provided enough details to move forward with their allegations of retaliation and breach-of-contract.
Los Angeles Daily News

LAPD searching for aspiring actress Satara Stratton
Los Angeles police are asking for the public's help locating in a 24-year-old Tennessee woman who, her family says, has been missing since October. Satara Stratton, an aspiring actress, was reported missing by her mother who contacted police on October 25, 2011 when she was unable to get in contact with her daughter, according to an LAPD press release.
CBS News

Police probe rash of burglaries in Toluca Lake
Los Angeles police are warning residents in Toluca Lake to watch for unexpected visitors after a few residential burglaries and attempted burglaries in the area. During one, a resident pointed a gun to scare off a would-be burglar who first knocked on the front door and then forced open a back window, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Los Angeles Times

Sheriff's deputies, LAPD uproot indoor pot grow
Sheriff's and Los Angeles police investigators uprooted a marijuana-growing operation Thursday inside a house. No one was arrested in connection with the marijuana grow, which appeared to consist of several hundred plants and several ounces of dried and packaged pot. The electrical system of the home had also been altered, allegedly allowing it to steal its electricity from Southern California Edison. Sheriff's officials deferred all comments to the handling LAPD lieutenant, who did not return calls for comment.
Whittier Daily News

4-year-girl who died was found hanging in closet, sources say
A 4-year-old girl was pronounced dead after she was found hanging in a closet in her Westchester home, law enforcement sources said Thursday night. There were no immediate indications that foul play was involved in the incident, according to the sources, who asked not to be named because the investigation was in its preliminary stages.
Los Angeles Times

Jury finds former LAPD detective Stephanie Lazarus guilty of first-degree murder
After deliberating less than eight hours, a jury on Thursday found former LAPD detective Stephanie Lazarus guilty of first degree murder for killing her ex-boyfriend's wife in 1986. Lazarus faces 27 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder plus a gun enhancement imposed by the L.A. Superior Court jury, with sentencing scheduled for May 4.
Los Angeles Daily News

Prisons and Jails

CA study views high-risk inmate move
The state can safely house some maximum-security inmates in lower-level prisons, a development that could save taxpayers money, according to a University of California study obtained by The Associated Press. The 18-month study by five criminology experts comes as a new state law sends thousands of lower-level offenders to local jails instead of state prisons.
Associated Press

California writes $602-million check for local jail construction
California will dish out $602 million for local jail construction in 11 counties, state officials announced Thursday. The money is intended to help county facilities handle an influx of inmates, part of Gov. Jerry Brown's realignment strategy to reduce chronic overcrowding at state prisons.
Los Angeles Times

Municipal Government

Price is council's pick to replace Gillette
Joel Price is the newest member of the Thousand Oaks City Council. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police Department detective, a Newbury Park resident since 1990, was selected from among 17 candidates to serve out the remaining 33 months of Dennis Gillette's four-year term. Gillette, also a law enforcement veteran, was forced to step down from the council in February due to health issues.
Thousand Oaks Acorn

Election 2013