Law Enforcement

LAPD pays tribute to fallen officers
The Los Angeles Police Department Thursday paid tribute their fallen comrades killed in the line of duty. Joy Benedict, reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, attended the event downtown and said hundreds of people - the uniformed and civilians alike - turned out to honor the more than 200 men and women who have been gunned down while wearing a badge. As bagpipes played and planes flew overhead in tribute, Benedict talked to Lisa Simmons, widow of SWAT officer Randal Simmons who died on February 7, 2008.
CBS2

Video of May Day attack on LAPD officer leads to arrest of 23-year-old
A man was in custody Thursday for allegedly hitting a Los Angeles police officer on the head with a snare drum during the May Day protests. Brian Mendoza, 23, was arrested on Wednesday and booked on suspicion of assault on a peace officer, said Los Angeles police spokesman Richard French. He was booked for a felony and was being held without bail, according to the Sheriff's Department.
Los Angeles Daily News

State attorney general says LAPD impound policy is legal
California's attorney general says a new impound policy adopted by the Los Angeles Police Department earlier this year is legal. The attorney general's opinion issued this week says that a police department can establish guidelines allowing an impounded vehicle to be released in less than 30 days. "In our view, it is entirely appropriate for various agencies to adapt their policies as they best see fit to serve the particular needs of their communities," reads the 18-page opinion by Kamala D. Harris and Deputy Atty. Gen. Marc J. Nolan.
Los Angeles Times

Drivers licenses for illegal immigrants in California gaining momentum?
The LAPD's move to drop 30-day impounds of cars belonging to unlicensed drivers stopped by cops has been controversial to say the least. The L.A. police union thinks the new policy could put dangerous drivers back on the road: It's suing the department, arguing that the rule contradicts state law. But immigrants' rights advocates think the department just wrote a check for reviving efforts to let the undocumented get licenses in California.
LA Weekly

West Valley LAPD Carnival begins this evening
The LAPD West Valley division is hosting its annual carnival in front of the West Valley Station at 19020 Vanowen St. in Reseda today through Sunday. The carnival will be open Friday from 5 to 11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 11 p.m. There will be rides, games, food, and lots of kids activities. You can save 50 percent by purchasing pre-sale ride tickets at the West Valley Police Station for $20 for 10 rides until 4:30 p.m. today.
Northridge-Chatsworth Patch

Disaster drill keeps local emergency personnel ready for action
The scenario: A thick fog blankets the San Fernando Valley, resulting in a large number of car crashes across the region. In one incident, a diesel tanker smashes into a commuter bus in West Hills, sending 20 patients - many covered in noxious fuel - to the hospital. West Hills Hospital & Medical Center, along with representatives from 12 hospitals and clinics in the San Fernando and Antelope valleys, prepared for that scenario Wednesday as part of a regional disaster drill.
Los Angeles Daily News

DA Steve Cooley refiles perjury, voter fraud charges against Richard Alarcon and his wife
District Attorney Steve Cooley refiled perjury and voter fraud charges against Los Angeles Councilman Richard Alarcon and his wife Thursday afternoon hours after a judge dismissed a similar grand jury indictment on the grounds that prosecutors failed to present evidence that could have exonerated the couple. The new complaint mirrors the old charges, Cooley's office said. Alarcon, 58, and his wife, Flora Montes De Oca Alarcon, 46, will be arraigned on the new complaint at a future date.
Los Angeles Daily News

Legislation

Assembly passes bill to ban open carry of unloaded rifles
Legislation that bans carrying unloaded rifles in public was passed Thursday by the Assembly. The measure, Assembly Bill 1527, cleared the lower house 44-28 with no Republican support. Proposed by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, the bill is similar to a new state law banning the open carry of handguns that took effect Jan. 1. AB 1527 takes aim at a movement that encourages people to show up at public places with unloaded weapons. Supporters contend that openly displaying firearms can startle onlookers, scare children and provoke violence.
Sacramento Bee

Ballot Initiatives

Jerry Brown says tax signatures in hand
Gov. Jerry Brown said on Thursday that he has collected enough signatures to qualify his tax initiative for the November ballot. "We should have them all," the Democratic governor told reporters after speaking to a business group in San Jose. Constrained by a short timeline, Brown and his supporters raced to collect more than 800,000 valid voter signatures by early this month, relying on robotic telephone calls, mailers and payment of as much as $3 per signature for signatures gathered on the street.
Sacramento Bee

State Budget

Labor groups express concern about California budget initiative
Labor groups are mounting a last-ditch effort to dissuade a group of policy wonks and wealthy activists from using the November ballot to try to pass a constitutional amendment to changing California's budget process. California Forward wants voters to approve limits on new state spending and give the governor sweeping powers to make unilateral changes to the budget. The political-action group said it has collected enough petition signatures to get its initiative on the ballot and plans to start submitting them on Thursday.
Los Angeles Times