Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Montecito Heights, Arlington Heights, 5 more L.A. areas
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in seven L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Five neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Montecito Heights was the most unusual, recording three reports compared with a weekly average of 0.6 over the last three months. Arlington Heights topped the list of two neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Arrest made in Pedro Morales killing
Los Angeles Police Department officers on Tuesday evening arrested a suspect believed responsible for the shooting death of Pedro Morales near the corner of Avenue 53 and Monte Vista Street. LAPD Northeast officials announced the news on their Twitter page on Tuesday evening. The arrest took place at around 5 p.m. near the Franklin High School football field, according to witness reports. "It was a dramatic foot pursuit, perimeter, K9 search and arrest," according to a post on LAPD Northeast's Facebook page.
Highland Park - Mount Washington Patch

LAPD looks to limit patrol car crashes
What might the Los Angeles Police Department be able to learn from the trucking industry or the U.S. military? When it comes to safe driving and training employees to handle stressful situations, perhaps quite a bit. Those were among the ideas mentioned Tuesday as the LAPD laid out its plans to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by departmental car crashes - along with the resulting millions of dollars in lawsuit payouts.
Los Angeles Daily News

Summer heat can be deadly for children, pets left in cars
The noontime temperature Tuesday registered 93 degrees, with the humidity pushing the misery index to triple-digit territory. Inside an LAPD patrol car with the windows shut, a large block of ice quickly melted into a puddle as the thermometer topped a suffocating - and potentially deadly - 120 degrees. With a heat wave broiling the San Fernando Valley, the LAPD's Valley Traffic Division staged a demonstration to warn parents and pet owners of the dangers of leaving a loved one inside a parked car.
Los Angeles Daily News

Meet local LAPD leaders at the Greek Theatre
Looking to learn more about safety in the neighborhood? All are invited to meet your Senior Lead and Commanding Officers on Thursday, July 26, at 6 p.m. at the Greek Theatre. The annual summit will feature presentations on LAPD's 2012 community goals, the K-9 unit, and the Police Activities League Boxing group. Ask questions of Capt. Murphy the Commanding Officer of the Northeast Division in person. For more information and to RSVP, please call Sgt. Arrellano at (323) 344-5715.
Echo Park/Silver Lake Patch

LAPD West Bureau Summer Carnival in Venice this Friday through Sunday
Up to 15,000 people a day are expected to attend the LAPD West Bureau's Summer Carnival to be held this Friday, July 13 through Sunday, July 15. It will be held at the corner of Windward and Pacific Avenues in Venice with some street closures in the area to begin Wednesday, July 11. This is the first time the annual carnival, which is in its third year, will be held in the Venice area.
Santa Monica Mirror

Sheriff looks to Central Valley to hold L.A. County jail overflow
The population of Los Angeles County's jails has swelled significantly in the last few months due to an influx of prisoners, forcing officials to look as far as the Central Valley for places to house them. Since last fall, the state has shifted more than 5,000 inmates who would previously have been housed in state prisons to Los Angeles' jails under a program known as "realignment." The county's jail system, the nation's largest, now holds about 18,600 inmates, and officials are concerned about overcrowding unless they can find alternative locations for the prisoners.
Los Angeles Times

Pensions

Field Poll shows mixed views about California public pensions
A public employee group says it is encouraged by a new Field Poll that indicates California voters have mixed views on whether government pensions are too generous. While 37% of voters thing benefits for local and state government workers are excessive, 36% say they are about right. Some 17% think the benefits are not generous enough. The poll found that 67% of voters support establishing an upper limit or salary cap when calculating pension benefits. But a plurality of 50% of voters oppose linking deficit reduction efforts to taking away collective bargaining rights for public workers, the Field Poll found.
Los Angeles Times

Jerry Brown says California public pension reform won't be on November ballot
Gov. Jerry Brown has backed away from his earlier call for legislators to put a pension-change measure on the November ballot, although the administration is continuing to push for statutory changes. In an email to The State Worker, Brown spokeswoman Elizabeth Ashford said, "There won't be pension changes on the November ballot. But we'll get the reforms done, you can count on that."
Sacramento Bee

Municipal Finance

San Bernardino authorizes bankruptcy filing
The City Council voted Tuesday night to authorize a bankruptcy filing. The vote gives City Attorney James F. Penman power to begin proceedings for Chapter 9 bankruptcy, which would free the city of much of its debt but maintain the mayor and council as decision-makers. Without filing for bankruptcy, the city - which has a deficit of $45 million - would likely be unable to meet its Aug. 15 payroll, according to Penman.
San Bernardino Sun