Law Enforcement

Four years after SWAT officer Randal Simmons' slaying, widow tells her story
People are always asking Lisa Simmons when there will be a movie about her husband. Randy Simmons, a 27-year Los Angeles Police Department veteran, was shot and killed in February 2008 during a SWAT raid of a house in Winnetka. The first-ever killing of an LAPD SWAT officer in the line of duty stunned the department and much of the city. Ten thousand people came to his funeral at the Crenshaw Christian Center, known as the "Faith Dome." In late 2010, Lisa Simmons, a Rancho Palos Verdes resident, sat down to start writing what she thought would be a screenplay. Instead, it became a book, the just-released "41D -- Man of Valor," named for Randy's police radio handle.
Los Angeles Daily News

Police work is not always pretty
A former Los Angeles police chief once observed, "Police work is not always pretty. But in my 36 years of law enforcement, I've learned not to make a judgment until I have all the facts." Chief Bratton's comments echo our views regarding the recent highly publicized incident in Venice involving Ron Weekley, Jr. While Mr. Weekley claims excessive use of force, it is important to remember that partially recorded police action can easily misrepresent what actually occurred. That is why it is important to know all the facts in this case and not rush to judgment.
LAPPL Blog

Man shot in leg after his car runs out of gas in South L.A.
Los Angeles police were searching Wednesday for a man who shot a another man who had pulled over in South Los Angeles when his car ran out of gas, officials said. The victim, 33, had pulled over to the side of the road at 79th Street and Central Avenue about 9 p.m. Tuesday when the suspect confronted him with a handgun and fired once, hitting him in the leg, police said. The victim, who was not identified, was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Los Angeles Times

LL Cool J nabs burglar inside his Studio City home
Rapper/actor LL Cool J, who portrays a special agent on TV, played some real-life cops and robbers early Wednesday when he caught and subdued a man who broke into his Studio City home, police said. The would-be burglar later had to be treated for injuries at a local hospital. "In this case, the suspect picked the wrong home to burglarize," said Sgt. Frank Preciado, spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department. The suspect appeared to have entered the home on Blairwood Drive through an unlocked door around 1 a.m., police said.
Los Angeles Daily News

City of L.A. asking DA, feds for help shutting down medical marijuana clinics
Even as the city's ban on medical marijuana is facing legal and political challenges, the City Council on Wednesday asked local and federal law enforcement agencies to develop new strategies to enforce the shutdown. "We need to get out of the way of law enforcement," Councilman Bernard Parks said of his request asking the Los Angeles Police Department to coordinate with the district attorney and Drug Enforcement Administration on an enforcement policy.
Los Angeles Daily News

Agencies warn of possible anarchist activity at conventions
Law enforcement officials are concerned about possible violence by anarchist extremists at the upcoming Republican and Democratic national conventions, according to an intelligence bulletin prepared by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. The bulletin, which was obtained by CNN, says that anarchists could try to use improvised explosive devices. It also says that, as of March, the FBI had intelligence indicating individuals from New York "planned to travel to Tampa and attempt to close" all of the Tampa Bay-area bridges during the Republican National Convention next week.
CNN

City Government

L.A. campaign finance overhaul scaled back by City Council members
Los Angeles lawmakers on Wednesday rejected an Ethics Commission proposal that would have limited the amount of money in local political races by shortening the campaign fundraising season. The proposal, which was part of an extensive package of changes to campaign finance rules recommended by the commission, would have reduced the window during which candidates could raise money in citywide elections to 18 months from 24 months for citywide elections, and to 12 months from 18 months for City Council races.
Los Angeles Times

L.A. considers spending millions to survey its broken sidewalks
Confronting a repair backlog estimated at $1.5 billion -- and worried that the deferred costs will keep growing -- Los Angeles officials are considering spending millions to document all of the city's battered, broken and buckled sidewalks. For nearly seven years, debate has focused on the possibility of shifting responsibility for repairing 10,750 miles of sidewalk to individual land owners. But now, the City Council is weighing a new strategy: catalogue the damage citywide, tally the total cost and then ask property owners to tax themselves to cover the cost.
Los Angeles Times

Election 2012

L.A. Police Protective League endorses Headington for 38th Assembly District
The Los Angeles Police Protective League has endorsed candidate Edward Headington to replace Assemblyman Cameron Smyth in the 38th Assembly District Seat. Smyth is vacating the seat due to term limits. "Edward Headington has demonstrated a firm understanding of public safety and what state lawmakers need to do in order to keep our communities safe," said LAPPL President Tyler Izen. "Headington recognizes the importance of prioritizing public safety, and we trust him to be a champion of public safety in the legislature."
LAPPL News Release

Election 2013

Ex-Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg backs Wendy Greuel for mayor
Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel said Wednesday her mayoral campaign has picked up support from former State Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, who ran against Antonio Villaraigosa in 2005 but narrowly failed to make the runoff. Hertzberg, who lives in the San Fernando Valley, issued a statement praising Greuel for her background in private business and her "authenticity." He described her as "the best candidate to lead our city into a new direction, one that ... has its fiscal house in order."
Los Angeles Times