Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Green Meadows, Vermont-Slauson and other areas
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 17 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Eleven neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Green Meadows was the most unusual, recording 20 reports compared with a weekly average of 9.7 over the last three months. Vermont-Slauson topped the list of seven neighborhoods with property crime alerts. It recorded 30 property crimes compared with its weekly average of 18.2 over the last three months.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD fingerprint analysis unit has backlog of 3,000 cases; staff shortage blamed
With staff cuts due to the city's financial crisis, the Los Angeles Police Department's Latent Print Section now has a backlog of 3,000 cases for burglaries and property crimes and has been limiting how many fingerprints it processes each month. Commanding Officer Yvette Burney told the City Council's Public Safety Committee on Friday that unless more staff is hired the backlog will grow. Burney said the division has shrunk from 96 civilian positions to 69 and also is required to take furlough days off to help balance the city's budget.
Los Angeles Daily News

L.A. communications system faces more challenges
A new communications system that would link fire and police departments throughout L.A. County has been stymied by several setbacks recently. These include scrapping a second request for contract proposals, federal legislation that's put on hold the purchase of $70-million worth of equipment, and delays that have forced the return of millions of dollars in federal grants. The result: not one of the 255 antennas planned for the system has been installed.
Glendale News-Press

LAPD reluctant to change its handling of photo lineups
The LAPD detectives' conduct, which emerged during a murder trial, is one of several cases across the country that has helped prompt a rethinking of the age-old methods of police interviews. As a result, a growing number of law enforcement agencies are abandoning the practice of allowing detectives who know the identity of a suspect to conduct photo lineups. The change, proponents say, is needed to guard against influencing witnesses with subtle, unintentional comments and gestures - or more heavy-handed techniques.
Los Angeles Times

Wife chronicles slain SWAT officer's life behind and beyond the badge
Four years after Randy Simmon's death during an LAPD SWAT raid, his wife wrote a book about his life. She says it started as a historical record for the couple's two children and turned into a chronicle of a man who was much more than a devoted officer. "I woke up at five every morning and started writing," recalls wife Lisa Simmons. "A couple times I had to start and stop, because you're reliving everything." Those moments are shared in her new book, "41D: Man of Valor," named after Randy Simmons' police radio handle.
NBC4

Man fatally shot during robbery near Leimert Park
A man in his 20s was shot and killed early Saturday morning during an argument and robbery near Leimert Park, an LAPD officer said. The shooting happened at about 1 a.m. at 43rd Street and Arlington Avenue, said Officer Norma Eisenman. The victim, whose name has not been released, was with some friends when he was confronted by a pair of suspects, she said. "The suspect began an argument prior to producing a handgun and demanding the victim's property," Eisenman said. "One suspect shot the victim in the upper torso." The wounded man was taken to a local hospital, where he was declared dead.
Los Angeles Times

LL Cool J burglary suspect probed in other home break-ins
Authorities are probing whether a transient who allegedly broke into the home of LL Cool J is responsible for other burglaries in the Studio City area. Los Angeles Police Department detectives are looking at whether there are similar break-ins that can be tied to the suspect, who has a history of burglary arrests. Jonathan Kirby, 56, was charged with residential burglary with a person present, which in combination with his criminal history could result in significant prison time -- perhaps as much as 38 years in state prison.
Los Angeles Times

One person dead, two injured in Westlake shooting
Three people were shot, one fatally, in Westlake early Sunday in what police are investigating as a gang-related attack. The trio were standing in the 2700 block of San Marino Street when two people got out of a car and "fired some rounds" about 4 a.m., said Los Angeles police Officer Cleon Joseph. The three victims were transported to an area hospital, where one was pronounced dead. The deceased victim's name has not been released by authorities. The suspects remain at large, Joseph said.
Los Angeles Times

Pensions

State Democrats: Pension changes coming
Ten months after Gov. Jerry Brown proposed sweeping changes to public employee pensions, Democratic legislative leaders say they are finally poised to take action on the issue this week. They'll have to if any changes are to occur. The state Legislature ends its two-year session at midnight Friday, and bills that haven't been approved by then die. Details of what kinds of changes legislators will consider, however, are still vague.
San Francisco Chronicle

Prison Realignment

California jail overhaul assessed after 6 months
The overhaul of California's criminal justice system last year was billed as a way to get more felons into treatment and out of the vicious cycle of crime, prison and more crime. So far, this has hardly been the case. Most offenders who qualify for rehab services instead of incarceration under the state's new realignment policy are still being sentenced to time behind bars, reports show. Only a fraction are ordered to programs that include mandatory drug counseling or job training.
Fresno Bee

Immigration

California OKs bill shielding undocumented immigrants
California state legislators passed a bill Friday that seeks to protect undocumented immigrants charged with relatively minor crimes from being deported. The bill, by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco, would prohibit local police from detaining anyone on an immigration hold if the person is not charged with or has not been convicted of a serious or violent crime. The bill, which only needs the signature of Gov. Jerry Brown to become law, passed the Assembly on Friday after being amended in the state Senate to remove language that would have required police departments to develop plans to guard against racial profiling.
San Francisco Chronicle

City Government

L.A. Council OKs pilot program to turn parking spots into 'parklets'
In the latest attempt to cultivate a pedestrian lifestyle in L.A., the City Council on Friday approved plans to temporarily block off a few street parking spaces at four locations so they can be turned into tiny public plazas big enough to hold a bench or two. These pocket parks, or "parklets," will use parallel parking spots to provide bike racks, a little greenery and a place to sit for passing pedestrians. Two parklets were approved on Spring Street downtown, one on Huntington Drive in El Sereno and another on York Boulevard in Highland Park.
Los Angeles Times