Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for North Hills and 11 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 12 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Eight neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. North Hills was the most unusual, recording nine reports compared with a weekly average of 3.1 over the last three months. Beverly Crest topped the list of six neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Police panel OKs guidelines on reporting possible terrorism
Over the objections of some civil liberties groups, the Los Angeles Police Commission approved controversial new guidelines Tuesday for when LAPD officers can document suspicious behavior they believe could be linked to terrorism. The five-member civilian oversight panel unanimously approved a special order that gives officers the authority to write reports on people whose actions might not break any laws, such as taking a photograph of a power plan .
Los Angeles Times

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck voices 'serious concerns' about use-of-force by two LAPD officers
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said he has "serious concerns" about the actions of two officers who are under investigation for use of force. The LAPD released a statement Tuesday evening with little detail on the incident, saying only that it happened Aug. 21 following a traffic stop in the Foothill Area. LAPD spokeswoman Officer Karen Rayner told the Daily News the statement was released because a television station had obtained a video of the incident.
Los Angeles Daily News

LAPD Pacific Division to hold Senior Lead Officers Summit today
The Los Angeles Police Department's Pacific Division will host its annual Senior Lead Officers Summit today in Playa Vista. The summit is open to the public and will focus on the prevention of property crimes, said Senior Lead Officer Anthony Ramos. The presentation will include two detectives and staff from the LAPD's Air Support Division. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Playa Vista Center Pointe Club, 6200 Playa Vista Drive.
Venice-MarVista Patch

Pershing Square regulars not all supportive of new task force
Since a Pershing Square task force was created last week to address issues of health and public safety in the park, police officers have been seen strolling through the square daily. But not all regulars to the park think the patrol -- or the task force -- is necessary. John Taylor, who works Downtown, comes to Pershing Square daily when the weather is good. He said he has not noticed much of a problem in the park during his frequent visits.
Blogdowntown

Police seeking hit-and-run driver who broke a woman's arm and leg
Police are still looking for the hit-and-run driver who seriously injured a woman in Van Nuys earlier this month. The 34-year-old victim, who's also from Van Nuys, was walking across Victory Boulevard when an eastbound car struck her east of Columbus Avenue about 10:50 p.m. Aug. 18, Los Angeles police said. She was left with injuries that included a broken leg and arm. The driver didn't stop to help. The car was a small, black Honda sedan and could be missing a passenger-side mirror, as one was found at the scene.
Los Angeles Daily News

Arrests ongoing in massive SoCal bank scam that could top $100M
An investigation headed by Huntington Beach police and the U.S. Secret Service has rounded up seven people allegedly involved in a massive bank scam with losses of up to $100 million, and more arrests are expected, a sergeant said Monday. A task force, which also included Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies as well as Los Angeles and Irvine police, served five search warrants last week on the seven suspects, Huntington Beach police Sgt. Dale Shields said.
City News Service

Pensions

California pension reform: Governor's plan met with partial victory
With election politics in play, Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday announced systemic reforms to save billions of dollars in California's underfunded pension systems but dropped key changes he had sought to avoid a showdown with labor allies. As a result, pension reform advocates said the Democratic proposal fails to address the long-term costs of the state's pension liabilities, largely by leaving benefits for the state's more than 200,000 employees unchanged without contract changes negotiated with unions.
Associated Press

San Jose Police Department losing some of its best after pension reform
Colleagues told Jincy Pace that one day she'd become a deputy chief of the San Jose Police Department. Smart, hardworking, respected, the West Point graduate had all the attributes for a high-ranking position. Pace still has that goal, but it won't happen in San Jose. After almost 14 years with the department, Thursday was Pace's last day as a San Jose cop. She traded in her sergeant's badge to become a patrol officer in Hillsboro, Ore. Pace is one of 79 officers who have resigned from the SJPD since 2011, including 30 this year.
San Jose Mercury News

Legislation

Assembly sends public-safety death benefit measure to governor
The Assembly sent to the governor on Tuesday legislation that would double the statute of limitations for families of police and firefighters to file for job-related death benefits that can exceed $300,000. Assembly Bill 2451 cleared its final legislative hurdle, 51-18, when the Assembly concurred in amendments. Most Democrats supported the measure, while many Republicans opposed it. The bill by Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez would allow families to file for death benefits for up to nine years after the diagnosis of a job-caused illness or injury to a public safety official.
Sacramento Bee

Bill would increase fines for using cellphones while driving
State lawmakers sent two road-related proposals to the governor Tuesday, one that would hike fines for Californians who use a cellphone while driving and another that would exempt hybrid drivers from toll charges in car-pool lanes. The cellphone bill, SB 1310 by state Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), would increase the current fine for driving while using a hands-on phone or text messaging from $20 to $30 for a first offense, and from $50 to $60 for a subsequent offense.
Los Angeles Times

City Election 2013

Activists say they can force referendum on L.A. pot shop ban
A much-touted ban on medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles may be suspended before it even goes into effect. The ordinance banning storefront sales of medical cannabis could be suspended as soon as Wednesday, when medical marijuana activists say they will turn in 50,000 voter signatures to force a ballot referendum next year to repeal the ban. That is nearly twice the 27,400 names required by city rules for a ballot measure.
Los Angeles Times