Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for West Hills, Glassell Park and 14 other L.A. areas
In 16 L.A. neighborhoods, crime reports are up significantly for the latest week, according to an analysis of Los Angeles Police Department data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Ten neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. West Hills was the most unusual, recording three reports compared with a weekly average of 0.3 over the last three months. Glassell Park topped the list of six neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD to hold forums on recent force incidents
Facing public concern over three videotaped incidents in which police used serious force to subdue people, the Los Angeles Police Department plans to host a series of community meetings to discuss with the public why officers use force and how the department investigates such encounters. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck ordered meetings held by the department's 21 stations throughout the city, Lt. Andrew Neiman said.
Los Angeles Times

CHP officer slaying highlights routine risk facing road patrol
The scene plays out countless times each day for officers patrolling California's roadways. Amid the chaos of highway traffic, they approach a stopped vehicle. They watch for the driver's hands, try to make eye contact, look for anything amiss. They must then reach a crucial judgment: Is there a threat here? While it might be all part of the "routine," the shooting death of California Highway Patrol Officer Kenyon Youngstrom last week showed that there is nothing routine about a traffic stop.
San Jose Mercury-News

How to help CHP officer killed in the line of duty

Man sentenced for pointing laser at LAPD chopper
Prosecutors say a 21-year-old man has been sentenced to 60 days of community service for pointing a green laser at a Los Angeles police helicopter last year. Deputy District Attorney Theresa Mitchell says Alvaro Jimenez was also ordered Friday to pay $240 in restitution and fines and not have contact with his co-defendant, 23-year-old Floyd Atkins. The two were arrested July 4, 2011 after police air units were able to pinpoint their location for laser beam activity.
Associated Press

Son arrested, accused of killing his parents in North Hollywood
A North Hollywood man was in jail Saturday, arrested on suspicion of murdering his parents, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Jonathan Mercado, 25, was arrested Friday after police found his mother dead in a car and his father dead at the family's home in the 8100 block of Radford Street in North Hollywood. Police did not release any details of the slayings expect to say that investigators determined foul play was involved.
Los Angeles Daily News

6-year-old girl fighting for her life after being hit by car in Glassell Park
A 6-year-old girl struck by a car driven by an intoxicated man in Glassell Park was fighting for her life Saturday, and her 12-year-old sister, also struck, was hospitalized in critical condition. The accident, which occurred while the children were with their grandmother, was reported in the 2600 block of North San Fernando Road at Hallett Avenue about 7:30 p.m. Friday, Los Angeles police Sgt. Steve Bailey of the Central Traffic Division.
City News Service

LAPD searches for suspect who fatally shot Crenshaw district businessman
Los Angeles police Sunday sought whoever killed a 50-year-old Crenshaw district businessman at or near his credit repair firm. Donald Wiley was fatally shot at or near Crenshaw Boulevard and 76th Street about 3 p.m. Saturday, according to police and a coroner's spokesman. What happened was unclear. A description of the gunman was unavailable, and no motive was disclosed.
City News Service

LAPD captain speaks out on demotion, lawsuit after officers body slam woman
Over the course of serving the Los Angeles Police Department for 34 years, Capt. Joseph Hiltner rose to the rank of commander at Foothill Division. Then a disturbing surveillance video from Aug. 21 surfaced. Two of his officers pulled over a woman in Tujunga for using her cellphone. There was a struggle, she was slammed to the ground twice. Hiltner said he does not defend the action of the officers, but he does defend how he handled the incident, and says Chief Charlie Beck was wrong to demote him two complete ranks and removed him from his post.
ABC7

City Election 2013

Law enforcement endorses Jackie Lacey for District Attorney
The two largest law enforcement associations, representing nearly 20,000 sworn personnel working in the City and County of Los Angeles, announced their support for Jackie Lacey to be the next Los Angeles County District Attorney. The Los Angeles Police Protective League and the Association for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs announced their endorsements for Lacey today.
LAPPL News Release

Prisons

Judges won't raise cap on California prison population
A panel of federal judges says it won't raise its cap on California's prison population but will consider giving Gov. Jerry Brown more time to produce plan for meeting it. "This Court is not inclined to permit relitigation of the proper population cap at this time," federal jurists said in an order issued Friday. But they said they would consider extending the state's deadline until the end of 2013 -- an additional four months -- if California provides plans for reaching the judges' goal.
Los Angeles Times

Death Penalty

Two prosecutors try to jump-start California executions
With California voters readying to consider whether to retain the death penalty, two prominent district attorneys, including San Mateo County's, are mounting a rebel legal campaign to kick-start executions in San Quentin's long-dormant death chamber. Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley has been heading the charge, moving in recent months to sidestep legal obstacles that have put executions on hold for nearly seven years and secure execution dates for condemned killers Mitchell Sims and Tiequon Cox.
San Jose Mercury News