Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Fairfax, Harbor City and four other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in six L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of Los Angeles Police Department data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Four neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Fairfax was the most unusual, recording nine reports, compared with a weekly average of 1.5 over the last three months. Harbor City topped the list of two neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Televised live police chases - the new bloodsport?
Over the past few days, media coverage of police chasing dangerous felons in the southland have put thousands of people, including dozens of police officers, in extreme danger. Police chases and the aftermath are certainly newsworthy, but the recent live television coverage has had the feel of a sporting event - with accompanying colorful commentary. In these situations, the responsibility lies with the suspect for not submitting to arrest, the public to stay out of the way, the officers to use good judgment when in pursuit and the media to limit its coverage.
LAPPL Blog

Echo Park - Silver Lake Patch

LAPD: No increase in police pursuits despite recent media coverage
The Los Angeles Police Department said Thursday that there hasn't been an increase in police pursuits despite what seemed to be an influx over the past week. LAPD Commander Andrew Smith said there only appears to be an increase in these types of crimes. "I think it seems like there has been a lot more (car chases) recently because of the media coverage," he said. Smith said the number of pursuits has actually stayed the same for years
CBS LA

LAPD: Man tries to rob Chase Bank in Van Nuys
A man wearing a gray shirt walked into a Chase Bank in the 6300 block of Van Nuys Boulevard in Van Nuys and said if the teller didn't give him money he'd blow up the place within 10 minutes, says Officer Tenesha Dobine of the LAPD's Media Relations Section. He made the threat at 2:50 p.m. Thursday and fled.
City News Service

About $1,500 in stolen money recovered so far from Canyon Country bank robbery, chase
Authorities said Thursday they have recovered about $1,500 in stolen money from Wednesday's bank robbery in Santa Clarita and televised chase, in which the robbers threw money out the windows of an SUV as they fled. Detectives still have not released the names of the three suspects that were arrested, but identified them as a 29-year-old Carson man, who drove the getaway vehicle, and two men from South Los Angeles, ages 22 and 26.
Los Angeles Daily News

Public Safety

LAFD dispatchers waste time getting 911 callers to start CPR
Los Angeles Fire Department dispatchers waste valuable time getting 911 callers to start CPR on cardiac arrest victims, often beginning the life-saving procedure after the point at which brain death begins, according to an internal study obtained by The Times. The study raised particular concerns about time-consuming scripted questions dispatchers are required to ask, including one that forces frantic and confused callers to make difficult judgments about a victim's breathing.
Los Angeles Times

Proposition 32

Poll finds support slipping for Proposition 32
Organized labor's advertising offensive against Proposition 32 appears to be paying off. According to a new statewide poll, 53% of likely voters say they support the November ballot measure that promises to eliminate special-interest money in politics, a drop of nearly 10 percentage points since the beginning of August. The slipping support comes as the labor-backed opposition campaign airs statewide radio ads casting the initiative as "a deceptive proposition stuffed with special exemptions" for businesses and corporate-funded super PACs.
Los Angeles Times

Legislation

Pelosi, California Democrats urge Gov. Brown to sign Trust Act
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other California Democrats have sent a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown urging him to sign a bill that would limit local law enforcement's ability to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. AB 1081, known as the Trust Act, passed the state Legislature last month. The California State Sheriffs' Assn. opposes the bill, arguing that it forces sheriffs to put state law above federal law.
Los Angeles Times