Law Enforcement

Space shuttle Endeavour flyover: Police fear 'gawking and driving'
The space shuttle Endeavour's Friday flyover has brought a new set of concerns for Los Angeles authorities: "gawking and driving." The retired shuttle will tour the Southland for about an hour Friday morning before landing at Los Angeles International Airport, flying 1,500 feet over landmarks including the Getty Center, Griffith Observatory, the Queen Mary and Disneyland. But amid all the excitement, officials are worried that overzealous onlookers might stop their cars along freeways or city streets to snap photos. In other cities, shuttle flyovers have drawn huge crowds.
Los Angeles Times

Neighborhoods respond differently to LAPD meetings on use of force
LAPD is in the middle of hosting a series of community meetings following three highly publicized use of force incidents in recent weeks. At Tuesday's meeting of the Police Commission, commissioners who've attended such gatherings across the city said that some meetings have been fairly sedate (such as in West L.A.) while others (like at the 77th Street Station in South Central) have given venue to considerable discontent.
Southern California Public Radio

San Fernando Valley doctor arrested, accused of sexual assault of patients
A physician who has offices in Van Nuys and Northridge has been arrested on suspicion of two felony counts of sexual assault, state medical officials said Thursday. Dr. Kevin Pezeshki, an obstetrician and gynecologist, was arrested in August for allegedly committing unlawful acts of sexual penetration on a victim, according to the California Medical Board. The board announced the arrest Thursday and police say they are still looking for other possible victims.
Los Angeles Daily News

LAPD detectives uncover 'bizarre and tragic' abuse case
A couple in Georgia has been taken into custody on suspicion of child abuse and false imprisonment after their malnourished son was discovered at a downtown Los Angeles bus station last week, the Los Angeles Police Department said Thursday. Authorities called it a "bizarre and tragic child abuse case" that started Sept. 11, when 18-year-old Mitch Comer arrived at the Greyhound Bus Station on East 7th Street.
Los Angeles Times

Police seek driver who hit Northridge pedestrian
On Sunday, September 9, 2012, at approximately 7:20 PM, a Hit and Run Traffic Collision, Vehicle vs. Pedestrian occurred in the city of Northridge. A black sports utility vehicle (SUV) was traveling eastbound on Mayall Street, negotiating a left turn onto northbound Reseda Boulevard, when it collided with a pedestrian crossing Reseda Boulevard westbound in the north marked crosswalk. The pedestrian was seriously injured as a result of the collision. The hit and run driver failed to stop and render aid.
Northridge - Chatsworth Patch

NYPD cop killers haven't shown remorse for 1988 death, relatives and politicians say
Paroling the four men who assassinated rookie cop Edward Byrne in 1988 would send a message of injustice and threaten officers everywhere — particularly since the coldhearted killers have never shown remorse, the slain officer's brother told The Post. “We have to make sure these people are never given parole. They set out to kill a police officer,” said Byrne's brother Larry, 52, as the murderers prepare to seek their freedom in November.
New York Post

Anatomy of an L.A. police pursuit
It's the sort of escapade Los Angeles has long been known for: a man in a stolen car with an AK-47 drives dangerously through the streets of rush-hour L.A. with a tail of about 8 police cars directly behind, and even more following a short ways back. The driver had allegedly carjacked the vehicle from its owner earlier that day - a slightly less concerning crime than the homicide he allegedly committed in July. The car's electronic tracking system had alerted police to its location and a chase ensued for more than an hour - at relatively low speed - through the city.
The Atlantic Cities

Proposition 34

Remember Timothy Joseph McGhee: Vote NO on 34
Timothy Joseph McGhee boasted in rap lyrics about his hatred of police and his love for killing. He was convicted of attempted murder for a July 4, 2000, ambush of two LAPD officers who were chasing Toonerville gang members. He laughed in the courtroom when he was sentenced to die in January 2009. He has been awaiting execution on death row at San Quentin State Prison. On August 30, prison officials said he used a handmade weapon to attack two guards as they returned him to his cell from a shower. Voters would do well to remember McGhee in November when they consider Proposition 34.
LAPPL Blog

Political Debates

At mayoral debate, charges of corruption and rays of optimism
A few minutes into the first major debate of the Los Angeles mayor's race, candidate Kevin James gestured to his rivals. "City Hall is broken," he said. "And they broke it." A former federal prosecutor who is trailing far behind City Controller Wendy Greuel and council members Jan Perry and Eric Garcetti in fundraising, James set the tone for Wednesday night's forum with accusations that his opponents have done too little to cut city costs and have let Los Angeles earn "a national reputation for corruption."
Los Angeles Times

Lacey, Jackson highlight differences in D.A. race debate
In one of their last debates before the November election, the two candidates for Los Angeles County district attorney strove Wednesday night to differentiate their positions. Jackie Lacey, second in command to current Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, is facing off against Alan Jackson, assistant head deputy in the office's major crimes division. Unlike the last debate, in which the two traded barbs -- with Jackson painting Lacey as an out-of-touch bureaucrat and Lacey calling her opponent "naive" -- the tone this time around remained civil.
Los Angeles Times