Law Enforcement

Hate crimes rise in Los Angeles County
After three straight years of rapid declines, reported hate crimes rose in Los Angeles County for the first time in 2011, although they remained well below the average for the past 20 years, according to a report issued today by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations. Reported hate crimes jumped 14.5 percent from 427 to 489, which is still the second-lowest number since before 1990. The largest numbers were concentrated in the San Fernando Valley, followed by the metro region stretching from West Hollywood to Boyle Heights.
Los Angeles Daily News

Former LAPD Harbor Division commander Patrick Gannon to head LAX police
San Pedro native and Los Angeles Police Department veteran Patrick Gannon has been appointed chief of the Los Angeles World Airports' police force, responsible for law enforcement and security at LAX, Van Nuys and Ontario airports, it was announced Wednesday. Gannon, 56, will oversee about 1,100 police and security officers.
Torrance Daily Breeze

LAPD looks to restart `party cars' to combat Mission Area bashes
Flooded by scores of calls almost every weekend about loud parties in the northern San Fernando Valley, some of which have turned violent, police created units called "party cars" early this year. The officers on these patrols in the Los Angeles Police Department's Mission Area didn't have to respond to regular calls. They could drive through areas known for parties, looking for trouble before anyone even called police. If someone did call in a noise complaint, those officers could get there quickly. As a result, police nipped parties in the bud before they got out of hand, and other officers were freed to handle more serious crime.
Los Angeles Daily News

Terrorist sentenced to 37 years for plotting to bomb Los Angeles airport around new millennium
Algerian terrorist Ahmed Ressam was sentenced Wednesday to 37 years in prison for plotting to bomb Los Angeles International Airport around the turn of the new millennium. Ressam was arrested in December 1999 as he drove off a ferry from Canada into Washington state with a trunk full of explosives. U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour had twice ordered him to serve 22-year terms, but both times the sentences were reversed on appeal.
AP

Following dramatic spike, Chicago homicides slow down after police, neighborhoods take action
When the Chicago's gang war intensified last spring, shootings became so frequent they sometimes seemed like a ghastly game of tennis, with each senseless attack followed by a vengeful response. The furious rate of the killing drew national attention and even invited comparisons between Chicago and some of the world's war zones. But a closer look shows something else: The pace of homicides and shootings has slowed considerably as police step up their presence and residents challenge gang members for control of the streets.
Associated Press

Slain LAPD SWAT officer's widow to have Woodland Hills book signing
The widow of a Los Angeles police SWAT officer killed during a Winnetka operation will do a book signing soon in Woodland Hills. Lisa Simmons' book, "41D: Man of Valor," tells the story of her husband, Randy Simmons. The 27-year veteran was shot and killed in February 2008 by a mentally disturbed man who already had killed his father and two brothers before police raided his house. It was the first-ever killing of an LAPD SWAT officer in the line of duty. Lisa Simmons' signing will be from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 3 at the Barnes and Noble at Westfield Promenade, 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Los Angeles Daily News

Proposition 32

Union contributions push No on Prop. 32 money past $60 million
With two weeks remaining before Election Day, the donations to the labor-backed campaign committee to defeat Proposition 32 have reached $61 million. Unions have made killing the measure their top priority, worried that if it becomes law that its ban on money from payroll deductions for political activities would handcuff their influence by choking off their sole source of funding.
Sacramento Bee

Prisons

CA officials to ready nation's largest prison healthcare facility
Seven years ago, a federal judge seized control of California's prison healthcare system because one inmate was dying each week from neglect. The judge appointed a federal receiver, Clark Kelso, to fix the failing system. Now, Kelso is allowing the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to take charge of opening the nation's largest prison medical facility by next July. How well it accomplishes the task will determine how soon a federal judge might end his oversight of prison medical care.
KPCC

City Government

Los Angeles pet stores to only sell rescue animals
Pet stores in Los Angeles would have to acquire their dogs, cats and rabbits from city shelters or rescue organizations, instead of commercial breeders, under proposal given preliminary approval by the City Council Wednesday. With a 12-2 vote, the council intends to enact one of the strictest measures in the country. Under the plan, the sale of cats, dog and rabbits from commercial breeders will be banned for a three-year period to determine if it helps reduce the kill rate of animals in city shelters.
Los Angeles Daily News