Pensions

Villaraigosa says Riordan plan for city worker pensions "may cost more"
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued a statement Wednesday expressing reservations about a pension reform plan from one of his predecessors, former Mayor Richard Riordan. "I have concerns that Mayor Riordan's pension plan may cost more money than the current system and hinder our efforts to recruit the best for our police department." Under Riordan's plan, new city workers would be placed in private 401(k)-style pension plans.
Southern California Public Radio

Ex-Mayor Riordan is put on defensive
Some weeks, it is not easy being Richard Riordan. The former mayor found himself the target last week of some pointed zingers as he stumps for his proposal to change the city's pension systems. Appearing before the Los Angeles City Council where he warned the current trajectory of the pension systems could lead to bankruptcy, Council President Herb Wesson asked: "Why didn't you fix this when you were mayor?" When Riordan tried to respond, Wesson cut him off saying "I get the last word here.
Los Angeles Daily News

Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for West L.A., Glassell Park and six other neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in eight L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Six neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. West Los Angeles 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 two neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Crime alerts for Vermont-Slauson and six other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in seven L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Five neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Vermont-Slauson was the most unusual, recording 20 reports compared with a weekly average of 10.2 over the last three months. Vermont Square topped the list of two neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD officers shoot 99 Cents store burglar after he attacks them
Two police officers suffered minor injuries, and a suspected burglar was shot and wounded outside a 99 Cents Only store in North Hollywood, police said Sunday. The officers were injured when they were attacked with a "wooden object" by a burglary suspect, who was subsequently shot by one of the officers, said Los Angeles police officer Cleon Joseph of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section. The officers were treated at the scene and released. Paramedics rushed the burglary suspect to an area hospital, where he was listed in stable condition, Joseph said.
City News Service

Man shot in face on 110 Freeway in South L.A.
A man was shot in the face Sunday night as he drove on the 110 Freeway in South Los Angeles, police said. The victim, whose name was not released, told police that he was driving south about 9 p.m. when a car pulled up next to him. He said a passenger in the vehicle fired three shots, with one bullet piercing his left cheek and exiting his right cheek. The victim was able to pull over and call for help, according to LAPD Sgt. Rudy Alaniz. He was taken to a local hospital in fair condition, Alaniz said.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD chase ends in Toluca Lake crash; 3 injured, 1 arrested
Los Angeles police arrested a man in Toluca Lake on Tuesday, Nov. 20. 2012, after a chase that ended at Cahuenga Boulevard and Riverside Drive when the man's pickup struck another car.
Los Angeles Daily News

6-hour Venice standoff ends after LAPD lobs in tear gas
A 22-year-old man who barricaded himself in his Venice home for six hours on Thanksgiving was taken for a mental health evaluation, according to a police sergeant. No charges have been filed. The man surrendered without incident after police fired tear gas shells into the home in the 1200 block of Palms Boulevard, said Sgt. A. Doyen of the Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Station. The man's father called officers to the home shortly after noon, saying his son had locked himself in his bedroom, possibly with a 9 mm handgun.
City News Service

Police search for driver who hit bicyclist near Exposition Park
Los Angeles police were searching Friday for the driver of a small white car that struck a bicyclist near Exposition Park and then sped away without stopping. The accident occurred about 1:30 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Vermont Avenue and 36th Street. The unidentified bicyclist, described as a man in his 20s or 30s, was taken to an area hospital with major injuries that were described as non-life-threatening.
Los Angeles Times

1 of FBI's 10 most wanted arrested in Mexico, returned to Los Angeles
One of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives was arrested in Mexico and returned to Los Angeles Friday night to face charges of murder, kidnapping and rape, U.S. officials said. Reputed Los Angeles gang member Joe Luis Saenz was taken into custody in Guadalajara late Thursday following a joint operation with the Mexican government, said Bill Lewis, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles office. Investigators said Saenz shot and killed two rival gang members in July 1998 to retaliate for an assault on one of his associates.
Associated Press

Drunk-driving illegal immigrant sentenced to 55 years for killing Houston cop
Johoan Rodriguez was sentenced to 55 years in prison Friday for the intoxication manslaughter death of Houston police officer Kevin Will. Rodriguez had pleaded guilty in the case before the trial began. Prosecutors were hoping for a life sentence, but they believe, along with the officer's family, that they did get justice. Rodriguez had a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit when he raced through a police roadblock on the North Loop near Yale at an estimated 90 miles an hour on May 29, 2011.
KHOU

LAPD form a pee-wee football team for young boys living in the Watts area
For the last six months or so, a group of about 25 kids from Watts have traveled throughout the Southland playing other 9- to 11-year-olds in Pop Warner football games. They just finished their last game of the season, a bowl game against the Temeulca Wolfpack. The players outdid themselves, taking home a big W to close out the season, 28-8. The Watts Bears are a new team formed and coached by the Los Angeles police officers at the Southeast station. Coach Z -- a.k.a. senior lead officer Zarren Thompson -- heads the team.
KPCC