Law Enforcement

LAPD outlines its budget priorities
Replacing broken down patrol cars, installing systemwide dashboard cameras, and buying new computers are at the top of the Los Angeles Police Department's budgetary wish list in the next fiscal year. That is, after it pays the obligatory $1.2 billion in salaries for its police officers and civilian personnel-93 percent of the department's proposed budget for 2013-2014. The L. A. Police Commission approved the initial budget report Tuesday, asking for $1,338,369,551.
Southern California Public Radio

LAPD hunts killer of Torrance teen fatally shot in Harbor Gateway
The killer of a 16-year-old boy, who was fatally shot in Harbor Gateway, remained at large Tuesday. Richard Aldana of Torrance was shot about 8:20 p.m. Sunday as he rode a bicycle in the 1500 block of W. 208th Street. He died at a hospital, said coroner's Assistant Chief Ed Winter. Police said a blue vehicle approached the victim, and someone inside fired several rounds. Investigators do not believe the shooting was gang- related.
City News Service

LA police find no bomb after phone threats
An all-day investigation triggered by telephone threats found no explosive at a Jewish temple in Los Angeles or in a police patrol car parked nearby. Police say an initial call at 2 a.m. Tuesday said there was a device on the grounds of the Wilshire Boulevard Temple, but nothing was found there. Later in the morning, a caller with a male voice indicated it was the parked patrol car that was targeted.
Associated Press

Boy arrested in Bieber, Kutcher 'swatting' cases
Los Angeles police arrested an unidentified juvenile in a series of "swatting" incidents that targeted celebrities, including actor Ashton Kutcher and singer Justin Bieber, department officials said Tuesday. Authorities would say only that the suspect was arrested Dec. 10 at his parents' Southern California home. They would not release additional details about his identity, exact age or background.
Los Angeles Times

Sylmar man charged in sexual assaults of 2 women
A Sylmar man who turned himself in last week as a suspect in attacks on two women was formally charged Tuesday with attempted rape, kidnapping and other counts. Kevion R. Hunt, 20, turned himself in Friday morning, the day after Los Angeles police released a sketch of the attacker. He told authorities he works as a custodian. The Dec. 9 attacks happened in an apartment complex at 12960 Dronfield Ave., a short walk from Hunt's home.
Los Angeles Daily News

LAPD discovers inert hand grenades during search of Glendale gun store
A bomb squad was called in Tuesday morning to investigate what turned out to be inert hand grenades that were discovered at a gun store in Glendale while Los Angeles police executed a search warrant. The grenades were discovered at Global Arms in the 4500 block of San Fernando Road, Los Angeles police said. It was not immediately clear why LAPD officials obtained a warrant to search the store.
Glendale News-Press

LAPD's SMART unit focuses on mental illness
For 10 years, the Los Angeles Police Department has had a program aimed at dealing with people with mental illness before they have a chance to do harm. The program, called the Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Team, or SMART, pairs a mental health professional with a police officer. Officers Charles Dempsey and Chuck Lennon talked to KCET's Val Zavala to explain how it works.
KCET

State took 2,000 guns from illegal owners in 2012
California may have a sizeable leg up on other states in taking guns away from mentally ill people who are barred by law from owning them. State Attorney General Kamala Harris said Tuesday that more than 2,000 firearms were seized in 2012 from people in California who were legally barred from possessing them, including mentally unstable people and those with active restraining orders.
Inside Bay Area

Parole

Gov. Jerry Brown rejects parole recommendation for North Hollywood arsonist
Nearly 32 years ago, Los Angeles firefighter Thomas Taylor grasped another firefighter's outstretched hand before plunging into a restaurant inferno. Now the man who set that North Hollywood arson fire, Mario Catanio, has been denied parole at the behest of Gov. Jerry Brown. "Mr. Catanio's crime was senseless," Brown said in a decision Friday to override a Board of Parole Hearings recommendation for release.
Los Angeles Daily News

City Government

Audit: Los Angeles employees overpaid for mileage reimbursement
An audit of five city agencies found $325,000 was wasted in mileage reimbursements due to overpayments and lack of supervision, City Controller Wendy Greuel said Tuesday. "There is troubling evidence that the city regularly overpays mileage reimbursement," Greuel said. "And, this is just the tip of the iceberg. My findings strongly indicate this could be happening in other city departments."
Los Angeles Daily News