Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for San Pedro and four other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in five L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Three neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. San Pedro was the most unusual, recording 13 reports compared with a weekly average of 3.8 over the last three months. Chesterfield Square topped the list of two neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

20 students sexually abused by ex-school teacher, LAPD says
A former Los Angeles Unified School District teacher was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of committing lewd acts and sexually abusing 20 children and an adult, law enforcement authorities said. Robert Pimentel, 57, who taught at George de la Torre Jr. Elementary School in Wilmington, was taken into custody by Los Angeles Police Department detectives who had launched an investigation in March after several fourth-grade girls said they had been inappropriately touched, authorities said.
Los Angeles Times

Six-Hour standoff ends in Jefferson Park
A man wanted in connection with a homicide investigation was involved in a six-hour standoff on a Jefferson Park roof Tuesday night before he was taken into custody. The standoff started about 7:45 p.m., according to LAPD, which had multiple units at Crenshaw and West Adams boulevards. Shortly before 11 p.m., aerial, ground and K9 units were still surrounding the home in the 3500 block of 12th Avenue.
NBC4

Victim of San Pedro hotel fire dies; blaze ruled arson
A residential hotel fire that was first described as "criminal in nature" has been ruled arson and now homicide investigators are working the case following the death of a 69-year-old man. "We are confirming that the San Pedro fire is now a homicide," said LAPD Detective Gus Villanueva. "A 69-year-old male, victim of the fire, has died. We are not releasing his identity because we are still in process of notifying next of kin. This is now an arson and homicide investigation," Villanueva said.
NBC4

TMZ trims graphic footage of shooting victim following protests
Gossip website TMZ.com re-edited graphic footage of a 19-year-old man being shot to death outside a Hollywood nightclub, following an online protest from the teen's family that drew support from more than 212,000 people. The family of the victim, Andre Lowe of South Los Angeles, publicly called on TMZ.com to take down the shaky, hand-held video showing a fist fight that spread into a melee, and ended with two shots being fired and the young man sprawled motionless on the pavement.
Los Angeles Times

Oakland approves Bratton after 9-hour meeting
After a nine-hour Oakland City Council meeting, members voted 7-1 to hire former Los Angeles and New York police chief - Bill Bratton - to help the city with its horrific violence. Over shouts of "Shame on You!" and "Let the war begin," the vote came at 2 a.m. Wednesday to hire Bratton as a consultant for $250,000 to help the police department curb its rising crime rate. Councilwoman Desley Brooks was the lone "no" vote.
NBC Bay Area

Legislation

California bills target false 911 calls in 'swatting' cases
Alarmed that pranksters have called 911 to report false emergencies at the homes of celebrities including Justin Bieber and Tom Cruise, two Southern California legislators have proposed laws to get tougher with anyone engaged in "swatting." A bill announced Wednesday by state Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) would allow longer sentences for and greater restitution from those convicted of making false reports to the police. Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca asked for the measure.
Los Angeles Times

Gun Control

Glendale council takes first step toward banning gun show
The Glendale City Council took the first step toward banning a decades-old gun show at the Civic Auditorium, directing the city attorney to draft an ordinance that would permanently bar the sale of guns on city-owned property. Despite their desire for the ban, however, the majority of City Council members also agreed to allow a gun show already on the calendar for March, saying that they didn't want to create an immediate financial problem for the event's organizer.
Los Angeles Times

Pensions

LA leads nation in big-city retiree health funding
Los Angeles has the best-funded retiree health care among the nation's big cities, a new study found, and it's also paying a big price for a policy praised by many but practiced by only a few. The city's rare attempt to set aside money now to pay for retiree health care promised in the future accounts for nearly a quarter of the soaring retirement costs former Mayor Richard Riordan warns are driving the city toward bankruptcy.
Calpensions