Law Enforcement

Security cameras installed at Harvard Park after delays
Los Angeles Councilman Bernard C. Parks unveiled six security cameras at Jackie Tatum Harvard Park on Thursday, an issue that stalled in the City Council for months until a youth volunteer was gunned down in the park. The installation of the cameras marks the second phase of a multi-year project to revamp the South L.A. park, once a popular hangout for a Bloods street gang.
Los Angeles Times

Pacoima drive-by shooting leaves 1 man dead
A 25-year-old man was killed Wednesday night in what police said was a gang-related drive-by shooting in Pacoima. The shooting happened around 7:40 p.m. at the intersection of Kagel Canyon Street and Telfair Avenue, where a car pulled up to the victim and a male inside fired multiple rounds, said Officer Christopher No of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section. The victim, who suffered at least one gunshot wound to the back, was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where he was pronounced dead, No said.
City News Service

Jewelry recovered from San Fernando Valley 'distraction' burglaries displayed
Jewelry recovered when three suspects were arrested in connection with multiple distraction-type burglaries in the San Fernando Valley and Glendora was displayed on Thursday at the Los Angeles Police Department's West Valley Community Police Station. LAPD detectives recovered what they described as a large amount of stolen jewelry in the suspects' possession. The rightful owners of the jewelry are still being sought.
City News Service

LAPD report 'active weekend' for property crime in DTLA
roperty crimes continue to plague downtown L.A. and police are encouraging residents to be vigilant and proactive about protecting their goods. Last weekend six bikes and nine cell phones were stolen, according to Central Area's Facebook page, along with a woman's personal belongings that were left unattended on her desk at work. Many of the bikes that were stolen had been secured with chain locks and according to police, were broken with a crowbar.
Blogdowntown

Help prevent crime and join a neighborhood watch, Van Nuys LAPD says
The Los Angeles Police Department advised Van Nuys residents this week to join a neighborhood watch group in an attempt to prevent residential burglaries and burglaries from vehicles, the community's most prevalent crimes. "By getting to know your neighbors you will have a better understand of who and what vehicles belong in the neighborhood and will be able to report suspicious people or vehicles helping us to stop crimes before they happen," according to a department statement.
City News Service

Principal faces probe over teacher held in abuse of 20 kids
A now-retired principal faces a criminal investigation after school officials said she twice failed to report accusations of sexual misconduct by a teacher who this week was arrested on suspicion of molesting 19 students at a Wilmington elementary school. In 2002 and 2008, the principal was told that the teacher, Robert Pimentel, 57, inappropriately touched a student. But the principal failed to tell law enforcement authorities, as required by law, said L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy.
Los Angeles Times

NYPD testing technology that would detect concealed weapons on citizens
The NYPD says it is testing a new device that would allow officers to detect if citizens are carrying a weapon without having to pat them down. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Wednesday the device, which resembles body scanners used at airports, reads body energy to find out whether someone is concealing a weapon. The Wall Street Journal reports the device, known as a "T-Ray Machine" reads terahertz radiation, which is natural energy emitted by humans and inanimate objects.The radiation can penetrate many objects, including clothing.
Fox News

City Government

L.A.'s neighborhood councils flex their muscles
A recent fight over a proposed $3 billion bond issue for street repairs illustrated the growing influence of neighborhood councils in Los Angeles city government, as they exerted enough influence to keep the measure off the ballot for now. The success in that case represents an evolution for the councils, which at their inception a dozen years ago were seen as potentially powerless because they held no real voting authority in city matters. But through wider participation and exerting a louder voice, observers say, they are now fulfilling the influential role envisioned for them when voters revised the City Charter in 1999.
Los Angeles Daily News

City Elections 2013

Greuel, Garcetti lead fundraising efforts in L.A. mayor's race
The independent group supporting the longshot candidacy of mayoral contender Kevin James received an infusion of half a million dollars from top GOP donor Harold Simmons, a Dallas-based billionaire who contributed more than $20 million to the super PACs that tried to defeat President Obama in 2012. But James, a Republican and former radio talk show host, is trailing far behind the top two candidates in the race: City Controller Wendy Greuel and Councilman Eric Garcetti.
Los Angeles Times

State Government

Brown spells out next goals for California
Cheering a California rebound, Gov. Jerry Brown says voter-approved tax increases have put the state on sound financial footing but warns lawmakers that they must be tight-fisted with the government purse strings. The Democratic governor delivered his third State of the State address Thursday since reclaiming the governor's office. He did so just months after voters approved his Proposition 30, which raised sales and income taxes temporarily.
Associated Press