Law Enforcement

LAPD's newest vehicle: a tractor to smooth the way for horses
Like any large police department, the LAPD has an array of vehicles in its fleet: helicopters, motorcycles, patrol cars, mobile command trucks, even boats for its dive team. But a tractor? There it was on page 3 of Tuesday's Board of Police Commissioners agenda: "...a monetary donation in the amount of $30,000.00 from Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine, to be used for the purchase of a new tractor..." Who knew? A crime-fighting tractor! Indirectly, perhaps.
Los Angeles Daily News

Hit-and-run driver in North Hollywood abandons injured passenger
Authorities are searching for a man who fled after a two-vehicle collision in North Hollywood that left his passenger with a serious leg fracture. The crash at the intersection of Saticoy Street and Whitsett Avenue was reported at 11:54 p.m. Monday, said Officer James Norton of the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Traffic Division.
City News Service

Video: Possible 'swatting' incident as LAPD searches Warner Center for gunman
The LAPD responded Monday to the Farmers Insurance building on Owensmouth Avenue south of Victory Boulevard in Warner Center after receiving reports of a man with a gun. There was no gunman, and the incident was being investigated as a possible hoax "swatting" call.
Los Angeles Daily News

Supervisors consider 'Community Service Districts' to provide law enforcement in unincorporated areas
The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to study the feasibility of creating "Community Service Districts" in unincorporated areas that could provide law enforcement services. Supervisor Gloria Molina made the proposal after accusing Sheriff Lee Baca of shortchanging unincorporated areas to fulfill the terms of his contracts with 42 incorporated cities and agencies like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority that do not have their own police force.
Los Angeles Daily News

Prisons

U.S. judges give California six more months to cut inmate population
Three weeks after Gov. Jerry Brown declared the state's prison overcrowding crisis over, a court of three federal judges said Tuesday that state officials can have six more months to reduce the inmate population to the previously ordered level. The judges noted that California officials have said they cannot meet the court's June 30 deadline for reducing its population to 137.5 percent of design capacity, but the officials believe they can hit that mark by Dec. 31.
Sacramento Bee

Gun Control

California unable to disarm 19,700 felons and mentally ill people
California authorities are empowered to seize weapons owned by convicted felons and people with mental illness, but staff shortages and funding cuts have left a backlog of more than 19,700 people to disarm, a law enforcement official said Tuesday. Those gun owners have roughly 39,000 firearms, said Stephen Lindley, chief of the Bureau of Firearms for the state Department of Justice, testifying at a joint legislative hearing.
Los Angeles Times

Legislation

Lawmakers propose new taxes on ammo to go for anti-violence efforts
Two state lawmakers have proposed a tax on ammunition sold in California, but one would use the money raised to pay for increased policing in high-crime areas and the other would provide screening for mental illness in children. The measures are among nine pieces of legislation proposed Monday by state Assembly members to deal with gun violence.
Los Angeles Times

City Election

L.A. city workers' union doesn't endorse Garcetti or Greuel
An influential union representing City Hall workers failed to reach a consensus Tuesday evening on whether and whom to endorse in Los Angeles' mayoral campaign, labor officials said. Members of six locals of the Service Employees International Union questioned City Controller Wendy Greuel and City Councilman Eric Garcetti, two top contenders in the race, for at least half an hour. Neither was recommended for an endorsement, even though Greuel was ranked higher on a scoring sheet prepared by union officials.
Los Angeles Times

Greuel airs the first TV ad of mayoral campaign
With the Los Angeles mayoral election five weeks away, City Controller Wendy Greuel began airing the first television ad of the campaign Tuesday in an effort to introduce herself to voters before rivals get a chance to define her in more unflattering terms. City Councilman Eric Garcetti, Greuel's top rival in the March 5 primary, is expected to follow suit within days by launching his own TV ad campaign. The ability of Greuel and Garcetti to afford extensive TV advertising, thanks to their aggressive fundraising, sets them apart from the six other mayoral candidates on the ballot.
Los Angeles Times

Third medical pot measure heading for L.A. ballot
Despite strong opposition from several Los Angeles City Council members, a third medical marijuana ordinance is heading for the May ballot. On Tuesday, the Council preliminarily agreed to put an ordinance before voters to raise taxes on medical marijuana sales and limit the number of dispensaries to only those that opened before a city moratorium was passed in 2007.
Los Angeles Times