Law Enforcement

Dorner manhunt: Riverside officials release name of slain officer
The Riverside Police Department officer who was killed last week in an alleged ambush by fugitive ex-cop Christopher Jordan Dorner, was identified by officials Sunday as Michael Crain, an 11-year veteran of the department. Crain, 34, was killed Thursday when he and his partner were allegedly fired upon by ex-LAPD officer Christopher Jordan Dorner. "While God is quick to forgive, he does demand justice and there will be a day of reckoning," said Riverside Mayor Rusty Baker, who called Crain's death "senseless."
Los Angeles Times

LAPD: Fugitive ex-cop a 'domestic terrorist'
City officials offered a $1 million reward Sunday for information leading to the capture of fugitive ex-cop Christopher Dorner, accusing him of "domestic terrorism'' in targeting law enforcement officers and their families. Police Chief Charlie Beck said the reward was the largest ever offered in Southern California and includes contributions from businesses and private individuals as well as public funds. "Why so large?'' Beck said. "This is an act, and make no mistake about it, of domestic terrorism. This is a man who has targeted those who we entrust to protect the public. His actions cannot go unanswered.''
USA Today

Dorner manhunt, Grammys have LAPD calling in troops
Faced with two massive law enforcement situations -- security for the Grammy Awards and a manhunt for an ex-cop wanted in three slayings -- the Los Angeles Police Department declared a tactical alert Sunday night. The LAPD did not detail its Grammy security arrangements, but the department regularly sends a large contingent of officers to awards shows. This year, the Grammys occurred on the fifth day of a manhunt for Christopher Dorner, who is suspected of killing an Irvine couple and a Riverside police officer.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD records: Fugitive Christopher Dorner had troubled tenure
Hundreds of pages of court records, which include confidential Internal Affairs reports, detail a pitched struggle between Christopher Jordan Dorner and the Los Angeles Police Department. Almost from the beginning of his employment the seeds of Dorner's 11,000-word manifesto, which details his grievances against the department, were sown. His troubles began as a Police Academy recruit in February 2006.
Los Angeles Daily News

LAPD to reopen probe into firing of ex-cop suspected in three slayings
Los Angeles police announced Saturday that it would reopen the investigation into the firing of Christopher Jordan Dorner from the LAPD, apparently prompting Dorner's vengeful rampage that has left three people dead. Chief Charlie Beck is reopening the investigation because he wants "to insure the public that the LAPD is fair and transparent," Cmdr. Andrew Smith said at a late-afternoon news conference at LAPD's headquarters downtown.
Los Angeles Times

Details emerge in LAPD's mistaken shooting of newspaper carriers
In an interview with The Times on Friday, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck outlined the most detailed account yet of how the shooting unfolded. Margie Carranza, 47, and her mother, Emma Hernandez, 71, were the victims of "a tragic misinterpretation" by officers working under "incredible tension," he said. Beck and others stressed that the investigation into the shooting is in its infancy.
Los Angeles Times

Crime alerts for Tujunga, Woodland Hills and seven other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in nine 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. Tujunga was the most unusual, recording three reports compared with a weekly average of 0.8 over the last three months. Woodland Hills topped the list of four neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

Villaraigosa backs half-cent hike in sales tax
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Friday backed the half-cent sales tax hike on the March 5 ballot, which is being pushed as a way to shield the Police Department and other public safety agencies from employee cuts. The increase, which is backed by some key business leaders and labor leaders as a means to preserve public services, would push the city's sales tax rate to 9.5%, among the highest in the state.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants you to play the city budget game
As the candidates for Los Angeles mayor are pressed on how they would solve the city's ongoing structural deficit, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is asking for public help as he prepares his final budget, scheduled for release in April. It raises questions dealing with long-term reforms on issues such as how much city workers should pay for health care and pensions, what the city should do on economic development and the increased outsourcing of work. It also asks for funding priorities and whether there should be increases, cuts or status quo spending on core issues such as police and fire, the City Attorney's Office, parks and recreation, and street services, like the filling of potholes.
Los Angeles Daily News

City Election

L.A. mayoral candidates find themselves subjected to debates
Los Angeles may be the second-most-populous city in the country and a 21st century communications hub, but many of the early months of the race for mayor have felt like a nostalgia ride. The reason? Much of the candidates' time has been spent talking to voters in a rite of the horse-and-buggy era - a ceaseless string of debates. There have been about 30, starting last year. The hopefuls had debates scheduled every day this week, and have two on Sunday.
Los Angeles Times

Wendy Greuel for L.A. mayor: Los Angeles News Group endorsement
Before Los Angeles goes to the polls next month to choose a new mayor, voters must ask themselves: Which candidate has the strongest combination of qualifications, political skill and personal character? Which of the eight people on the ballot can best represent city residents' diverse interests? Which man or woman has the best chance to lead L.A. back from the fiscal brink? This newspaper's editorial board has weighed those questions and found a clear answer. It's Wendy Greuel.
Los Angeles News Group Editorial Board