Law Enforcement

More than 700 tips on fugitive Christopher Dorner, department ready to mobilize at any time
Los Angeles police have now received more than 700 tips from the public in the search for Christopher Dorner, officials said at an afternoon press conference at LAPD headquarters. Department spokesman Lt. Andrew Neiman also acknowledged there may be times when local residents see a slower response to non-emergency calls because of the resources deployed in searching for Dorner and protecting the 50 people named in his manifesto as potential targets. He said when the department goes on tactical alert, it stops handling routine reports.
Los Angeles Daily News

DA files murder charge
Prosecutors charged fugitive Christopher Dorner with murder and attempted murder Monday, Feb. 11 in the killing of a Riverside police officer and shooting of three other police officers last week. District Attorney Paul Zellerbach announced the charges at a news conference where he pleaded for the public's help in locating Dorner as the search entered its fifth day. "As they say there is strength in numbers," Zellerbach said. "We need the help of the public. We need all of the public's eyes and ears in apprehending this very dangerous individual."
Riverside Press-Enterprise

Dorner manhunt: Feds feared ex-cop may have fled to Mexico
A fugitive former Los Angeles police officer who is wanted in connection with a deadly shooting rampage and has triggered a massive manhunt could have fled to Mexico, according to documents filed in federal court. The records provide new details on the alleged actions of Christopher Jordan Dorner, 33, who is suspected of killing three people, including a police officer, and has eluded authorities since Wednesday night when he was publicly named as the suspect in the slaying of an Irvine couple.
Los Angeles Times

Manhunt for fugitive ex-LAPD cop Christopher Dorner slows traffic at California border crossings
U.S. border inspectors are warning of unusually heavy traffic at California border crossings into Mexico amid the search for a fugitive ex-police officer wanted in the slayings of three people. Customs and Border Protection said Monday that it has joined efforts to find 33-year-old Christopher Dorner in Southern California. Heightened vehicle inspections are producing delays at San Diego's San Ysidro border crossing into Tijuana.
Associated Press

USC remembers slain safety officer as committed public servant
Some at USC want the public to know that Keith Lawrence, whose shooting death has been attributed to an ex-cop, was more than just a loving partner to his fiancee -- he was a young law enforcement officer with a bright future. "In many articles, he's just referred to as just the fiance. We'd like to see him get some more recognition than that," said Capt. David Carlisle of the University of Southern California's Department of Public Safety.
Los Angeles Times

L.A. judge begins reducing sentences of three-strikes inmates
A Los Angeles County judge responsible for reconsidering the life prison terms of more than 1,000 offenders sentenced under the state's three-strikes law began the process Monday at a hearing where he reduced the punishments for five inmates convicted of relatively minor crimes. Among those given shorter sentences was a 74-year-old who has served more than 15 years for possessing $10 worth of drugs and an 81-year-old behind bars for more than 17 years for stealing dozens of packs of cigarettes.
Los Angeles Times

Legislation

Public safety gets top billing in 2013 California Legislature
A wave of new bills was introduced as California lawmakers reconvened at the State Capitol on Jan. 7 to start their legislative year. A number of them are of particular interest to law enforcement and deserve a close watch. We applaud Senator Ted W. Lieu of Los Angeles for introducing a bill making it a felony for parolees to cut off GPS-aided ankle bracelets. Lieu cited data showing a two-thirds jump in parolees who illegally remove ankle-mounted monitoring bracelets.
LAPPL Blog

Prisons

Prison receiver says he is ending practice of dual-wage doctors
The court-appointed receiver for California's prison healthcare system has asked prison doctors to end the practice of moonlighting within the state agency. Payroll data from the state controller's office show 1,910 state workers held both a full-time job and a part-time position in 2012. Almost half, 942, were employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Los Angeles Times

California inmate lawsuits cost state $200 million
Gov. Jerry Brown has begun aggressively challenging federal court oversight of California's prison system by highlighting what he says is a costly conflict of interest: The private law firms representing inmates and the judges' own hand-picked authorities benefit financially by keeping the cases alive. How much are they making? A tally by The Associated Press, compiled from three state agencies, shows California taxpayers have spent $182 million for inmates' attorneys and court-appointed authorities over the past 15 years.
Associated Press

City Election

Villaraigosa backs Measure A on March ballot to increase sales tax
A proposed half-cent sales tax increase that city leaders say will generate $100 million in its first year was endorsed Monday by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The mayor's backing comes months after he said the Los Angeles City Council needed to do more to cut costs and raise revenues. "We cut a third of the L.A. civilian General Fund budget," said Villaraigosa at a Monday morning press conference. "We've had consolidations of departments, we found efficiencies. We've done everything that we can.
Southern California Public Radio

Wendy Greuel on police plan: it's a goal, not a promise
Monday morning's Los Angeles Times carried the headline, "Greuel's budget plan draws ridicule," and now mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel is defending her proposal to hire more cops and firefighters at a time when the city is facing a multimillion-dollar deficit. It was just a week ago that the Greuel campaign announced a plan to set aside 20 percent of new revenues to hire 2,000 police officers and 1,000 firefighters and paramedics by 2020.
Southern California Public Radio