Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Sawtelle, Valley Village and nine other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 11 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of LAPD data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Eight neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Sawtelle was the most unusual, recording six reports compared with a weekly average of 1.3 over the last three months. Valley Village topped the list of three neighborhoods with property crime alerts. It recorded 24 property crimes compared with its weekly average of 11.5 over the last three months.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD motorcycle officer injured when driver makes U-turn in Studio City
A motorcycle officer en route to an accident in Laurel Canyon Tuesday was injured when a motorist stuck in traffic made a U-turn in front of him, police said. The collision occurred about one block north of Fryman Place at 3356 Laurel Canyon Blvd., as the officer was en route to investigate the collision at 5:08 p.m., police said. The officer sustained minor to moderate injuries, "but we're pretty sure he's going to be OK," Lt. Andy Neiman said.
City News Service

Echo Park officer-involved shooting under investigation
A man was hospitalized in critical condition following an officer-involved shooting in the Echo Park section of Los Angeles Tuesday. The shooting occurred near Sunset Boulevard and Echo Park Avenue around 12:15 a.m. According to authorities, officers responded to the location following reports of an armed man shooting a gun. Arriving officers spotted a man matching the suspect's description and chased him on foot.
ABC7

Beck: LAPD will keep information gathered through SARs program
The tracking program for suspicious activity reports known as SARs has some concerned about information the LAPD gathers and stores. The system is part of the department's anti-terrorism effort, but there are fears of abuse, according to Yaman Salahi with the American Civil Liberties Union. Despite lawsuit threats, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said names and personal information the department gathers will be kept.
CBS LA

LAPD to question officers about racism in wake of Dorner case
The Los Angeles Police Department is doing some soul searching on racism in the ranks. As a result of the Christopher Dorner case, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck says he's trying to find out what officers have to say about racism in the department. "We're doing very large-level focus groups to determine department attitudes and views on racism within the organization," Beck told KNX1070s Ed Mertz.
CBS LA

Extortion ring demanded "rent" from Hollywood food truck owners
Gang members targeted food trucks as part of an extortion ring that demanded "rent" from operators if they wanted to park at locations in Hollywood, according to grand jury indictments unsealed Monday. Twenty reputed members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang operated in the Hollywood area for about five years. They approached food truck operators, beginning in July 2007, and demanded $30 to $100 per week as part of the shakedown.
NBC4

Parolee accused of shooting Fullerton police officer
A 29-year-old parolee gang member acquitted two weeks ago in an attempted murder and carjacking case is now being charged with shooting a Fullerton police officer multiple times at close range, the Orange County district attorney's office said in a statement. After being pulled over in a routine traffic stop early Sunday, Marcos Allen Bush allegedly pulled out a gun and shot the officer at point-blank range in the chest.
Los Angeles Times

Gun Control

Assault weapons ban dropped from gun bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid on Tuesday declared politically dead the effort to ban military-style assault weapons, a setback for President Obama and gun-control advocates who are pushing the Senate to move quickly on bills to limit gun violence. Reid (D-Nev.) is preparing to move ahead with debate on a series of gun-control proposals when the Senate returns from a two-week Easter recess in early April.
Washington Post

Prisons

Gov. Jerry Brown takes notice of realignment complaints
As lawmakers stepped up pressure to modify California's historic prison realignment - most recently at a news conference Tuesday featuring a crime victim in a wheelchair - Gov. Jerry Brown is taking notice. The Democratic governor traveled to Palo Alto this month to confer with researchers about the impact of the law, which shifts responsibility for certain low-level offenders from the state prison and parole system to the counties.
Sacramento Bee

Counties now facing inmate lawsuits
California has spent billions of dollars and endured years of federal lawsuits to improve conditions in its state prisons, but the problems it has been trying to correct are now trickling down to local governments as county jails deal with thousands of additional inmates. Law firms advocating for inmates' rights have sued or threatened lawsuits against a handful of California counties because of Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to send lower-level offenders to local jails instead of state prisons as a way to comply with a federal court order.
Associated Press

Public Safety

LAFD delays key emergency response reforms
The Los Angeles Fire Department has delayed two reform measures designed to respond to the controversy over its diminished resources and faulty response times, according to LAFD officials at Tuesday's meeting of the city Fire Commission. Fire Chief Brian Cummings told the panel he's pulling back for more study an ambitious plan called for by the City Council that would boost the department's ranks and aim to lift its sagging response times.
Los Angeles Times

City Election

Powerful labor group endorses Wendy Greuel
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, which represents 300 public and private employee unions, endorsed City Controller Wendy Greuel for mayor on Tuesday, saying she's the best candidate to represent working families. The endorsement comes a week after the County Fed's political arm recommended backing Greuel.
Los Angeles Daily News