Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Arleta and 12 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 13 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. Arleta was the most unusual, recording five reports compared with a weekly average of 1.4 over the last three months.
Los Angeles Times

Man, 29, arrested in kidnapping of Northridge girl; second suspect still at large
Los Angeles police have arrested a 29-year-old man on suspicion of kidnapping a 10-year-old Northridge girl last week, and are still looking for another man wanted in connection with the crime. Daniel Martinez of West Hills was arrested early Sunday in the 18200 block of Rayen Street in Northridge, about two miles east of the girl's residence. Police announced the arrest Monday afternoon and said Martinez was being held on $1 million bail.
Los Angeles Daily News

LAPD arrests reputed 'Red Car Flasher' after 2-year search
Los Angeles police said Monday they have arrested the reputed "Red-Car Flasher," who has been sought for the last two years in connection with nearly a dozen cases of alleged indecent exposure in the San Fernando Valley. Luis Bucio-Cedeno, 24, was arrested Friday on suspicion of indecent exposure, child annoying, lewd conduct and sexual battery.
Los Angeles Times

Work of San Bernardino dispatcher during Dorner shootout praised
Dispatchers are considered lifelines for police officers and firefighters. When all heck is breaking loose, a calm dispatcher can make sense out of chaos and get more help for officers and firefighters on the scene. The blog on the Los Angeles Police Protective League website recently praised all dispatchers while singling out one for her professionalism under stress.
Riverside Press-Enterprise

Pensions

Stockton bankruptcy clears way for CalPERS pension fight
A federal judge ruled Monday that Stockton is eligible for bankruptcy protection, but left the door open for CalPERS obligations to be part of negotiations in the coming phases of the bankruptcy. Over the objection of creditors who argued the city could come up with more money, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Klein said Stockton can move forward with a plan to reorganize debt.
Los Angeles Times

Prison Realignment

Antonovich blasts prison realignment program in wake of Northridge kidnapping
Tobias Summers, the man wanted in the kidnapping of a 10-year-old Northridge girl, has a long rap sheet, which includes a kidnapping charge. Summers was released from prison July as part of the realignment program that eased overcrowding by releasing nonviolent offenders, KNX1070s Ed Mertz reports. Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich says more than 93 percent of the 14,000 offenders who had been on active supervision by the county probation instead of the state parole supervision are high-risk and high offenders.
CBS LA

Legislation

California lawmakers consider regulating, taxing ammunition
Gun control advocates in Sacramento are putting a new twist on an old NRA slogan: "Guns don't kill people -- bullets kill people." Democratic lawmakers are pushing like never before to regulate or tax ammunition sales. They say the logic is simple: A firearm is nothing but an expensive paperweight without ammunition. "We regulated gun sales because of our concern about safety, (so) by logical extension we should do so with bullets," said state Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, whose AB48 will be heard Tuesday by the Assembly Public Safety Committee.
Los Angeles Daily News

People

Longtime DA spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons retires
For 24 years, Sandi Gibbons was the public face of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office to Southland media. But no more. The DA spokeswoman, or flack as she calls herself, retired March 30. "It was time to go," the 72-year-old West Covina resident said. "I've served three DAs. That's enough." Gibbons pointed out she actually worked for four DAs since Jackie Lacey took office in December.
Los Angeles Daily News

Woman among those under consideration to lead FBI
The Obama administration has begun to search for a replacement for FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III, and for the first time one of the leading contenders is a woman. One of several people under consideration, according to current and past administration officials, is Lisa Monaco, who left a senior post at the Justice Department this month to become President Obama's top counterterrorism adviser. Mueller, 68, will step down Sept. 4 after 12 years on the job.
Washington Post