Law Enforcement

Man slain in Wilmington by suspect with rifle
A 42-year-old man was shot to death Saturday morning outside a Wilmington apartment complex by a male suspect with a rifle who fled in a dark-colored SUV, Los Angeles police Sgt. Jerry Davila said Sunday. The victim was struck by gunshots in the face and torso at 8 a.m. and died a short while later at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Davila said. The Los Angeles County coroner's office had not released the victim's identity Sunday afternoon.
Los Angeles Times

Woman shot with father during deadly Santa Monica rampage dies
A 26-year-old Santa Monica College student shot during Friday's deadly rampage on campus died Sunday, according to a statement released by the college's president. "I am saddened to report that Marcela Franco passed away this morning at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, read the statement released by college president Chui L. Tsang. Carlos Franco, a longtime groundskeeper at the college, was on campus with his daughter so she could purchase text books for summer classes, according to the college. The Francos were killed when the gunman fired into an SUV driven by the father, who died at the scene. Three others were killed, two of whom were the father and brother of 23-year-old John Zawahri, who has been identified as the gunman.
Los Angeles Daily News

Police: Gunman had enough ammunition to possibly kill hundreds in Santa Monica shooting spree
The gunman who launched a shooting spree that left five people dead and injured four others had planned his attack, toting enough ammunition to possibly kill hundreds of people, Santa Monica police said Saturday. "I presume that any time someone puts on a vest of some sort, comes out with a bag full of loaded magazines, has an extra receiver, a handgun, and has a semi-automatic rifle, carjacks folks, goes to a college, kills more people and has to be neutralized at the hands of police - I would say that that's premeditated," said Santa Monica Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks.
Los Angeles Daily News

Night Stalker case led to changes in courts and law enforcement
The murders, attempted murders, rapes, assaults, robberies and thefts of Night Stalker Richard Ramirez forever changed law and order in Los Angeles County. Investigating and trying the satanic heavy metal fan in the mid- to late 1980s not only led to advances in forensic technology, but also led to changes in courthouse security even as it fostered better relationships between sometime rival law enforcement agencies.
Los Angeles Daily News

Youth wanted for LAPD Cadet Program
The Los Angeles Police Department is offering youth around the city the opportunity to develop fundamental skills while working with LAPD officers. The LAPD is now accepting applications for its Cadets Community Youth Program at police stations, including Hollywood, the Rampart Division and the Northeast Community Police Station.
Hollywood Patch

Prisons

Californians would go further than Gov. Brown to cut prison crowding
Most California voters are willing to take more drastic steps than Gov. Jerry Brown favors to reduce prison crowding, including the early release of nonviolent offenders, but they don't want to sacrifice public safety to reduce the inmate population, according to a new poll. Support for softened penalties comes as Brown is fighting an order from a panel of federal judges to continue shrinking the number of inmates in state prisons.
Los Angeles Times

Ballot Initiative

Initiative supporters want to bring California death penalty back to life
Frustrated by a recent appeals court ruling that invalidates the state's lethal injection procedures, supporters of the death penalty in California plan to launch a campaign to bring the suspended system back to life. Death penalty supporters hope to circumvent legal challenges to executions through a new initiative that would put in place a single-drug injection procedure for inmates condemned to death, such as the infamous Night Stalker serial killer Richard Ramirez, who died Friday of natural causes.
Torrance Daily Breeze

City Government

Getting L.A. back to basics
Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti is holding a series of "Getting L.A. Back to Basics" workshops across the city over the next several weeks prior to taking office July 1. He wants to hear ideas from Angelenos about how to improve our economy, make City Hall work better and strengthen our neighborhoods. A prerequisite for accomplishing these important goals is, of course, keeping our streets and neighborhoods safe. We salute Mayor-elect Garcetti for his outreach efforts even before he takes office. We wish him all the best for great success in his first term as Mayor of a safe and prosperous Los Angeles.
PublicSafetyFirst.com

Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti swamped with ideas, job candidates
In the first days since announcing his transition plans to seek ideas from the public and solicit new faces for city hall, Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti has been deluged with those who want to be part of the new administration, which takes the reins from outgoing Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on July 1. "In the first weekend, we received a few hundred emails from people who want to work in the administration, be a commissioner or offer suggestions," Garcetti spokesman Yusef Robb said.
Los Angeles Daily News

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says thanks to Los Angeles
It was billed as L.A.'s ultimate block party, but the Celebrate L.A. event at City Hall on Friday was as much as about saying farewell to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as a salute to the diversity of the city. Villaraigosa used the event, on the Spring Street steps of City Hall at Grand Avenue Park, to thank residents for his eight years as mayor as the crowd of several thousand also heard from former President Bill Clinton and Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti.
Los Angeles Daily News

L.A. Councilwoman Jan Perry withdraws pension request
Councilwoman Jan Perry said Friday she has decided to withdraw her request for a retirement pension from the city as she explores other options. Perry is part of a group of elected city officials who are being termed out on July 1 and she had filed papers this week to draw an annual pension of $84,098 for her 21.8 years of working for the city. "I just decided that I'm not ready to retire and want to be available for whatever is out there," Perry said, possibly including a new city job.
Los Angeles Daily News