Law Enforcement

Crime alerts for Cypress Park 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. Six neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Cypress Park was the most unusual, recording five reports compared with a weekly average of 0.7 over the last three months.
Los Angeles Times

Gunman killed by police after multiple LAPD officers fired upon
Five Los Angeles police officers were shot at by a man who was killed when police returned fire on Sunday afternoon, authorities said. The incident occurred 12:20 p.m. in Pacoima at Glenoaks and Van Nuys boulevards, according to the acting watch commander at the Los Angeles Police Department's Foothill Division. The acting watch commander, who refused to give her name to NBC4, originally said multiple officers were injured in the shooting.
NBC4

Reseda: Knife-wielding man who entered LAPD station zapped with stun gun
A knife-wielding man who entered the Los Angeles Police Department's West Valley Station in Reseda Friday morning was zapped with a stun gun and shot with beanbag rounds after he refused commands to drop the weapon, authorities said. The man, whose age was not immediately available, entered the lobby of the station at 19030 Vanowen Street around 12:40 a.m., said Sgt. Jason Zabel. The suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries, he said.
City News Service

Villaraigosa touts crime decline on last day in office
On his last day in office, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa sneaked in a final chance to tout what has become his go-to success story: crime declines. With the year almost half over, police statistics through last week showed across-the-board drops in all categories of serious crime compared to the same time period last year. The 128 homicides, for example, represent a 13.5% decline and put the city on pace to finish the year with a historic low of about 260 killings.
Los Angeles Times

Columbus Street, San Fernando Valley gang, subject to new injunction
An injunction against the San Fernando Valley's Columbus Street gang was approved Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the city attorney's office announced. The injunction prohibits 18 members of the gang from associating with one another within a specified zone in Panorama City and North Hills and engaging in other activities such as intimidating witnesses.
Los Angeles Daily News

Audit: LA pays out millions in lawsuits by police
The city has paid out about $110 million in jury awards and settlements for lawsuits that police officers have brought against the Police Department over a six-year period, according to an audit report released Friday. As part of the audit, the Los Angeles Police Commission's inspector general focused on the $31 million paid out in employment liability cases - those involving discrimination, harassment and retaliation - and primarily selected those with either a large payout by the city or high demand by the plaintiff.
Associated Press

Former police chief Bratton launches a social network for cops
Bill Bratton, the high-profile police commissioner who has run three of America's largest police forces, is preparing to launch the first comprehensive social media network for police officers - a kind of Facebook for cops. The network, known as BlueLine, will be launched globally at the International Association of Police Chiefs annual conference in Philadelphia in October.
Reuters

L.A. releases list of 134 medical marijuana clinics allowed in the city
The Los Angeles City Attorney's office on Friday released a list of 134 medical marijuana dispensaries that will be qualified to operate under Proposition D, the May 21 measure approved by city voters. The dispensaries on the list are those that registered with the city prior to City Hall imposing a moratorium on new facilities in 2007. Opponents of the measure, who are seeking to allow more clinics to open in the city, have said they are reviewing possible legal challenges to the city's law.
Los Angeles Daily News

Prisons

Governor seeks to delay freeing 10K Calif. inmates
Gov. Jerry Brown's administration on Friday asked a panel of federal judges to delay its order that California release nearly 10,000 additional inmates by year's end, granting him time to appeal the decision to the nation's high court. The judges have said they will permit no further delays in reducing prison crowding, which they previously found was the leading cause of an unconstitutional level of inmate medical care.
Sacramento Bee

City Government

Eric Garcetti taking L.A. 'back to basics'
In an inauguration that eschewed formal pageantry, Eric Garcetti was sworn in Sunday night as Los Angeles' 42nd mayor, a position he said he would to use to bolster the city's economy and create jobs. Stating the tough economic times call for a "back to basics" mayor, Garcetti, the former councilman from Silver Lake, vowed to work with residents to spur economic growth in the city. Repeatedly, he said that Angelenos would play a part in shaping the city's future.
Los Angeles Daily News

L.A. voters mostly upbeat as new mayor Eric Garcetti starts his job
Los Angeles voters are upbeat about the city's quality of life as Eric Garcetti prepares to take over as mayor - even if they remain frustrated by traffic jams, substandard schools, costly housing and the backlog of unrepaired streets, according to a new USC Price/Los Angeles Times poll. Those long-standing gripes aside, solid majorities said they were satisfied with the city's police, parks, libraries, public transportation, emergency services and healthcare system.
Los Angeles Times

Garcetti is only part of the big changeover at L.A. City Hall
Sunday's inaugural festivities at Los Angeles City Hall weren't just about Mayor-elect Eric Garcetti, the veteran councilman who is replacing termed-out Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The event marked the most dramatic transformation of the city's political leadership since 2001, with nine of the city's 18 elected offices changing hands. A total of 11 politicians, including Garcetti, were sworn in during the event, which was held on the Spring Street side of City Hall, followed by a party at Grand Park.
Los Angeles Times