Law Enforcement

LAPD praised for limited response to Zimmerman protests
For the last few days, Los Angeles police gave demonstrators a wide berth as they protested the acquittal in Florida of former neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin. They hung back when marchers blocked city streets and even shut down a major freeway. But after a largely peaceful demonstration devolved into violence and vandalism, LAPD officials on Tuesday decided to change tactics. Images of young people storming a Wal-Mart, attacking a television crew and taunting passing motorists had city and police leaders promising a much stronger, more aggressive police response if the upheaval continues.
Los Angeles Times

Protests over Zimmerman acquittal continue amid strong police presence
With police vowing to crack down on disorderly conduct, protests over the George Zimmerman acquittal continued in Los Angeles on Tuesday for the fourth day, with demonstrators calling for legal reform and intervention by the federal government in the Florida case. At least two different demonstrations were held Tuesday night, while a third was canceled for fear of violence. Initial reports from the gatherings at City Hall and Leimert Park were that they were relatively peaceful.
Los Angeles Daily News

Zimmerman protests: L.A. files first charges against demonstrator
A 24-year-old man was charged Tuesday for allegedly punching a police officer during a demonstration in Mid-City, marking the first person L.A. prosecutors have charged in the series of protests against the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial, prosecutors said. Brandon Bell, of Los Angeles, faces one count each of battery on a police officer, disobeying the orders of a police officer and resisting arrest, the L.A. city attorney's office said. If convicted on all counts, Bell could face up to two years in jail.
Los Angeles Times

Hollywood hit by roaming band of robbers, police say
At least 14 people were taken into custody Tuesday night and many more remained at large after marauding bands of young people conducted a string of robberies, assaults and acts of vandalism along Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles police said late Tuesday. The crimes did not appear to be related to the protests over the George Zimmerman acquittal in the slaying of Trayvon Martin. Incident commander Dennis Kato said police were inundated with phone calls beginning about 9 p.m., reporting that packs of young people were roaming along Hollywood and attacking people.
Los Angeles Times

Crime alerts for Encino, Hancock Park, 8 other L.A. neighborhoods
Crime reports are up significantly for the latest week in 10 L.A. neighborhoods, according to an analysis of Los Angeles Police Department data by the Los Angeles Times' Crime L.A. database. Nine neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Encino was the most unusual, recording six reports compared with a weekly average of 0.7 over the last three months. Hancock Park was the lone neighborhood with a property-crime alert.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD says man fatally shot after approaching officers with gun
A man was fatally shot by Los Angeles police on Tuesday night after he approached officers with a gun, a police spokesperson said. Plainclothes officers were driving down the 1700 block of Pico Boulevard about 9 p.m. when they were approached by a man with a gun, public information officer Rosario Herrera said. The man was shot and died at the scene. No officers were injured. After the shooting, police saw "multiple suspects" running into a church storefront, Herrera said. Police were removing people systematically from the building Tuesday night to search it.
Los Angeles Times

Proposed mediation program deserves support
A workplace mediation program - monitored outside of the LAPD - is an excellent idea, and the time to institute such a program has come. That is why we support Los Angeles Police Commission Inspector General Alexander Bustamante's call for such a program, which is in the best interests of our membership, the LAPD and taxpayers. We urge the Police Commission to act swiftly to give final approval to the program called for in the Inspector General's audit that would utilize independent lawyers with expertise in employment litigation to serve as mediators chosen from a mutually agreeable panel.
LAPPL Blog

LAPD seeks public's help to identify suspects in Victorville man's murder
Police Tuesday were asking for the public's help in identifying two murder suspects wanted in the death of a Victorville man. Dejon Ward, 21, was found shot to death in his car around 12:45 p.m. on July 12 near Venice Boulevard and 12th Street in Arlington Heights, Los Angeles police said. Ward was sitting in his vehicle in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven store when the shooter approached him on foot and fired several rounds into the vehicle, police said. "He wasn't involved in any criminal activity. He was not armed.
CBS LA

City Government

Prisons & Parole

LA County rejected over release of sex predator
A California appeals court on Tuesday rejected a challenge to the release of a sexually violent predator to Los Angeles County. LA County Supervisor Mike Antonovich said in a statement that the 6th District Court of Appeal's ruling on the release of Christopher Hubbart Evans Hubbart, 62, was "very disappointing." The writ filed earlier this month by District Attorney Jackie Lacey did not challenge the conditional release of Hubbart from a state hospital that was granted by a panel in May, only the location of his release.
Associated Press

L.A. Supervisors agree to act on billion-dollar jail renovation
Concerned about possible federal intervention into the operation of Los Angeles County's system of jails, the Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to take a significant step toward replacing the Men's Central Jail and renovating other facilities to reduce crowding and increase mental-health services for prisoners. The five-member board voted unanimously to accept a report from consultants who outlined five options. All included tearing down and replacing the Men's Central Jail and reconfiguring other existing facilities.
Los Angeles Times