Law Enforcement

Mayor Eric Garcetti announces shake-up of LAPD commission
Mayor Eric Garcetti put his mark on the Los Angeles Police Department on Wednesday, announcing plans to shake up the civilian panel that oversees the force with four new members. The most notable name on Garcetti's list of nominees was real estate developer Steve Soboroff, one of the city's power elite and a staunch supporter of Garcetti during his run for mayor.
Los Angeles Times

Crime alerts for Venice, West Hills 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. Nine neighborhoods reported a significant increase in violent crime. Venice was the most unusual, recording 19 reports compared with a weekly average of 4.0 over the last three months. West Hills topped the list of two neighborhoods with property crime alerts.
Los Angeles Times

Man arrested for 1990 armed robbery, slaying of South L.A. grocer
A man long suspected of killing a local market owner in 1990 is now in jail for the man's slaying. Marcus Lynn Perkins, 42, is being held without bail in the killing of Timoteo Pena, who was shot to death during an armed robbery at Pena's Sinaloa Meat and Grocery Market in South L.A. 23 years ago. Pena was killed in a shootout with an armed robber, Los Angeles police said in a news release.
Los Angeles Times

Missing ICE agent, subject of massive Hollywood search,found safe
An ICE agent who was reported missing, launching a major search in Hollywood on Wednesday night, was found safe, authorities said.The agent was apparently "picked up by a fellow (ICE) employee after experiencing vehicle problems overnight on a local freeway," said Virginia Kice, spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
NBC4

LAPD encourages safe driving during 'School Zone Crosswalk Awareness Detail'
Los Angeles police Wednesday held a back-to-school safety and crossing guard awareness event. The School Zone Crosswalk Awareness Detail began at 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Vanowen Street near Columbus Avenue Elementary School. "We're hoping to avoid the tickets, and make sure everybody's aware of the increased vehicular traffic, but also the little kids that are walking to school and riding their bikes," LAPD Valley Traffic Division Captain Maureen Ryan told KNX1070.
CBS LA

Palms merchants demand fix for alleged ticket trap on National Blvd.
Activists on Motor Avenue heightened their call on city officials Wednesday to fix what they believe is a ticket trap at a congested intersection in their Palms neighborhood. For three hours during the morning rush, drivers going east or west on National Boulevard are not allowed to turn north onto Motor, a main route into Century City. Drivers who miss or ignore the signs often receive traffic tickets.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD seeks suspects in Hollywood CVS robbery
Robbery detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Division asked the public's help Wednesday to find two males and two females wanted for robbing a CVS store. About 8:30 p.m. on July 16 the suspects entered the store in the 1700 block of Cahuenga Boulevard, near Hollywood Boulevard. One inside, they distracted an employee while another removed merchandise from the shelves. When the clerk approached, two additional suspects confronted her, challenging her to a fight.
Hollywood Patch

FBI investigating 'sextortion' case targeting Miss Teen USA
The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed Wednesday they were investigating an alleged "sextortion" case involving newly crowned Miss Teen USA Cassidy Wolf from Orange County and other women. Laura Eimiller, spokeswoman for the FBI's Los Angeles office, said the investigation was several months old but would not discuss any details of the case, including whether a suspect had been identified.
Los Angeles Times

Baca faces challenge from former Sheriff's Dept. commander
A retired Los Angeles County sheriff's commander who played a role in exposing abuses inside the agency's jails announced Wednesday that he is going to challenge Sheriff Lee Baca in next year's election. Bob Olmsted promised to clean up a department that he says has been beset by scandal because of mismanagement and cronyism by Baca.
Los Angeles Times

Pensions

Garcetti puts former mayoral rival Emanuel Pleitez on pension board
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has chosen former mayoral candidate Emanuel Pleitez to serve on the panel that oversees retirement benefits for the city's police officers and firefighters, according to public records. Garcetti filed paperwork with the city clerk last week nominating Pleitez, 30, to the nine-member Fire and Police Pensions board, a panel that has a narrow majority of its members selected by the mayor.
Los Angeles Times

Public Health

California's worst-in-the-nation boozing cost $32 billion in one year
A new report by the Centers for Disease Control found that excessive drinking - defined as five or more drinks on an occasion for men and four for women - cost California $32 billion in 2006 alone. That's the highest overall cost for any state in the country, though the District of Columbia had higher per-person costs (about $1,662) with its much smaller population, the Silicon Valley Business Journal reports.
San Francisco Business Times

City Government

City approves up to $1 billion for Jordan Downs transformation
The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to officially create an "urban village" of shops, town homes and a park and gardens to replace Jordan Downs, the notorious Watts housing project. The unanimous vote gave final approval to a series of land use and planning laws four years in the drafting. The move clears the way for an up to $1-billion transformation of one of the city's most poverty-stricken and violent areas.
Los Angeles Times