Law Enforcement

LAX shooting: Some TSA agents should be armed, union says
The president of the union representing more than 45,000 Transportation Security Administration agents urged Congress and the agency on Monday to create a new class of officers that would be armed with weapons. J. David Cox Sr., president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 45,000 Transportation Security Administration agents, said that the "sad truth is that our TSA officers are subject to daily verbal assaults and far too frequent physical attacks while performing their security duties."
Los Angeles Times

LAX shooting: LAPD missed intercepting alleged shooter by minutes
Police officials missed checking in on Paul Anthony Ciancia "by a matter of minutes" before a deadly shooting rampage occurred at Los Angeles International Airport, the chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee said Sunday. Ciancia, who police say shot and killed a Transportation Security Administration screener at LAX, was dropped off at the airport by one of his roommates about 9 a.m. Friday, shortly before the deadly shooting rampage occurred, according to authorities.
Los Angeles Times

LAX shooting: Authorities defend massive response
As a SWAT team leader for the Los Angeles office of the FBI, Patrick Conley taught law enforcement how to proceed in the hours after a major event, such as the shooting Friday at Los Angeles International Airport. No matter how obvious a crime scene seems, Conley said, officers must methodically consider every possibility. Only then, he said, can they clear the area. "We used to tell them if you are going to hand a scene over, you have to be willing to have your 2-year-son sit on the floor and you have to know he's going to be safe," said Conley, now a managing director at Risk Control Strategies in Westlake Village.
Torrance Daily Breeze

LAX shooting: Gunman's rifle may have been ready to fire in his bag
The semiautomatic rifle used in the LAX shooting rampage Friday was purchased at a Van Nuys gun store and could fit into the bag the alleged gunman brought to the airport, a federal law enforcement source told The Times. The source said the weapon was a Smith and Wesson M&P 15, 5.56-millimeter and .223-caliber, which was purchased at the Target Range Gun Store, 16140 Cohasset St., Van Nuys. The source said the weapon is not "collapsible," but it could "easily fit ready to fire" into the luggage bag the alleged shooter brought into the airport, added the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD seeks to fire two officers over coerced sex
Los Angeles police officials are seeking to fire two officers after an internal investigation determined that they pressured women to engage in sex acts with them in their car while on duty, sources said. The officers, James Nichols and Luis Valenzuela, have been ordered to appear at disciplinary hearings, where it will be decided whether to fire them. Through his attorney, Nichols denied wrongdoing. Neither Valenzuela nor his attorney could be reached.
Los Angeles Times

Gang member in critical condition after police shooting
A gang member was in critical condition Monday morning after he was shot by police during a foot-chase in Boyle Heights. The incident started at 9:45 p.m. Sunday when officers patrolling near the intersection of 4th and Soto streets approached someone "they recognized as a known gang member," said Los Angeles Police Department officer Norma Eisenman. As the officers approached, the man began running and reached for his waistband, Eisenman said.
Los Angeles Times

Suspected drunk driver crashes on Avenue 52
A suspected drunk driver led Los Angeles Police Department officers on a brief pursuit early Monday morning before crashing into a brick wall on Avenue 52 near the 110 freeway in the Mount Washington area, injuring himself and his passenger, a sergeant said. The accident happened at about 1:30 a.m., according to LAPD Sgt. Gregory Hoyt. "A possible DUI driver was noticed on Avenue 52 and pursued by LAPD officers," Hoyt said.
City News Service

The Environment

California won't meet 2050 emissions goals, report says
Barring a sweeping policy change or the introduction of new technology, California will fall short of its goals to drastically curtail greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, according to a new report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The good news is that California remains on pace to cut emissions to their 1990 level by 2020, a goal set out in a 2005 executive order issued by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Sacramento Bee

City Government

City should sponsor state quake ballot measure, L.A. officials say
Two L.A. City Council members are calling for their colleagues to back a statewide ballot measure that provides funding to cities for "earthquake safety improvements," including helping property owners strengthen potentially dangerous buildings that could collapse in a major temblor. The resolution, proposed Friday by Tom LaBonge and seconded by Mitch Englander, asks the City Council and Mayor Eric Garcetti to support or sponsor state legislation that would help fund local seismic safety efforts.
Los Angeles Times