Law Enforcement

Residents, police discuss ways to reduce San Fernando Valley crime at Town Hall meeting
With overall crime in the San Fernando Valley at its lowest level in decades, law enforcement aims to continue pushing those figures downward. Deputy Chief Jorge Villegas, who oversees operations in the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Bureau, told attendees at Wednesday night's State of Public Safety in the Valley update that he wants to further reduce crime this year in the area.
Los Angeles Daily News

After $50,000 reward offer still no progress in Gatto murder
Months after the murder of Silver Lake resident Joseph Gatto, and with apparently no leads, police have turned to the public for help. The Los Angeles Police Dept. (LAPD) offered a $50,000 reward on Jan. 7th hoping someone with knowledge of the crime will come forward. "My family is begging you, anyone, to come forward," said Gatto's son, California Assemblymember Mike Gatto, speaking before a throng of cameras at the January news conference.
Los Feliz Ledger

Crackdown on a New York way of life: aggressive driving, jaywalking
So far this year, at least 12 people have died after being hit by taxis, tour buses, delivery vans, trucks, personal vehicles and even an ambulance on New York streets, prompting city officials to launch a war on what many consider a way of life here: aggressive driving and jaywalking. New York isn't the first big city to attack the problem of pedestrian deaths and jaywalking. Los Angeles police launched a jaywalking crackdown in November, handing out citations in the Historic Core and Financial District.
Los Angeles Times

New L.A. County interim sheriff sworn in as Baca departs
Interim Los Angeles County Sheriff John L. Scott said Thursday that he left the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 2005 because he felt the agency was "headed in the wrong direction." "I saw inaction, and I saw a certain level of neglect," he said, referring to the rise in use of force incidents and other issues in the department. Scott said the department could have moved more quickly to reverse the trends.
Los Angeles Times

Do TV/movie cops influence real police officers?
"Just the facts, ma'am." If you're on the job and older than Justin Bieber, you probably remember that line being attributed to LAPD Sergeant Joe Friday - even if you only saw "Dragnet" in reruns! In reality, Joe never uttered those exact words, but for years he was the poster boy for police professionalism. So much so in fact, that an old LAPD bud of mine told me that the agency retired badge #714 in honor of Jack Webb, the actor who played Joe Friday for all those years that "Dragnet" aired.
Police One

Pensions

Public pension measure likely off for 2014 ballot
Efforts to put a public pension measure on the November ballot dimmed Thursday when the initiative's proponents said they would file a court challenge to the language assigned their measure by California Attorney General Kamala Harris. The challenge, likely to be filed in Sacramento Superior Court within the next few days, will take at least a few weeks to resolve even if a judge agrees to expedite the process.
Sacramento Bee

Public Safety

FCC moves to expand ability to send texts to 911 in emergencies
Federal regulators moved Thursday to expand the ability of people to send texts to 911 in emergencies, and are working on rules that would require wireless carriers to enable such messages by the end of the year. The Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously that texting to 911 should be widespread, and to begin soliciting comments from the public and industry about whether a Dec. 31 deadline for establishing the capability would be feasible.
Los Angeles Times

Cyber Security

Yahoo says email passwords stolen
Usernames and passwords of some of Yahoo's email customers have been stolen and used to gather personal information about people those Yahoo mail users have recently corresponded with, the company said Thursday. Yahoo didn't say how many accounts have been affected. Yahoo is the second-largest email service worldwide, after Google's Gmail, according to the research firm comScore. There are 273 million Yahoo mail accounts worldwide, including 81 million in the U.S.
Associated Press

Politics

Former Los Angeles mayor candidate Wendy Greuel to run for Waxman seat
Former Los Angeles city controller and unsuccessful mayoral candidate Wendy Greuel said Thursday that she plans to run for the Congressional seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Henry Waxman. "When I woke up this morning, I had no idea that someone as powerful as Henry Waxman would be retiring. I knew instantly in my gut that this district, the 33rd district, and his position was something I knew I could make a difference in," Greuel said in an interview. "He's a fighter and that's who I've been and I want to do that in Congress."
Los Angeles Times

City Government

Mayor picks new DWP boss, ousts another top utility executive
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Thursday continued his effort to overhaul the leadership of the city's much-criticized municipal utility and curb the influence of its powerful employees union by nominating a new agency boss and dismissing a top-ranking executive. Garcetti recommended Anaheim City Manager Marcie Edwards as the new general manager of the Department of Water and Power, which has been struggling to manage a series of controversies over spending and customer service.
Los Angeles Times