Law Enforcement

LAPD launches new effort to fight crime along Venice boardwalk
People visiting the Venice Boardwalk may notice an increased police presence, after the Los Angeles Police Department assigned a new bike patrol to the popular tourist zone. The patrol, which includes ten officers and a supervisor, will cycle around the boardwalk and surrounding areas to look for vending violations and other potential problems, according Sgt. Brian Gura of the LAPD Pacific Division. "Bicycles can get into tight areas that a car can not," Sgt. Gura said.
KTLA

LAPD seeks public's help in locating missing man with autism
Authorities are seeking the public's help in locating a missing man with autism. Brandon Jordan, 20, was last seen around 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the 3000 block of Dublin Avenue, Los Angeles police said in a department statement. The statement described Jordan as a high-functioning autistic man with black hair and brown eyes. Jordan is 5-feet, 6-inches tall and weighs roughly 110 pounds. Police said he was last seen wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt with red trim, gray lounge pants, and black sandals.
CBS LA

Meth-fueled stolen-SUV chase ends on foot on Century Freeway
A man high on meth and suspected of stealing an SUV was arrested in South Los Angeles Friday after a vehicle pursuit followed by a 200-yard foot chase by six Los Angeles police officers on the Century (105) Freeway, authorities said. A quarter-mile stretch of the freeway's westbound lanes was closed just west of South Figueroa Street after the suspect, a 25-year-old man, left the stolen green Suburban and two passengers in lanes and took flight around 12:50 a.m., LAPD Sgt. Scott Stevens said.
City News Service

Encino fatal elderly shooting: $75K reward offered
There is a $75,000 reward being offered to help police solve the shooting death of an 80-year-old Encino resident. Harvey Cohen, 80, was shot in his home on the 5300 block of Andasol Avenue and later died at the hospital. The Los Angeles City Council is offering $50,000 to anyone with information that leads to the identity, arrest and prosecution of those responsible. Cohen's family is offering another $25,000 on top of that.
ABC7

Public's help sought to find man missing nearly 7 years
The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's help to track down a missing 72-year-old man. The LAPD describes the missing man as a cold case. Adolfo Del Rio, who has Alzheimer's, was last seen on November 15, 2007. Del Rio was last seen in the 100 block of South Virgil Avenue in the city of Los Angeles, according to authorities. KCAL9s Suraya Fadel spoke to the man's son, Kenneth Del Rio, who said the last six years have been painful.
CBS LA

Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Association endorses Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell for sheriff
The Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Association announced Thursday that its members will endorse Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell for Los Angeles County sheriff. "Chief McDonnell had the experience, integrity and leadership to reform and restore excellence in the Sheriff's Department," said Paul Cooper, president of the LACPCA in a written statement. "Nobody is better prepared to lead the department and work with all the police chiefs in L.A. County to make our communities as safe as possible."
Long Beach Press-Telegram

Courts

Judge to decide if community can challenge Echo Park gang injunction
Echo Park residents are awaiting a judge's decision on their request to intervene and prevent the City of Los Angeles from implementing a gang injunction in the neighborhood. L.A. County Superior Court Judge Abraham Khan has tentatively ruled in favor of the city. But after hearing arguments in his courtroom Friday, he told attorneys that he would deliver an official ruling at a later date.
KPCC

Court says L.A. must pay $700,000 to lawyers for skid row homeless
The city of Los Angeles must pay $700,000 to lawyers for skid row homeless people who successfully challenged a ban on sleeping in the streets, a federal appeals court has ruled. The lawyers offered a year ago to settle for a fraction of that amount, said civil rights attorney Carol Sobel, who was on the legal team for the homeless people. Mayor Eric Garcetti, then a councilman, and other council members present for the December 2012 vote rejected the offer.
Los Angeles Times

Prisons

State says gang members can reform, earn better prison treatment
Prison officials revealed new rules Friday that they say will make California the first state to recognize that inmates can quit prison gangs and put that lifestyle behind them, allowing them to escape the tough restrictions that gang members are subject to. However, gang associates would have to steer clear of gang activities for about a decade to qualify, while gang leaders would have to behave for a minimum of 14 years.
Associated Press

City Government

In L.A., anything but a crack response to tree-buckled sidewalks
When I asked for a list of all the claims filed against the city of Los Angeles by people who have tripped and injured themselves on city sidewalks, I didn't realize I might throw my back out just lifting the document. OK, a slight exaggeration. But the list is 98 pages long, and since 2007 the city has paid out several million dollars annually. While a few of the cases involve potholes or crumbling playgrounds, this is primarily a pedestrian vs. pavement problem, with the pavement always winning.
Los Angeles Times

Politics