Law Enforcement

LAPD recruits endure tough training, then hit reality on the streets
The LAPD academy class was a mix of people from different backgrounds struggling to make it through training together. For those who did, the streets of L.A. took the challenge to a new level.
Los Angeles Times

Bryan Stow beating suspects would get prison for guilty pleas
Two men charged with beating San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow at Dodger Stadium in 2011 would each get prison time under a deal that calls on them to plead guilty to the attack. Marvin Norwood, 30, and Louie Sanchez, 31, face charges of mayhem, assault and battery, and inflicting great bodily injury in the beating of Stow, a 44-year-old father of two. Law enforcement sources said that under the plea deal, Norwood would get four years in prison and Sanchez would get eight years.
Los Angeles Times

Police seek leads in slaying of retired teacher in Hollywood
Los Angeles police detectives are searching for leads in the slaying of an 82-year-old retired high school teacher last week in his Hollywood apartment. Harry Major was found dead Feb. 12 in the 1400 block of North Vista Street in Hollywood. Detectives found evidence of blunt force trauma and a possible robbery during their initial investigation, said LAPD Det. Mark Morgan. "The guy's credit cards were missing," Morgan said.
Los Angeles Times

Man who set off Hollywood Hills manhunt is charged with murder
A 54-year-old man who was arrested in San Francisco after eluding a manhunt in the Hollywood Hills was charged with murder this week in connection with a fatal motel room stabbing in the Westmont neighborhood of Los Angeles. Oscar Richmond Bridges was charged Tuesday with one count of murder carrying a special allegation that he used a knife, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
Los Angeles Times

Child injured by glass fragments in Mid-City shooting
A 30-year-old man was wounded by gunfire and a child was apparently injured by glass fragments in a shooting in Mid-City, Los Angeles police said Wednesday night. The child and man were treated by paramedics and taken to hospitals after the shooting broke out in the 2000 block of South Corning Street, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Det. Gus Villanueva said investigators had not released the age of the child and were trying to determine if the child was related to the man who was wounded.
Los Angeles Times

Man wanted on felony warrant leads police on car, foot chase in North Hollywood
A man leading officers on a car chase through North Hollywood jumped out of his vehicle and ran into a backyard before being taken into custody. Police first began following the suspect, wanted on a felony warrant, as he drove southbound on Van Nuys Boulevard, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. The suspect drove into the 6700 block of Goodland Avenue, a residential area, and ran out of the car and into a home.
CBS LA

The harsh dilemma of preparing kids for the worst at school
You're a parent, volunteering to supervise recess at your child's campus when suddenly you spot him. A masked shooter, armed to the teeth, heading straight into the building. Do you consider yourself responsible for the students around you, and herd them to a safe place? Or do you try to locate your own child first? Los Angeles Police Department Officer Charles Dinse posed this startling scenario recently to a group of 60 or so parents gathered in Woodland Hills, Calif., to hear his presentation on active-shooter drills.
Huffington Post

Homeland Security

ICE license-plate tracking plan withdrawn amid outcry about privacy
Homeland security officials on Wednesday abruptly shelved a proposal to build a national database of license-plate scans after criticism from privacy advocates. The proposal, which had been posted online last week by the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, sought a contractor who could establish a searchable database of license plates, with the times and locations where they were spotted by traffic cameras and other sources.
CNN

Prisons

Prisoners' use of smuggled cellphones on the rise
They're hidden in babies' diapers, ramen noodle soup packages, footballs, soda cans and even body cavities. Not drugs or weapons, but cellphones. They're becoming a growing problem in prisons across the country as they are used to make threats, plan escapes and for inmates to continue to make money from illegal activity even while behind bars.
Time

Legislation

Bill proposes providing TSA screeners killed in line of duty with death benefits
TSA screeners would receive the same death benefits if killed in the line of duty as other federal law enforcement officers if a bill introduced last week by Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village, becomes law. The Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, written in response to the Nov. 1 shooting of Gerardo Hernandez at LAX, would amend a 1968 law and provide death benefits to TSA screeners killed while "performing official duties related to protecting the nation's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce."
Ventura County Star

City Government

Facing $300-million shortfall, DWP resumes automatic bill collections
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power resumed sending out automatic notices to customers who are short on their bills this week, months after halting the practice amid alarm over erroneous charges. The effort is meant to help mop up a revenue shortfall of more than $300 million. Assistant general manager of customer service Sharon Grove said automatic collections have been resuming in phases, starting with commercial customers who have owed more than $10,000 for more than 90 days.
Los Angeles Times