Law Enforcement

Supreme Court sides with LAPD in warrantless house search
The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that police officers may enter and search a home without a warrant as long as one occupant consents, even if another resident has previously objected. The ruling -- based on a case involving a Los Angeles Police Department search -- gives the police more leeway to search homes without obtaining a warrant, even in situations where there is no emergency.
Los Angeles Times

Gaps revealed in GPS tracking of ex-cons
The county Probation Department lost track of some ex-cons and juvenile delinquents for days, sometimes weeks, at a time because of flaws with its GPS electronic monitoring system, Probation Chief Jerry Powers said Tuesday. "This is a blueprint for how not to implement a GPS program," Powers admitted to the Board of Supervisors, while adding that corrective measures are underway. GPS ankle bracelets are supposed to help probation officers monitor the location of about 430 adults, most of them released from state prisons, and 550 juveniles.
Los Angeles Daily News

Man's body found in trunk of burning Audi in Arleta alleyway
A man's body was found in the trunk of a burning car Monday night in an alley in Arleta and detectives are asking for the public's help in finding out what happened. The man, who was not immediately identified but is believed to be between 25 and 35 years old, was found in the truck of the burning Audi A4 at about 10:30 p.m. "The fire fully engulfed the passenger compartment, but never made it to the trunk," Los Angeles Police Lt. Paul Vernon said in a statement.
Los Angeles Times

Charges announced in fatal shootings of two boys, 7 and 17 years old
Authorities announced charges Tuesday in the fatal shootings last year of a 7-year-old boy and a teenager in separate incidents police say were linked to an ongoing gang feud. Charles Adam Hall, 17, was killed Sept. 1 in a drive-by shooting in Mid-Wilshire. Police said gunshots were fired at Hall from a white four-door sedan in the 1400 block of South Redondo Boulevard. On Dec. 2, Taalib Pecantte, 7, was a passenger in a car with his mother and a man when he was fatally shot in Mid-City about two miles away from the first killing.
Los Angeles Times

Two fires at Porter Ranch home in as many days; arson investigated
Arson investigators were at a San Fernando Valley home Tuesday morning after firefighters responded to blazes at the address two days in a row. The first fire was reported early Monday, when the Los Angeles Fire Department was called out to the two-story home at 19016 Muirkirk Drive in Porter Ranch. There were three people home at the time; one was taken to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
Los Angeles Times

Helinet Technologies selected by LAPD for upgrade of department's microwave downlink system for airborne law enforcement
Helinet Technologies, an international provider of aviation technology solutions to the law enforcement, government and military markets, announced Tuesday its selection by the LAPD to develop and support a technology upgrade of the microwave downlink system utilized by the department's Air Support Division (ASD). The existing downlink, which was also developed by Helinet, is a key ASD asset, enabling air crews to transmit uninterrupted HD video and data from LAPD aircraft to ground personnel and command sites in real time.
Helinet Technologies News Release

Emergency Response

Assembly committee will probe LAX emergency response
A select committee of the state Assembly will hold a hearing Friday to assess the emergency response to the Nov. 1 shooting at Los Angeles International Airport that left a TSA officer dead and three others wounded. Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez, D-Chino, said his Select Committee on Local Emergency Preparedness will conduct a public hearing at 10 a.m. in the airport's Central Administration Building. The building is located at 1 World Way.
Torrance Daily Breeze

City Government

L.A. firefighters' average overtime pay rose 20% in 2013
The average Los Angeles firefighter earned nearly $43,000 in overtime in 2013, up nearly 20% from the previous year, according to data released Tuesday by City Controller Ron Galperin. With overtime and bonuses factored in, the average firefighter was paid more than $142,000 last year, the data show. While firefighters got the biggest share, overtime was up substantially across city departments, climbing more than $70 million to a total of $378 million in 2013, the data show.
Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles City Hall panel hears from out-of-work film, TV workers
Dozens of Los Angeles film and television workers gathered at Los Angeles City Hall on Monday night to share somber stories of layoffs and diminishing job opportunities in the entertainment industry. More than 75 people - from prop-house owners to union leaders - packed the chamber to talk about the effects of runaway production. Kaiser Clark, a production crew member, worked just four months in 2013. "I'm here because I've got some time on my hands," Clark told the panel.
Los Angeles Daily News

First step toward fracking ban in L.A. taken by land use panel
A Los Angeles City Council committee took a first step Tuesday toward banning hydraulic fracturing and other disputed practices tied to oil extraction, winning cheers and applause from a packed auditorium. "Fracking and other unconventional drilling is happening here in Los Angeles, and without the oversight and review to keep our neighborhoods safe," Councilman Mike Bonin told the Planning and Land Use Management Committee. The panel decided to pass the matter along to the council after hearing from dozens of supporters.
Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles to study expanding living wage to more businesses
Using a proposal to impose a living wage on workers at hotels of more than 100 rooms, a city panel on Tuesday called for a study of the plan and to see if it can be broadened to increase the wages of all workers. "This is just the start," Councilman Curren Price said. "The people of my district elected me to do what's right. There have been some estimates on what this will do to bring more money into the economy. We can't wait to do that." Price is chair of the council's Economic Development Committee, and he asked that a study on the expansion of the living wage be completed in 45 days.
Los Angeles Daily News