Law Enforcement

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck: 'This is the year of traffic' enforcement
Expect more focus on traffic safety and enforcement from Los Angeles police officers. "This year the department is going to concentrate greater than ever on traffic," police chief Charlie Beck said Tuesday. Two weeks ago, Beck said his operations chief declared it: "the year of traffic." "We've done such a remarkable job on crime, particularly violent crime, that we want to make sure we are providing total service," Beck told the police commission. L.A. Police Commission president Steve Soboroff asked the chief at the Feb. 18 meeting about ways to cut back on the number of hit and runs.
KPCC 89.3

LAPD Chief Beck says deported gang members may be in Syria
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck says two men claiming to be fighting in Syria are gang members who were deported. Beck said Tuesday he believes they've joined foreign fighters in Syria, based on an online video. In it the men, wearing camouflage, call themselves "Creeper" and "Wino," fire assault rifles at what they term "enimigas," shout out greetings to two Los Angeles street gangs and say they're "in Syria, gangbangin'."
KPCC 89.3

LAPD creates special birthday message for Tyler Seddon
The Los Angeles Police Department created a special birthday message for Tyler Seddon, the Rhode Island boy fighting leukemia for the second time. In a video posted to YouTube, members of the Los Angeles Police Department honored the wishes of Tyler's mother to have his heroes, first responders, wish him a happy birthday. "Kick that leukemia right where it hurts," the YouTube post said. "Get better, buddy! We're rooting for you."
WCVB Boston

Mother of two boys found wandering in South L.A. identified, sought
Police searched Tuesday for the mother of two toddlers found wandering on a busy South L.A. street after they tried to get a loaf of bread. Investigators were concerned about the well-being of Sidnicka Wilson, 32, of Los Angeles, after looking for her for more than a day now, said Los Angeles Police Capt. Lillian Carranza. "Normally, we don't have trouble finding parents," Carranza said. "We're concerned."
Los Angeles Times

Gunman carjacks man and daughter outside Pacoima library, forces father to withdraw money from ATM
A man who allegedly kidnapped a father and his 7-year-old daughter at gunpoint Monday afternoon remains at large, after forcing the pair to withdraw money from an ATM and then leaving them on the side of a freeway, police said. The father and daughter were walking into the Pacoima branch of the Los Angeles Public Library around 3 p.m. in the 13600 block of Van Nuys Blvd. when they were approached by a man described only as a Hispanic male wearing a hoodie.
Los Angeles Daily News

Two homicides: Norwalk stabbing, Sun Valley shooting
Homicide detectives were called to the scene of two deaths Tuesday morning, one involving a stabbing in Norwalk, the other a shooting in Sun Valley, police said. In Norwalk, a man was found with stab wounds at about 6:50 a.m. at the intersection of Studebaker Road and Ferina Street. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. In Sun Valley, a man was found shot to death near the northern border of North Hollywood.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD introducing mental health protocols
The LAPD Commission recently revised the way it evaluates police shootings. The LAPD now reviews an officer's actions in the moments leading up to the incident along with the officer's use of force. Focus no longer is limited to the justification of the use of deadly physical force at the time of the shooting itself. Only one line was added to the existing use of force policy. The new policy makes it clear that an OIS can be found in violation of the department's deadly physical force policy if an officer's mishandling of the situation led to the shooting.
Law Enforcement Today

Courts

State high court seems to favor naming police officers in shootings
The California Supreme Court appeared inclined during a hearing Tuesday to favor a ruling that the public has the right to know the names of police officers involved in shootings. During oral arguments, most members of the state high court seemed skeptical of contentions by police agencies that officer names must be kept secret because disclosure could jeopardize officer safety and involve protected police personnel matters.
Los Angeles Times

Public Safety

Contractor threatens to cut off program used for LAFD's 911 calls
The creator of computerized scripts that Los Angeles firefighters use to assess medical emergencies during 911 calls is threatening to cut off the service. The warning came Tuesday in response to a decision by city leaders to direct the Los Angeles Fire Department to begin developing its own series of questions to judge how best to respond to victims.
Los Angeles Times

City Government