Law Enforcement

Manhunt in Canada: Three mounted police shot to death
A manhunt was underway Thursday in the eastern Canadian province of New Brunswick after a shooting rampage left three Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers dead and two others wounded, the police agency said. Mounted Police Constable Damien Theriault said authorities were searching for the suspect, Justin Bourque, 24, who was wearing camouflage and carrying two rifles late Wednesday when witnesses say he began firing on officers in Moncton. Theriault said Bourque is considered armed and dangerous. No motive for the shootings was released.
USA Today

'Hypnotist Bandit' linked to bank robberies in San Gabriel Valley
A man dubbed the "Hypnotist Bandit" by local law enforcement has robbed three banks in the San Gabriel Valley in the past week, according to the FBI. The suspect, who earned his nickname because of the way he stared at his victims during each robbery, struck twice Tuesday morning, making off with an undisclosed amount of money from an HSBC Bank branch on Las Tunas Drive in Temple City and a Bank of the West branch in South El Monte, according to the FBI's news release.
Los Angeles Times

Arson fire damages office, classrooms at Van Nuys church
An arson fire heavily damaged an office and classrooms on the grounds of St. Mark's Presbyterian Church in Van Nuys Wednesday, authorities said. Firefighters sent to 17251 W. Sherman Way at 12:24 a.m. extinguished the flames in about 20 minutes, said Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department. The church was not damaged. No injuries were reported. "The cause was incendiary, and is under active investigation," Scott said.
City News Service

Man shot to death in South Los Angeles after being chased along footpath
A man was chased along a footpath in South Los Angeles by assailants and then shot to death after he fell, police said Wednesday. The victim, a 30-year-old man, had been visiting friends in the 1800 block of West 54th Street when he was confronted by two men around 7:25 p.m. Tuesday, said Los Angeles police Lt. Julie Patton. The victim ran off and fell, Patton said. He was then shot multiple times as he lay on the ground.
City News Service

New mobile app introduced for LAPD cadet leadership program
The Los Angeles Police Department announced Wednesday it is making a mobile application available for use in its cadet leadership program. The program is the department's "signature" effort for community youth, which helps students develop academic excellence, leadership and enhancing their ability to live productive lives. The app is available as a free download for both iPhone and Android uses by going to lapdcadetapp.com .
Westside Today

Supreme Court decision allows release of police officers' names after shootings
We are disappointed in the state Supreme Court ruling that California police departments shall not have a blanket right to conceal the names of officers involved in shootings. California Supreme Court Associate Justice Ming Chin recognized the threats we face in his dissent opinion regarding the Los Angeles Times' lawsuit seeking to force the Long Beach Police Department to release the names of officers involved in shootings. Unfortunately, the rest of the judicial bench did not agree.
LAPPL Blog

LAPD warns Kings fans of counterfeit tickets for Stanley Cup series
With tickets for tonight's opening game of the Stanley Cup Finals going for an average of nearly $1,200, the Los Angeles Police Department has a warning for Kings fans heading to the Staples Center on Wednesday night: If you're going to spend that much, make sure you buy the real thing. The LAPD released pictures of "high quality" counterfeit tickets this morning, which bear both the Kings and NHL logos.
Los Angeles Times

Public Safety

Los Angeles County prepares to weather the Big One with disaster preparedness campaign
Churches, synagogues and mosques across Los Angeles County may soon help residents prepare for the expected Big One. The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management will launch its "Pledge to Prepare" campaign this weekend by asking faith-based and community organizations to host earthquake and other disaster-preparedness events.
Los Angeles Daily News

Traffic

Thursday morning, Friday night are worst times to drive in Los Angeles, report says
A new report released Wednesday ranks Los Angeles as having the worst traffic in the nation. The Tom Tom North American Congestion Index shows that Angelenos spend an average of 90 hours a year on congested roads and freeways. The worst days to drive are on Thursday mornings and Friday evenings, according to the report by the GPS navigation company, which cites the best time to drive, with the least amount of traffic, as Monday evenings and Friday mornings.
City News Service

City Government

City Council votes to expand Los Angeles Convention Center
With the return of an NFL team to Los Angeles in doubt, the City Council Wednesday voted to move forward with a back-up plan to expand the Los Angeles Convention Center without a football stadium. The venue was slated for an upgrade under a 2012 deal with developer AEG, which planned to build a stadium next to the convention center in downtown Los Angeles.
City News Service

L.A. River could go lower in water purification plan
Glowing from the approval of a $1 billion revitalization plan, Los Angeles City Council members proclaimed Wednesday L.A. River Day, hailing its pending rebirth and the possible return of endangered steelhead trout. But behind the scenes, other officials were working on a separate ambitious plan that could suck up much of the river's water.
Los Angeles Daily News