Law Enforcement

LAPD officers work behind the scenes - and the camera
Since creating his first police video two years ago to publicize a memorial ride to benefit a 77th Division scholarship fund, LAPD Officer Joel Morale has produced 55 videos for the department. Many of those have been monthly community videos that discuss subjects such as crime statistics and police events. He has been reassigned from regular patrol work to his station's community relations office.
Los Angeles Times

Leads sought in Hollywood murder
A 19-year-old man was shot and killed on June 5 at approximately 11 a.m. as he walked with family members on Sunset Boulevard after attending a graduation ceremony for a sibling at a nearby middle school. Det. Lisa Governo, with the Los Angeles Police Department's Northeast Division, said the exact motive for the shooting has not been determined, but investigators are treating it as possibly being gang related.
Park La Brea News

LAPD seeking help in finding missing 63-year-old man
The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing 63-year-old man suffering from dementia and diabetes. Ramiro Rosales, 63, was last seen June 10 around 11 a.m. in the 7700 block of Ampere Avenue in North Hollywood. His family released a photo to the LAPD, urging anyone with information to contact the authorities immediately due to Rosales' medical needs.
ABC News Radio

Santa Monica employee accused of taking inappropriate photos of kids
A part-time employee with the city of Santa Monica has been put on leave and could face misdemeanor charges for allegedly taking inappropriate photos of children while chaperoning a field trip to Dodger Stadium. Donald Condon, 55, was arrested May 30 on suspicion of child annoyance, a misdemeanor, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He allegedly took photos of the minors while chaperoning the field trip for the Santa Monica Police Activities League.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD responds to suspicious package in Los Feliz
The scene of a suspicious package in Los Feliz that prompted a police response and evacuations Thursday evening was cleared. The package, described as a "camera bag," was found on a light post in the 1700 block of North Kenmore Avenue (map) at 5:30 p.m., Officer Nuria Venegas with the Los Angeles Police Department said. A huge perimeter was set up in the area, Venegas added.
KTLA

Obama administration is asking police to keep quiet about cellphone data collection equipment
The Obama administration has been quietly advising local police not to disclose details about surveillance technology they are using to sweep up basic cellphone data from entire neighborhoods, The Associated Press has learned. Citing security reasons, the U.S. has intervened in routine state public records cases and criminal trials regarding use of the technology.
Associated Press

Ride-sharing

Stricter regulations could close insurance gap for Uber, Lyft, Sidecar
State regulators are looking to toughen up insurance requirements for on-demand ride services that rely on people driving their own cars while on the job. Documents released Wednesday revealed proposed expanded regulations for insurance coverage with ride companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar, demanding they provide $1 million commercial liability insurance starting when drivers turn on a smartphone app showing they are available to work.
San Jose Mercury News

Parking

Grass-roots L.A. group pushes to cap many parking tickets at $23
A grass-roots group of Angelenos wants to revamp the way Los Angeles collects parking ticket revenue - and has pledged to take its campaign to the ballot box if the city doesn't embrace its proposed reforms. The Los Angeles Parking Freedom Initiative wants to cap fines for parking violations that don't affect public safety at $23, give neighborhoods a way to help create and alter local regulations and fees, and funnel parking ticket money into a separate fund instead of pouring it into the general city budget.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

L.A. gives $215,000 to man who wore KKK hood to meeting, got ejected
The City of Los Angeles will pay $215,000 to end a free-speech lawsuit involving a man who was kicked out of a public meeting after showing up wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood. Lawmakers voted unanimously Wednesday to settle the lawsuit with Venice resident Michael Hunt, who said city leaders had violated his constitutional rights by ejecting him from a session of the Board of Recreation and Parks Commissioners in 2011.
Los Angeles Times