Law Enforcement

Man arrested in LAPD pursuit shootout held on $1-million bail
A man found hiding in a dumpster after multiple shootouts with police through the streets of Los Angeles was identified Tuesday. Avel Jowan Turks, 18, of Los Angeles was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and was being held in lieu of $1-million bail, jail and police records show. An LAPD official confirmed that Turks was the surviving suspect from an hours-long pursuit and search in South Los Angeles early Monday that left a deputy wounded and Turks' alleged accomplice dead in a final shootout.
Los Angeles Times

No outrage against attempted murder of police officers
Over the last 72 hours, there have been a number of attempted murders of police officers in Los Angeles County, yet there has been no community or media outrage. Two prime examples include an LAPD SWAT officer who was severely injured during a shootout with a suspected gunman following a pursuit in South Los Angeles. In another case, a sheriff's deputy is facing a long recovery after undergoing surgery for life-changing injuries he suffered in an unprovoked attempted murder by an "unarmed" man already on probation for assaulting a peace officer.
LAPPL Blog

Attempting to take an officer's gun
To the editor: Is a person who is attempting to take an officer's gun from him by force a threat to the officer such that deadly force in response is justified? For most people, this is a rhetorical question. Initial reports on the shooting of Ezell Ford by Los Angeles Police Department officers contend that Ford was trying to take the officer's gun. It's bewildering that The Times contends those facts are simply an officer shooting an "unarmed man." It's also worth noting that there is no constitutional right to resist a lawful arrest.
Tyler Izen/Los Angeles Times

LAPD chief faces tense crowd over shooting of mentally ill man
The atmosphere in a South Los Angeles church was at times tense Tuesday night as residents and activists peppered Los Angeles police officials with questions about two officers' fatal shooting of a mentally ill man. Pictures of Ezell Ford dotted the Paradise Baptist Church, where a crowd of more than 200 people often shouted and interrupted Police Chief Charlie Beck as he tried to address concerns surrounding the investigation into Ford's death.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD withholding autopsy results in fatal South LA police shooting
The results of an autopsy on a 25-year-old unarmed man shot by Los Angeles police officers are being withheld while investigators seek out more witnesses, Chief Charlie Beck said Tuesday. Investigators are "actively seeking witnesses" in the Aug. 11 police shooting of Ezell Ford, Beck said. In order to make sure they do not "taint" the witness pool, detectives have put a hold on information about the autopsy, he said.
CBS LA

LAPD Chief says camera neglect a budget issue
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said Tuesday he was not surprised by a new audit showing surveillance cameras inside the department's stations are broken, poorly located and that maintenance is spotty. In comments to the department's civilian oversight commission, Beck indicated the problems stemmed from lack of funding following years of budget cuts. "Folks have to remember, we're beginning to exit the greatest recession in our lifetime and there's a cost to it," Beck said.
NBC4

Pensions

CalPERS committee OKs counting supplemental pay toward public pensions
A key CalPERS committee on Tuesday approved counting nearly 100 types of government-salary supplements toward employees' pension benefits, including extra money workers earn for temporarily filling higher-paying jobs.
Sacramento Bee

Legislation

California may expand carpool lane permits for plug-ins
The state Senate has approved legislation that would allow another 15,000 fuel-efficient vehicles to use California's carpool lanes, even when they have only one occupant. AB2013 by Democratic Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi of Torrance expands the number of "green HOV" permits to 70,000 from the current 55,000. The stickers generally apply to hybrid plug-in vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Volt and Cadillac ELR.
Associated Press

Lawmakers target immigrant driver's license scams
Legislation sent to the governor's desk Tuesday intends to crack down on people who try to make immigrants pay unnecessary fees for driver's licenses. Under a law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last year, California will start issuing licenses to immigrants in the U.S. illegally in 2015.
Associated Press