Law Enforcement

Recent spate of shootings called 'open season' on law enforcement
Gunmen have shot at peace officers at least four times over the last eight days - a pace that has a Los Angeles County union official saying it appears to be "open season" on law enforcement. The latest shooting broke out Tuesday night in San Pedro, when a man allegedly shot at two LAPD officers. Though no officers were hit, it was a different case just hours earlier in Lynwood, when a sheriff's detective was shot in the shoulder.
Los Angeles Times

Alleged 'serial killer' acted alone in series of shootings, LAPD says
The Los Angeles Police Department continued Wednesday to investigate links between a Sylmar man and a series of shootings that left four people dead and several others wounded. Calling him a "serial killer," authorities on Tuesday charged Alexander Hernandez with murder and attempted murder in some of the cases. LAPD officials said they believe Hernandez acted alone and was randomly shooting people on local streets and freeways.
Los Angeles Times

Man arrested after allegedly firing at LAPD officers during chase
A man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly fired two shots at Los Angeles police officers, prompting a roughly eight-hour search in San Pedro, officials said. The LAPD officers had been trying to stop the man, whose name hasn't been released, about 9:25 p.m. at 8th Street and Grand Avenue after they recognized him from a previous run-in with police, Officer Sara Faden said. But he ran away instead and fired two shots toward the officers, she said.
Los Angeles Times

2 pedestrians hurt in hit-and-run crash in South Los Angeles
Two male pedestrians were injured Wednesday, one critically, when they were struck by a hit-and-run vehicle in the Manchester Square area of South Los Angeles. The victims were struck in the 7900 block of South Western Avenue around 1:45 a.m., said Los Angeles police Sgt. O. Green said. One of the victims, aged 45-55, was hospitalized in critical condition, Green said. The other victim, aged 40-50, was treated at the scene for complaint of pain.
City News Service

LAPD shooting tests South L.A.'s fragile goodwill toward department
Los Angeles police Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger sat with increasing unease at a church in South Los Angeles as residents rose one at a time to berate his department. The meeting had been called to reassure locals about the way the LAPD and other agencies were investigating the recent fatal shooting of a mentally ill man in the neighborhood. But the event quickly boiled over into a critique of the LAPD, with residents accusing the department of racial profiling, excessive force and dishonesty.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD seeks witnesses in Venice Boardwalk beating
Los Angeles police Wednesday night were seeking witnesses to a brutal beating at Venice Beach that was captured on video footage and posted on YouTube. The attack took place Tuesday around 10:30 p.m. near the Boardwalk on Ocean Front Walk, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Officers responded to a call of a fight in progress but arrived to find that the victim and his attacker had fled.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD backs hit-and-run alert system
The Los Angeles Police Department has thrown its support behind an amber alert for vehicles that flee from the scene of collisions in the nation's hit-and-run capital. A proposal before the state legislature would set up an alert showing identifying information of vehicles thought to have left the scene of a crash to be displayed on nearby highways. Chief Charlie Beck said the alerts would be simple to set up and help "dramatically improve" LAPD response to hit and runs in a memo Friday to the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners.
Los Angeles Register

How to report suspected disabled parking placard abuse
Before you report suspected abuse of a disabled parking placard, remember that disabilities don't always show. That seemingly healthy-looking man or woman who displays a placard at the mall or your neighborhood supermarket may have an underlying medical condition that isn't obvious. And it isn't just the elderly that require placards. They can be issued to anyone with a disability at any age, including children.
NBC LA

Homelessness

Glendale hospital to pay $700,000 in skid row patient-dumping suit
A Glendale hospital has agreed to pay $700,000 in civil penalties to settle a lawsuit accusing it of dumping a homeless patient on skid row in June, Los Angeles City Atty. Mike Feuer announced Wednesday. Glendale Adventist Medical Center also agreed to adopt new discharge policies in response to the city attorney's suit, which alleged the hospital improperly transported homeless patients without their consent over four years.
Los Angeles Times

Courts

Appellate judges question opponents of LAPD impound policy
Appellate judges on Wednesday grilled attorneys opposing a controversial Los Angeles Police Department policy restricting the impounding of unlicensed drivers' cars, questioning whether the city's police union and a taxpayer had standing to challenge the policy in the first place. The jurists are considering an appeal by the city of a trial court ruling that the order from LAPD Chief Charlie Beck violated state law.
Los Angeles Times

Legislation

California Legislature OKs bill regulating law enforcement's drone use
Lawmakers on Wednesday approved a measure that would regulate law enforcement's use of drones, including requiring agencies to get warrants for most uses of the unmanned aerial vehicles. Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) said that the expanded use of drones by law enforcement "has changed the paradigm of what we believe to be our reasonable expectation of privacy."
Los Angeles Times

California Senate approves gun bill in response to Isla Vista attacks
With support from families who lost loved ones in the Isla Vista massacre in May, the state Senate on Wednesday approved legislation aimed at taking guns away from people seen as a danger to themselves or others. The bill, which goes back to the Assembly for a vote on amendments, would allow law enforcement and family members of people they suspect to be dangerous to petition the courts for a restraining order barring possession of firearms for 21 days.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

Downtown residents express frustrations with Made in America
As crews are working to transform downtown's Grand Park into the Budweiser Made in America festival, local residents gathered at the nearby Caltrans headquarters to express confusion and frustration just days before the two-day concert was scheduled to kick off. About 40 people attended a community meeting Tuesday that was meant to ease ongoing concerns about the festival.
Los Angeles Times

6,000 DWP customers still don't have up-to-date bills, executive says
Nearly a year after the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power installed a faulty new computer billing system, customers are still plagued with billing issues and lengthy wait times when they call with problems, utility executives said Wednesday. DWP General Manager Marcie Edwards told the City Council's Energy and Environment Committee there are still 6,000 customers who have not received a bill in about seven months and are in line to get a big cumulative tab down the road.
Los Angeles Times