Law Enforcement

Pedestrian in wheelchair killed in hit-and-run, police say
Authorities are continuing to search for a motorist who hit and killed a 40-year-old man in a wheelchair in Arleta on Friday night before fleeing the scene. Manuel Dejesus Segovia Gonzalez of Pacoima was crossing Terra Bella Street just east of Cayuga Avenue at about 8 p.m. when he was hit, authorities said.
Los Angeles Times

Police searching for gunman following fatal shooting in East Hollywood
A 38-year-old man was killed early Saturday morning in East Hollywood when he and another man were confronted by a gunman, authorities said. Fire and police officials responded to the scene following the shooting about 3 a.m. near the intersection of Rosewood Avenue and Heliotrope Drive, about a block south of the 101 Freeway, authorities said.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD disciplinary process - clearing the air?
The investigation into the detention of actress Daniele Watt brings into the open what many LAPD officers have long claimed; the LAPD disciplinary system is arcane, unfair and needs to be reformed. The tape and photos in this incident, viewed by the public and concerned community activists, "cleared the air" and allowed persons of commonsense to quickly come to rational conclusions about what happened. Unfortunately for the officers involved, they will now be forced into the "rabbit hole" of the LAPD disciplinary process, a process that would make the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland chafe with envy. of her race.
LAPPL Blog

Man arrested for alleged crimes against two children in Hollywood area
A man was arrested Friday in New York by an FBI task force in connection with crimes against at least two children in Los Angeles earlier this month, police said. Wilbert Riera was arrested on a felony warrant and is expected to be booked in Los Angeles, said Officer Nuria Vanegas of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Los Angeles Times

Growing use of police body cameras raises privacy concerns
Scores of law enforcement agencies already use body-worn cameras, and calls for more have only grown across the U.S. after recent cases involving use of force have pitted the word of police officers against angry residents. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Police Department, along with police in New York, Chicago and Washington, have launched pilot programs to test cameras for wider deployment.
Los Angeles Times

L.A. wants court to revive law allowing motel guest registry searches
Los Angeles city attorneys are asking the Supreme Court to revive a local ordinance that gave police the authority to inspect guest-registration records of motels and hotels, arguing the surprise checks are needed to deter prostitutes and drug dealers and sometimes catch fugitives. The city's appeal in Los Angeles vs. Patel is one of hundreds that will be considered by the high-court justices when they meet privately Monday in preparation for a new term.
Los Angeles Times

New Laws

Gov. Brown signs laws to crack down on human trafficking
With California ranked as one of the states with the worst problems of human trafficking, Gov. Jerry Brown on Sunday signed a raft of seven bills aimed at improving prosecution of the crime, whose victims are often forced into prostitution, domestic servitude and sweatshop labor. A 2012 report by the U.S. State Department lists California, New York and Texas as the states with the most human trafficking activity, and says Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego are among the top 10 areas in the United States for the activity.
Los Angeles Times

Jerry Brown signs 'affirmative consent' sex assault bill
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed nationally watched legislation requiring California colleges to adopt rape-prevention policies that include an "affirmative consent" standard for sexual assault, his office said Sunday. The standard puts responsibility on someone engaging in sexual activity to obtain an affirmative, conscious and voluntary agreement from his or her partner.
Sacramento Bee

Legislation Veto

Governor vetoes bill that would have limited police use of drones
Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown on Sunday vetoed a bill that would have required law enforcement agencies to obtain warrants to use drones for surveillance. Brown, in his veto message, said that although there may be some circumstances when a warrant is appropriate, the bill went too far. The measure appeared to impose restrictions on law enforcement that go beyond federal and state constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizures and the right to privacy, the governor stated.
Los Angeles Times

Ballot Initiative

Endorsement: Proposition 47 goes too far, too soon after other major criminal justice system changes
In recent years, Gov. Jerry Brown, legislators and voters have approved far-reaching changes to California's criminal justice system and cut the prison population. Now, while law enforcement officials still are adjusting to the new order, voters are being called upon to decide Proposition 47, an initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot that would reduce penalties for people who commit certain nonviolent crimes and drug offenses including heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine possession. We urge a "no" vote, in part because police and prosecutors are grappling with the landmark 2011 criminal justice realignment law that shifted responsibility for handling lower-level offenders to the counties.
Sacramento Bee

City Government

Los Angeles gets some good economic news
In a further sign of an improving economy and a reflection of cutbacks in city spending, City Controller Ron Galperin reported Friday that revenues for the city are nearly $87 million more than expected. He reminded city officials about the need to continue to save money. As a result of higher tax revenues in all major categories of property, documentary transfer and bed taxes, Galperin said the city's reserve fund has grown to its highest point in a decade and represents 8.4 percent of the total general fund.
Los Angeles Daily News

Got a question for L.A. Mayor Garcetti? Head to Facebook
Got a burning question for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti? Instead of flagging him down at a news conference or trying to buttonhole him in between meetings, Angelenos will have a chance Monday to grill him digitally. Garcetti will field questions in real time via Facebook, one of several mayors who are doing online Q & As as part of an event hosted by The Atlantic magazine.
Los Angeles Times