Law Enforcement

Los Angeles raids on illegal prescription drugs to be stepped up
The Health Authority Law Enforcement Taskforce, a multi-agency partnership involving the City Attorney, L.A. County Sheriff's Department, LAPD and the county Department of Health Services, has been working to target distributors and sellers of illegal pharmaceuticals at swap meets and local stores not licensed to sell them.
Los Angeles Daily News

Fashion district crackdown: Strict cash reporting ordered after raids
Federal authorities cracking down on suspected money laundering linked to Mexican drug cartels said they warned about 2,000 businesses in the downtown Los Angeles fashion district Thursday that they must follow stricter rules on reporting cash transactions.
Los Angeles Times

Assault, rape rates up in LA
The rate of assault in the city of Los Angeles increased 19.4 percent compared to this time last year, according to LAPD crime statistics. Rape has also increased 8.6 percent. At the police commissioners meeting Tuesday, Los Angeles Police Department Police Chief Charlie Beck said homicide, however, is going down: It has decreased 7.2 percent. In South L.A., the numbers are going down for serious crimes.
Intersections South LA

2 men arrested in attempted burglary of Studio City pot shop
Two men tried to burglarize a San Fernando Valley pot shop Tuesday night while employees hid in a bathroom and called 911, police said. The incident happened around 10:45 p.m. at the Perennial Holistic Marijuana Shop, near the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Colfax Avenue in Studio City. Police responded to the scene quick enough to catch the suspects, who were unarmed.
CBS LA

LAPD helicopter ride-along over city sees action like a silent movie (VIDEO)
Helicopter Command Pilot Stuart Lomax soars above an LAPD bust, Dodger Stadium, the Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, sprawling hillside mansions and Downtown L.A. as part of the world's largest airborne law enforcement operation. At all times during daylight hours, at least two LAPD helos circle the 468.7-square-mile city.
LA Weekly

Ed Sullivan statue recovered in good condition, police say
A solid bronze statue of Ed Sullivan that was taken from its pedestal at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences' Hall of Fame Plaza has been recovered in good condition, Los Angeles police officials said Thursday. Authorities were releasing no details about how it was recovered because no suspects are in custody, said Lt. Brian Morrison. It was reported stolen Sunday.
Los Angeles Times

Vintage police car parade rolls through Hollywood
Calling all cop car buffs: the annual "10-4 Day" Parade featuring classic police patrol cars rolled through Hollywood Thursday. City Councilmember Tom LaBonge was on hand to join officers from the California Highway Patrol, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office to speak about public safety issues at the annual parade, which began around 10 a.m. at the Los Angeles Fire Museum.
CBS LA

Gun Control

California gun restraining order may deter suicide
California's first-in-the-nation gun restraining order legislation was born out of a college-town rampage that left six people dead at the hands of a killer whose family felt helpless to stop him. Advocates say its greatest use actually might come not in preventing headline-grabbing murderous sprees, but in helping families deal with loved ones who are in danger of taking their own lives or who might be so angry or distraught that they could turn a gun on family members.
Associated Press

Economy

San Fernando Valley economy to outperform L.A. County, California and United States
The San Fernando Valley's Economy will outperform the county, state and nation next year in terms of economic output growth, according to forecasts released Thursday at a business summit in Burbank. And both the Valley and California will continue to distance themselves from the Great Recession over the next few years but progress will continue to be slow.
Los Angeles Daily News