Law Enforcement

Homeless man beaten, stabbed to death; 2 transients charged
Two transients armed with a stick and a knife beat and stabbed a homeless man to death during a fight in the Westlake neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night, police said. "It was two against one," said Sgt. Raul Pedroza of the Los Angeles Police Department's Olympic Station.
Los Angeles Times

Shooting at house party leaves man dead; assailant at large
Police are searching for a person who shot and killed a man during a house party in South Los Angeles early Sunday morning. The incident happened at about 1:38 a.m. on the 2000 block of West 77th Street, said LAPD Officer Sally Madera. "The victim was at a party when he was confronted," Madera said.
Los Angeles Times

Police searching for shooter who opened fire at South L.A. barber shop; 3 people hospitalized
Three people were hospitalized and officials were searching for a gunman after a shooting at a barber shop in the Leimert Park area of South Los Angeles Saturday, according to Los Angeles Police Department officials. The shooting occurred at a barber shop at 4310 Crenshaw Blvd., an LAPD official confirmed around 9:30 p.m.
KTLA

Car wrapped around DTLA power pole after high-speed crash
A man was in critical condition Sunday morning after crashing a car into a power pole in Downtown LA, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The car was traveling so fast the pole ended up in the driver's seat. It took paramedics 20 minutes to cut the victim out of the wreckag, an LAPD spokesman said.
NBC4

LAPD asking public to be on lookout for missing 18-year-old
The LAPD is asking the public's help to find a missing teen last seen this past Monday. Lena Donabedian's family is concerned about her well being and safety. The teen's family said Donabedian was last seen around 2 p.m. on Monday after leaving her high school in the 10600 block of Plainview Avenue in Tujunga.
CBS LA

Vote No on Proposition 47

Prop 47 jeopardizes public safety
What if we told you that you had the opportunity to release thousands of dangerous inmates with serious criminal records back to your community? Would you do it? Would you risk the safety of your family and community by allowing felons back onto your streets? That is exactly what you would be doing voting for Proposition 47 on November 4, 2014.
LAPPL Blog

City Government

Los Angeles City Council instructs Los Angeles Police Department to create drone policy
The Los Angeles City Council voted to instruct the Los Angeles Police Department, the Police Commission and the City Attorney's Office to come up with criteria for the operation of drones in the City of Los Angeles. In May, the LAPD received two Draganflyer X6 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV's) from the Seattle Police Department, which initially purchased these vehicles using federal grant funds.
Forbes

L.A. looks to move elections to even-numbered years
Searching for ways to improve voter turnout in city and school board elections, the Los Angeles City Council gave preliminary approval Friday to proposals to shift the elections from odd-numbered to even-numbered years beginning in 2020. The 14-1 vote, with Councilman Bernard Parks dissenting, means final approval for placing the measures on the March 2015 ballot is expected to come next Friday.
Los Angeles Daily News

L.A. city unions urge officials to end deals with Wall Street banks
As Los Angeles labor unions lock horns with City Hall managers over their next employment contract, they are taking aim at deals the city made with Wall Street banks. The Coalition of L.A. City Unions and its allies have repeatedly urged city leaders to get out of the deals with Bank of New York Mellon and Dexia, alleging they are bleeding the city of desperately needed money.
Los Angeles Times

Diagonal walkways put drivers, pedestrians at different cross purposes
Over the last decade, officials have tried a series of steps to rein in cars on Los Angeles streets. They turned parking spaces into micro-parks, converted street corners into trendy plazas and reserved lanes of traffic for cyclists. Now, Mayor Eric Garcetti is considering a controversial initiative designed to give pedestrians a leg up on motorists.
Los Angeles Times