Law Enforcement

Highland Park shooting: Man killed; gunman sought
A man was has died after being shot in Highland Park Tuesday night. The gunman remained at large. The shooting occurred at about 9:25 p.m. in the 6000 block of Fayette Street, where authorities had set up a perimeter. The suspect was described as 5 feet 6 inches, 150 pounds and wearing black shorts and a black and white shirt. It is unclear if the incident was gang-related.
ABC7

Suspect arrested in murder of Afghanistan veteran in Sylmar
LAPD detectives detained a man believed to have information in the murder of Sylmar Army veteran Francisco Garcia Tuesday afternoon, and later booked him on a charge of murder, the LAPD told Eyewitness News Tuesday night. The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Sylmar resident Vincent Estrada. He was booked for murder and held on $1 million bail at the Van Nuys Jail.
ABC7

Major crimes in South Bay drop in 2013, but officials warn it's creeping back up
The South Bay and Harbor Area recorded a 6.4 percent overall drop in major crime from 2012 to 2013, with even an larger decrease in the violent crime categories of homicide, rape, robbery and assault. But some police officials warn that the crime is starting to surge again in some categories.
Torrance Daily Breeze

Neighborhood Watch group's Flashlight Walk lights up San Pedro
Coastal San Pedro Neighborhood Watch celebrated getting more than 2,500 members to participate in its Flashlight Walk held from 6-9 p.m. on Monday at the Corner Store in San Pedro. The event provided a chance for people to meet each other, have a sing-along led by Rich D'Anna and enjoy cookies, hot chocolate or coffee.
Torrance Daily Breeze

Devonshire Police warn of catalytic converter thefts
Police departments across the country have been warning vehicle owners about catalytic converter thefts in recent years. The issue shows no sign of slowing down in the San Fernando Valley. The Los Angeles Police Department Devonshire Division - which covers the northwest Valley - recorded 12 catalytic converter thefts in the last two weeks.
Post-Periodical

LAPD to open new youth center at Canoga High School
City leaders will join Los Angeles police Wednesday to mark the grand opening of a center to house the Topanga area's cadet and youth programs. The Los Angeles Police Department will hold a grand opening reception and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its PAL Topanga Youth Center on the campus of Canoga High School in Canoga Park.
City News Service

LAPD 'Badges for Bandages' raises childhood cancer awareness
The Los Angeles Police Department is inviting everyone to participate in its Badges for Bandages drive to help raise awareness about children suffering from cancer. The Badges for Bandages campaign, which benefits childhood cancer patients at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, helps alleviate their suffering by bringing smiles to the faces of children when they see the colorful caricatures printed on their bandages.
Highland Park - Mount Washington Patch

Long Beach selects its first Latino police chief: Robert Luna
Long Beach is tapping a top deputy of Jim McDonnell, newly elected to be Los Angeles County's next sheriff, to replace him as the city's police chief, officials announced Tuesday. Deputy Chief Robert Luna, a 29-year department veteran, will be Long Beach's first Latino police chief. He officially assumes the job on Nov. 21.
Los Angeles Times

Proposition 47 Consequences

Prop 47: Courts scramble to keep up with downgrade of drug crimes
Courts, prosecutors and defense attorneys are scrambling to implement the new sentencing laws that came with the passage of Proposition 47 last week, which downgraded penalties for non-violent property and drug crimes to misdemeanors. In a courtroom Friday at the Criminal Justice building in downtown Los Angeles, court clerks rifled through stacks of cases.
KPCC

Prediction: California crime wave coming
Here's an unfortunate but realistic prediction: Six months from now, a year at most, Californians will look at a troubling new wave of crime and ask, “What happened?” Here's what happened: Last week's voter approval of Proposition 47 on top of Gov. Jerry Brown's prison-realignment program approved by the Legislature in 2011. Together, these two public policies will be responsible for the early release of thousands of criminals now behind prison bars, including some serving life sentences under the state's three-strikes law.
U-T San Diego Editorial Board

Prop. 47 leaves future of California inmate fire crews uncertain
The future of county jail fire crews across the state is now in doubt after the passage last week of Proposition 47. The initiative reduces penalties for drug possession and other nonviolent crimes - something that could deplete the pool of jail inmates who qualify for fire duty. San Bernardino County officials are now trying to sort out how the law will affect the inmate fire crews as well as other rehabilitation programs, said sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller.
Los Angeles Times

Traffic

Stuck in bad traffic? Good chance it's Thursday evening
Crawling along Southern California's freeways at rush hour, you might have wanted to scream: "This traffic is the worst!" If it was a Thursday evening, you probably were right. At least, that's the consensus of three companies that analyze traffic patterns using GPS technology. All agree that Thursday evening is one of the slowest - if not the slowest - drive times of the week in greater Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Times

City Government

Made in America music festival may cost L.A. taxpayers about $170,000
Taxpayers may wind up paying about $170,000 to cover expenses associated with Made in America, the two-day music festival promoted by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and held outside City Hall. Garcetti aides expect the city's tab for the commercial event, held over Labor Day weekend, will reach nearly $670,000.
Los Angeles Times

L.A. to provide soda syrup barrels for home irrigation
The city of Los Angeles will distribute 1,000 soda syrup barrels in an effort to encourage residents to capture rainwater for home irrigation. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti hopes the 45- to 55-gallon syrup barrels, donated by the Coca-Cola company, will help residents reduce their utility costs during the drought.
Los Angeles Times