Law Enforcement

Leavin' (a troubled City) on a jet plane
Dark clouds are gathering over Los Angeles. Violent crime is up. Thousands of dangerous felons could soon flood the area after state voters passed Proposition 47 last week. LAPD officer morale is low and sinking even further due to the City's woefully inadequate and indeed insulting contract offers. And where, you ask, is Mayor Eric Garcetti? He is leaving L.A. on Saturday on a 12-day junket to Asia - further proof that public safety is way down on his list of priorities.
LAPPL Board of Directors

Ezell Ford shooting: Mayor orders autopsy report to be released soon
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Thursday that he had ordered police to allow the release soon of an autopsy report on a mentally ill man fatally shot by officers three months ago. Garcetti made a surprise appearance Thursday at an LAPD news conference, telling reporters the autopsy on 25-year-old Ezell Ford Jr. would be released by the end of the year.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD survey in wake of Dorner rampage finds bias complaints
Los Angeles Police Department review of its discipline system prompted by the Christopher Dorner rampage found widespread concerns among officers and civilians that the agency discriminates based on gender, ethnicity and rank, according to a report reviewed by The Times. Focus group sessions held with more than 500 department employees found that many of those interviewed believed internal investigations were unfair and that punishments were subjective, the document said.
Los Angeles Times

Murderous ex-cop Dorner stalked father of LA Police Chief Charlie Beck
The fired LAPD officer who killed four people during a vengeance-fueled murder spree last year was also stalking the father of LA Police Chief Charlie Beck, Beck told NBC News in an exclusive interview. For 10 days in February 2013, former officer Christopher Dorner waged what he called "unconventional and asymmetrical warfare" against those he blamed for his dismissal from the force four years earlier.
NBC4

A year after Joseph Gatto slaying, LAPD again asks for public's help
A year after Joseph Gatto, a local artist and the father of a state assemblyman, was killed inside his Silver Lake home, the 78-year-old's family and LAPD officials repeated their pleas for the public's help in solving the case. Gatto, a retired teacher and jewelry maker who was well-known in his community, was found inside his Bright Lane home on the night of Nov. 13, 2013.
Los Angeles Times

Man arrested in connection with man's murder Woodland Hills hotel
A 34-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in the killing in Woodland Hills of an acquaintance whose death was originally reported as a possible suicide, police said Thursday. Jorge Rodriguez, who was arrested on Tuesday, is suspected of killing 43-year-old Edward Mello, whose body was found on the floor of his hotel room in the 20200 block of Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills about 12:15 p.m. on Oct. 29, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
City News Service

26-year-old man fatally shot in Highland Park
Authorities are asking for the public's help in providing information related to the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old man in Highland Park. Conrad Gomez was found by patrol officers about 9:25 p.m. Tuesday suffering of multiple gunshot wounds, the LAPD said in a written statement. The incident unfolded in the 6000 block of Fayette Street,according to police.
CBS LA

LAPD seeks missing Harbor City woman with medical issues
Police are asking for the public's help to find a Harbor City woman missing since Oct. 26. Jennifer Marie White, 31, was last seen in the 800 block of Sepulveda Boulevard, police said. White has a history of medical problems and requires medical attention. She is white, 4 feet 11 inches tall, 130 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes.
Torrance Daily Breeze

Proposition 47 Consequences

DA receives over 1,000 sentence petitions Prop 47's first week
Only a week after Proposition 47, a measure aimed at reducing the state's prison population, took effect, the San Diego County District Attorney's office has gotten more than 1,000 petitions for reduced sentences and convictions. The proposition, which took effect November 5, designates non-violent crimes like petty theft, forgery, shoplifting, fraud and possession of small amounts of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine as misdemeanors, not felonies.
NBC San Diego

Metro

Metro will study adding more pay lanes to Southern California freeways
An overflow of commuters signing up for access to pay-to-ride car-pool lanes on the 110 and 10 freeways prompted the county's transit agency to launch a study Thursday on how to convert more free lanes into pay lanes. Future freeways being studied for toll lanes include the 405, 5, 210 and even extensions of the 110 and 10 pay lanes, according to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board member and Duarte City Councilman John Fasana.
San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Local Government

Truckers stage another strike amid growing tension at ports of LA and Long Beach
A group of short haul truckers for companies that move goods at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach walked off the job Thursday, adding a layer of uncertainty at a port complex already grappling with a cargo backlog. The truck drivers and the companies had been in a cooling-off period brokered by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to end a brief strike in July. But the truckers, backed by the Teamsters Union, said the companies had gone back to punishing workers for supporting the union's organizing effort, and went back on strike.
KPCC