Law Enforcement

Turn in a gun, get a gift card in L.A.'s buyback program Saturday
As part of a periodic "anonymous gun buyback" program Saturday, Los Angeles gang reduction officials will offer a grocery store gift card worth up to $200 to people willing to hand over a firearm to police. Handguns, shotguns and rifles will draw up to $100 while card supplies last, and assault weapons will be worth up to $200, officials said. Authorities will collect guns between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the parking lot at 2379 W. Washington Blvd. in Mid-City and at the Van Nuys Masonic Temple, 14750 Sherman Way.
Los Angeles Times

Chief Beck aims to transform LAPD into a department with citizens' trust
Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck, a 39-year veteran of the force who first took on the post as chief in 2009, said last Friday he looks to transform the LAPD into a department with citizens' trust. Beck, who was appointed to a second term in August to overlook the 13,000-strong force, talked about the LAPD's connection to the Korean American community inside its downtown headquarters.
Korea Times US

LAPD detectives solve two homicides in Wilmington, arrest four suspected gang members
Three suspected gang members who allegedly roamed rival territory looking for someone to kill have been charged with shooting an innocent 18-year-old Wilmington man to death as he rode his bicycle into their path, an investigator said Tuesday. “All three of them are Westside Wilmington gang members and, what it looks like is, they went over to rival territory and ended up killing this kid, who had nothing to do with the gang,” Harbor Division homicide Detective Matt Maffei said. “It's a sad case.”
Daily Breeze

L.A. County sheriff's deputy who arrested Mel Gibson could get job back
A former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy best known for his role in the 2006 arrest of actor Mel Gibson for drunk driving did not deserve to be fired two years ago and should be given his job back, a county hearing officer has found. The hearing officer concluded that the Sheriff's Department was wrong when it accused Deputy James Mee of violating the agency's policies by pursuing a drunk driver who crashed into a Santa Clarita gas station and of lying about the incident afterward.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD Gives Away 1,000 Pairs of Shoes to South Los Angeles Children
Santa Claus and his helpers at the Los Angeles Police Department gave out more than 1,000 pairs of shoes to needy children in South L.A. Tuesday night. A handful of fresh snow brought out the smiles as the LAPD's 77th Street Station transformed into a holiday playground, complete with a wintery scene that provided hours of fun for kids in the community.
ABC7

Civilian Oversight Committee for LA Sheriff's Department in the Works
With upheaval in the county jails and many deputies arrested, there was no dissent today from county supervisors on the need for oversight. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to take the first step in forming a civilian oversight commission for the county sheriff's department. A working group will soon draft out the commission's authority, mission statement and how it should relate to the sheriff and newly appointed inspector general.
ABC7

Bandit wearing surgical mask sought in Beverly Hills bank robbery
A bank robber who wears a surgical mask during holdups is being hunted by the FBI in connected with a recent robbery in Beverly Hills. Dubbed the Patient Bandit because of the surgical mask that covered his nose and mouth and the bandage wrapped on his arm, the robber held up a Citibank on Wilshire Boulevard on Nov. 28.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD says man shot in Hollywood was not wearing a costume
Los Angeles police say the man shot and killed by two officers in Hollywood on Friday wasn't wearing a costume and was brandishing a real knife. Two Los Angeles police officers shot and killed the man Friday evening around 7 p.m. at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.
KPCC89.3

Elections

Isadore Hall wins special election for state Senate seat
Former Democratic Assemblyman Isadore Hall III of Compton on Tuesday won a special election for the state Senate, beating three other candidates for a Los Angeles County seat left vacant by the resignation of Sen. Roderick Wright. With all precincts reporting, Hall had 54.98% of the vote. If the results stand as expected with the counting of provisional ballots in the coming days, it means Hall has avoided a Feb. 10 runoff. He beat Democrats Louis L. Dominguez of San Pedro and Hector Serrano of Wilmington, and Republican James Spencer of Inglewood.
Los Angeles Times

Protests

More arrests, transit disruptions during fourth night of Berkeley protests
Hundreds marched through Berkeley on Tuesday night -- forcing the closure of roads and transit depots -- as the college town saw its fourth consecutive night of throngs protesting police brutality. After gathering about 5 p.m. near the edge of the UC Berkeley campus, a crowd of dozens swelled by 8 p.m. to more than 300.
Los Angeles Times

Some Protesters Claim Recent Arrests In L.A. Violated Their Rights
In addressing the Police Commission on Tuesday, some protesters arrested during recent demonstrations in Los Angeles claimed the LAPD violated their rights. Less than a dozen demonstrators addressed the commission Tuesday, weeks after being jailed after police say protesters refused to disperse.
CBS2

LAPD Officer Caught on Video Swinging Baton at Protesters
Los Angeles police are facing new accusations of excessive force after a video uploaded to YouTube shows an officer swinging his baton at protesters during a demonstration in South L.A. last week. "It came within two feet of my head and it was really, really traumatizing," said Patti Beers of East L.A. She shot the video on Dec. 1 during a protest in front of the LAPD's Newton Division.
ABC7