Law Enforcement

Los Angeles Police Force to Wear Body Cameras
The city's police force will be equipped with on-body cameras, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Tuesday, an endorsement of a tool that has gained attention since a white police officer fatally shot an unarmed black man in Ferguson, Mo., in the summer. “Out on the street, things aren't always clear-cut. These cameras will help law enforcement and the public alike find the truth,” Mr. Garcetti said at a news conference.
Wall Street Journal

LAPD announces reforms to boost accuracy of city crime statistics
Los Angeles police officials Tuesday announced a series of reforms to improve the accuracy of the city's crime statistics, saying reporting errors undermine the public's trust in the department. Crime reporting "is a critical aspect of what we do," said Assistant Chief Michel Moore, noting that the data is used to determine where to assign patrols units and develop other crime fighting strategies. "Garbage in equals garbage out."
Los Angeles Times

Pentagon releases new details of weapons program in Southern California
Southern California law enforcement agencies have more than 400,000 pieces of military-grade equipment - including thousands of rifles and dozens of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles designed to withstand bomb blasts in Iraq and Afghanistan, records show.
89.3KPCC

2014 Eagle & Badge Gala held in Century City
The Los Angeles Police Protective League's Eagle & Badge Foundation recognized the 2014 honorees at its 13th Annual Eagle & Badge Gala on Nov. 19 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City. The “In The Line Of Duty” awards honorees included Chief Jim McDonnell (Long Beach Police Dept.), Robert and Linell Shapiro (The Brent Shapiro Foundation), Austin M. Beutner (Publisher & Chief Executive, Los Angeles Times), and Alan Skobin (Vice President/General Counsel, Galpin Motors). The event benefited the Eagle & Badge Foundation, which raises funds to provide much needed financial support for LAPD officers and their families in time of critical need as well as charitable organizations in the communities served by LAPD.
Westside Today

LA Sheriff Agrees To Oversight Of Jails To Settle Abuse Lawsuit
The nation's largest sheriff's department agreed to federal court oversight and will adopt a new use-of-force policy to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by jail inmates who said they were beaten by guards. The agreement, in effect a consent decree, was approved Tuesday by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. It is the latest in several efforts to reform the scandal-plagued department beset with allegations of rampant abuse by deputies, costly lawsuits and federal convictions of deputies for obstructing an FBI probe into jail beatings.
CBS2

Questions Raised Over Police Body Camera Video Usage
With Mayor Eric Garcetti's announcement on Tuesday that Los Angeles Police Department officers would start wearing body cameras in 2015 comes questions on how the video would be used. At the start of the year, Garcetti expects that 800 officers will have cameras, while outfitting the entire 7,000-officer force will take additional time and funding. The cameras would record everything an officer says and does.
CBS2

LAPD to Take "Extra Precautions" at Movie Theaters Over the Holidays
In response to the latest threats from the hackers attacking Sony Pictures and its film The Interview, Los Angeles Police Department chief Charlie Beck said Tuesday that his department would take "extra precautions" around movie theaters over the holidays. “We take those threats very seriously and we will take extra precautions during the holidays and at theaters," Beck said, according to City News Service. "We're very aware of the controversy surrounding Sony studios so we'll take that into account. I won't get into the details of all of that, but suffice it to say we're aware of it and we'll take appropriate action.”
The Hollywood Reporter

Only On 2: Ezell Ford's Family Says LAPD Is Trying To Intimidate Them
Members of Ezell Ford Jr.'s family, who are suing the Los Angeles Police Department after the unarmed man was shot and killed by officers last summer, say they have been subject to intimidation from members of the agency in recent months. CBS2's Cristy Fajardo spoke Tuesday with the family's attorney, who provided new video of a Sept. 26 incident in which approximately six police officers entered the Fords' South Los Angeles home for what is believed to have been a parole or probation check.
CBS2

City Government

Smoke from party in City Council office triggers City Hall evacuation
Workers at Los Angeles City Hall were briefly evacuated Tuesday afternoon after a party in City Councilwoman Nury Martinez's office set off a smoke alarm. The exact cause of the false alarm was not clear. Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Edward Petterez, whose division handles City Hall security, said the alarm was apparently triggered by a smoke machine at Martinez's party, which had a D.J., dance music and flashing lights.
Los Angeles Times

Emails: Police asked for dirt on O.C. councilmen
In the months before the 2012 city elections, police officers in Costa Mesa mocked members of the City Council and suggested ways to catch them in compromising positions, according to emails contained in court documents. The emails among board members of the Costa Mesa Police Assn. came as the union asked its law firm to hire private investigators to monitor three councilmen who disagreed with the union's political positions on retirement benefits and other issues, according to documents filed by county prosecutors.
Los Angeles Times