Law Enforcement

Reward payouts rare in homicide cases, but potential keeps offers coming
How effective are the rewards offered in homicide cases? Payouts are rare, but detectives say they still believe in them, and politicians continue to approve them. In the LAPD's latest reward announcement, $50,000 was offered Thursday for information in the shooting death of Moses Nelson, a 32-year-old father of three who was gunned down by an assailant on a bike in November.
Los Angeles Times

Fake Guns Can Be Difficult to Recognize, Police Say
Replica guns characterized as "airsoft" are found in countless toy and sporting good stores. Without using gunpowder or high pressure, they can "fire" plastic BBs at low speed, and are regarded as harmless unless a beebee happens to catch you in the eye. To distinguish toy guns from real firearms and real BB guns, replicas must carry a bright orange ring on the tip of the barrel. But the orange ring can be removed, covered, or repainted, and that often happens.
NBC Los Angeles , CBS Los Angeles

Video: The future of policing is cops with cameras, and Fullerton is leading the way
Four years ago, Fullerton made national headlines when surveillance video captured a controversial run-in between local police and a homeless man, Kelly Thomas, who later died.This month, the Fullerton Police Department became the first agency in Orange County to outfit every field officer with a body camera.
OC Register

LAPD forum sheds light on the darkness of domestic violence
The 90-minute “The Truth About Domestic Violence” forum drew several dozen at-risk residents to Sepulveda Recreation Center in Panorama City. Its message: that domestic violence is a crime. That its victims don't have to take abuse. And that Los Angeles police and others stand by to help. “My big hope is that peoples' lives will be impacted — before they become victimized,” said Capt. Todd Chamberlain, a 30-year LAPD veteran who launched the “Truth series” forums 21/2 years ago after input from his Mission Hills station Clergy Council.
Whittier Daily News

Police union strong-arms Board of Supervisors over controversial resolution on police brutality protest
In early December, as demonstrations against police brutality blocked freeways in the East Bay and traffic on Market Street in The City, a controversial resolution backing the message of protesters made its way through City Hall, an institution never at a loss for causes to support.The resolution would have no effect on city governance — such actions are essentially just statements on a subject — yet it immediately raised the hackles of one of The City's most vocal unions: the Police Officers Association.
San Francisco Examiner

$50K Reward Offered In South LA Murder
The LA City Council offered a $50,000 reward Thursday for information leading to the arrest of the suspect who killed a 28-year-old South LA man. Moses Nelson was walking to a friend's house on the morning of Nov. 23, 2014 when he was fatally shot, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
CBS Los Angeles

Suspected thief tells police he targets Manhattan Beach because ‘every car is unlocked'
A Rolling Hills Estates man told detectives Thursday he was responsible for burglarizing more than 100 cars in Manhattan Beach during the past six months, saying it was easy because “every car is unlocked,” police said.Shawn Harriett admitted his crimes shortly after he was found sleeping in his blue Nissan Xterra parked on a Manhattan Beach street. Tuesday was his 24th birthday.
Daily Breeze

Judge tosses fraud charges against 3 L.A. County sheriff's deputies
A federal judge Thursday threw out conspiracy and fraud charges against three Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, finding prosecutors hadn't presented enough evidence to show the men had intended to defraud banks, according to attorneys.
Los Angeles Times

State Government

West Coast Congress members urge swift longshore labor agreement
Members of Congress who represent districts affected by unprecedented slowdowns at West Coast ports on Thursday urged the dockworkers union and their employers to come to a swift resolution after nine months of acrimonious contract talks.
Los Angeles Daily News