Law Enforcement

LAPD Chief Beck takes your questions on rising violent crime, civil asset seizures and more
First Lady Michelle Obama invited two LAPD veterans to last night's State of the Union to honor their work in community policing. Captain Phil Tingirides and his wife Sergeant Emada Tingirides are part of a formal program created in 2011 to build partnerships between Watts residents in South LA and the LAPD. After months of "Black Lives Matters" protests, the symbolism of the Tingirides' efforts have taken on new importance. The distrust between some community members and policing is still very real.
89.3 KPCC

LAPD updates website after sheriff's inspector general report
The Los Angeles Police Department is updating the information on officer-involved shootings and officer discipline posted on its website in response to a report by the inspector general for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.The report by Inspector General Max Huntsman focused on transparency issues with the sheriff's department, analyzing other agencies' practices for comparison. Huntsman noted that the LAPD posts annual use of force reports and quarterly discipline reports on its website, whereas the sheriff's department does not.
LA Times

Driver, 2 Passengers Who Jumped From Moving Vehicle During South L.A. Pursuit in Custody
Two people jumped from a stolen vehicle that police were pursuing Thursday in South Los Angeles, and they were taken into custody along with the car's driver after a chase of about 45 minutes. Police began following the vehicle at McKinley Avenue and East 85th Street at about 1:13 p.m., according to Officer Reyes of the Los Angeles Police Department.
KTLA 5

Momentum builds for Silver Lake tire slasher reward as vandalism continues
New street lights have been installed and police have promised to be extra vigilant. But the Silver Lake tire slasher has continued to damage more vehicles. Now, some members of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council are considering issuing a reward to help catch the suspect or suspects.The Silver Lake tire slasher struck again three times on Monday, Jan. 19, according to a council member. Residents on Crestmont, Golden Gate and and Maltman avenues have been dealing with the issue since last October. At least 100 tires had been punctured as of December, according to one news report.
The Eastsider LA

Police Seek Serial Burglars Targeting Verizon Wireless Store
Police sought the public's help Thursday in identifying two suspects accused of robbing a Verizon Wireless location three times. According to the Torrance Police Department, the suspects are accused of burglarizing an Express Verizon Wireless store in the 3700 block of Pacific Coast Highway near Hawthorne Boulevard by smashing the storefront window between Dec. 8 and Jan. 3 and taking off with thousands of dollars in iPads, iPhones and various other merchandise.
CBS Los Angeles

3 Arrested In Tustin Home-Invasion Robbery
Three people were arrested Thursday just after a home-invasion robbery of an 80-year-old woman in Tustin. Officers responded to a report of a robbery in the 14600 block of Peppertree Circle at about 12:30 p.m., police said.
CBS Los Angeles

2 Arrested In Highland Vehicle Burglaries
Detectives sought the public's help Thursday in identifying recovered property from several vehicle burglaries. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, officers from the Highland Police Department were sent on Jan. 10 to the 7200 block of Fletcher View for report of a vehicle burglary
CBS Los Angeles

WeHo Assault Being Investigated as Possible Hate Crime: LASD
A Tuesday morning assault in West Hollywood was being investigated as a possible hate crime, authorities said Thursday. As three men attacked a man near the intersection of Fairfax Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, they made derogatory remarks about his race and sexual orientation, said a detective with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department.
NBC Los Angeles

SWAT Standoff Follows Attempt to Serve Warrant at San Bernardino Home
SWAT members and armored police vehicles responded to a San Bernardino home where at least five people were barricaded after authorities attempted Thursday morning to serve a narcotics warrant. Aerial video showed six people being taken into custody at about 9 a.m. Details regarding the subjects were not immediately available, but at least two of them were in handcuffs.
NBC Los Angeles

City Government

Los Angeles Fire Department hiring needs overhaul, RAND report finds
The Los Angeles Fire Department must overhaul the way it recruits and processes candidates if it is to be more effective in the city and fair to its recruits, the RAND Corp. said Thursday. A long-awaited report, prepared by the Santa Monica think tank after a three-month study of the LAFD in the summer, found major changes are needed to make the system more transparent, including a greater effort to attract more women and minorities.
Los Angeles Daily News