Law Enforcement

New weapons tech makes bullets less deadly
The police department in Ferguson, Missouri, is among many experimenting with the Alternative, a new technology that its creators say makes bullets less deadly. Designed to save lives on both sides of the gun, it's become more relevant in the wake of high-profile police shooting cases, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann. The goal whenever cops draw their guns is not only to stop a deadly threat, but also to save as many lives as possible.
CBS News

Police launch operation targeting gangs in L.A.
The Los Angeles Police Department presented the results of an operation targeting gangs on the north side of this Southern California city, during which numerous arms were seized and criminal suspects were arrested. The operation came in response to a homicide on Aug. 15, 2014, and other crimes committed by armed gangs, including the recent murder of a 47-year-old woman found dead on a street crossing in front of the LAPD's Foothill Community Police Station.
Global Post

New L.A. Alert System Designed to Address Hit-and-Run ‘Epidemic'
Los Angeles is launching a hit-and-run alert system that will publish information on social media about cars and drivers linked to fatal and other severe hit-and-runs. City Hall officials announced the move Tuesday. The city of L.A. sees about 20,000 hit-and-run collisions a year. The majority result only in property damage. But in 2014, 27 people died in hit-and-run crashes in Los Angeles, and 144 others were severely injured, the city said.
KTLA 5 , The Los Angeles Times

Protect cops by losing the Waze app, Google: Sergeants Benevolent Association chief calls for tech giant to scrap cop-locating app
Cops to Google: Scrap the app. Sergeants Benevolent Association head Edward Mullins sent a letter to Google CEO Larry Page Tuesday demanding the company disable a feature of the mobile app Waze that lets users track real-time locations of police. The Waze app operates like a GPS navigation tool and permits users to note the locations of parked police vehicles, accidents, congestion, traffic cameras — and cops. Other drivers using the app are then warned on a map.
New York Daily News

The Central City Crime Report
In the Central City Crime Report, we survey the recent week in public safety. All information is provided by the LAPD's Central Division. That's Bananas: Three people got into an argument at the 7-Eleven at 818 W. Seventh St. at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 27. One woman lobbed hot coffee at the victim, while another woman tossed bananas at the java-doused person, who required medical attention. Both women fled.
Los Angeles Downtown News

LAPD on alert after surge in violence: 4 days, 16 shootings
The Los Angeles Police Department is on a modified tactical alert after a spate of violence -- at least 16 shootings in four days -- that left several people injured, including a 13-year-old girl. LAPD officers will remain in uniform and "continue their posture until we see some let-up."
The Los Angeles Times

Man in His 20s Found Dead After Possible Gang-Related Shooting in Boyle Heights: LAPD
Police were investigating a possible gang-related shooting after a passerby found a man dead in Boyle Heights early Tuesday morning, according to Los Angeles Police Department officials.The incident was reported around 5:36 a.m. near North Chicago and Sheridan streets, Officer Lopez said.
KTLA 5

Carjacking, Pursuit Suspect Identified As 29-Year-Old Parolee
A carjacking suspect who led police on a high-speed chase across the Southland has been identified as a 29-year-old parolee, authorities said Tuesday. Aaron Lorta was stable at County-USC Medical Center with gunshot wounds after a pursuit that began in Boyle Heights and ended in Montebello on Monday evening.
CBS Los Angeles

City Government

Contract talks stalled for half of L.A.'s city workers; protests underway
Unions representing roughly 20,000 Los Angeles municipal employees have begun a day of citywide demonstrations to draw attention to stalled contract talks.The Coalition of L.A. City Unions, which bargains on behalf of more than half the city's civilian workforce, held a news conference at dawn Tuesday with garbage-truck drivers outside the Mission Road sanitation yard and encouraged employees in a wide array of departments to engage in a 10-minute work stoppage Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Times

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti touts ‘progress' in labor negotiations with employee unions
Even as city workers rallied at dozens of job sites around the city to protest what they call cuts to muni­cipal services, Mayor Eric Garcetti insisted Tuesday there has been recent movement in labor negotiations with employee unions.“I feel we've made great progress last week at the table. There's been real progress on substantive issues, and we're going to continue there,” Garcetti told City News Service.
Los Angeles Daily News