Law Enforcement

Upland selects LAPD veteran as new police chief
A 26-year veteran with the Los Angeles Police Department has been named the city's new police chief. Capt. Brian P. Johnson, who is assigned to Los Angeles' Pacific Area, oversees 300 sworn and professional civilian personnel.“I believe in being responsive to the community needs, and I am looking forward to continuing Upland's excellent reputation of professionalism and responsiveness to the community we serve,” Johnson said in a statement.
San Bernardino County Sun

Fort Bragg tabs LA candidate as new police chief
The city of Fort Bragg has hired a new police chief with prior experience at the Los Angeles Police Department, city manager Linda Ruffing announced Monday.The hiring of Fabian Lizarraga comes after a nationwide recruitment process that included as many as 30 applicants at one time, according to Ruffing. Lizarraga, who has 37 years of law enforcement experience in LA, will officially enter the position at the end of April pending a background investigation and pre-employment process, Ruffing said.
Willits News

Hit-And-Run Driver Sought in Crash Near USC That Left 87-Year-Old Woman in Critical Condition
Police were asking for the public's help Wednesday in identifying the hit-and-run driver who struck an elderly woman in a crosswalk at a crowded intersection near USC in broad daylight. It happened around 8 a.m. on Monday, March 16 at the intersection of Adams Boulevard and Figueroa Street. The 87-year-old victim was crossing the street eastbound on Adams Boulevard within a marked crosswalk when she was hit, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department.
KTLA5

Police search for sexual predator attacking women in Panorama City
Police released composite drawings on Wednesday of a man who attacked two women this month in Panorama City. The attacks occurred about a week apart in the 14600 block of Nordhoff Street, according to Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Los Angeles Police Department's Mission Detective Division. Police released two sketches, based on the descriptions provided by each of the women.
Daily News

Nonprofit Arts School For Students With Disabilities Burglarized Twice In Same Week
An arts school in Long Beach that offers services for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities was burglarized twice in the same week.The burglaries at Arts & Services for Disabled, Inc., a nonprofit, occurred last week.
CBS Los Angeles

Koreatown Hit-Run Leaves Woman With Brain Injury
Authorities continue to search for a hit-and-run driver who struck a woman in Koreatown last week, leaving her with a brain injury and bone fractures. On Saturday, a rented SUV drove westbound on 8th Street, when it ran a red light at Harvard Boulevard and crashed into Sun Lee's BMW, police said. Photos captured the driver of the SUV running away from the scene of the accident.
ABC 7

San Diego police body camera report: Fewer complaints, less use of force
The use of body cameras by San Diego police has led to fewer complaints by residents and less use of force by officers, according to a city report released Wednesday. Complaints have fallen 40.5% and use of "personal body" force by officers has been reduced by 46.5% and use of tear gas by 30.5%, according to the report developed by the Police Department for the City Council's Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee.
Los Angeles Times

Mother approached by woman before Long Beach baby's abduction, police say
The case of a Long Beach baby kidnapped and found dead near the Mexican border grew more mysterious Wednesday when investigators said the infant's mother was followed and possibly approached by an assailant before the attack. The mother was on her way home carrying her daughter on Jan. 3 when a woman driving a dark-colored Range Rover with large black rims stopped next to her on the street and spoke with her. It was a "basic conversation" that didn't leave the girl's mother with any suspicion that "something was going to happen" later, said Lt. Lloyd Cox.
Los Angeles Times , NBC4

City Government

LAPD Chief Beck To Appear Alongside Garcetti On Thursday's ‘Ask The Mayor'
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck will appear Thursday alongside Mayor Eric Garcetti for KNX 1070's “Ask The Mayor” program. The program will be broadcast live on KNX and CBSLA.com from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Listeners can pose questions directly to Garcetti and Beck by calling 1-866-569-1070 or through Twitter using #KNXmayor.
CBS Los Angeles

State Government

Brown, lawmakers to unveil $1-billion emergency drought relief plan
As California braces for a fourth consecutive year of drought, Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders on Thursday will unveil a $1-billion relief plan, two sources told The Times late Wednesday. This will mark the second consecutive year in which the Legislature has had to act on emergency drought relief. In 2014, Brown signed a $687.4-million drought package, which offered aid to communities facing acute water shortages and food and housing assistance to those harmed by the drought.
Los Angeles Times