Law Enforcement

What it's like to train to be a Los Angeles Police officer
The One-Day Police Academy, which kicked off with an address by Chief Charlie Beck, offered a glimpse of what recruits experience as they prepare to take to the streets of L.A. Members from about 20 news organizations received classroom instruction and vivid practical experiences in things like police use of force and how pursuits are handled on city streets.
Los Angeles Daily News , ABC 7

Loosened LAPD vehicle impound policy upheld by state Supreme Court
The state Supreme Court has let stand a lower court ruling that upheld the Los Angeles Police Department's Special Order 7, which liberalized procedures for impounding vehicles of unlicensed drivers. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge struck down the policy in 2013, saying it conflicted with the state's motor vehicle code. The policy was opposed by the government watchdog group Judicial Watch and the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents LAPD officers.
mynewsLA.com

Tailgaters at park near Dodger Stadium face LAPD crackdown
The crackdown was part of a city-led effort to control the unruly tailgating that's long affected the area around Dodger Stadium. Security has been a sensitive issue since the 2011 beating of Giants fan Bryan Stow, but this year, city officials took a tougher approach — with more than 200 officers — following numerous neighborhood complaints involving heavy drinking, public urinating and loud music.
Los Angeles Times

Boy, 8, shot in head by intruder while sleeping in bed; suspect sought
After an 8-year-old boy was shot in the head by a stray bullet while he was sleeping at his Del Rey home, police said Monday they were conducting an exhaustive search for the gunman. "We're looking at all potential motives," said Los Angeles police Capt. Nicole Alberca, describing the gunman as a medium-built man who was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt.
Los Angeles Times , CBS Los Angeles

Police Seek Help To Locate Sexual Assault, Robbery Suspect In Manhattan Beach
Police Monday released a description of a man they believe sexually assaulted a woman at Manhattan Beach. The sexual assault occurred around 12:15 a.m. Sunday on the sand located in the 3400 block of the waterline, according to the Manhattan Beach Police Department.
CBS Los Angeles

Police Officers Debate Effectiveness Of Anti-Bias Training
Police departments around the country are instituting anti-bias training for their officers. The Justice Department encourages it, but for many cops the training doesn't seem effective or necessary.
NPR

Police agencies testing bullet shell casings faster in team effort to nab active shooters
In Denver, Chicago, Milwaukee, New Orleans and other cities, shell casings are now loaded into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network within days of a crime. A machine takes images of the unique, microscopic markings at the base of each casing. Computer software then produces potential matches, and detectives and ATF agents study the linked cases for other similarities, such as suspect or vehicle descriptions.
U.S. News & World Report

City Government

Los Angeles' minimum-wage study should involve business owners
Last month, three studies of Mayor Eric Garcetti's proposed $13.25 Los Angeles minimum wage were presented to City Council members. Labor union-aligned researchers at the Economic Roundtable and UC Berkeley painted a rosy picture of the mayor's minimum wage plan; by contrast, the report from consultancy Beacon Economics was more nuanced, acknowledging benefits as well as significant employment costs.
Los Angeles Daily News

Unions and L.A. Unified reach tentative deal on health benefits
The Los Angeles school district and its employee unions have reached a multibillion-dollar tentative agreement on healthcare benefits that would run through 2018. The agreement factors in modest annual increases in benefit expenses and resolves some long-term unfunded costs for the L.A. Unified School District. But the pact still could strain the annual budget, possibly contributing to cutbacks or layoffs.
Los Angeles Times