Law Enforcement

City Council to Honor Hero Who Protected LAPD Motorcycle Cop
A man who used his big rig to guard a downed Los Angeles police motorcycle cop and another rider with whom he crashed will be honored April 29 for being a hero. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. in council chambers, Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring St. Reacting quickly and to protect the two injured riders, commercial truck driver Dorian Cole stopped and positioned his rig to shelter the two downed riders from further harm, authorities said.
Eagle Rock Patch

One LA cop's beat: using hugs and hellos to help the homeless
Officer Deon Joseph hands out flyers, hugs and hellos as he walks through one of the biggest homeless encampments in the U.S., the Los Angeles area known as Skid Row. Joseph, senior lead officer in the Los Angeles Police Department's Central Division, has been walking this tough beat for 17 years.“We're just in the middle trying to change it, trying to create an environment that is conducive to change,” he said.
Fusion

One Boy's Wish Takes Flight
Eight year-old Noah Cohen is fascinated with fire trucks, ambulances and police cars, and he's about to make the trip of a lifetime. “Your visit to LAPD and LAFD in California has been granted,” said Noah's mother, Amy Cohen. Back in February, Noah found out his Make-A-Wish dream was coming true. Noah has a rare condition called Vacterl Association, a disorder that affects his internal organs from functioning properly.
MyChamplainValley.com

LAPD officer charged with assault during arrest committed a ‘criminal act,' says Chief Charlie Beck
Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck said today he believes an officer charged with using excessive force during an October arrest committed a “criminal act,” and he personally urged the district attorney to file charges. The Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents LAPD officers, issued a statement saying, “While we certainly share Chief Beck's concern about the incident, we owe it to all parties involved to let the judicial system run its course so that all facts can be considered before judgment is made.”
Los Angeles Daily News , mynewsLA.com

Man Driving Truck With NC Plates Sought in Fatal Stabbing in Parking Lot of Famed Hollywood Restaurant
Los Angeles police were looking for a man who fled in a pickup truck with North Carolina plates after another man was found dead in the parking lot of a well-known Hollywood restaurant Wednesday. The body was found at 1727 N. Cherokee Ave., just north of Hollywood Boulevard, about 8:30 a.m., according to Lt. John Jenal of the Los Angeles Police Department said at an early afternoon news conference near the scene.
KTLA 5

Suspect Sought In Latest Deadly Palms Shooting
Police are investigating a fatal shooting in Palms just a few days after several shootings in the area left a man dead and injured four others. Officers responded around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a gunshot near the 3300 block of Mentone Avenue, the LAPD reports.
CBS Los Angeles , Los Angeles Daily News

13-Year-Old Girl Reported Missing In Pomona
Police sought the public's help Wednesday to locate a 13-year-old girl who has been reported missing in Pomona. According to the Pomona Police Department, Katherine Vance was originally reported missing on April 5, however, she was located the next day with her 17-year-old boyfriend.
CBS Los Angeles

City Government

City Council signs off on new LAPD contract, raises for officers
The Los Angeles City Council signed off Wednesday on a four-year labor contract that will provide raises for 9,900 Los Angeles Police Department officers.The contract with the Los Angeles Police Protective League does not provide any increases for 2014 or 2015, but calls for a 4 percent cost-of- living adjustment in July 2016, followed by a 2 percent increase in July 2017 and another 2 percent in January 2018.
mynewsLA.com

LA District Attorney's New Unit To Probe Wrongful Conviction Claims
L.A. County District Attorney Jackie Lacey is creating a special unit dedicated to examining wrongful conviction claims. It will include three prosecutors, an investigator and a paralegal. Lacey asked county supervisors for nearly $1 million to fund the new unit.
CBS Los Angeles , Los Angeles Times

Garcetti budget seeks to boost recession-hit Cultural Affairs Dept.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is proposing a 12.2% spending increase for the Department of Cultural Affairs, which would receive the biggest boost during what has been a very lean, recession-racked 21st century for the city's arts arm. If approved by the City Council, Cultural Affairs would get its first substantial staff increase since shedding nearly half its workers during the Great Recession.
Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Councilman Mitchell Englander to seek 5th District Board of Supervisors seat
Los Angeles City Councilman Mitchell Englander kicked off his bid Wednesday to represent District 5 on the board of Los Angeles County Supervisors, formally announcing his candidacy and launching a website. A photo showing Englander surrounded by police officers greets visitors to his new campaign site, with the politician promising to “bring fiscally responsible leadership to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.”
Los Angeles Daily News