Law Enforcement

5K Held In Honor Of First LAPD SWAT Officer Killed In The Line Of Duty
The eighth annual Randy Simmons 5K Run, Bike Ride and Crossfit Challenge was held Saturday in memory of the first LAPD officer to lose his life in the line of duty. Simmons was killed during an 11-hour hostage standoff in Winnetka in 2008.
CBS Los Angeles

LAPD leads state in bystander injuries in high-speed chases
Stopped at a red light in El Sereno, Julio Reyes-Salvador was oblivious to the cars hurtling toward him. In front was a gray Chevrolet Tahoe, racing at speeds of more than 80 mph as a Los Angeles Police Department cruiser gave chase. The pursuit, which began when officers tried to stop the fleeing motorist for reckless driving, ended when the Tahoe smashed into Reyes-Salvador's car, setting off a chain-reaction crash that crushed his Toyota Corolla. His car “looked like a soda can somebody just stepped on,” one of the pursuing officers later recalled in court.
Los Angeles Times

Dead, Several Hospitalized in 4-Vehicle Crash in San Pedro; Alcohol or Drugs Appear to Be Factor: LAPD
Alcohol or drugs appeared to be a factor in a crash involving four vehicles in San Pedro that left one person dead and six others hospitalized Saturday morning, according to LAPD. The crash occurred shortly after 2:30 a.m. in the 1500 block of South Gaffey Street, the Los Angeles Fire Department tweeted.
KTLA 5

Hollywood tries to balance its club scene with a surge in residents
It was shortly after midnight Aug. 22 when the Los Angeles Police Department got the call about a brawl at the Cashmere nightclub in Hollywood. When officers arrived, they found Jose Manuel Silva Nieves, a 20-year-old who went by DJ Steez, collapsed on the floor. He was taken to a hospital and died the next day. Police say the DJ was severely beaten during a fight. His death has become a symbol in Hollywood.
Los Angeles Times

All-In-One Center To Help Abuse Victims Opens In Van Nuys
A new program designed to help victims of sexual or domestic abuse is up and running in the San Fernando Valley. A non-descript building in Van Nuys, which is the Family Justice Center, is a safe haven for victims of abuse. Instead of victims heading to different sites for medical, mental and legal help, they can receive it all at the center. "You're not alone and whatever happened to you isn't your fault. People here want to help you. People want to protect you," Bobbie Matthews said. "We've got LAPD here everywhere. I've never felt safer than I do here. So you should come here. Ask for help, it's OK."
ABC 7

State Government

Jerry Brown signs bill to create gun-free school campuses
California's Governor Jerry Brown approved Senate Bill 707 (SB 707) on Oct. 10, which bans the carrying of concealed weapons from all school campuses in the state. With the recent school shootings that have happened nationwide, this new law aims to make California's public and private schools and colleges “gun-free zones” to provide a safe and secure campus for students.
CSU Signal

Will California's end-of-life law push lethal drugs over costlier care?
Terminally ill cancer patient Barbara Wagner's doctor wrote a prescription several years ago intended to extend her life a few extra months. But Oregon's government-run healthcare program declined to pay for the pricey drug, saying the projected odds of the medicine's keeping her alive were too low. Adding to the distress of the rejection, Wagner later complained publicly, was what else was included in the denial letter she received. The state listed doctor-aided death as one of the treatment options that would be completely covered.
Los Angeles Times

Pensions

To stay out of bankruptcy, put pensions on the table
The city of San Bernardino returned to federal bankruptcy court this month, where it faced off against creditors challenging the disclosure statement accompanying the reorganization plan submitted by the debt-ridden city in May. The Luxembourg-based bank EEPK, San Bernardino's second-largest creditor after the California Public Employees' Retirement System, complained that the city neglected to disclose how much property it owned, how much said property was worth and whether it could be liquidated.
The Orange County Register