Law Enforcement

Weatherman Dr. George Fischbeck honored posthumously for his volunteer work with LAPD
Besides being an iconic television weatherman, George Fischbeck had a lesser known life conducting late-night stakeouts as a member of the Los Angeles police's Volunteer Surveillance Team (VST). The bespectacled Woodland Hills resident, who was affectionately known as Dr. George and was beloved for his entertaining forecasts, died in March of natural causes at the age of 92.
Los Angeles Daily News

Celebrities to attend LAPD Appreciation Day
Various celebrities will show their appreciation to our men and women in uniform at the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's Police and Fire Fighters Appreciation Day BBQ at the Los Angeles Police Department, LAPD Hollywood Division on Friday, September 11th, from 12 Noon to 2 p.m. located at 1358 N. Wilcox Avenue.
Westsidetoday.com

LAPD detectives shoot at domestic violence suspect in Panorama City
Los Angeles police detectives fired on -- but did not hit -- a domestic violence suspect who allegedly confronted them Thursday in Panorama City. He drove off, but was captured soon afterward. The shooting followed two reports of assaults with a deadly weapon in the same area of Van Nuys, one about 8:45 a.m. and a second about 1:20 p.m., said Officer Drake Madison of the Los Angeles Police Department's media relations office. Both were suspected domestic violence incidents, he said.
Los Angeles Daily News

Changes Come to Northeast L.A. Policing
Things appear to have quieted down enough for Highland Park to become one of the areas where Los Angeles police officers are getting out of their patrol cars to walk the beat. Months back when area residents asked for officers to be assigned to the same type of foot patrols along commercial corridors as they were in neighboring communities, Northeast Los Angeles Division brass were reluctant to take officers out of faster moving patrol cars as they struggled to combat a large surge in gang-related shootings in the area.
EGPNews.com

Court Denies Appeal by Police Union to Suppress McDade Shooting Report, Orders Even More Be Released
The Pasadena Police union's appeal of an injunction ordering the City of Pasadena to release 80% of an external report on the Kendrec McDade shooting was rejected today as the appellate court ordered release of even more of the report than the trial court originally ordered the City to release. The Court's opinion said that the City attempted to use the police officers' privacy rights to prevent release of the report's criticisms of the City's own investigations, practice, and policies. City of Pasadena Public Information Officer William Boyer confirmed that the City receive today the ruling from the Court of Appeals.
Pasadena Now

Black Lives Matter 9/11 Anniversary Threat: Police Officers Warn Of Potential Attacks
U.S. police officers were told to be on high alert this week for Friday's anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, according to reports from conservative media. The alert was prompted by several death threats reportedly coming from activists associated with the Black Lives Matter social justice movement that has put a spotlight on police brutality. The seriousness of the alleged threats was unclear. Several “Be On Look Out” warnings went out to state and municipal law enforcement agencies across the country this week, according to a report by the Daily Caller, a right-leaning news site.
International Business Times

Legislation

California lawmakers approve bills to track racial profiling, police use of force
California lawmakers on Wednesday approved measures intended to shine a light on racial profiling and the use of force by police officers, a response to recent deadly, racially charged incidents in Baltimore and Ferguson, Mo. One proposal would require police officers to collect data on the people they stop, including perceived race and ethnicity.
Los Angeles Times

Electronic privacy bill protects privacy rights and public safety
We should all be doing all that we can to properly protect the privacy of Californians of all ages. That's why I have authored Senate Bill 178, the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act, with Republican Sen. Joel Anderson. This bill updates California law for the modern digital age, protecting fundamental rights to privacy while creating clear rules so law enforcement can continue to efficiently do its job.
The Sacramento Bee

California civil forfeiture curb soundly defeated
Legislation limiting law enforcement's ability to confiscate property from Californians not convicted of crimes failed badly in the Assembly on Thursday, a fate the bill's author forcefully attributed to a disingenuous campaign by opponents. Asset forfeiture allows peace officers to seize cash and property from people they suspect of crimes. Proponents call it a tool to cripple large criminal enterprises by cutting off their financing, but critics argue it has been abused to pad police budgets.
The Sacramento Bee

Unions

Union-dues foes, defeated in three elections, may yet win in court: Thomas Elias
The common assumption in California politics is that labor unions will always be a major force because they have been for the last 30-plus years. But change may be coming, even though organized labor since 1996 has beaten back three ballot initiatives aiming to end its influence. The issue here is union dues paid by public employees. Rules are different for unions covering workers in private business.
Los Angeles Daily News