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Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch
LA Police Protective League

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Los Angeles
Police Protective League
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the union that represents the
rank and file LAPD officers

  Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch

Daily News Digest
from LA Police Protective League

March 16, 2016

Law Enforcement

Effort To Reduce Officer-Involved Shootings Sparks LAPD Debate
A new debate over the Los Angeles Police Department's use-of-force policy has pitted the officers' union against civilian commissioners who are pushing for more restraint in critical situations. The Police Commission has issued 12 recommendations that aim to reduce the number of people killed or hurt by LAPD officers. But the Los Angeles Police Protective League fears the new measures will leave officers second-guessing themselves in life-or-death situations. Officer Jamie McBride with the LAPPL told the commission about one such situation he faced. "He raised his gun, he fired and I was shot. During the next few seconds I was in a gun battle for my life," McBride said. "In incidents like this every second counts and hesitation will kill you."
ABC 7 or watch ABC 7 Video , and see CBS 2 .

Off-duty LAPD officer shoots two burglars who broke into his San Gabriel home, officials say
An off-duty LAPD lieutenant shot two suspected burglars who broke into his San Gabriel home Tuesday morning, leaving one in critical condition, police said. The LAPD lieutenant had found the two men inside the residence in the 600 block of Los Olivos Drive about 10:15 a.m. and confronted them, said Lt. Eddie Hernandez of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department's homicide bureau. The lieutenant told detectives he was standing near the kitchen window when he saw one of the men, who were in his backyard, reach for his waistband and turn toward him.“Fearing the suspect had armed himself and was going to seriously hurt or kill the homeowner,” the officer fired, a sheriff's statement said.
Los Angeles Times

Police Search Arlington Heights For Person With Rifle
Police swarmed an Arlington Heights neighborhood to search for a person wielding a rifle after authorities said shots were fired Wednesday morning. The shooting was reported near Sixth and Washington streets shortly before 2 a.m. Los Angeles police said no one was hit. SWAT was called to the scene. The connection between the suspect and victim was not immediately known. There were reports that the victim was a pedestrian who was fired upon, but this was not confirmed by police. Some areas were evacuated and a perimeter was established to search for the suspect. Residents were advised to stay inside and lock their doors and windows as a precaution.
ABC 7

Man Wanted in Wetlands Park Sex Assaults
There may be more victims of a man who sexually assaulted at least three women in South Los Angeles Wetlands Park since October, police said Tuesday. Detectives released a sketch of the man, and are asking everyone who uses the park to be on alert, and for anyone with information to come forward. “Females have been in the park exercising, walking, he approaches them, sexually assaults them physically. Holds them down,” said Officer Valentine Flores of LAPD's Newton Division Sex Crimes Unit. Each time, the women fought back, which they believe may have saved their lives, police said. “We believe that he is the same suspect who has committed the three sexual assaults and we believe there may be many more that have not been reported yet,” said Cmdr. Michael Rimkunas.
NBC 4

L.A. County turns to a previous coroner to run department on interim basis
Los Angeles County supervisors announced Tuesday that a former county coroner will return to head up the Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner on an interim basis, following the abrupt departure of the county's top medical examiner, Mark Fajardo. Fajardo announced last week that he was going to resign from the Los Angeles office and return to his old job as the chief forensic pathologist in Riverside County. He had taken over the Los Angeles County coroner's office after his predecessor, Dr. Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran, retired in 2013.
Los Angeles Times

So-Called Cold Hands Bandit Sought in String of Bank Robberies
Authorities Tuesday circulated security images of the so-called Cold Hands Bandit and an accomplice, who have robbed at least 15 banks in Los Angeles County. "The (bandit) received this moniker because of his proclivity to keep his hands concealed while committing the holdups," Sheriff's Deputy Lillian Peck said. Detectives began their investigation in November, following the robbery of a bank in the 8400 block of East Valley Boulevard in Rosemead. "They soon discovered this was just the first known heist by the pair of brazen bank robbers," Peck said. "Detectives identified the Cold Hands Bandit's pattern of passing a demand note and threatening violence if his demands for money are not met." Both suspects are described as black and 25 to 30 years old.
NBC 4

Man convicted of killing four inside Valley Village restaurant
A jury Tuesday convicted a Los Angeles man of killing four people after he fired more than 50 shots inside a Valley Village restaurant during a memorial gathering in 2010. The jury of nine men and three women found Nerses Arthur Galstyan guilty of two counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstance of multiple murders, as well as one count of second-degree murder. The special circumstances conviction will allow prosecutors, who are seeking the death penalty, to ask the same jury to begin the penalty phase of the trial. The jury is scheduled to return March 28.
Los Angeles Times

Homeless Man Who Spotted OC Fugitives Gets $100K Reward
A homeless man from San Francisco who pointed police toward two Orange County inmates who had escaped from jail will get the lion's share of a $150,000 reward set up for their successful capture, the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday. The Orange County Board of Supervisors awarded Matthew Hay-Chapman $100,000, said Jean Pasco, a county spokeswoman. Two Target employees and a man whose van was stolen by the escapees will split the remaining $50,000. Hossein Nayeri, Jonathan Tieu and Bac Duong escaped from Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana on Jan. 22 and were the subject of a statewide manhunt for days. Hay-Chapman spotted Nayeri and Tieu on Jan. 28 in San Francisco and recognized their stolen white GMC van from news reports.
CBS 2

Suspect In Police Shooting Charged With Second-Degree Murder
A man accused of shooting at a Maryland police station to allegedly provoke officers into killing him has been charged with second-degree murder. Michael Ford, 22, is facing 25 counts, including attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, in the incident that turned fatal for Officer Jacai Colson, who was struck by friendly fire, Prince George's County State's Attorney spokesman John Erzen confirmed Wednesday. Police have said Ford, who is being held without bail, fired on the station to draw officers' attention and hoped to die in a "suicide by cop." Ford's two brothers - Malik, 21, and Elijah, 18, - drove him to the police station and used their cellphones to record video of the firefight, according to police. They also made a video of their older brother's "last will and testament" minutes before the shooting started, police said.
Associated Press

Rep. Jackie Speier proposes assault weapon import ban
U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough) on Tuesday proposed legislation banning the importation of assault weapons. The proposal came during a speech Speier gives each month in the House in which she reads aloud the names of people killed in mass shootings the month before. The bill would require the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to ban the import of assault weapons that are not suitable or readily adaptable for sporting purposes. “Cheap foreign assault weapons are a favorite tool of cartels, mass shooters and even ISIS, which used guns that had been imported to the United States to carry out the Paris attacks,” Speier said, using an acronym for the Islamic State terrorist organization.
Los Angeles Times


City Government

LADWP Rate Hike Obtains Final Approval
The Los Angeles City Council gave final approval on Tuesday to the L.A. Department of Water and Power to raise its rates. The City Council passed the plan a few weeks ago by a vote of 12-2, but because it wasn't unanimous, a second hearing was needed. This means that LADWP customers may see water rates increase by 4.7 percent and power rates by 3.86 percent each year for the next five years. By the end of that five-year stretch, the average customer could pay about $21 more per month than they do now. The new revenue would go toward upgrades to the city's aging pipe system and also meeting clean energy and climate change mandates.
ABC 7

Real-Time Map Shows Decibel Readings Near LA Airports
A real-time noise map released Tuesday allows LA residents to track airplanes' noise levels during takeoffs and landings at LAX. The map, which shows the decibel levels of airplanes recorded across Southwest Los Angeles, is part of a dashboard by City Controller Ron Galperin, found here, that also includes data about LAX traffic, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, flight delays and airport spending. "For the first time, we've brought key LAX metrics together in one place,'' Galperin said. "The dashboard is easily accessible and is intended to inform residents, businesses, travelers and city decision-makers about the operations and impacts of our nation's third-busiest airport."
NBC 4


Homelessness

A Homeless Encampment Takes Over A Van Nuys Alley!
LA's Mayor and council have promised 100 million dollars to help the homeless find housing and get services. But, there are businesses, like those along Van Nuys Boulevard, that say they need help with the homeless tents popping up behind their businesses in the alley. Photographer Ken Moore and I walked into an alley behind those businesses to see the problem first hand. Immediately, a man whose sentences were peppered with foul and angry language started screaming at Moore and myself. “You move us from here we'll move somewhere else… in your city," he screamed. A few angry words later he says “One day your kids might be out here.”
Fox 11

'Where are we going to go?' L.A. homeless sweeps continue despite lawsuit
Just one day after advocates for the homeless filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, work crews and police were out again Tuesday making arrests and removing homeless encampments along a highly visible stretch of the 101 Freeway downtown. The sweep, which was conducted by city sanitation workers and the Los Angeles Police Department, focused on an area where Main and Spring streets cross over the 101 Freeway, according to police and witnesses. Crews had given the homeless prior notice to remove their possessions, according to city officials.
Los Angeles Times
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About the LAPPL Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at:

www.LAPD.com


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