.........
Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch
LA Police Protective League

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
.
 

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

  Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch

Daily News Digest
from LA Police Protective League

March 23, 2016

Law Enforcement

Brussels attack investigation: Brothers were suicide bombers in two locales
Investigators believe Salah Abdeslam likely planned to be part of an attack orchestrated by the same ISIS cell that carried out attacks at Brussels airport and in the metro Tuesday, a senior Belgian counter-terrorism official told CNN's Paul Cruickshank. Abdeslam, who was involved with last year's Paris terror attacks, was arrested in Belgium after a shootout last week. Two brothers -- one at the Brussels airport, the second at a subway station in the same Belgian city -- blew themselves up during bloody terrorist attacks that once again rattled Europe to its core, the country's federal prosecutor told reporters Wednesday.
CNN

Trooper killed in Mass. crash remembered for values
A state trooper who died following a crash on the Massachusetts Turnpike was remembered at his funeral on Tuesday as a dedicated family man and valued colleague. Thousands of police officers from across the state and nation stood at attention outside St. Michael church in Hudson during the service for Trooper Thomas Clardy, 44, a Marine Corps veteran and father of seven. The service was followed by burial attended by officers and a Marine Corps honor guard. "Tom looked at everybody with good eyes and a good heart," retired state police Sgt. Albert Toney said during the eulogy.
Associated Press

Public Must Help Keep L.A., America Safe, LAPD Chief Says As Security Is Ramped Up
Security has been ramped up at the Los Angeles International Airport, Amtrak locations and L.A.-area Metro stations following a series of deadly explosions in Brussels on Tuesday, when officials asked the public to be alert. At noon, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti spoke at the city's emergency operations center alongside LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and David Bowdich, head of the FBI's Los Angeles office. "Public safety is my responsibility in Los Angeles, but it's everybody's business. The thing that keeps L.A. safe -- the thing that keeps America safe -- is the public," Beck said. "If you see something, say something."
KTLA 5

LAPD steps up deployment, patrols in wake of Brussels attacks
The Los Angeles Police Department deployed units to "critical infrastructures" sties throughout the city Tuesday in response to the terror attacks at the international airport and a subway station in Brussels. The special deployment began at 7:30 a.m. in "major places where people congregate" such as the Grove, the Beverly Center and area synagogues, according to Officer Tony Im of the LAPD's Media Relations Section. Officers were expected to report to their respective stations and there was no timetable for when the special deployments will end, Im said. Southland community leaders and elected officials voiced outrage Tuesday over the terrorist attacks in Brussels, offering support to the nation and calling for stepped-up efforts targeting terrorists across the globe.
FOX 11

2 LAPD officers injured in downtown L.A. crash
Three people, including two Los Angeles police officers, were injured Tuesday evening in a traffic collision in downtown L.A., authorities said. The crash occurred shortly before 9 p.m. in the 700 block of East 5th Street, said Margaret Stewart, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. A car driven by a civilian ran a stop sign at 5th Street and Stanford Avenue and slammed into the police officers' car, LAPD Officer Aareon Jefferson said. The officers are assigned to the LAPD's mental evaluation unit, Jefferson said.
Los Angeles Times

Property owners fence off Silver Lake street to keep criminals out
A short stretch of Dillon Street that dead ends on the north side of the 101 Freeway has been a haven for crime, according to police and nearby residents. Burglaries, fires and trespassing have been among some of the issues. But police have been unable to handle the problem, so now a property owner has installed a fence and gate across Dillon to increase safety while the city is in the process of closing the street for 18 months. A chain link fence was installed across the Dillon at London Street after the cul de sac was cleaned up last summer, according to a letter in support of the barrier from the Los Angeles Police Department.
The Eastsider

LAPD tries to answer City Hall's lingering questions about buying body cameras
The Los Angeles Police Department gave city council members more information Tuesday in an effort to answer lingering questions that have delayed a vote crucial to an ambitious initiative to equip thousands of officers with body cameras. Department officials formally gave City Hall the information after the Police Commission approved a 29-page report outlining how the specific cameras were selected and the staffing that would be dedicated to the program. Two city committees will consider the LAPD's response, and financial officials will prepare their own supplemental report. One LAPD official estimated the full City Council could vote on the body camera initiative in about four weeks.
Los Angeles Times

Trial begins Wednesday for LA County's former undersheriff Tanaka
A federal criminal trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday for the former undersheriff of Los Angeles County on obstruction of justice charges. Paul Tanaka, 56, of Gardena, is charged with one count each of conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice. His former boss, ex- Sheriff Lee Baca, pleaded guilty last month to a charge of lying to investigators and is awaiting sentencing in May. Prosecutors contend that Tanaka managed a secret plan in 2011 to “hide” inmate-turned-informant Anthony Brown from FBI handlers and a grand jury during a time when federal officials were conducting a probe of alleged deputy violence against prisoners.
MyNewsLA.com

Officers Trained To Care For Wounded Police Dogs
In dangerous situations, sometimes the first law enforcement officers to charge in are on four legs. Those police K-9s can also be just as vulnerable to stab and gunshot wounds as their human handlers. Southern California police officers learned Tuesday how to care for dogs who are injured in the line of duty. The training program at the Rose Bowl involved 25 officers from eight different law-enforcement agencies learning to perform basic treatment for injuries to dogs. They were also taught how to pull the animals out of dangerous situations.
ABC 7

Man Who Led Detectives To Friend's Body Pleads Innocent To His Murder
A 21-year-old man who led detectives to the body of his childhood friend, who was found shot to death in Angeles National Forest, has pleaded not guilty to murder. David Aldana entered his plea Monday in the killing of Maximilian Bernal. Aldana surrendered Feb. 25 to federal officers at a San Diego border crossing. Los Angeles County sheriff's officials say Aldana then led investigators to Bernal's body in the forest near Sand Canyon. The 22-year-old Newhall resident had sustained a gunshot wound. Prosecutors say Bernal, a friend of Aldana's since childhood, was shot Feb. 23 or 24. A possible motive was not disclosed.
CBS 2

Body Found Off Venice Beach
The body of a man believed to be in his mid-20s was pulled out of the ocean off the coast of Venice Tuesday morning. A surfer spotted the body near Avenue 18 off Venice Beach, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The body was pulled from the water by a Baywatch patrol and appeared to be somewhat decomposed, officials said. His identity was not immediately clear. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department detectives are now investigating.
NBC 4

Hackers Demand Ransom from Two More Southern California Hospitals
Hackers demanded a ransom from two more Southern California hospitals last week and federal authorities are investigating the case. Prime Healthcare Services Inc., a fast-growing national hospital chain, said the attackers infiltrated computer servers on Friday at two of its California hospitals, Chino Valley Medical Center in Chino and Desert Valley Hospital in Victorville. Two sources familiar with the investigation said the hackers had demanded a ransom to unlock the hospital computer systems, similar to what happened last month at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles. Hollywood Presbyterian said it paid $17,000 in bitcoin to hackers to regain access to the institution's computers.
KQED


City Government

Hollywood Palladium Skyscraper Project Approved By LA City Council
The Los Angeles City Council approved a project Tuesday that includes a pair of residential skyscrapers in the parking lot behind the Hollywood Palladium. The project's developer, Crescent Heights, is planning to build

731 residential units, many of them studios and single-room apartments, with some commercial and retail space on the ground floor. The council approved the project on a 12-0 consent vote, and in the process, denied an appeal by the project's neighbor, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which is seeking to delay the project. Opponents to the project say its size and density is inappropriate for the area.
CBS 2
Former L.A. City Council aide, wife acquitted of embezzlement in corruption case
A jury Tuesday acquitted a longtime Los Angeles lobbyist and former L.A. City Council aide accused of corruption, rejecting charges that he and his wife participated in a scheme to help an elected water board member siphon thousands of dollars in public money for personal use. After more than two days of deliberation in a Torrance courthouse, jurors found Robert Katherman Jr., 69, and his wife, Marilyn, 67, not guilty of felony counts of misappropriation of public funds and embezzlement. A third defendant, Ronald Craig Smith, treasurer of the West Basin Municipal Water District, pleaded guilty in 2014 to embezzling nearly $20,000 from the agency.
Los Angeles Times


Homelessness

Garcetti's top homelessness advisor leaves post after 18 months
Greg Spiegel, Mayor Eric Garcetti's top homelessness policy advisor, has left his post after 18 months, saying he felt he had accomplished his goal of making "a major impact" on the problem. The city and L.A. County adopted sweeping plans last month to end homelessness. "Eighteen months ago there wasn't a clear strategy for addressing homelessness," Spiegel said Tuesday. "On Feb. 9 we passed as comprehensive a strategy as anywhere in the country." Spiegel, 50, rejoined the Inner City Law Center on March 1 as director of strategic initiatives, after having previously been the group's policy and communications director. He said he also wanted to spend more time with his wife and 10-year-old daughter.
Los Angeles Times


NBA News

Los Angeles will host the 2018 NBA All-Star Game at Staples Center
The NBA All-Star Game is returning to Los Angeles in 2018. Staples Center will host the annual midseason basketball extravaganza two seasons from now, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver confirmed Tuesday night. Los Angeles also hosted the All-Stars in 2004 and 2011 at Staples Center. The Los Angeles area will host for the sixth time overall in three arenas. Silver and Staples Center officials made the announcement before the Los Angeles Lakers hosted Memphis. The Lakers and Clippers essentially served as joint hosts of the 2011 game, in which Blake Griffin won the dunk contest and Kobe Bryant earned his record fourth All-Star MVP award. The Forum in Inglewood hosted the 1972 and 1983 All-Star games. The soon-to-be-demolished Los Angeles Sports Arena hosted the 1963 game.
FOX 11
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~