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Daily Local & Regional NewsWatch
LA Police Protective League

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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

May 19, 2011

Law Enforcement

LAPD to have office at Dodger Stadium to encourage tips
The Los Angeles Police Department will have an office at Dodger Stadium beginning Wednesday night to get tips from the public about the Opening Day beating of San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow. Officers also will distribute wanted fliers throughout the stadium during the two-game series against the San Francisco Giants, police announced Tuesday. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck and Northeast Division Capt. Bill Murphy said the series would be safe for families to attend.
Los Angeles Daily News

LAPD helicopter makes emergency landing
A police helicopter made an emergency landing Wednesday on a soccer field near the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after a warning light came on indicating a possible problem. The copter landed safely about 1:30 p.m. near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Menlo Avenue, said Sgt. Carlton Brown of the Los Angeles Police Department's Southwest Station.
Fox11


The sue me, sue you LAPD blues
As I approach the end of my long career with the LAPD, what I find remarkable is not how often officers sue the department, but rather how seldom they do. I am not optimistic that things will change soon. And what's more unfortunate still is that when this column is posted, there will be many within the LAPD who are more desirous of finding and silencing me than they are of fixing the problems I've written about. I'm not worried. If they mess with me, I'll sue.
Jack Dunphy/Pajamas Media


City Budget Crisis

Los Angeles council approves budget cuts to police, fire and parks in closing a $336-million gap
The Los Angeles City Council passed a $6.9 billion budget Wednesday, closing a $336-million revenue shortfall by eliminating police overtime pay and shutting down some fire engine teams - but avoiding employee layoffs. Unlike state lawmakers, who recently found their budget deficit eased by an unexpected $6.6-billion influx of tax receipts, revenue projections in Los Angeles remain flat. The budget cuts approved on a 15-0 council vote were less agonizing than in recent years, when officials slashed thousands of jobs and imposed citywide furloughs.
Los Angeles Times


In tight times, L.A. relies on volunteer police
The new budget for Los Angeles would cut $100 million from the city's police department. Officials hope to save the money by granting less overtime. And one way to do that is through the use of volunteers. The Los Angeles Police Department already has more than 700 unpaid workers in its Reserve Corps. These volunteers save the city about $5 million each year. But some in the legal profession have concerns.
National Public Radio


Legislation

Bill could make growing pot a misdemeanor
Growing marijuana could soon be a misdemeanor if the Legislature passes a bill sponsored State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano. His bill would change marijuana cultivation from a mandatory felony to a so-called wobbler offense, giving district attorneys the option of charging it as a misdemeanor or a felony. The bill made it out of committee Wednesday and will now head to the Assembly floor. California residents voted against legalizing marijuana last year, but the state has been rolling back criminal penalties for marijuana-related offenses.
Bay Citizen


Pensions

Gov. Jerry Brown aims to pay down 'wall of debt'
In 1991, the Legislature delayed a $168 million payment it owed to the state's largest pension fund by one day, into the next budget year - a simple shuffle to help balance the annual spending plan. It never repaid the money, leaving the state one payment behind on what it owed to the California Public Employees' Retirement System for more than two decades and through three gubernatorial administrations, including that of former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Associated Press


Prisons & Parole

Quadriplegic prisoner is first in California to get medical parole hearing
Steven Charles Martinez is a 42-year-old quadriplegic who cannot care for himself in any way. He cannot feed or bathe himself, cannot brush his teeth. Because Martinez is an inmate at Corcoran State Prison, taxpayers are providing well over $500,000 annually for his medical care, and will continue to do so if he remains in prison for the rest of his life, which was the intent of his 157-years-to-life sentence.
Sacramento Bee


Immigration

U.S. to investigate Secure Communities deportation program
The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General plans an investigation of an immigration enforcement program that purports to target "serious convicted felons" for deportation but has ensnared many illegal immigrants who were arrested but not subsequently convicted of crimes or who committed minor offenses, a letter obtained Wednesday shows. The letter from acting Inspector General Charles K. Edwards to Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), who requested an investigation late last month, said the watchdog agency had already scheduled a review of the program, known as Secure Communities.
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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