LACP.org
..
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

May 31, 2017
 

Law Enforcement News

Safety Bulletin Issued To Southland Law Enforcement Officers After Gang-Related Threat
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department issued a safety bulletin to its deputies and other area agencies and their personnel after learning of a gang-related threat against Southland law enforcement officers, the department revealed Tuesday. Sheriff's Homicide Bureau detectives learned of the threat two weeks ago while investigating the fatal shooting of a stolen vehicle suspect by South Gate police officers at the end of a vehicle chase, according to the department. The Los Angeles Police Protective League's Board of Directors issued a statement saying the threat is an example of why the union has pushed against early release programs and for increased patrols.“Los Angeles police officers risk their lives every day patrolling our neighborhoods,” according to the statement. “Recently, criminals have become more emboldened and brazen in assaulting and murdering officers for just wearing a uniform. “It's disgusting and that is why we've fought against the early release of violent criminals and have advocated for increased neighborhood police patrols in Los Angeles. We must send a clear message that any attacks on law enforcement are, in fact, attacks on our communities as well.”
CBS 2

LAPD Uses Spit From Sidewalk To Tie Suspect To 2 Killings
Authorities trailing a man suspected of sexually assaulting and killing two young women who disappeared from their Los Angeles neighborhoods used his DNA to tie him to the 2011 crimes after he spit on a sidewalk. Geovanni Borjas, 32, was identified as a suspect in the slayings of Michelle Lozano, 17, and Bree'Anna Guzman, 22, after investigators used a controversial DNA testing technique known as familial DNA testing, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said. The technique enabled investigators to compare forensic evidence from the victims to law enforcement databases to identify likely relatives of the person who may have committed the crime. The search resulted in a match to Borjas' father, whose DNA was on file from a prior arrest, Beck said. Detectives began following Borjas and collected his DNA surreptitiously after he spit on a sidewalk, the chief said. That sample matched the DNA that was collected from the crime scenes and Borjas was arrested Thursday, he said. 
Los Angeles Daily News

13-Year-Old Girl Reported Missing In Boyle Heights
Los Angeles police are looking for help to find a missing teenage girl last seen in Boyle Heights. Evelyn Morales has not been seen since 8 a.m. Monday in the 200 block of N. Chicago Street. Family of the 13-year-old says she is depressed and possibly suicidal. She is described as Hispanic with brown hair and brown eyes. She stands at 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighs approximately 125 pounds, police said. She was last seen wearing jeans, white shoes and a blue sweater that said "Utah" on the front. If you've seen her or know where she is, contact Hollenbeck detectives at 323-342-4101.
ABC 7

Deadly Argument In Koreatown: LAPD Says Fatal Shooting May Be Gang-Related
A shooting over the weekend in Koreatown that left one man dead and another wounded is being investigated as possibly gang-related, police said Tuesday. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's Olympic Station were in the area of Fourth Street and Vermont Avenue about 8:15 p.m. Sunday when they heard shots fired. One victim was found in the 400 block of South Vermont Avenue and brought to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The second victim was found near the first, and had stable vital signs when taken to a hospital. “An altercation occurred in a parking lot” prior to the victims being shot, Lt. Hamed Mohamadi of the Los Angeles Police Department's Olympic Station said on the night of the shooting. Investigators believe the altercation was possibly gang-related, the LAPD announced without elaborating. A newer-model white car was spotted speeding away from the shooting scene, heading south on Vermont, police said. The suspect was described as a male wearing a black T-shirt and dark pants. Anyone with information about the shooting was urged to call LAPD West Bureau Homicide detectives at (213) 382-9470.
MyNewsLA.com

Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Hit-And-Run Crash That Left Bicyclist Dead, 2nd Cyclist Injured In Winnetka
A man was arrested in connection with a hit-and-run crash that left one bicyclist dead and another seriously injured in Winnetka, the Los Angeles Police Department announced Tuesday. Victor Mainwal Jr., 47, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and his 1998 Chevy utility vehicle was impounded for evidence, police said. Both bicyclists were on their way home from working at a restaurant at Ventura Boulevard and Tampa Avenue on May 24 when they were struck by a utility truck in the 6500 block of Winnetka Avenue, according to police. Mainwal allegedly stopped and looked over his shoulder at the victims before fleeing the scene and driving to a nearby motel parking lot, according to police. He then allegedly waited for several minutes before leaving the parking lot westbound on Vanowen Street, police added. Shortly after the crash, a witness said Mainwal ran into the bicyclists intentionally. “He was driving behind the bicyclists. He saw them, he changed the lane on purpose, hit them from the behind,” said Vladimir, a witness at the scene. “Run over the bicycles and took off.” Police have not confirmed whether the crash was intentional or accidental.
KTLA 5

$30,000 Worth Of Equipment, Cash Stolen From Woodland Hills Church
A Woodland Hills church is trying to recover after $30,000 worth of equipment was stolen ahead of a big music service planned for Sunday. “It seemed very intentional and targeted,” Pastor Craig Peterson of the Woodland Hills Community Church told KTLA. He has been at the parish for eight years and said he had never before worried crime. The burglary occurred early Monday. Someone broke into the chapel and stole electronics and other items. “We lost two projectors for Sunday services, a laptop that's used for services, a sound board, and almost all our mics,” Peterson said. A new keyboard and the church's safe were also taken. A nursery school teacher discovered the break in when she arrived at the church about 9 a.m. that day. Peterson said the person or people responsible got in through the chapel and made their way into the office where the found the computers and the safe, which had cash and checks inside. Members of the close-knit community are still in shock over the unexpected loss and have been warning others churches in the area to be on alert. They say the timing of the crime will make this week challenging.
KTLA 5

Deputies' Union Asks L.A. County Sheriff To Publish Additional Data On Use Of Force
After an oversight group pushed the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department last week to be more transparent about how often deputies use force and how often they're punished, the union representing rank-and-file deputies says it wants the department to go even further. In a letter sent Tuesday to Sheriff Jim McDonnell, the Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs says the department should reveal how many times deputies could have lawfully used force but refrained from doing so, as well as how many times deputies are assaulted or handle suspects who resist arrest or disobey orders.  The additional data would give “proper context” for deputies' use of force, ALADS President Det. Ron Hernandez wrote in the letter, which was copied to the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.  “Certainly, deputies prefer to resolve incidents without the use of force,” Hernandez wrote, adding that the additional data would help capture the “numerous times” deputies are able to de-escalate situations.
Los Angeles Times

'Back to the Future' fan gets 'dream ticket' after hitting 88 mph in his DeLorean
“Back to the Future” ultra-fan Spencer LaGrand White made his childhood dream come true in April when he saved up enough cash to buy a 1982 DeLorean. On Friday night, he achieved another milestone, albeit a costly one, when he reached 88 mph – the magic speed that sent Marty McFly into the future. But the 36-year-old Santa Clarita Valley resident wasn't transported into the future: He got busted for speeding on the 14 Freeway in Newhall.
Los Angeles Times

California Lawmakers OK Bill Prompted By Slaying Of Officer
The California Assembly has passed a bill tightening parole policies after a gang member with repeated probation violations was accused of killing a police officer near Los Angeles. The Assembly voted unanimously Tuesday to send the measure to the state Senate. The bill would require officials to evaluate an inmate's entire criminal history when considering their release from prison. AB1408 would also mandate that officials hold a hearing after a person's third parole violation to decide if their parole should be revoked. Assemblyman Ian Calderon says his bill would also help law enforcement officials share information and allow for better supervision of criminals. The Los Angeles-area Democrat authored the bill after Whittier police officer Keith Boyer was killed in February.
Associated Press

Californians Would Not Be Able To Buy More Than One Rifle A Month Under Bill Approved By State Senators
Californians would be prohibited from buying more than one firearm in any 30-day period under a measure approved Tuesday by the Senate to reduce straw purchasing and circumvention of gun laws. California already bars people from buying more than one handgun a month. The bill by Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) expands the limit to also cover long guns, including rifles and shotguns. The measure, which next goes to the Assembly for consideration, seeks to address concerns that some people buy large quantities of guns and then sell them on the underground market to criminals and others not eligible to own guns. “There is no need or reason why a person would need to purchase more than one gun a month,” Portantino said during the floor debate. Republicans, including Jeff Stone of Murrieta, opposed the legislation. 
Los Angeles Times

West Virginia Officer Killed, 3 Injured After Multi-Vehicle Pursuit Crash
A possible DUI led early Tuesday morning to a pursuit which ended in a fatal crash involving a Bluefield City Police Department officer. The accident involved two Bluefield Police Department units and a West Virginia State Police cruiser, said First Sgt. R.A. Maddy, district commander of the West Virginia State Police Princeton and Welch detachments. A Bluefield police officer was killed in the crash, officials said. During a press conference held Tuesday morning at the Bluefield Municipal Building, City Manager Dane Rideout spoke about the tragedy. The names of the officer who was killed and three who were injured, but later treated and released, were not revealed pending notification of their families. "We are devastated to learn of the death of one our our police officers," Rideout said. "His tragic passing in the line of duty highlights the grave dangers our men and women in blue face each day they put on their uniforms and keep us safe.
Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Orlando airport: Man taken into custody after standoff
Hundreds of officers descended on Orlando International Airport on Tuesday night after reports of a man with a gun near the rental car area. But the weapon turned out to be fake, authorities said. A two-hour standoff that followed sent panicked travelers fleeing, with some hiding behind concrete barriers in the parking lot. "When the officers got there, they realized this was a person in mental distress and basically wanted to do the whole suicide by cop thing," Orlando Police Chief John Mina said. During the incident, a crisis negotiator talked to the man, who was pointing a gun at officers and asking them to shoot him, Mina said.
CNN

Local Government News

LA Council Members Demand Answers On Helicopter Shortage During Sunday's Brushfires
Los Angeles city firefighters were short at least two helicopters Sunday and had to scramble to respond to a pair of brush fires that flared up at almost the same time and at least 20 miles apart, city officials said Tuesday. Dramatic footage of Los Angeles Fire Department helicopters pouring water over the midday fires in Sylmar and Brentwood dominated local social media posts and TV news Sunday. Even so, about half the Fire Department's fleet of six helicopters were out of commission due to a maintenance backlog. Of the four water-dropping helicopters in the department's fleet, only two were operational Sunday, while the others are “receiving maintenance and due back soon,” LAFD spokesman Jeremy Oberstein said. 
Los Angeles Daily News

Bodies Piled Up At LA Coroner's Office, New Leader Chosen But No Added Funding
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors chose a new coroner during a closed-door meeting Tuesday, but declined to name the candidate, citing the confidentiality of final salary and contract negotiations. The last person to hold the post on a permanent basis, Dr. Mark Fajardo, resigned in April 2016, saying a lack of funding and chronic understaffing had led to a massive backlog of bodies awaiting exams and autopsies. That backlog has been cut from 180 bodies to about 80, with 17 awaiting autopsy in mid-April of this year, the Daily News reported. Increased staffing and overtime hours helped make the difference and to clear an even bigger backlog of toxicology reports. Despite the heavy workload, the department's request for additional funding for 2017-18 was denied in the proposed budget presented to the board by Chief Executive Officer Sachi Hamai in April.
MyNewsLA.com

2024 Olympics News

New Report Says IOC May Name Paris As 2024 Host, LA As 2028 Host; LA Leaders Say They're Focused On 2024 Games
A 2024 bid leaders have said they remain intent on winning the 2024 Summer Games in the wake of a report that the International Olympic Committee is moving closer to an arrangement that would give them 2028 instead. The Wall Street Journal quoted sources on Tuesday saying the IOC is “progressing toward an arrangement” that would name Paris as the 2024 host and make L.A. wait another four years. The private LA 2024 bid committee issued a statement: "While the IOC is reviewing its bid process, we remain focused on the 2024 Games. We're honored that Los Angeles is a 2024 candidate city at this important time for the Olympic and Paralympic movements, and we look forward to collaborating with the IOC in the months ahead." As The Times previously reported, the current bidding cycle has entered unfamiliar territory.
KTLA 5

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

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


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