To Cut LAPD’s Budget By $150 Million, Reduce Officer Ranks Below 10,000, Report Says

If the Los Angeles City Council wants to cut $150 million from the Police Department, it should scale back hiring, top city analysts said in a report released Friday. Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso and City Administrative Officer Richard Llewellyn said the effort to cut back spending at the LAPD would leave the department with 9,757 officers by the end of June 2021. Doing so would mark a major shift in policy for the city leaders who had long pushed to get — and keep — the department at or above 10,000 officers. Craig Lally, president of the union that represents rank-and-file officers at the LAPD, immediately denounced the proposal as “irresponsible,” saying council members “need to explain to the public how fewer officers, longer emergency response times, and exploding costs are in the best interest of Angelenos.” The proposal “will lead to longer response times to emergencies, eliminate dozens of daily patrol areas across the city and increase the city’s unfunded liability for overtime by over $50,000,000,” he said in a statement.

We hear you: Michel Moore, William Scott and Edgardo Garcia

Demands for action on police reform have been thrust back onto center stage in the wake of the tragic murder of George Floyd by members of the Minneapolis Police Department, and other recent deaths at the hands of law enforcement . As Chiefs of police in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose, we join with the men and women of our police departments, sworn and civilian, to send one unified message: We hear you. We applaud the rank-and-file members of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, San Francisco Police Officers Association and San José Police Officers’ Association, for their compassionate expressions of sorrow in the wake of tragic events involving police officer interactions with unarmed African American residents. We salute their call for a set of needed police reforms, the forthright denunciation of racism in policing and their forceful repudiation of racist police officers.

CHP Officer Hit While Walking Along 10 Freeway

A California Highway Patrol officer was struck and injured by a vehicle while walking on the San Bernardino (10) Freeway in Alhambra near the Monterey Park border. The crash happened Sunday on the westbound 10 at New Avenue about 1:25 p.m., said CHP Officer Tony Polizzi. Why the officer was walking along the freeway was not immediately released by the CHP. The unnamed officer was transported to a hospital by another CHP unit,

Polizzi said. His immediate condition was unknown. The CHP issued a SigAlert, temporarily closing three lanes, which were reopened around 3:15 p.m., he added.

43-Year-Old Driver Dies In Single-Crash; Reward For Other Driver Who Fled

A 43-year-old man driving a Chevrolet Camaro was killed Friday during a single-vehicle crash while possibly racing a driver in a Toyota Scion who is considered a hit-and-run suspect. The crash occurred at 5:50 a.m. while the two cars were traveling at a high rate of speed northwest on San Vicente Boulevard, west of McCarthy Vista, near Beverly Hills, according to the LAPD. Jason Lee Ross, who was driving the Camaro, lost control and hit a curb and “multiple fixed objects,” which caused him to be ejected from the car, police said. He died at the scene. The Scion’s driver did not stop to render aid or identify himself or herself to law enforcement, as required by law. A $25,000 reward is available to anyone providing information leading to the Scion driver’s identification and conviction.

Probe Underway After Man Is Found Dead During Welfare Check In LA

Authorities on Saturday were investigating the circumstances surrounding a homicide in Los Angeles. Officers responded to the 1200 block of East 22nd Street to conduct a welfare check just after 5 a.m. Saturday. When they arrived, they found a deceased man with injuries. Paramedics responded and pronounced the victim dead at the scene. No further details were available.

Man, 82, Goes Missing In Arlington Heights; Silver Alert Issued

Detectives continued their search Sunday for an 82-year-old man who suffers from a medical condition, may become disoriented and went missing Tuesday in the Arlington Heights area, prompting a Silver Alert to be issued by the California Highway Patrol. Juan Martinez was last seen about 9 a.m. on West 21st Street, at Seventh Avenue, according to the CHP. Martinez is described as 5 feet tall, 160 pounds, with white hair and brown eyes, the CHP reported. He may be wearing a white shirt, gray jeans and black shoes. Anyone with information about his whereabouts was asked to call the LAPD’s Wilshire Division at 213-473-0476 or 911. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

L.A. Woman Arrested In Connection to Santa Monica Looting

A woman was arrested Thursday on suspicion of looting "thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise" from Santa Monica businesses late last month, authorities said. Amanda Toyono Van Duyse was taken into custody after Santa Monica police served a search warrant in Los Angeles and discovered the stolen property, according to a news release. "We are dedicated to bringing those responsible for the crimes committed on May 31 to justice and are working in collaboration with our partner agencies, to locate, arrest and prosecute those who committed acts of violence and theft in our community," Santa Monica Police Chief Cynthia Renaud said in a statement. Van Duyse was booked on suspicion of burglary, grand theft, and burglary during a state emergency, the news release said. She was being held on $100,000 bail.

Long Beach Brothers Arrested In Stabbing Death Of 60-Year-Old Man

A pair of brothers were arrested in connection with the stabbing death of a 60-year-old Long Beach man in April, with one accused of carrying out the crime and the other accused of attempting to cover it up. Detectives tracked 35-year-old Enrique Cienfuegos to the Compton courthouse Thursday morning and arrested him on suspicion of murder in the April 6 killing, Long Beach police said in a news release. The Long Beach resident had been at court for a preliminary hearing in an unrelated case, in which he’s charged with battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest stemming from an incident that took place on May 4 in Compton, according to Los Angeles County court and inmate records.

Federal Agents Seize Nearly 10 Tons Of Prohibited Animal Products From China At L.A. Ports

Federal agents assigned to the ports of L.A. and Long Beach intercepted 19,555 pounds of prohibited pork, chicken, beef and duck products arriving from China, authorities said Friday. “Most of the animal products were commingled in boxes of headphones, door locks, kitchenware, LCD tablets, trash bags, swim fins, cellphone covers, plastic cases and household goods in a clear attempt to smuggle the prohibited meats,” Jaime Ruiz of U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement. CBP agriculture specialists identified, examined and seized 12 shipments containing a total of 834 cartons that lacked the required U.S. Department of Agriculture entry documentation, Ruiz said.

2 Tons Of Pot, $1 Million Seized From Chinese Operation In Southern California

Two tons of marijuana and $1 million in cash were seized from an organization from China that was running an illegal growing operation in Southern California, authorities said Friday. Nineteen people were jailed on suspicion of maintaining a drug house, theft of utilities, marijuana cultivation, marijuana sales and conspiracy, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said. Authorities served 23 search warrants that resulted in the arrests of residents of Hemet, San Jacinto, El Monte, Rialto, Rosemead, Arcadia and Calexico. Search warrants also were served in Corona, Eastvale, South El Monte, West Covina and Lower Azusa. Some 20,000 plants were eradicated and 100 pounds of processed marijuana was seized, a news release said.

Los Angeles County Reports 1,784 New Coronavirus Cases, 11 Deaths

LA County public health officials on Sunday reported 1,784 new cases of the coronavirus and 11 related deaths. The county now has recorded more than 83,000 cases of the virus and over 3,120 deaths. The continued rise in new cases came amid the first weekend of more businesses sectors reopening, as bars, card rooms and some personal care services were given the green light to resume operations Friday, provided they take certain precautions. They include ensuring that customers practice physical distancing and wear face coverings.

Record Number Of Californians Hospitalized With COVID-19

The number of people hospitalized in California with confirmed cases of COVID-19 reached its highest point Saturday since the onset of the pandemic, according to state data reviewed by The Chronicle. There were 3,574 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported in state hospitals on Saturday, the highest total since at least April 1, when California health officials first began releasing that data. The previous high was 3,497 confirmed hospitalizations on April 29. That number declined gradually over the following month to 2,928 on May 29. It has steadily risen again as many areas of the state have begun to lift stay-at-home measures and economic and social restrictions. Saturday’s total marked a 22% increase in hospitalizations statewide since May 29.

California Firefighters Add ‘Fire Hawk’ Choppers In Fight Against Wildfires

California is under an increased threat of wildfires this summer. But this year, state and local firefighters have added a new tool to their arsenal: the Fire Hawk. Several of the choppers have already been delivered to agencies for use, and several more are being ordered. Cal Fire, the state’s fire department, has ordered 12 at 24 million each. The $300 million investment will allow firefighters to be over a fire within 20 minutes anywhere in the state of California. In addition, Los Angeles County has also ordered two, Ventura County ordered two used devices, and the city of San Diego has purchased one. In addition to flying more than 150 miles per hour carrying 12 firefighters and 9,000 pounds, the chopper is also capable of flying itself.