One Killed, One Wounded In Shooting Near Florence-Graham

Police Wednesday are searching for the suspect in a shooting in the Florence-Graham neighborhood in South Los Angeles that left one man dead and another in critical condition. Police believe the shooting was gang-related, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman told City News Service. Officers from the LAPD’s 77th Division responded to 317 W. 77th Street at 10:17 p.m. Tuesday where they found the victims, who police say are in their mid- to late-20s, in an alley suffering from gunshot wounds. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel were called and pronounced one of the victims dead at the scene. The second victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition. There was no suspect description.

MyNewsLA

Police Seek Public Help Locating Suspect In Downtown Fatal Hit-and-Run

Police sought the public’s help Tuesday to locate the driver of a car that struck and killed a 64-year-old man crossing a street in downtown Los Angeles then fled. Officers responded to the intersection of Fourth and Wall streets on July 16 around 3:30 a.m. regarding a collision involving a pedestrian, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Detectives learned upon further investigation that the pedestrian was walking northbound on Wall Street in a marked crosswalk at Fourth Street when a gray Nissan Altima traveling eastbound on Fourth Street struck the man and kept going. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics arrived at the location, where they pronounced the man dead. According to police, there was no description of the driver or other specific details of the hit-and-run vehicle. “Motorists are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves,” police said in a statement. The city is offering a standing award of up to $50,000 for information leading to the identity, arrest, and conviction of the suspect.

MyNewsLA

14th Home In Encino Burglarized: LAPD

Another Encino home gets sacked by a burglar or burglars overnight. That makes it 14 homes in this one particular area hit over the last few weeks. One home was even hit twice in a four-day period. Police are investigating if it's the same burglars or different crews of burglars that just keep on coming back. The most recent burglary happened Monday night in the hills south of the Boulevard in Encino around 10:30 p.m. It happened in a matter of minutes - and by the time armed guards and police arrived, the burglary crew was long gone. Police said three masked men jumped over a side gate at a home on Ballina Drive, with a getaway driver waiting outside, just out of camera view. The burglars smashed their way through a glass door that led into the master bedroom. Security camera footage would later show they spent 5 to 7 minutes inside the house, ransacking every room, going through every single closet, including in the home office.

FOX 11

Neighbor Chases Off Suspects With Paintball Gun After Attempted Burglary In Tarzana, Video Shows

A neighbor stepped into action and stopped another attempted burglary at a multi-million dollar home in the San Fernando Valley overnight. The incident happened around 10 p.m. on Aura Avenue near Tampa in Tarzana, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The homeowner and his wife were at home when multiple men in masks came onto the property. But the would-be burglars were scared off before they could do anything. Julian Harper-Smith lives across the street and says he has about 40 cameras in the area, with a trailer where he monitors all the footage. When he saw the suspects jump the wall of his neighbor's property, he jumped into action. He says he flashed extremely bright lights at them before firing at them with a paintball gun. Surveillance footage from the scene shows the suspects scrambling and running back to their car. They drove away as Harper-Smith fired paintball rounds at the car.

ABC 7

Police Task Force Has Success In Fighting Los Angeles Copper Wire Theft

A Los Angeles Police Department task force targeting copper wire theft shared its success since its inception at the beginning of the year, with over 2,000 pounds of stolen copper wire recovered and 82 arrests made, it was announced Tuesday. Councilmember Kevin de León spearheaded the Heavy Metal Task Force initiative and said at Tuesday's afternoon news conference that he did so "...in response to the absolute dire need to combat the growing epidemic that has left our communities literally in the dark." Manager of the task force operation, LAPD Deputy Chief Michael Oreb, said the victory of the Heavy Metal Task Force (as they respond to thefts of other metals) has been significant. The task force completed 26 operations, and 60 of 82 arrests were for felony crimes. Nine firearms were also seized. "These crimes disrupt essential services and endanger the lives of our community," Oreb said. "You could imagine entire city blocks going out without internet, without lighting. It is unacceptable."

CBS 2

Smash-and-Grab Robbers Coordinated Crimes On Social Media. Eight Culprits Now Face Prison

Eight people involved in a string of high-end “smash-and-grab” robberies across Southern California were sentenced to state prison, the result of a multi-agency effort designed to tackle a rash of retail thefts in the region. Among those convicted were people involved in the flash-mob style robbery of Nordstrom at the Westfield Topanga Shopping Center last year, where a mob of about 50 people ransacked racks and display cases, rushing out of the store with tens of thousands of dollars in loot. Videos of the brazen daytime robbery went viral and sparked outrage as people were seen running out, using bear spray and sedans with no license plates to make their getaway. “It was disturbing and shocking and unacceptable,” Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said during a news conference Tuesday. “If you put our communities at risk, you’ll be held accountable.” The eight people were involved in multiple robberies between May and August 2023 that struck high-end stores like Nordstrom, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Gucci, and Magnolia Park, Bonta said. In all, more than $1.7 million in losses were recorded during the robberies.

Los Angeles Times

‘Cops Ride': 400 Motorcyclists Honor Fallen Ohio Officers In Cleveland

Hundreds of motorcycles honoring fallen police officers flooded Downtown Cleveland streets on Sunday. The 16th annual Cops Ride was organized to raise money to honor the memory and families of fallen police officers. The proceeds from this year’s ride will be split between the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial and Ohio Concerns of Police Survivors, or C.O.P.S. The ride comes just after nearly back-to-back shootings that killed Northeast Ohio officers Jacob Derbin of the Euclid police department and Jamieson Ritter of the Cleveland Division of Police. This year, an estimated 400 motorcycles lined Lakeside Avenue between West 3rd and Ontario streets. Two Cleveland fire trucks marked the starting line as the American flag towered between them. Prior to the ride, which took the riders from downtown through the Shoreway to South East Harley-Davidson in Bedford Heights, there was a brief ceremony in front of the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial, located across the street from Cleveland Municipal Court. During the ceremony, the Cleveland Police Honor Squad presented the colors prior to the National Anthem. Following this, several speakers came forward to talk about Derbin, Ritter and other Ohio officers killed since 2023.

PoliceOne

California’s Largest Police Group Says Rural Departments Need More Officers

Police staffing across California is at the lowest point in decades, with rural communities struggling the most in efforts to recruit officers, according to a new report from the state’s largest law enforcement organization. The analysis comes just months ahead of an election in which Californians will vote on Proposition 36, a ballot measure that would toughen criminal penalties for retail theft and drug offenses and lead to an increase in arrests. The briefing report by the Peace Officers Research Assn. of California suggests more money should be poured into law enforcement agencies, especially rural ones seeing an exodus of officers, to help support officer recruitment and retention. “We’ve been trying to push out more research in regards to public safety, especially with the election this year,” said Brian Marvel, the president of PORAC, which represents more than 80,000 law enforcement members and also supports Proposition 36. “November will be a critical time in our nation and California as crime and perception of crime is a very hot topic.” The PORAC report took data from an online portal published by the California Department of Justice and looked solely at sworn officers, including city police, sheriff’s departments, California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies.

Los Angeles Times

Michigan State Police Present New Bikes To Family After One Was Stolen By Suspected Cop Killer To Flee Scene

Michigan State Police have replaced a boy’s bike after a suspect stole it to flee after allegedly killing a police officer, FOX 2 reported. Officer Mohamed Said was responding to a suspicious person report when he encountered the suspect. Said pursued the suspect on foot and tased him after a brief struggle. The suspect then allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Said, according to the report. “During the investigation, troopers, detectives and members of the forensic laboratory learned of the boy that was now missing his bike,” MSP stated. A collection was started to replace the bike and ensure all children in the family received new bicycles. Funds left over from the donations were added to Said’s memorial fund, according to the report. “We know he [Officer Said] was with us when those bikes were presented to the family because that’s what he would have done,” MSP Second District stated. Following a massive manhunt, the suspect was arrested in southwest Detroit the next day, according to the report. He was arraigned on July 25 on 12 charges related to Said’s murder. 

PoliceOne

L.A. On Pace For More Than 300 Traffic Deaths This Year: Report

Traffic deaths in the city of Los Angeles show no signs of slowing down and current figures indicate the city is on pace for more than 300 vehicle-related deaths this year. While 2023 was the deadliest year on L.A. roads in over ten years, this year isn’t much better, according to analysis from independent news organization Crosstown LA. From the beginning of the year through July 13, there were 170 vehicle-related deaths on L.A. roads — only four shy of last year’s record-setting pace when the city experienced more traffic deaths than homicides. There were 344 traffic fatalities in 2023, the second consecutive year that L.A. exceeded 300 such deaths. If the current pace holds, L.A. will eclipse that number for the third time in as many years. Crosstown analyzed publicly available data from the Los Angeles Police Department Traffic Division and found that there hadn’t been more than 261 traffic deaths in a single year throughout the entire 2010s. Pedestrians are becoming a larger portion of those traffic deaths in recent years, with 90 reported so far during the analyzed time frame.

KTLA 5

LA City To Consider $2M Program For Private Security Of Religious Institutions

The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday is set to consider approving $2 million for a neighborhood security grants program in a move to procure private security for faith-based organizations. Council members Katy Yaroslavsky and Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion seeking to allocate $1 million to fund nonprofit security services to protect Jewish places of worship, community centers and schools. However, that proposal was later expanded to include other faiths and increased the funding to $2 million. If approved, the funding would be placed in the hands of the city’s Civil and Human Rights Department, which would facilitate the grants program. At the time, Yaroslavsky said the proposal received support from Mayor Karen Bass, the City Attorney’s Office and interfaith leaders across the city. On July 2, council voted to continue the item for further consideration upon return from summer recess, which was June 29. During that meeting early July, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez attempted to send the motion back to the council’s budget and civil rights committees for further deliberation.

MyNewsLA

L.A. City Council Considering Guaranteed Income For Abuse Victims, Foster Kids

Three Los Angeles city council members are proposing an expansion of a guaranteed basic income program Tuesday to help victims of domestic abuse and foster youth. Curren Price, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, and Hugo Soto-Martinez joined advocates at a news conference to share the results of the pilot program, which ran from January 2022 to March 2023. It provided $1,000 a month for a year to 3,200 low-income households. Implemented by the city’s Community Investment for Families Department, the program helped families cover emergency expenses, reduce food insecurity, pay for school, start small businesses, and buy clothes for children. The council members proposed a motion on Tuesday to expand the program, allocating $4 million to $5 million to help victims of intimate partner violence and foster youth aged 16 to 24. Similar programs have been implemented in Oakland, Marin County, San Francisco, and Santa Clara County.

KTLA 5

LA Council To Vote On Regulating RV Dwelling Near Schools And Parks, Councilwoman Park Leads Initiative

The Los Angeles Transportation Committee is poised to vote on a motion introduced by Councilwoman Traci Park, aimed at regulating the dwelling of oversized vehicles in areas near schools, daycare centers, parks, and residential neighborhoods. The motion, initially presented last year, seeks to mitigate the impacts of RVs used as housing on public health, welfare, and neighborhood livability. "The surge in these oversized vehicles being used as housing units creates a myriad of challenges that affect the overall livability of our local neighborhoods,” Park stated, citing concerns such as illegal dumping into storm drains, occupation of scarce parking spaces, and contributions to crime and fire risks. Park's proposal includes limiting oversized vehicle dwelling in residential areas while establishing designated zones where RVs can park and access essential services such as housing assistance and sanitation facilities. The councilwoman is advocating for a collaborative study across city departments to identify optimal locations for these vehicles and ensure that RV dwellers can access necessary services.

Westside Current

Mayor Karen Bass Extends LA's Al Fresco Dining Program

The deadline for restaurant owners to apply and participate in Los Angeles' Al Fresco program that was set to expire Wednesday has been extended to the end of the year, Mayor Karen Bass announced. Wednesday would have been the last day for restaurant owners to apply for the city's permanent Al Fresco program, which offers a streamlined permitting process allowing vendors to offer outdoor dining on sidewalks, streets and other spaces. Restaurant owners will now have until Dec. 31 to submit their application at buildla.lacity.org/alfresco. Bass has also encouraged city departments to help restaurant owners transition to the permanent program from the pandemic-era emergency program, known as the Al Fresco Temporary Authorization initiative. City departments will also increase services and provide resources to better support restaurants, cafes and eateries as they come aboard the permanent program.

ABC 7

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,900 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.