The Tabloid Times--LAPPL Blog

It’s not surprising that LA Times Staff Writer Libor Jany is at it again. When it comes to the LAPD, he's never one to consistently present an objective set of facts to allow readers the opportunity to form their own conclusions. Mr. Jany produced a biased, unbalanced, and inaccurate article that tried to divide our membership. He wrongly characterized my recent Blue Line article about what I, and many others, believe to be LAPD's lax grooming standards while in uniform as an attack on some of our members. That simply is not true. For LAPPL members, let me be clear: I believe wholeheartedly in my fiduciary responsibility to ensure that your legal rights are protected, including those provided by the CROWN Act. My actions with regard to members who must engage in our discipline process have been to provide quality representation for those members, and as the chair of the League's legal committee I will proudly continue to do just that.

Los Angeles Police Protective League

LAPD Officer Involved In Crash With Sedan In Pico-Union Neighborhood

Ambulances were called when a Los Angeles Police Department officer was involved in a traffic collision in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Central Los Angeles Tuesday morning. The crash occurred shortly after 9 a.m. near the intersection of South Hoover Street and Venice Boulevard. Video taken from the scene showed a sedan with damage to its passenger side as emergency crews responded. Two rescue ambulances were sent to the scene but no transports were made, LAPD Officer Moran later said in an update. The incident was under investigation, Miller said. No details about what caused the crash were immediately released.

KTLA 5

Car Thefts Increased 300% In These LA Neighborhoods

While data shows violent crime is falling across Los Angeles, car thefts are on the rise. In fact, it's actually quadrupled in some areas over the past ten years. According to an analysis by the Los Angeles Times, South Los Angeles is the most dangerous place to park. The neighborhood has recorded more than 16,000 car thefts in the past ten years. It's followed closely by the Central-Alameda neighborhood. However, areas like downtown Los Angeles, Chinatown, and Little Tokyo have seen a 300% spike in thefts since 2013. Data also shows that Kia and Hyundai cars are the most stolen. 

FOX 11

LAPD Reports Sharp Increase Of Antisemitic And Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes

Los Angeles Police Department officials Tuesday reported a substantial increase of antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes, mirroring the national trend since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas. During Tuesday’s Board of Police Commissioners meeting, LAPD officials reported antisemitic hate crimes rose from 100 in 2022 to 142 in 2023, an increase of 42%, while anti-Muslim crimes rose from 10 in 2022 to 22 in 2023, an increase of 120%. Although officials did not provide a reason for the increase, it has been reported that the terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7 by Hamas and the ensuing war between Israel and Hamas played a significant role in these hate incidents and hate crimes happening more frequently in the U.S. While officials noted said they’ve received an increase of reports regarding these types of crimes, they noted that more are not reported due to lack of trust in police or the justice system, not waiting for police to arrive to complete reports, a desire by some people to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation and not knowing how to properly report these crimes.

MyNewsLA

Former NFL Running Back Derrick Ward Arrested For Robbing Several LA Businesses

Former NFL running back and Super Bowl champion Derrick Ward has been arrested for allegedly committing multiple robberies around Los Angeles, authorities confirmed Tuesday. Ward, 43, was arrested about noon Monday by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's North Hollywood Division. The LA native is accused of robbing several businesses including gas stations, TMZ first reported. Ward did not use a gun during the robberies but did use force and intimidation to get money from the businesses, according to multiple outlets. Ward was a seventh-round Draft pick by the New York Jets in 2004, but he became most well-known for his tenure as a member of the New York Giants. Ward was a member of the Giants' Super Bowl XLII-winning team in 2007. His finest performance would come in the 2008 season in a game against the Carolina Panthers where he ran for 215 yards, clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the Giants with a 34-28 victory. Ward would then play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans before retiring in 2012.

CBS 2

SFV Man In $345,000 COVID-19 Benefits Theft Sentenced To Home Detention

A San Fernando Valley man was sentenced Tuesday to 12 months of home detention for fraudulently obtaining $345,108 in COVID-19 pandemic relief loans from a financial institution and the Small Business Administration. Artur Chanchikyan, 56, of Porter Ranch, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee to serve three years of probation and pay fines and restitution of $355,208, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Chanchikyan pleaded guilty in August to one federal count of wire fraud. Chanchikyan was the owner of Gentle Touch Home Health Care Inc., a home health agency located in North Hollywood. In December 2019, he was placed under Medicare payment suspension based on fraud allegations. While under suspension, Chanchikyan applied for a Paycheck Protection Program loan seeking $160,000 on behalf of Gentle Touch. In the application, Chanchikyan lied about the number of his employees and average monthly payroll expenses, documents filed in Los Angeles federal court show.

MyNewsLA

CHP, Local Agencies To Be On Alert For Impaired Drivers During Holidays

Drive safe and sober during the upcoming Christmas holiday weekend, or face consequences, the California Highway Patrol warned Tuesday. The agency will initiate its annual Christmastime "maximum enforcement period" beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, when all available officers will deploy to catch drunken or drug-impaired drivers, speeders and other scofflaws. The MEP will conclude late Monday night. Another CHP maximum enforcement period is slated for New Year's weekend. "As we celebrate the joy of the season, let's make a collective commitment to prioritize safety on our roads," CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said. "Your loved ones are waiting for you at home -- buckle up, drive responsibly and have a plan that includes a safe, sober ride before you head out for the evening." During last year's Christmas MEP, CHP officers statewide arrested 639 motorists on suspicion of DUI, compared to 341 the year before, which was of much shorter duration. According to the agency, 26 people died in crashes within the CHP's jurisdiction during Christmas weekend 2022. Almost half of the victims were not wearing safety restraints.

Westside Current

Man Charged In Road-Rage Shooting Death Of 4-Year-Old Boy In SoCal Set To Face Murder Charges

A 29-year-old man suspected in the alleged road-rage shooting death of a 4-year-old boy in Lancaster is scheduled to be arraigned next month on murder and other charges. According to the District Attorney's Office, Byron Burkhart was charged Tuesday with murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle and five counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. The charges include an allegation that he personally used a handgun in commission of the crime. He was scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 22 at the Antelope Valley Courthouse. According to county jail records, he was being held in lieu of $2 million bail, although prosecutors were asking that his bail be increased to more than $5 million. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to the District Attorney's Office. A second suspect who was arrested in connection with the shooting, 27- year-old Alexandria Gentile, was not charged. Jail records show she was released from custody Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors identified her as Burkhart's girlfriend. Burkhart is charged in connection with the shooting that occurred about 7:30 p.m. Friday in the area of Sierra Highway and East Avenue J, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Westside Current

California’s Retail Crime Task Force Doubles Arrests In 2023

The California Highway Patrol taskforce assembled to combat retail crimes had a record-breaking year, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom. In the first 11 months of 2023, the CHP task force surpassed milestones across the board, making more arrests, recovering more stolen items and conducting more proactive operations than any year previous. According to data released from the state Tuesday, more than 1,000 arrests were made related to organized retail theft in 2023, more than twice as many from 2022. Additionally, authorities recovered 187,515 items that were stolen from retailers, which was more than 38,000 higher than the previous year. But the biggest leap comes from what the state is calling “proactive” operations, stopping crimes before they happen, which saw a more than 300% increase this year. Newsom highlighted the national trend of increased retail theft, but said California was leading the way in its efforts to combat the issues and “meeting the moment,” a phrase that has become a trademark for the governor.

KTLA 5

Los Angeles Area Braces For 3 Days Of Rain, Bringing Possible Flooding And Storms

The first of two storms arrives in parts of the Southland on Wednesday, bringing scattered showers before the second storm arrives with more steady rain. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch that will be in effect across Los Angeles County beginning at 10 p.m. Tuesday and continuing until Thursday night. In Orange County, the flood watch will be in effect from 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday afternoon for coastal and inland areas and the Santa Ana Mountains and foothills. The Los Angeles area could receive 2 to 4 inches of rain during the "atmospheric river" event accompanying the second storm system, with 4 to 8 inches possible on south-facing foothill areas and coastal slopes. Rainfall rates of 0.3 to 0.6 inches per hour are expected in some areas, but if thunderstorms develop, some areas could see rain falling at a rate of 1 inch per hour. "Extensive roadway flooding, especially in low-lying areas, and flooding of creeks and streams are possible," according to the National Weather Service. There will be the risk for flash flooding and debris flows in recent burn scars, especially the South Fire burn scar in Ventura County. 

CBS 2

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.