New LAPD Chief Faces Big Challenges, Including Trouble Recruiting New Officers

The Los Angeles Police Department is the third largest in the country. If confirmed by the city council, which is expected, former L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell will take over a department that Mayor Karen Bass has said is suffering from low morale, concerns that the disciplinary system has created a double standard, and low staffing not helped by recruiting issues. "It's officers doing more with less," said Jerretta Sandoz, the vice president of the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the union that represents LAPD officers. "It's our decreasing ranks. We were at 10,000 strong, now we're a little over 8,800, so our officers are overworked. But also, officers feel like they're not treated fairly through this disciplinary system." Bass is working on speeding up recruitment and hiring, which the union supports and believes will help address crime. Over the last five years, violent crime in the city has gone up. Another challenge facing McDonnell is keeping L.A. and its visitors safe during the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games. "L.A. will be on the world stage," said Sandoz. "I believe [Bass] chose that proven leader to ensure that we have the right resources to ensure the city is safe and that there's officers that will be able to protect the city during those times and beef up our department."

ABC 7

LAPD Arrests Man With ‘Lighter In The Design Of A Pistol’

A man armed with a lighter resembling a firearm near a community pool was arrested in Hollywood earlier this week, police said. According to a media release from the Los Angeles Police Department, officers first received a call regarding a man with a gun near the L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks Hollywood Pool, located near Cole and Lexington avenues, at 5 p.m. Thursday. Responding officers located the man, Darrell Morgan, who was walking on the sidewalk adjacent to the pool with “an article in his waistband.” Morgan ignored the officers’ verbal commands and fled the area on foot, briefly losing the police in the process; however, an assisting air unit tracked him near Vine Street and La Mirada Avenue, LAPD said. “Officers attempted to make contact with Morgan as he crossed to the east side of Vine Street,” police stated, adding that he was holding “an object resembling a handgun” at the time. It was at this point that Morgan appeared to point the object at the officers, which resulted in the officers opening fire at him.

KTLA 5

Firefighter Struck By Hit-and-Run Driver In Windsor Hills While Responding To Call

A firefighter was recovering after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Windsor Hills. The incident unfolded overnight Sunday as the firefighter responded to a sheared hydrant at the corner of Stocker Street and Palmero Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. After the crash, the firefighter was taken to a hospital where he was listed in stable condition. The driver alleged to have been involved in the crash fled the scene. 

CBS 2

6 Arrested In Connection With Flash-Mob Style Mall Robbery In Woodland Hills

Four adults and two juveniles were arrested in connection with a flash-mob style robbery at the Westfield Topanga Mall, authorities said Sunday. Around 5:15 p.m. Friday, two stores in the mall, in the 21700 block of Victory Boulevard, were hit by 12 suspects who ran in and stole more than $90,000 worth of merchandise in under a few minutes, the Los Angeles Police Department announced. Suspects wearing masks and hoodies, caught on video can be seen grabbing and running away with stolen designer handbags and clothes. The LAPD's Organized Retail Crime Task Force were able to identify the suspects and vehicles they believed were connected to the crime. Around 9:40 p.m. Friday, LAPD Southwest area officers located and detained a vehicle with five occupants. They were alleged to be involved in the smash-and-grab. Three adults and two juveniles were booked on robbery charges. 

NBC 4

Skid Row Meth Delivery Intercepted By LAPD

Authorities recently intercepted a large meth delivery into the Skid Row area of downtown Los Angeles, according to police. Officers with the Central Narcotics Enforcement Detail also seized an undisclosed amount of cash and unregistered firearms. No other information was immediately available. 

FOX 11

Man Arrested After Allegedly Spray-Painting "Free Palestine!" On LAPD Headquarters

A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism for allegedly spray-painting the words "Free Palestine!" on the exterior of the LAPD's headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. The LAPD reported that Alex Guillen of Los Angeles was taken into custody in connection with "multiple acts of vandalism" during a march through downtown late Saturday afternoon. The march resulted in other acts of vandalism, and officers were seen covering up the graffiti. Guillen was apprehended at the intersection of Hill and 5th streets and is accused of vandalizing several other locations in addition to the LAPD HQ. Police allege that Guillen had two black spray paint cans in his possession at the time of his arrest and was wearing distinctive clothing. No further details are available at this time. Please check back for updates.

CBS 2

Santa Monica Police Officer Injured In Stabbing, Suspect Fatally Shot

A Santa Monica police officer was attacked and injured in an unprovoked stabbing outside the police station on Saturday, leading to a fatal officer-involved shooting, authorities said. The incident occurred around 5:21 p.m. when the officer, who was on foot outside the station, was approached by a man in his 30s. The officer was speaking with a resident about an unrelated matter when the man confronted him, according to a statement from the Santa Monica Police Department. The officer asked the man to wait, but the individual suddenly drew a knife and attacked, slashing and stabbing the officer, police said. The officer retreated while drawing his firearm, but the man continued to pursue him, leading to the officer-involved shooting around the corner of the building. Officers provided medical aid to the suspect until Santa Monica Fire Department personnel arrived and took over, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

Westside Current

Southern California Man Sentenced For Sex Assault Of Elderly Woman, Attempted Murder Of Young Girl

A Southern California man was sentenced to prison for the attempted murder of a young girl and the sexual assault of an elderly woman. Joel James Gonzales, 28, was sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in state prison, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Gonzales worked as a caretaker at the Royal Gardens elder care facility in Camarillo where he typically worked with patients who had dementia or Alzheimer’s. He had access to both the assisted living and memory care facilities. On Oct. 15, 2020, Gonzalez was accused of attacking two patients during his evening shift. The first victim was cornered inside her room located on the assisted living side of the complex. Gonzalez attacked the woman several times by pushing her down on the bed and attempting to remove her clothing, court documents said. The victim fought back and eventually, Gonzales left the room. He then went to the memory care side of the facility where he targeted a 90-year-old female patient with dementia. He walked the elderly woman to a storage closet, locked her inside and performed lewd acts on her before facility staff started knocking on the door, authorities said.

KTLA 5

Illinois Deputy Shot In Line Of Duty Returns To Policing, Will Use Experience To Train Others

An Ogle County sheriff’s deputy who suffered a gunshot wound to the face in the line of duty four months ago is officially back at work. Ogle County Sheriff’s Lt. Jason Ketter, shot June 12 during a standoff at a rural Dixon residence, has undergone multiple surgeries and attended support group meetings in the wake of the shooting. Tuesday marked his first day back at the sheriff’s office. In an exclusive interview with Shaw Local on Tuesday morning, Ketter said returning to the department is “a bit of an adjustment,” but his goal always was to get back to work so that he can give back to the department and the community that’s shown him so much support. In returning to the department, Ketter is mostly looking forward to training others. “I’m not keeping quiet about it... I want to share my experience to help others if they’ve gone through something similar or to prepare them if they haven’t,” he said. “We train for situations like that and when we train, we train as real as possible.” For those in law enforcement, June 12 was a day they all pray never happens, Ketter said. Police were called that morning to 402 Wild Rice Lane in Lost Lake, a rural subdivision east of Dixon, with a warning of a “suicide-by-cop” situation.

Daily Gazette, Sterling, Ill.

Video: Man Jumps From Vehicle, Points Gun At Illinois Officers Before Fatal OIS

The Kendall County Sheriff’s office has released body camera footage showing a man pointing a gun at officers before he was fatally shot, CBS Chicago reported. The Sept. 27 incident began when Kendall County Sheriff’s deputies were called to assist Plano officers following a report of a home invasion, according to the report. Upon arrival, officers saw a green Ford Bronco Sport pulling out of the garage at the house. In the video, an officer can be heard ordering the driver to stop at gunpoint, but the driver fled, driving across lawns before entering a highway. The pursuit continued through Yorkville, Oswego and into Aurora, according to the report. During the pursuit through DuPage County, police learned that a man at the site of the home invasion call had been found inside the home with multiple gunshot wounds. The man later died from his injuries, and authorities deemed the suspect armed and dangerous. As the Bronco approached an intersection, the driver made a U-turn and moved into the left turn lane. Dashcam video shows the suspect exiting the vehicle with a long gun raised, firing at officers. Police returned fire, striking the suspect, who fell to the ground.

PoliceOne

2 Injured After Van Nuys Apartment Building Goes Up In Flames

Two people were injured, including a child, when a fire broke out at an apartment building in Van Nuys on Sunday. The blaze was reported just after 12:30 a.m. at a two-story building in the 7300 block of N. Hazeltine Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters arrived to find that smoke had begun to billow throughout both residential floors from the fire inside of one of the units. "Initially, several people were trapped inside," LAFD said. "Firefighters quickly rescued the residents and provided medical evaluation/treatment outside." Both of the victims, an adult and a child, were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment on smoke inhalation related injuries. Their conditions are not currently known. It took 43 firefighters just over 30 minutes to extinguish the flames. 

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.