Email from Los Angeles Police Protective League Daily News & Updates   Law Enforcement News ‘Unrivaled Since 1869’: LAPD launches campaign aiming to recruit younger people to join ranks The Los Angeles Police Department has launched a new recruitment campaign titled “Unrivaled Since 1869” in an effort to attract a new generation of officers and address ongoing staffing challenges, Los Angeles Magazine reported. Announced on April 15, the campaign aims to reposition the department as a “dynamic, purpose-driven workplace,” particularly targeting adults aged 21 to 35 from diverse backgrounds, according to the report. The LAPD partnered with Very Good Creative Agency to develop the initiative, which includes a broad media rollout across YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Twitch and citywide billboards. “This campaign is about more than recruitment,” said Chief of Police Jim McDonnell. “We want to inspire people from all walks of life to see themselves wearing this badge and know that here, they can build a career that truly matters.” In addition to traditional police work, the campaign highlights the more than 250 job types within the LAPD — including roles like drone pilots, cybercrime investigators and mental health specialists — offering a broad range of opportunities for those seeking purpose, innovation and growth. The department is facing a projected decline in staffing, with estimates showing LAPD could have around 8,620 officers by the end of the 2026 fiscal year — the lowest level since 1995, according to the report. As of January 2025, the department had approximately 8,995 officers, and officials anticipate losing more than 150 by mid-2026. To address the shortfall, the LAPD has introduced signing bonuses and additional incentives for officers who choose to rent or buy homes within Los Angeles city limits. Still, the department continues to face stiff competition from suburban law enforcement agencies and private sector employers, according to the report. PoliceOne Woman shot while walking down street in El Sereno, police say A woman is in critical condition after she was shot while walking along a street in El Sereno early Wednesday, police said. They were called to the intersection of Pueblo Avenue and Templeton Street at around 12:30 a.m. after learning of shots fired in the area, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Upon arrival they found the female victim suffering from a gunshot wound. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she is said to be in critical condition. She has not yet been identified. Investigators did not have information on a suspect or motive in the incident. Anyone who knows more is asked to contact LAPD investigators. CBS 2 Teen girl targeted by man days after nearby kidnapping in Southern California Police are investigating reports of an attempted abduction of a teenage girl in Panorama City just days after a suspect was arrested for the kidnapping of another teen girl less than a mile away. The most recent incident occurred on April 15 at around 9:30 p.m. near the intersection of Cedros Avenue and Chase Street. Details are limited and it’s unclear exactly how the incident unfolded, though a preliminary investigation, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, suggests that a Hispanic male suspect possibly in his 30s attempted to force a teen girl into his black Kia sedan. Fortunately, the girl was able to fight and get away, police said. The suspect was last seen speeding away northbound on Cedros Avenue. LAPD officers responded to the location and were seen interviewing the victim, as well as what appeared to be her parents. On Tuesday, detectives with LAPD’s Mission Division were asking the public’s help in locating additional victims and or witnesses in an April 9 kidnapping of another teenage girl near the intersection of Van Nuys and Roscoe boulevards, a half mile from the Panorama attempted abduction. KTLA 5 Stolen Giovanni Grancino violin worth $650,000 recovered by LAPD A rare violin worth $650,000 is back with its rightful owner thanks to the Los Angeles Police Department. The 1694 Giovvani Grancino violin was stolen from a college student on April 2, according to police. The suspect was caught, and the violin was recovered in good condition. The LA County District Attorney has filed a felony grand theft charge against the suspect. The violin has since been returned to the student. Details surrounding the crime were not available. The suspect's identity was not released. FOX 11 LAPD jail footage shows inmate collapsing before dying amid suspected heroin withdrawals The Los Angeles Police Department has released security footage showing an inmate suffering from withdrawals and collapsing on the floor before dying. On March 9, around 1:15 a.m., officers conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation. During the stop, officers determined that the driver of the vehicle, 55-year-old Steven Miller, had a felony warrant and was in possession of illegal narcotics. Miller was arrested and booked at Valley Jail Section in Van Nuys, where he remained housed for the next two days. The police department said Miller told medical staff that he was a heroin user and was experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Around 5 a.m., on March 11, Miller collapsed inside his cell and struck his head on a toilet and the cement floor. Police said he stood up moments later, then fell forward and struck his head again on the cement floor. Miller was escorted to the jail’s medical dispensary. While being treated by medical staff, the department said Miller experienced trouble breathing and lost consciousness. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics arrived and took over his care. Miller was then shortly pronounced dead. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Force Investigation Division is investigating the in-custody death. His exact cause of death is unknown. FOX 11 LA County DA requests pause in Menendez brothers resentencing hearing After a judge ruled against them last week, prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed a new motion to delay the Menendez brothers' resentencing hearing until the court can review a recently completed parole board assessment. "The People request the Court make all reasonable efforts to obtain the recently completed Comprehensive Risk Assessments from the Governor's Office," prosecutors noted in their legal filing. "If additional time is required to obtain these documents, the People ask the Court to continue the resentencing hearing." The motion stems from the Menendez brothers' other avenue to freedom, an appeal for clemency from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. In late February, Newsom ordered the state parole board to perform a risk assessment of Erik and Lyle Menendez as one of the first steps toward clemency. Newsom announced that a decision on the Menendez brothers' bid for clemency will be made after their final risk assessment hearing in June. "On June 13, both Lyle and Erik Menendez, independently, will have their final hearing," Newsom said on his titular podcast. "That would weigh into our independent analysis of whether or not to move forward with the clemency application to support a commutation." CBS 2 Missing 74-Year-Old Venice Man with Alzheimer’s Disease Found A 74-year-old man diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease who went missing from the Venice area, prompting the issuance of a Silver Alert, has been located, authorities announced Wednesday. Richard Hunter had last been seen on April 5 at around 10:30 a.m., walking from his home in the 2300 block of Wilson Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. He has since been located, but additional details were not provided about when or where he was found. Silver Alerts are issued by the California Highway Patrol or other law enforcement agencies to provide immediate information in hopes of a swift recovery of an at-risk elderly, developmentally or cognitively impaired person. MyNewsLA Van Nuys Man Facing Computer Spyware Charge Expected to Plead Guilty A Van Nuys man is expected to plead guilty Thursday to scheming to market and sell malware that gave purchasers control over computers and enabled them to steal victims’ private communications, login credentials and other personal information. Edmond Chakhmakhchyan, 25, has agreed to enter his plea to a federal conspiracy charge for allegedly advertising a device as an interception device, transmitting a code to intentionally cause damage to protected computers and to intentionally access a computer to obtain information, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The indictment filed in Los Angeles federal court last year alleges an agreement between the malware’s creator and Chakhmakhchyan in which the defendant would post ads for the Hive remote access trojan, or RAT, on the Hack Forums website, accept Bitcoin payments for licenses to use the malware and provide customer service to those who purchased the licenses. Customers purchasing the spyware would transmit Hive RAT to protected computers and gain unauthorized control over and access to those devices, allowing the RAT purchaser to close or disable programs, browse files, record keystrokes, access incoming and outgoing communications and steal passwords and other credentials for bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets, all without the victims’ knowledge or permission, according to the indictment. MyNewsLA Southern California girl was kidnapped by man who messaged her on Roblox, officials say. 10-year-old found safe A Southern California 10-year-old was found safe Sunday, a day after being kidnapped by a stranger she had been communicating with on Roblox and the messaging platform Discord, authorities said. The Kern County girl was found in Elk Grove, hundreds of miles from her home, with 27-year-old Matthew Macatuno Naval, the county Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Naval, who is from Elk Grove, was arrested Sunday and was facing charges of kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor child. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release Wednesday that, after her family reported her missing, deputies received information from the girl’s friends that led them to believe that she had been kidnapped. The communication with Naval they uncovered on Roblox, an online game platform popular among preteens, pointed investigators to the Northern California city, where they recovered the child. Elk Grove police assisted Kern County officials and were able to find Naval in his car at a strip mall near his home with the missing child. He was arrested less than six hours after Kern County investigators were initially dispatched. The girl was temporarily taken into protective custody until she was reunited with her family. Naval was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail without bail and was awaiting extradition to Kern County. Los Angeles Times Over $316 million worth of illegal cannabis seized in California Over $316 million worth of illegal cannabis was seized by California authorities during a recent statewide crackdown. The operation targeted the illicit cannabis market across multiple counties from Jan. 1 through March 31, according to the California Governor’s Office. The notable discoveries were due to the combined efforts of the Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). During the crackdown, authorities found: 212,681 illegal cannabis plants, 120,307 pounds of illegal cannabis, $474,462 cash seized, and 35 firearms. Authorities also served 99 warrants and arrested 29 suspects. “This task force continues to make impressive progress disrupting illegal cannabis operators and their supply chain,” said Nathaniel Arnold, Chief of the Law Enforcement Division for CDFW. KTLA 5 Public Safety News Florence House Fire Put Out by LAFD Crews knocked down a fire in a one-story residence in the Florence neighborhood Wednesday, authorities said. Smoke was reported around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, emerging from one room of a residence in the 360 block of East 69th Street by Avalon Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. In less than 10 minutes, close to three dozen firefighters knocked down the flames, authorities added. No injuries were reported. MyNewsLA Mobile laundry truck offers free services to fire victims across Los Angeles The Laundry Truck LA is a mobile unit offering free laundry services to people in need throughout Los Angeles. The idea was born when founder Jodie Dolan realized how essential clean clothes are for self-worth. "I was volunteering, handing out towels at the Shower of Hope, and I handed a woman this towel. She went in, and she took a shower and came out so clean," Dolan said. "Then I helped her put her dirty clothes back on, and it was a lightbulb moment. Can we make mobile laundry trucks?" The organization runs three fully operational trucks seven days a week, primarily serving unhoused individuals. However, after the recent devastating wildfires impacted so many communities, the team decided to expand their mission. "Laundry is a simple thing but is such an essential thing, and when you have a whole community that has lost so much and is rebuilding, knowing that somebody has your back is a really important thing," Dolan said. "This has been all out-of-pocket for our family and it's been a tremendous help financially. Just to have clean clothes and sheets and towels, all of that has been great," said Altadena resident Deborah West-Jones. ABC 7 Los Angeles officials launch online post-wildfire health dashboard The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has launched an interactive online dashboard that provides the public with access to environmental and personal health monitoring in the wake of the January wildfires. Offering a visual overview of monitoring locations across L.A. County, the dashboard – part of the Los Angeles County Post-Fire Air, Soil and Water Assessment Plan – was developed in collaboration with regional and state partners, LACDPH said in a media release issued Wednesday. The technology offers users a visual overview of monitoring locations, including places where assessments are being conducted to measure four key metrics: Air - Evaluation of indoor and outdoor air quality to detect pollutants that may affect respiratory health; surface - Testing for contaminants on indoor surfaces, soil, coastal sand and wildfire debris to determine exposure risks; water - Sampling of coastal waters, freshwater sources and pools to monitor for wildfire-related contaminations; and human health - Voluntary blood lead testing to determine potential exposure, particularly for children and other vulnerable individuals. KTLA 5 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. Listen To Our Podcast Los Angeles Police Protective League | 1308 W 8th St | Los Angeles, CA 90017 US Unsubscribe | Our Privacy Policy | Constant Contact Data Notice