To stave off layoffs, L.A. council members seek to cut police officer hiring

Faced with a projected $1-billion shortfall, a key committee of the Los Angeles City Council moved forward Thursday with a plan to reduce the number of police officers and cancel Mayor Karen Bass’ plan for creating a homelessness unit within the fire department. The council’s five-member budget committee voiced initial support for a slowdown in hiring that would leave the Los Angeles Police Department with about 8,400 officers by June 30, 2026, down from more than 8,700 this year and about 10,000 in 2020. The move, if approved by the full City Council later this month, would be part of a much larger effort to restore positions targeted for elimination in the mayor’s $14-billion proposed budget. The slowdown in police hiring would leave the LAPD with its lowest level of sworn staffing since 1995. But it would help save the jobs of 133 specialized civilian employees whose work includes processing DNA rape kits, analyzing fingerprints and taking photos of crime scenes. The Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents more than 8,700 officers, quickly voiced alarm about a reduction in sworn staffing. The union accused City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo, whose office helps prepare the budget, of seeking to “defund the LAPD to a point where it will literally endanger officers and our residents.” “It’s hard to take the City seriously when they are sitting on a nearly $15-billion investment portfolio that could reasonably be used to alleviate the current budget crisis,” the union’s board said in a statement. “City leaders need to sharpen their pencils and stop trying to gut staffing at the LAPD.” 

Los Angeles Times

LAPD arrests man in connection to killing at Valley Village apartment

Authorities arrested a man Thursday they say is connected to the killing of a Valley Village resident inside their apartment home. The attack was April 26 in the 12600 block of Riverside Drive. Patrol officers who did a welfare check on a resident found the man unresponsive inside his apartment. The man in custody was identified as 27-year-old Erick Escamilla, according to the LAPD. Detectives located Escamilla at a hospital where we was receiving medical treatment. Police stated that the suspect had unlawfully entered the victim's apartment, prompting a physical dispute that resulted in the victim's death. The deceased was identified by the Los Angeles County medical examiner's office as 53-year-old Menashe "Manny" Hidra. While some neighbors are relieved with the arrest, many are still concerned that management isn’t doing enough to protect them from tragedy in the future. "The biggest problem is Essex. They failed us. They failed manny. They failed manny’s family," said Kaci Harabedian, a neighbor of the victim. "Every day people have been sending emails about unlocked doors. Broken gates, doors propped open." Anyone with information regarding the case was urged to contact the Operation Valley Bureau at 818-374-9550. Calls during non-business hours should be directed to 877-527-3247.

NBC 4

L.A. hitmaker’s red hat led accused killers to mistake him for gang rival, police say

Ray Jacobs, a singer who co-wrote hits for Justin Bieber and DJ Khaled, had just left a West Adams bar when a silver Chevrolet Impala and white Mercedes-Benz SUV pulled alongside. Muzzle flashes erupted from the cars’ open windows, a Los Angeles Police Department officer testified at a hearing last month. Jacobs, 31, who performed under the name August 08, was killed Aug. 26, 2023, in what prosecutors assert was a case of mistaken identity. The alleged shooters — members of the Rollin’ 30s Harlem Crips — believed Jacobs was associated with the Black P-Stones, a rival Bloods gang, a prosecutor said at the hearing. Jacobs wasn’t affiliated with any gang — but prosecutors said he was wearing a baseball cap with a red brim. The prosecution’s theory of why Jacobs was targeted is a throwback to a more violent era. Los Angeles — and in particular, the West Adams neighborhood where Jacobs was killed — is a far safer place than it was in the 1990s, when the city saw more than 1,000 homicides a year. With modern gang beefs often starting as spats on social media and spilling over into targeted violence, indiscriminate shootings are less common. Attorneys representing the alleged killers argued there is no evidence, just speculation about the color of a hat, to suggest Jacobs was mistaken for a gang member.

Los Angeles Times

LAPD investigators searching for hit-and-run driver who fatally struck bicyclist in South LA

Police are searching for the hit-and-run driver who struck and killed a bicyclist in South Los Angeles in late April. It happened at around 10 p.m. on April 20 near the intersection of Central Avenue and 120th Street according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Investigators say that a speeding car heading north struck a bicyclist heading in the same direction on Central. The victim, who has not yet been identified, was rushed to a nearby hospital where they later died. A standing reward of up to $50,000 has been offered for information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the alleged driver. As their investigation continues, detectives are still searching for leads on a suspect and vehicle involved in the crash. Anyone who knows more is asked to contact LAPD's South Traffic Division at (213) 677-9791.

CBS 2

Police seek hit-and-run driver who killed man, 68, in March

The Los Angeles Police Department is asking for the public’s help in tracking down the driver in a hit-and-run that killed a 68-year-old man in South Los Angeles earlier this year. The man, whose identity has not been released, was hit at Coliseum Street and La Brea Avenue at about 11 p.m. on March 20, police said in a news release. The vehicle that hit him, which was moving “at a high rate of speed” east on Coliseum Street at the time, sped off without stopping to help. Police did not release a description of the vehicle. The man, meanwhile, was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A reward of up to $50,000 is available for information leading to the driver. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Lozada at 213-677-9791. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247).

KTLA 5

Chase: DUI suspect arrested after leading LAPD on wild pursuit

A DUI suspect was arrested after leading police on a wild chase from Van Nuys to South Los Angeles Thursday night. AIR7 was over the pursuit just before 9 p.m. as the suspect fled in an SUV on the 170 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley. Multiple Los Angeles police cruisers were in pursuit of the fleeing driver. The driver weaved through traffic on the 101 Freeway in Hollywood and later drove on narrow streets in Silver Lake and the Westlake District. The chase went through downtown before the suspect got on the 110 Freeway. From there, the driver exited onto surface streets again and arrived in South L.A. Eventually, the chase ended on Avalon Boulevard, near 83rd Street, when the driver came to a stop. After a brief standoff, the driver exited his vehicle and was taken into custody. 

ABC 7

CHP cracking down on ‘video game-styled' driving with new incognito vehicles

The California Highway Patrol has a new tool to stop reckless drivers who travel at triple digit speeds and engage in road rage: Low-profile, specially marked patrol vehicles. The agency will deploy 100 of the cars, Dodge Duragos, to give officers “an important advantage.” “They will allow us to identify and stop drivers who are putting others at risk while still showing a professional and visible presence once enforcement action is needed,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. The new fleet of vehicles, black-colored with gray markings, meant to blend in with other cars on the road, so officers can observe dangerous drivers without “immediate detection.” As speed is blamed for 30% of crashes, often fatal, on California roadways, the CHP said the new vehicles will help prevent deaths and injuries while cracking down on “video game-styled” driving. “In the real world, aggressive lane weaving, triple-digit speeds and road rage aren’t part of a high-score strategy—they’re deadly,” the CHP said. The first 25 incognito vehicles will be positioned across the state this week. 

NBC 4

BWC: Driver grabs California officer’s TASER during traffic stop before fatal OIS

The Newport Beach Police Department on Wednesday released footage of the fatal shooting of an unarmed motorcyclist seen running a red light on Pacific Coast Highway, then assaulting an officer last month. The events leading up to the death of Geoffrey Shyam Stirling unfolded Thursday, April 17 beginning at 9 :14 p.m., when he can be seen in police dashcam recordings briefly stopping at Superior Avenue before crossing the intersection against a red light. The officer who pulls him over asks if he is OK; the motorcyclist tells him he has not been drinking and had nearly been struck by other drivers earlier that day. When the officer tells Stirling to sit down on the curb, he refuses. “Here, I ‘ll show you my ID, here, " Stirling said while standing in front of the officer and placing a hand into the breast pocket of his jacket. “Don’t shoot me.” “I’m not going to shoot you, " the officer replied. “Don’t reach for [expletive] [expletive] how about that? Sit down. We’ll figure it out.” Stirling remains standing in front of the officer. When the latter turns away to radio for backup, the motorcyclist advances one or two steps toward him, then appears to freeze for a moment when he turns back around.

Daily Pilot

One Person Hospitalized Following Residential Fire In South Los Angeles

One person was hospitalized Thursday after being injured in a fire in a single-story home located at the back of a primary residential property in South Los Angeles. Firefighters responded Thursday to the 100 block of West 58th Street, near Main Street at approximately 6:15 p.m. Thursday, where they located visible smoke from the residence, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey. The 42 firefighters quickly began an offensive interior attack, extinguishing the fire within 15 minutes. “During fire attack, firefighters discovered and rescued one occupant from he burning residence,” Humphrey said in a statement. The victim was taken to a hospital in an unknown condition. No other injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

MyNewsLA

Free health screenings at the 2025 DTLA spring health fair in Lafayette Park

My Health Community Fair will be hosting its second annual DTLA Spring Health Fair on Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m.-3p.m., in Lafayette Park. In celebration of mental health awareness month, there will be free health screenings that include free eye and dental exams, cancer screenings, general health screenings, and educational health sessions for all age groups. The exams and screenings will be held on mobile trucks that have in-depth technology, such as ultrasound machines that detect diseases like cancer, or liver disease. Over 25 health organizations like L.A. Care, Altamed, Planned Parenthood, American Cancer Screening Initiative, Vision to Learn, and many more will be participating. Fair goers can expect info sessions on how to maintain healthy lifestyles, how to detect early signs of health issues, and learn about available aid. Local organizations will also assist individuals by signing up for Medi-Cal, Medicare, and other public health services. There will be local healthcare providers offering a variety of health screenings specifically for women, including mammograms and papsmears.

ABC 7

LA Council Votes on Two Bills Impacting Film Industry

The City Council is scheduled Friday to vote on two resolutions intended to demonstrate support for state legislation that, if approved, would modernize California’s Film and Television Tax Credit program. On Friday, council members will consider resolutions in favor of AB 1128 and SB 360, which are slated to go before the Legislature later this month. This is part of state and local efforts to support the declining film industry, as production has suffered as a result of several challenges. City Councilman Adrin Nazarian introduced the two resolutions. The City Council last week approved his motion to “Keep Hollywood Home” by exploring ways to streamline permitting processes for the film industry in L.A. Department staff will report in 30 days with recommendations to adjust city fees, permits, parking and security requirements for shooting on city-owned property and certifying new sound stages. “Here in L.A., we’re ready to cut the red tape and roll out the red carpet for filming on our streets and city property. We need the state to do its part as well,” Nazarian said in a statement.

MyNewsLA

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.