A Lump of Coal for LAXPD
The good news is that LAX is thriving. Passenger traffic is up, and the airport is expanding. We are seeing major investments with LAX’s massive modernization initiative — $2.8 billion was just approved for a multi-year consolidated rental car facility; $209 million for a West Intermodal Transportation Facility; $4.9 billion for an automated people mover; $515.8 million […]
Another Sign of Decline in Proactive Policing
New data released by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) shows a significant drop in police-initiated contacts with the public over a four-year period. The finding adds to other evidence suggesting law enforcement officers are increasingly reluctant to make stops and use necessary force — not a surprising development, considering the highly charged public and political discourse surrounding policing issues today.
Attacked From All Sides
Last month, officers and the unions that represent them breathed a collective sigh of relief: Assembly Bill 931 was declared dead for the legislative session. The bill, authored by Assembly Members Shirley Weber (D–San Diego) and Kevin McCarty (D–Sacramento), would have raised the state standard for officers’ use of lethal force from “reasonable” to “necessary.” Soon after AB 931 was introduced to the Legislature, law enforcement organizations called the bill oppressive and anti-public safety.
A Summer of Discontent
Beyond the record heat wave and monumental fires in Southern California, it has been a long, hot summer at LAXPD. The end of summer 2018 will be remembered for the unprecedented number of lawsuits that have been filed against LAXPD Chief David L. Maggard Jr. and airport executives. The complaints are far-ranging — from police […]
The Need for Leadership Training in Law Enforcement
With the next retirement bubble fast approaching, many law enforcement officers from the baby-boom generation will soon be handing off the future of the profession to the next generation of officers. Departments have been anticipating this for some time now, but it’s been difficult for many of them to fill the void left by retiring officers.
Ripple Effects of Airport Police Staffing Cuts
A minor incident at Los Angeles International Airport this morning that had a major impact on traffic exemplifies the pitfalls of staffing cuts by the Los Angeles Airport Police Department. At around 8:30 a.m. LAXPD officers shut down an entrance to LAX after stopping a white truck filled with numerous firearms at a security checkpoint. […]
California Supreme Court Grants Review in Landmark Vested Rights Case
By Mastagni Holstedt, APC The California Supreme Court has granted review in ACDSA v. Alameda County Employees Retirement Association (ACSDA), setting the stage for a landmark series of high court rulings on vested pension rights. Mastagni Holstedt, APC, which represents the ACDSA in the appeal, has filed friend of the court briefs in two other […]
A Numbers Game
On Friday, August 10, Richard Russell, an airport ground worker who learned how to fly planes from playing video games, took a Bombardier Q400 turboprop plane belonging to his employer, Horizon Air (an Alaska Airlines subsidiary), from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and crashed it on Ketron Island, located southwest of Tacoma, Washington. Russell had full credentials […]