Garcetti Announces Body Camera for LAPD
LOS ANGELES — On Dec. 16, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that he is putting into action a nation-leading body camera plan for Los Angeles Police Department by signing a contract to roll out more than 800 cameras in areas with high police activity and including funding in his next budget to deploy cameras for every officer on the street.
Garcetti’s Police Commission President Steve Soboroff raised more than $1.5 million in private funds to jump start the camera program and LAPD has been conducting field tests. Satisfied with those tests, Mayor Garcetti and LAPD have decided to execute a contract that includes the purchase of over 800 Axon cameras to be deployed to patrol and specialized detail officers (including gangs and bikes) in the Newton (South L.A.) and Mission (San Fernando Valley) Areas, and to three specialized units in Central Area — the Safer Cities Initiative, Eastside Detail, and LA Live Detail. The privately raised $1.5 million will pay for those cameras.
Mayor Garcetti will provide funding in his budget for FY 2015-16 to acquire the about 7,000 total cameras needed to ensure all officers on the street will be outfitted.
Long Beach Cargo Edges Up Slightly
LONG BEACH — The Port of Long Beach’s cargo volume saw 2.1 percent growth in November when compared to the same month in 2013, but the modest rise was enough to mark the busiest November since 2007.
A total of 581,514 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) were moved through the port in November. Imports were recorded at 293,984 TEUs, down 0.9 percent from this past year. Exports saw a 14.5 percent decrease to 129,960 TEUs. Empty containers surged to 157,570 TEUs, an increase of 30.2 percent.
Cargo numbers were flat in October and November at the Port of Long Beach. Retailers had the majority of their goods shipped in early autumn to be prepared for the busy holiday shopping season currently underway.
Two-thousand-thirteen, against which 2014 is being compared, was the third-busiest year in port history with a total of 6.73 million TEUs. Through November, the port has seen a 1.7 percent increase in cargo.
For all the latest monthly cargo numbers, click here.
Murder
LONG BEACH — The Long Beach Police Department is investigating a Dec.14, murder that took place at about 12:45 p.m., on the 1100 block of East Pacific Coast Highway.
When police arrived they found a man struck by gunfire in the torso. He was taken to the local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The preliminary investigation determined that the victim, 33-year-old Robert Lee Hollie of Long Beach, had been approached my two men in a dark colored vehicle, when one of the occupants opened fire striking the victim. The vehicle then fled westbound on Pacific Coast Highway.
A motive for the shooting is unknown. However, the incident is being investigated as possibly gang-related.
Anyone with information regarding the incident should call (562) 570-7244 or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org.
Richard Rocchi Appointed Deputy Police Chief
LONG BEACH — On Dec. 12, Long Beach City Manager Pat West and Police Chief Robert Luna today announced the appointment of Cmdr. Richard Rocchi, a 27-year Long Beach Police Department veteran, as deputy chief, effective Dec. 13.
Rocchi’s most recent assignment has been commander of the West Division. He began his career as a police officer with the Long Beach Police Department in 1987. He has worked many diverse assignments, including patrol, field training officer, special enforcement section, SWAT, gang enforcement, community policing, Internal Affairs, Crimes Against Persons Section, and academy director. In addition, he has worked as an academy and department instructor and has served on a variety of committees and working groups.
Rocchi grew up in Long Beach and is a graduate of Polytechnic High School. He earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Administration of Justice from Long Beach City College, a bachelors of science in occupational studies and a masters of public administration from California State University Long Beach. He is also a graduate of Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and the 221st session of the FBI National Academy.
Rocchi is a member and past president of the Long Beach Police Command Officers Association and the FBI National Academy Associates and he serves as a council member of Special Olympics of Southern California.
Multi-Service Center Celebrates Grand Re-Opening
LONG BEACH — On Dec. 11, the Multi-Service Center celebrated its grand re-opening of the renovated facility.
A Port of Long Beach-owned property, the Multi-Service Center serves as the central hub for intake and assessment for the Long Beach Continuum of Care, a collaboration of service providers working together to end homelessness. The Multi-Service Center averages 26,000 client visits annually, making it the primary point of entry for persons seeking homeless services assistance in Long Beach.
The redesigned floor plan includes an expanded medical clinic, classroom and interview rooms. An additional $150,000 in Long Beach’s one-time funds for technology upgrades completed the funding for the renovation.
The Multi-Service Center facility houses staff from the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services and 11 other public and private partner organizations that work together to promote self-sufficiency and rebuild the lives of those experiencing homelessness.
The Multi-Service Center facilitates opportunities for homeless men, women, and children to achieve housing stability by actively engaging them in service planning and building on their strengths.
Artists Boycott of UCSD
LA JOLLA – On Dec. 15, members of the performing arts community called a boycott of all artistic engagements on the UCSD campus.
While the student cooperative and nonprofit organization, the Che Café Collective, is waiting on a legal resolution to their lease and repair issues with the University of California San Diego, local, national, and international artists and performers continue to rally to show support to allow the Che Café to continue to operate in the same building and space it has for the past 35 years.
To demonstrate just how far and wide-reaching the support/impact the Che Café is in the performing arts community, a letter is circulating asking for a concerted effort to boycott all artistic endeavors in any way associated with UCSD and demand that the administration:
1. Stop all attacks on the Che Café and reverse its eviction efforts.
2. Refrain from enforcing a lockout of the Che Café and refrain from using any form of violence, force, law enforcement, or other drastic and coercive tactics against members of the Che Café Collective and its supporters.
3. Work alongside representatives of the student body to recognize the Che Café for the historical landmark and unique creative venue that it is.
4. Restore funding to the Che Café and allow students and supporters to fulfill a dynamic and creative vision for the use of the space.
While the Che Café is appealing an unfavorable unlawful detainer judgment that was issued in November, Che Café members and supporters are urging everyone to make phone calls or send emails to faculty and alumni, as well as to U.C.S.D. Chancellor Pradeep Khosla, Vice Chancellor Juan Gonzales, and legal counsel Daniel Park’s office. Supporters are also urged to contact Gov. Jerry Brown, state legislators, UC system-wide President Janet Napolitano and the UC Board of Regents. Donations to the Save the Che Café campaign, for legal defense and to mitigate lost revenues can be made at: http://www.gofundme.com/b4hda8
