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Audit Finds LAPD’s Frivolous Use of Helicopters Flunks Cost/Benefit Analysis
by Douglas Ankney
An audit released by Los Angeles (“LA”) City Controller Kenneth Mejia revealed that the Los Angeles Police Department’s (“LAPD”) frivolous use of helicopters from the Air Support Division (“ASD”) cost taxpayers far more than any benefits received. The ASD employs more than 90 people and operates over ...
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More from this issue:
- Understanding Fusion Centers, by Michael Thompson
- Unconscious Bias: Facial Features Can Influence Life-or-Death Decisions in Verdicts, by Jo Ellen Nott
- LexisNexis Aids Customs and Border Patrol to Flaunt Fourth Amendment, by Anthony Accurso
- Lung Float Test: Junk Science Used to Convict Women of Murder, by David Reutter
- Watchlisted: You’re Probably Already on a Government Extremism List, by Nisha Whitehead, John W. Whitehead
- Studying Ant Bites on Cadavers May Advance Criminal Investigations, by Douglas Ankney
- Illinois Supreme Court Announces § 9-1.2(d) Sets Range of Sentences for Intentional Homicide of Unborn Child but Does Not Convert Offense Into Murder for Life-Sentence Enhancement, by Douglas Ankney
- Seventh Circuit Orders District Court to Hold Evidentiary Hearing Where Record Insufficient to Permit Review of State Prisoner’s Section 2254 Habeas Petition Alleging Ineffective Assistance of Counsel, by Douglas Ankney
- Nebraska Supreme Court Announces Probation Search Unlawful When Conducted After Original Term Expired and Before Hearing on Extending Term, by Matthew Clarke
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court: Failure to Disclosure Mental Health Report Showing Key Witness Was a Sociopath Constitutes Brady Violation That Prejudiced Defendant, by Anthony Accurso
- Audit Finds LAPD’s Frivolous Use of Helicopters Flunks Cost/Benefit Analysis, by Douglas Ankney
- The Supreme Court’s Forensic Follies, by Michael Thompson
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Announces Correct Computation of Time for Purposes of Determining When Statute of Limitations Has Run for Returning Indictment, by Douglas Ankney
- Research Paper Reveals Laypeople Have Insufficient Understanding of False Confessions by Examining Prior Research Based on Surveys and Mock Juries, by David Reutter
- Preliminary Analysis of Recidivism Data After Three Years Under First Step Act Is Promising but Inconclusive, by Jo Ellen Nott
- California Court of Appeal: Petitioner Has Constitutional Right to Be Present at Hearing to Determine Facts Surrounding Felony Murder Charges for Possible Resentencing Under § 1172.6, by David Reutter
- Interactive Lineups Are a Promising New Tool to Improve Accuracy of Suspect Identification by Eyewitnesses, by Jo Ellen Nott
- New York Court of Appeals Reverses Conviction Because Testifying Criminalist Not Shown to Have Requisite Involvement in DNA Testing Process and Provides Guidance to Avoid Future Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause Violations, by Anthony Accurso
- Fourth Circuit: Defendant Entitled to Discovery and Evidentiary Hearing on § 2255 Petition to Withdraw Guilty Plea Because It Was Not Knowingly and Voluntarily Made, by Richard Resch
- First Circuit: Miranda Waiver Not Valid Where Interrogating Officer Answered ‘No’ to Defendant’s Question — ‘None of this can be used against me, can it?’, by Douglas Ankney
- The Potential for Soil Dust Analysis in Forensics, by Anthony Accurso
- Oregon Supreme Court Announces ‘Escape Clause’ of Postconviction Relief Statute’s SOL Applies to Severe Mental Impairments During Limitations Period, by David Reutter
- California Court of Appeal Reverses Denial of Full Resentencing Under SB 483, by Matthew Clarke
- ‘How The Government Created a Terrorist’: FBI-Manufactured Crimes Reveal Urgent Need for Reforms, by Douglas Ankney
- Improvements to Decertification Procedure for Law Enforcement Officers Guilty of Excessive Force Urgently Needed, by Douglas Ankney
- Minnesota Supreme Court Holds Prosecutor’s Repeated Statements During Closing Arguments That Defendant ‘No Longer Has Presumption of Innocence’ Constitutes Plain Error, Requiring a New Trial, by David Reutter
- New York Court of Appeals Announces Traffic Stop of Bicyclist Is Seizure Under Both Fourth Amendment and State Constitution Requiring Reasonable Suspicion of Crime or Probable Cause of Traffic Violation, by Richard Resch
- Foundations of Firearms Audio Forensics Built by Dr. Robert Maher Will Continue to Be Important Forensic Tool as More Recording Devices Are Present at Crime Scenes, by Jo Ellen Nott
- Amazon Ring Curbs Police Access to Doorbell Camera Footage—But Privacy Concerns Remain, by Jo Ellen Nott
- FBI Searches of NSA Data Extended Until April, Despite Admission of Unconstitutionality, by Anthony Accurso
- Suspicion of Government Surveillance Increasing, by Anthony Accurso
- Cops’ Sky-High Hopes, by Michael Thompson
- DEA and Police Use Pretense of Consent Searches to Effectively Steal Cash From Airport Travelers, by Anthony Accurso
- A Legal Argument Against Government Purchase of Location Data, by Anthony Accurso
- North Carolina Supreme Court: Outstanding Warrant for Driver Who Fled Accident Scene Does Not Authorize Inventory Search of Disabled Vehicle, by Anthony Accurso
- News in Brief
- Cops Just Love Secret Metadata Collection, by Michael Thompson
More from Douglas Ankney:
- $1.2 Million in Settlements Reached in Suit Over Sacramento Jail Murder, May 1, 2025
- Eleventh Circuit Revives Volunteer Pastor’s First Amendment Claim at Georgia Jail, May 1, 2025
- Wellpath Sanctioned for Discovery Violation in Suit Over Kentucky Prisoner’s Death, May 1, 2025
- Second Circuit Revives Connecticut Prisoner’s Challenge To Conditions In Virginia Lockup Where He Was Transferred, May 1, 2025
- Missouri Pays More Than $1.2 Million for Deputy Warden’s Sexual Harassment Claim Against Warden, May 1, 2025
- Beyond a Reasonable Doubt? Fingerprint Evidence’s Troubling Flaws, April 15, 2025
- Connecticut Supreme Court Announces Teague’s ‘Watershed’ Rule Exception to Nonretroactivity of New Constitutional Rule of Criminal Procedure on Collateral Review Has ‘Continued Vitality’ in Connecticut, Adoption of Third Exception to Teague’s Nonretroacti, April 15, 2025
- Fourth Circuit: District Court Erred in Imposing ‘Managerial Role’ Enhancement Under Guidelines § 3B1.1(b) Without Making ‘Particularized Findings’ Regarding Scope of Criminal Activity and Number of Participants as Required by Guidelines §1B1.1, April 15, 2025
- Tenth Circuit Stretches PLRA to Deny Claim of Colorado Prisoner Shot by Guard While Shackled, April 1, 2025
- Fourth Circuit Excuses Maryland Prisoner From Exhaustion Requirement in PREA Claim, April 1, 2025
More from these topics:
- Connecticut Compensates Exonerated Prisoners, Reforms Policing, April 15, 2025. Police Misconduct, Settlements, Wrongful Conviction.
- Questionable Retail Theft Panic Fuels More Mass Surveillance and Police Militarization, April 15, 2025. Police Misconduct, Police State-Surveillance, Electronic Surveillance, Fraud and Theft Loss.
- California Police Misused State Databases Over 7,000 Times in 2023, March 15, 2025. Police Misconduct, Databases.
- Shakedown in New Mexico: Decades-Long Police Corruption Scandal Rocks Albuquerque’s DWI Unit, March 15, 2025. Police Misconduct, Bribery, Plea Agreements/Guilty Pleas.
- Fourth Circuit Decision on Claim of Retaliation for Exercising First And Sixth Amendment Rights Highlights Police Corruption, Feb. 15, 2025. Police Misconduct, Retaliation for Filing Grievances.
- Police Departments Are Now Using AI to Write Reports, Feb. 15, 2025. Police Misconduct, Computer Searches, Electronic Surveillance, Police/Govt Misconduct, Police Reports.
- Corruption Charges Dropped Against Maryland Sheriff, Former Virginia Sheriff Headed to Trial, Dec. 15, 2024. Guard Misconduct, Police Misconduct.
- Two Former Georgia Sheriffs Sentenced for Misconduct, Related $5 Million Settlement Approved, Nov. 15, 2024. Police Misconduct, Settlements.
- Wisconsin District Attorneys’ Police Brady Lists Often Secret, Incomplete, or Nonexistent, Nov. 1, 2024. Police Misconduct, State Lists/Databases.
- Mistrial for Vermont Sheriff Who Kicked Shackled Detainee, Oct. 15, 2024. Police Misconduct, Mistrial Motion.