angeles police
Los Angeles police will test drones despite privacy concerns
American police have certainly used drones before, but not on this scale. The Los Angeles Police Commission has voted in favor of letting the LAPD fly drones in a year-long pilot program, making it the largest US police department to ever rely on the robotic aircraft. The force will use the drones for aerial searches, recon in tense situations (think: standoffs) and other tasks where officers would otherwise be at risk. The machines could save lives, according to the LAPD, but there were numerous concessions made to address privacy concerns -- and some people still aren't convinced these limits will prevent abuse. The trial's rules restrict flights to SWAT team members in dangerous situations, such as when there's a heavily armed suspect on the loose.
'Life is not going to be the same': Slaying of beloved USC professor leaves colleagues and friends crestfallen
When students enrolled in USC's daunting neuroscience graduate program needed help cracking a tough project, they all went to Bosco Tjan. It didn't hurt that his advice often came with a free cappuccino. Mara Mather, a professor of gerontology and psychology at USC, described Tjan as an affable, caring presence on campus. He always found time to aid students and professors despite a breathless schedule. In many ways, she said, Tjan was the center's heartbeat.