Local Action Threat Level Up-Date

We're not a large-amygdala conservative paranoid, nor an urban scaredy-cat, but if anyone needs to reach us, we'll be right here inside the bunker, as it appears there is a maniac w/ a shotgun on the loose around here.

Los Angeles police are trying to determine whether there is link between Sunday's slaying of MTV music coordinator Gabriel Aron Ben-Meir and a series of shotgun robberies and a homicide over the last two weeks.

LAPD sources said the robber had struck at least eight times in the last two weeks, using a shotgun during street and business robberies in the Mid-City, Southwest L.A. and Wilshire areas. The robber also is responsible for a slaying a week ago, police believe.

The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stressed that detectives had not made a positive link but considered it a solid lead. A division of the LAPD was on tactical alert Tuesday night looking for the robbery suspect.

A division of the LAPD on "tactical alert" means one's chance of being plugged by a trigger-happy cop are way up, because if it's not the Metro Squad it's the Shoot Innocent Suspects unit.

The SIS was formed in 1965 as a surveillance unit to apprehend robbers and burglars. The SIS developed a practice of standing by during criminal activities, when individuals were being victimized by armed robbers or others, and then apprehending the suspects as they left the scene.

The SIS, which typically has about twenty members, killed twenty-eight suspects between 1965 and 1992, an extraordinarily high number.

In defending the unit's methods, then-commander of the SIS, Capt. Dennis Conte explained, "Public safety is a concern, but we have to look beyond that because if we arrest someone for attempt [sic], the likelihood ofa conviction is not great."

The SIS reportedly does not inform local police units about its activities, adding to the danger and confusion at the scene of crimes.

A person's life is worth nothing on these mean streets.

NOTE: Should have been published 17 May 2011 @ 0446PDT. We've no idea what the hell happened.