BRIEFLY : COMMISSION BACKS OFFICERS IN SHOOTING.

The Police Commission ruled Thursday that eight LAPD officers acted ``in policy'' last year when they fatally shot a suspect 34 times as the man attempted to drive a van at two of the officers.

Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division responding to a call of a man beating a woman in a van found a man identified as G. Dowse with a ``psychotic look on his face'' who began swearing at officers and ignoring their instructions to surrender, according to a report by Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, who also found that the officers acted properly.

The suspect drove off but was cornered by officers. Dowse then allegedly put the van in gear and began driving toward two officers who, fearing they would be hit, opened fire. Other officers also fired at Dowse, who died after being hit 34 times in the head and upper torso. Although Parks and the Police Commission agreed that all of the officers should undergo additional training for tactics, the final report said the officers ``reasonably believed that Dowse presented an immediate threat of serious bodily injury or death and had no alternative to the use of deadly force.''

- Daily News

Flood insurance to retain prices

Federal flood insurance rates will not increase as planned when 16 communities in parts of Los Angeles and Sacramento counties receive high-risk flood designations Monday.

Residents who have federally regulated mortgages still must purchase the insurance if they live in the newly designated areas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said Thursday.

The areas face higher flood risks while improvements are being made to the levee systems, FEMA said. Once those levees are repaired, the required insurance rules will be lifted.

The zones include parts of Bellflower, Carson, Compton, Downey, Gardena, Lakewood, Long Beach, Los Angeles city and county, Lynwood, Montebello, Paramount, Pico Rivera and Southgate in Southern California; and Sacramento city and county.

- Associated Press

Texas issues recall for tainted oysters

Texas oysters shipped to California have been recalled because of possible contamination, health officials said Thursday.

Officials are advising that anyone eating oysters from Galveston, Texas, be sure they are thoroughly cooked because of a potential disease. The Texas Health Department has been investigating a bacterial illness involving vibrio parahaemolyticus that affected 128 people in Texas and Florida who ate raw oysters from Galveston Bay.

The Texas Health Department is recalling all fresh oysters harvested from Galveston Bay and shipped for raw consumption since May 27. Shipping records indicate the oysters went to six states, including California. Oysters harvested and shipped for cooking are not included in the recall.

- Daily News

Fake deliverymen rob attorney office

TARZANA - Two robbers posing as deliverymen made their way into a tax attorney's office on Ventura Boulevard on Thursday night, tied up an attorney and put duct tape on him before holding up the place, police said.

The attorney was not injured in the 7:30 p.m. incident, said Sgt. Jay Bender of the Los Angeles Police Department's West Valley Division.

The two men knocked on the door of the business, Abrams Bobby A Law in the 18400 block of Ventura Boulevard, Bender said. Thinking they had a legitimate delivery, the attorney allowed the pair to enter.

Bender said police did not immediately determine what was stolen from the office before the men fled the scene.

- Daily News