LAPD Scrapbook: Radio Patrolmen Nab Burglar Suspect, Westwood Hills Press, Dec. 14, 1945

Posted on December 14, 2014 by lmharnisch

Dec. 14, 1945, Burglar Arrested

Dec. 14, 1945

This item in the LAPD scrapbooks at the city archive is from the Westwood Hills Press and profiles Officer Walter A. Callahan, who was awarded the Silver Star and Marine Corps Distinguished Service Medal in World War II.

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I am retired from the Los Angeles Times
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8 Responses to LAPD Scrapbook: Radio Patrolmen Nab Burglar Suspect, Westwood Hills Press, Dec. 14, 1945

  1. Alan H. Simon says:
    December 14, 2014 at 7:17 am

    Two observations. LAPD officers were allowed to wear their military ribbons under their badges after WWll, and the newspaper published the officer’s home address in an article about them.

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    • lmharnisch says:
      December 14, 2014 at 7:45 am

      The immediate postwar era was especially challenging for the LAPD. It lost a significant number of officers to military service and had to compensate with War Emergency officers (who carried the designation WE with their serial numbers). After the war, the police officers returned to their LAPD jobs and although some WE officers were retained, many were let go. The department was extremely proud of the number of officers in the military and it’s not entirely surprising that they were allowed to wear their ribbons — thanks for mentioning it.

      Newspapers in this era often published individuals’ addresses. It’s somewhat unusual to see police officers’ addresses, but this is the Westwood Hills Press, not one of the major L.A. papers.

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    • Bob says:
      December 15, 2014 at 7:01 pm

      LAPD OFFICERS still can wear the ribbons. Most of us only wear them for formal events. It’s up to the officer.

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  2. Joe Sanchez says:
    December 14, 2014 at 9:07 am

    Interesting article of the LAPD back in the day. Former NYPD – Joe Sanchez http://www.bluewallnypd.com

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  3. Benito says:
    December 14, 2014 at 4:28 pm

    Surprised to see PD officers’ home addresses published. Now the civil courts deny attorneys’ motions seeking such information, and often rebuke them as well.

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    • lmharnisch says:
      December 14, 2014 at 4:34 pm

      As I said before, it was a different world then… Newspapers frequently published individuals’ addresses (though usually not those of police officers)…. And again, this was a small paper, not The Times, Examiner, Herald-Express or Daily News.

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  4. Sam Flowers says:
    December 15, 2014 at 10:49 am

    Not to mention there is a law against disclosing a P.O.’s address now.

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  5. jrsanders says:
    May 4, 2015 at 12:26 pm

    Los Angeles city and street directories of the time commonly identified officers in listings giving their home addresses, phone numbers, and spouse’s names. Very different times.

    Link to 1942 directory: http://rescarta.lapl.org:8080/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=Los%20Angeles%20City%20Directories/LPU00000/LL000004/00000001

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