Tag Archives: lapd

The LAPD Adopts the Colt Police Positive and Smith & Wesson Police Special, 1914

Posted on March 12, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s an item from my visit to the city archives: The Police Commission approves the rule that all new LAPD officers must be provided with a Colt Police Positive or Smith & Wesson Police Special .38-caliber revolver.

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Black Dahlia: The Black Dahlia Files and Donald Wolfe

Posted on February 14, 2014 by lmharnisch

While we are on the subject of nonsense in the Black Dahlia case, the Sky Valley Chronicle posted a story yesterday based on Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files.” As many of you may know, this book is so … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Donald Wolfe, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: George Hodel, Soil Analysis and Sweeps Month

Posted on February 13, 2014 by lmharnisch

Look it’s an “update” on the Buster the Wonder Dog saga, via L.A. Observed. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. For those of you (that would be most of the world) who haven’t followed the saga of “Buster the Wonder … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: ‘I Killed the Black Dahlia’

Posted on February 7, 2014 by lmharnisch

Just when I thought I had seen every sort of lunacy that’s possible about the Black Dahlia case, I found this in my local paper yesterday. Did someone finally confess to the “grusome” murder? Look! It’s a saga of “explotation!” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Gunman Kills LAPD Officers Endler and Monaghan, Feb. 1, 1964

Posted on February 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

Feb. 1, 1964: Police Sgt. Charles Paul Monaghan and Officer Robert M. Endler of the Wilshire Division are shot to death while investigating a man passing a bad check at the Sears store, 4550 W. Pico Blvd. He was arrested … Continue reading →

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Today is Jan. 15 — Trim Your Roses

Posted on January 15, 2014 by lmharnisch

Today is Jan. 15, and the Daily Mirror marks the anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s death by pruning back the roses.

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To Serve and to Collect — LAPD on EBay

Posted on January 11, 2014 by lmharnisch

An Ebay vendor is selling random issues of the LAPD’s Police Beat magazine from 1962 to 1967, including this issue featuring Chief William H. Parker, presumably honoring Parker after his death in 1966. Bidding starts at $16.95.

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LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files — Slaughter at Bob’s Big Boy, Part II

Posted on December 27, 2013 by lmharnisch

1980 was a bloody year in Los Angeles, with more than 1,000 killings for the first time in its history. For the LAPD, homicides increased 30% from 1979 to 1,038 in 1980.  The Sheriff’s Department also a reported a 7.9% … Continue reading →

Posted in 1980, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files — Slaughter at Bob’s Big Boy, Part II

Christmas on the Radio — Dragnet ‘.22 Rifle for Christmas’

Posted on December 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

From the radio version of “Dragnet,” Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and Ben Romero (Barton Yarborough) on the case of a missing 9-year-old boy in “.22 Rifle for Christmas.” From 1949 | From 1950 | From 1951 | From 1952 (with … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, LAPD, Radio | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files — Mystery Guest No. 1

Posted on December 18, 2013 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I was given a box of material cleaned out of the press room at Parker Center that was crammed with photos, artist sketches, press releases and some tattered maps. I have organized the material … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files, Photography | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Before You Watch ‘Mob City’ — Bugsy Siegel, Mickey Cohen and Chief Parker

Posted on December 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

Before you watch TNT’s “Mob City” tonight, read these items from The Times about what Police Capt. William H. Parker was actually doing in the 1940s. Parker served in the Army during World War II and was discharged in November … Continue reading →

Posted in 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, Hollywood, LAPD, Mickey Cohen, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files

Posted on December 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

I was given a box of material that was cleaned out of the old press room at the LAPD’s Parker Center headquarters, sometimes called “the cop shop.” The box was a jumble of press releases, photographs, artists’ sketches and other … Continue reading →

Posted in 1965, 1973, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files — ‘Little Cowboy’

Posted on November 27, 2013 by lmharnisch

Police sketches of “Little Cowboy” by LAPD artist F.G. Ponce. I call her “Little Cowboy” because her shirt said “I’m a Little Cowboy.”  She was Jane Doe No. 62, coroner’s No. 77-8735, DR 77 596-048 In case you just tuned … Continue reading →

Posted in 1977, Cold Cases, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files

Posted on November 20, 2013 by lmharnisch

June 23, 1976: William C. Harber and Constance Thorn are found beaten to death in an apartment at 3416 Manning Ave. The case has never been solved. Several weeks ago, I was given a box of material that was cleaned … Continue reading →

Posted in 1976, 1977, Cold Cases, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Black Dahlia: George Hodel — Soil Samples at the Sowden House: FAIL

Posted on November 14, 2013 by lmharnisch

Saturday was, in case you had forgotten, the one-year anniversary of Buster the Wonder Dog’s frolic at the Sowden House in a search for evidence to link Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel to the Black Dahlia killing. You may recall … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, LAPD, Television | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files

Posted on November 14, 2013 by lmharnisch

Several weeks ago, I was given a box of material that was cleaned out of the old press room at the LAPD’s Parker Center headquarters, sometimes called “the cop shop.” The box was a jumble of press releases, photographs, artists’ … Continue reading →

Posted in 1974, Cold Cases, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Blogging the Wolfe Book — Seven Years Later

Posted on November 13, 2013 by lmharnisch

Note: In 2006, I devoted a daily blog to  fact-checking Donald Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files” on a molecular level. The project was so time-consuming – and “Dahlia Files” is such junk – that I stopped about Page 96 and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 2006, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files — Mysterious PC Numbers

Posted on November 10, 2013 by lmharnisch

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. This anonymous fellow was captured by a bank security camera and the photo is marked PC 45080. Often in these cases, the PC number will be rendered PC 450 (80), in which … Continue reading →

Posted in 1976, 1980, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files — A Research Question on LAPD Case Numbering

Posted on November 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

While I’m on the subject of the LAPD Cop Shop Files, let me see if there’s anyone among the Daily Mirror Brain Trust who is familiar with LAPD case numbers. It seems that after many years of following the protocol … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files – Starting Next Week

Posted on November 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

The “Remorseful Rapist” from 1965, one of the items from the Cop Shop Files. Several weeks ago, I was given a box of material that was cleaned out of the old press room at the LAPD’s Parker Center headquarters, sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in 1965, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , | 9 Comments