One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Former LAPD Chief Daryl Gates Dies
Daryl F. Gates, the Los Angeles police chief who saw the department through the Rodney King trial and the subsequent L.A. riots, died today of cancer at 83. He was at his Newport Beach home with his family.
Gates was born on August 30, 1926 and grew up in the Glandale and Highland Park areas. Except for two years when he was in the Navy, Gates lives in Southern California, even graduating from USC. He joined the LAPD in 1949, working his way up to be the 49th Chief in 1978 and staying in the position until 1992, after the riots.
“Daryl Francis Gates was a one-in-a-million human being," said Chief Charlie Beck. "He inspired others to succeed and, in doing so, changed the landscape of law enforcement around the world.”
Gates also led the department during the 1984 Olympic summer games and during difficult economic times. He is credited for creating the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program and is considered the father of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
