Earl Broady

Earl Broady (b. 1904 - 1992). A senior LA police officer who went on to become a Deputy D.A., and then a judge.

Early life

"I not only was born across the tracks. I was born on the wrong side of that place across the tracks,” Earl Broady once said. A native of Los Angeles, Earl Broady began working as a janitor at age 13. In his early years Judge Broady worked as a mail carrier, was an accomplished pianist, and a band leader. He is also remembered as a generous philanthropist.

Career

Earl Broady began his career in criminal law by joining the Los Angeles Police Department in 1927. He was one of the first African American police officers to be elevated to the rank of Lieutenant and Watch Commander at the Los Angeles Police Force. Judge Broady attended night classes at USC and the Los Angeles College of Law. He left the LAPD in 1944 to practice law. He was later elected president of the Criminal Courts Bar Association of Los Angeles. Prior to taking the bench, Judge Broady served as Chief Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County. He was appointed on June 7, 1965 and served as a judge on the Los Angeles Superior Court until he retired in 1978. Judge Broady also served on the McCone Commission, which studied the causes behind the Watts riots.