Edward M. Davis

Infobox police officer
name = Edward M. Davis


caption = Edward M. Davis
born = Birth date|1916|11|15
died = Death date and age|2006|04|22|1916|11|15
badgenumber =
placeofbirth = Los Angeles, California
placeofdeath =
nickname = "Ed"
department = Los Angeles Police Department
service =
serviceyears = 1948 - 1978
rank = Chief of Police
awards =
laterwork = Politician, California State SenateCleanup|date=July 2008

Edward Michael Davis (November 15, 1916 – April 22, 2006) was the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department from (1969-1978), and later a California State Senator from (1981-1993) and an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the United States Senate in 1986. Davis' name was familiar to a generation of Americans since it appeared on its own card for "technical advice" in the closing credits of the popular television programs "Dragnet" (1967-70) and "Adam-12" (1968-75).

Born in Los Angeles, California to James Leonard Davis and Lillian Fox Davis, Davis graduated from John C. Fremont High School in Los Angeles. He married Virginia Osborne in 1940 before serving in the United States Navy during World War II.

During his term as Chief, Davis was also quite controversial: the LAPD became notorious for its policy of routinely using chokeholds during arrests, Terry stops, and even traffic stops. The holds were often applied until the suspect passed out. By the time the policy was halted in May 1982 by the Police Commission, 15 people had died. The U.S. Supreme Court blocked a lawsuit seeking an injunction to halt the practice permanently, because Adolph Lyons could not prove that there was a substantial and immediate likelihood that he personally would be choked again. "City of Los Angeles v. Lyons", ussc|461|95|1983.

As well, during his tenure, the LAPD and its vice squad were known for active policing against gays. Zealous officers are purported to have dangled a youth over a cliff to try to make him reveal names of a pedophile ring. Davis was often known for some of his colorful language. For instance, in one of his most famous off-the-cuff news comments, Mr. Davis said, in 1972, concerning airline hijackers: "I recommend we have a portable gallows, and after we have the death penalty back in, we conduct a rapid trial for a hijacker out there, and hang him with due process out there at the airport." [http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/state/14410399.htm] On April 10, 1976, over a hundred officers, with Davis present, raided a charitable "slave auction" event. Dozens of men were detained on charges of violating an 1899 anti-slavery statute, but the expensive raid was criticized by the city council and no one was convicted. See also the Wikipedia article on the LAPD.

Davis retired in 1978 and was elected to the California State Senate two years later. He would serve for 12 years (during the first two years of which Tom McClintock served as his Chief of Staff.). He supported a gay rights protection bill and became a vocal environmentalist in his later years. [http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-davis23apr23,0,5859140.story?page=2&coll=la-home-headlines]

In 1992, when he decided to retire from the California State Senate, he went out of his way to recruit former Assemblywoman Marion LaFollette to run for his seat. This despite the fact that the area's current Assemblywoman (Cathie Wright) had already declared for the seat. Davis couldn't stand Wright (whom he dubbed "The Peroxide Princess of Simi Valley") and sought out LaFollette (who served from 1982-90).

The last TV interview with Davis was videotaped in March 2002 where he recalled his years as LAPD Chief and described the values and traits necessary to be a successful Chief of Police. He also related his impressions of a young LAPD Lt. named Bernard Parks who went on to become Chief. In this interview he described how he implemented the "community policing" program during his administration. The hour long interview was conducted by Emmy Award winning host Leslie Dutton on the Full Disclosure Network. [http://www.fulldisclosure.net/flash/VideoBlogs/334-35_Ed_Davis.php]

Davis died in April 2006 from pneumonia.

External links

* [http://www.lamountains.com/parks.asp?parkid=10 Ed Davis Park (named for Senator Davis)]
* [http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/5873 Ed Davis Political History]