los angeles chief of police daryl gates, creator of SWAT, DARE (and lest we forget--rodney king)

the whole thing is worth a read--seems he is responsible for even more of what we are seeing now than I had thought possible.

Daryl Gates
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Daryl Gates
DarylGatescolorportrait.jpg
Official portrait of Gates.
Born August 30, 1926
Glendale, California, U.S.[1]
Died April 16, 2010 (aged 83)
Dana Point, California, U.S.[2]
Awards Pmuc.JPG – Police Meritorious Unit Citation
PMSM.JPG – Police Meritorious Service Medal
– 1984 Summer Olympics Ribbon
1987pv.JPG – 1987 Papal Visit Ribbon
92riots.JPG – 1992 Civil Disturbance Ribbon
Police career
Department Los Angeles Police Department
Country United States of America
Years of service 1949–1992
Rank Sworn in as an Officer – 1949
US-O7 insignia.svg – Commander – 1965
US-O10 insignia.svg Chief of Police – 1978
Other work Businessman/entrepreneur, talk-show host, radio commentator

Daryl Gates (born Darrel Francis Gates;[3] August 30, 1926 – April 16, 2010) was the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) from 1978 to 1992. His length of tenure was second only to that of William H.Parker. As chief of police, he took a hardline, aggressive, paramilitary approach to law enforcement. Gates is credited with the creation of SWAT teams and DARE.[4] After the Rodney King beating and the riots afterward, Gates resigned from the police department.


SWAT
See also: LAPD Metropolitan Division § S.W.A.T. (“D” Platoon) and John Nelson (police officer)

Gates, considered the father of SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics), established the specialized unit in order to deal with hostage rescue and extreme situations involving armed and dangerous suspects. Ordinary street officers, with light armament, limited weapons training and little instruction on group fighting techniques, had shown to be ineffective in dealing with snipers, bank robberies carried out by heavily armed persons, and other high-intensity situations. In 1965, Officer John Nelson came up with the idea to form a specially trained and equipped unit to respond to and manage critical situations while minimizing police casualties.[6]

As an inspector, Gates approved this idea. He formed a small select group of volunteer officers. His first SWAT team, which Gates had originally wanted to name "Special Weapons Attack Team,"[7] was born LAPD SWAT, D-Platoon of the Metro Division. This SWAT unit was initially constituted as 15 teams of four men each, for a total staff of 60. These officers were given special status and benefits, but in return they had to attend monthly trainings and serve as security for police facilities during episodes of civil unrest. SWAT was copied almost immediately by most US police departments, and is now used by law enforcement agencies throughout the world.
. . . .
PDID

Gates made substantial use of the LAPD's Public Disorder and Intelligence Division (PDID) squad, even developing an international spying operation.[7] The lawsuit CAPA v. Gates, with the Coalition Against Police Abuse (CAPA) as one of two dozen or so plaintiffs, later sued the LAPD on First Amendment grounds that exposed the unlawful harassment, surveillance, and infiltration of the progressive movement in Los Angeles by LAPD agents. The lawsuit against Gates and the LAPD proved successful. The PDID was ordered to disband, and did so in January 1983.[8] In February 1984, an out-of-court settlement awarded $1.8 million to the named plaintiffs, individuals, and organizations who had sued the City of Los Angeles [9]

. . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daryl_Gates