LAPD Gangster Squad

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The Gangster Squad in 1932 The Gangster Squad, circa 1948--Notable members- Jack O'Mara sits on the far left, bottom row- Doug Kennard stands directly behind O'Mara- Leader, Willie Burns stands in center, wearing dark jacket and hat- Je 2014-06-12 22-20.jpg
The Gangster Squad in 1932

The Gangster Squad, later known as the OrganizedCrime Intelligence Division (OCID), was a special unit of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) formed in 1946 to keep the East Coast Mafia and organized crime elements out of Los Angeles, California. [1]

Contents

Origin

The squad was created by then Chief of Police Clemence B. Horrall in 1946. Initially organized as an eight-man intelligence detail, it became popularly known as the Gangster Squad. It was given the tasks of fighting organized crime and spying on corrupt cops. Criminals it targeted included Mickey Cohen, Jack Dragna, Bugsy Siegel, Jack Whalen and Jimmy Fratianno.

History

Much like the events in the 2013 film Gangster Squad , the real-life squad waged war on crime and did things that would be considered illegal by today's standards. As the real-life Sgt. Jack O'Mara later told the Los Angeles Times in 2008: "We did a lot of things that we'd get indicted for today". [2] In 1949, interim LAPD Chief William Worton increased the team's size and renamed it the Intelligence Division. William Parker became chief in 1950 and expanded the team even more, including the addition of a female field team.

In the media

Further reading

References

Notes

  1. Roe, Mike (10 January 2013). "PHOTOS: The real-life 'Gangster Squad' and mobster Mickey Cohen". Southern California Public Radio. Without a Net (blog). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  2. Lieberman, Paul (26 October 2008). "Crusaders in the underworld: The LAPD takes on organized crime (copy)". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  3. L.A. Secret Police. Inside the LAPD Elite Spy Network.