Obituary: Richard Dale Cutler

Richard Dale Cutler, a former Burbank police lieutenant, died July 18 after battling cancer. He was 79.

Born on Nov. 29, 1931 in Salt Lake City, Utah, he was the eldest of four children. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1950 and served until 1954. He joined the Burbank Police Department in 1955. In 1984, he retired as a lieutenant. Cutler helped establish the department’s special enforcement detail, K-9 crime prevention and helicopter programs.

Cutler moved his family to Santa Clarita in 1987, opened a Mail Boxes Etc. franchise and retired again in 1993.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ellen; their six children, Gary, Tracey, Matt, Terri, Colleen and Patti; and 14 grandchildren, Chad, Martha, Donny, Chelsea, Adam, Jenna, Michael, Jessica, Kevin, Bailey, Shannon, Samantha, Quinlan and Matthew. He is also survived by his three great grandsons, Hunter, Andrew and Jordan.

A memorial mass was scheduled for Tuesday at St. Clare’s Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), St. Clare’s Mission Circle, or other charity.