LAPD Names Valley Man Top Reserve Officer

A 59-year-old Granada Hills salesman who worked 22 straight 12-hour days as a volunteer policeman during last summer’s Olympics was named Friday night as the Los Angeles Police Department’s reserve officer of the year.

The man, Richard A. Leader, was also cited for 15 years of volunteer patrol work in the Northwest Valley. Five other Valley reserve officers were also honored by police officials during ceremonies attended by about 650 persons at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City.

Reserve officers are trained in police procedures and work alongside regular police officers. They are paid $15 a month, and those with patrol training are authorized to carry guns and make arrests.

Trained at Academy

Patrol duty requires 570 hours of Police Academy training and the standard police medical, psychological and background checks. Regular police officers are given 970 hours of Academy training.

Leader, sales director at a Hollywood radio station, was described by administrators of the Devonshire Division station in Northridge as being an experienced, street-wise officer who is sought after as a partner by full-time policemen.

“That comes from years of establishing his credibility and integrity,” said Sgt. Michael Florio, a coordinator of the city’s reserve officer program. “Dick is a professional when it comes to police work.”

Leader worked 848 hours for the department last year.

Police officials said the department’s 550 reserves provided $1.6 million worth of free service to the city in 1984 and were particularly helpful during the Olympics. The department has about 6,900 regular officers.

The reserve program was established in 1941 to strengthen the Police Department after World War II depleted its ranks. The officer-of-the-year award was established 11 years ago, officials said.

According to Florio, 160 reserve officers have Valley assignments, including Velma Akoury, the department’s senior volunteer officer. Akoury, of Encino, has worked at the Van Nuys station for 35 years.

Leader was nominated for the award by Capt. W. W. Mitchell, commander of the Devonshire Division. Mitchell’s station utilizes 40 reserve officers. Other Valley nominees were:

Stanley L. Brittsan, a reserve officer for 12 years. Assigned to the Valley Traffic Division, he works with a drunk-driver enforcement unit. He is a telephone repair service administrator with Pacific Bell. The Traffic Division has five reserve officers.

Barbara Felder, a Canyon Country homemaker who volunteers to work with the West Valley Division in Reseda 10 days a month. She has handled child-abuse cases, arrested an armed suspect and worked with detectives on stolen property “sting” operations. The West Valley station has 40 reserve officers.

Samuel Werner, a self-employed computer systems analyst, who has assisted in homicide investigations. A volunteer at the Van Nuys Division, he has been a reserve officer for 11 years. The Van Nuys station has 28 reservists.

Patricia Kane, a licensed child care center operator, who has worked as a North Hollywood Division reserve officer since 1981. Actively involved in North Hollywood’s Neighborhood Watch anti-crime program, Kane was cited for volunteering to work during holidays and emergencies. North Hollywood has 20 reserve officers.

Patricia L. Williams, a waitress who has been a Foothill Division reserve officer in Pacoima for five years. She was praised for work with the department’s mounted police detail and for volunteering for station desk duty, which officials said frees a regular officer for other duties. Her division has 27 reserve officers.