Call of Police Duty Keeps Volunteer, 73, at His Post

Irving Oppenheim would be $47,000 richer if he had been paid for his last two years as an administrative clerk at the Los Angeles Police Department’s 77th Division in South Central Los Angeles.

As it is, Oppenheim, a Burbank resident, has received a $15-a-month stipend for his volunteer work. And he uses that to buy coloring books and lollipops for children accompanying parents who are filing reports.

“A little kindness and understanding can go a long way,” he said.

Oppenheim, 73, answers phones, files reports and takes photographs of community activities for the division.

An Army photographer stationed in France during World War II, Oppenheim became an active civilian volunteer for the Police Department seven years ago after he left the operation of the couple’s sewing-machine supply company to his wife, Irma, 61.

After volunteering at other police divisions, Oppenheim settled on the 77th Division because, he said, “We are short-staffed, so I know my work counts.”

He had become interested in police work when he joined several civic groups in an effort to fight crime in his company’s neighborhood at 12th and Wall streets.

“The neighborhood changed so drastically into a high-crime area,” he said. “I was determined to stay in business. But I also had to give my employees and clients a safe environment.”

Eventually, the couple relocated the company to Burbank.

Oppenheim, fondly known by his law enforcement friends as “Oppy,” commutes 45 miles daily to his assigned post. Reserve officers must work 20 hours per month. Oppenheim has always exceeded the requirement, said Officer Wayne Stovall of the employment opportunity development division.

“Oppenheim volunteers more time than any of the LAPD’s 168 other specialist reserve officers,” Stovall said, adding that Oppenheim had been selected as the South Bureau’s Reserve Officer of the Year in 1985.