Robert F. Brunzell; Police Detective

Robert F. Brunzell, a 23-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department who worked as a senior supervising detective in the Foothill Division in Pacoima, has died at his Santa Clarita home. He was 46.

Brunzell died Friday of cancer, said Mike Sullivan, a close friend.

Born Aug. 10, 1944, in San Fernando, Brunzell graduated from Hart High School in Newhall in 1962. He worked for the Southern California Edison Co. from 1962 until he joined the Los Angeles Police Department in 1968.

Brunzell worked in the Southwest Division downtown and in the Metro Division before becoming a detective in 1976.

He was then transferred to the Foothill Division, where he handled burglaries and robberies until the time of his death. An avid hunter, Brunzell was a member of the Western United States Elk Assn.

He is survived by his wife of nine years, Ann Brunzell; a son, Jeffrey Brunzell of Granada Hills; a daughter, Rebecca Brunzell of Granada Hills; a stepson, Joseph Biro of Northridge; two stepdaughters, Deborah Bleecker and Stephanie Biro of Valencia; his mother, Lorraine Brunzell of Newhall; a sister, Joann Koopman of Quartz Hill; and two step-grandchildren.

A funeral is scheduled for 9 a.m. today at St. Clare Catholic Church, 19606 Calla Way, Canyon Country. Burial will follow at San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills. J.T. Oswald Mortuary in San Fernando is handling the arrangements. Donations can be made in Brunzell’s name to the American Cancer Society.