Former Fullerton Police Chief, Mayor Dies
Wayne H. Bornhoft, retired police chief and former mayor, has died in Palm Springs after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 76.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Fullerton Elks Lodge, 1451 Brea Blvd. He died Saturday.
Bornhoft was born April 8, 1916, in Minnesota and reared in Wayne, Neb., where his father was chief of police.
Bornhoft joined the Pasadena Police Department in 1943 and became chief of the Fullerton department in 1957. Department spokesmen credit him with transforming the department over the next 20 years--hiring the department’s first female officer and creating the community services, training and planning bureaus and police cadet and Explorer programs.
He retired as chief in 1977 and ran for City Council. He served on the council from 1978 to 1982, and was appointed mayor in 1980 and 1981.
Bornhoft is survived by his wife of 54 years, Evelyn of Palm Desert; a son, Robert of Encinitas; daughter, Carol Bradshaw of Brea, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
The family requests that donations be made to either the Wayne H. Bornhoft Memorial Fund at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Fullerton, 348 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, Calif. 92632, or to the Kathleen Thaete Memorial Fund, in care of the Fullerton Police Athletic League, P.O. Box 1288, Fullerton, Calif. 92632.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
