Ex-Orange Police Chief Wayne Streed Dies at 63

A former Orange police chief, whose career spanned almost three decades, died of natural causes earlier this week at his home in Las Vegas.

Wayne V. Streed began working for the Orange Police Department in 1963 and became police chief in 1985. Before joining the Orange police force, Streed worked in Santa Ana and Omaha.

“His motto was ‘back to basics,’ ” said Police Lt. Ed Tunstall, spokesman for the department. “He was very people-oriented, extremely concerned about individual officers. . . . He knew everyone by name. He was very approachable, very friendly.”

With Streed at the helm, the department moved to its current headquarters on Batavia Street and expanded services with a new substation in east Orange.

After retiring in 1990, Streed moved to Las Vegas, where he died Monday at age 63. His wife, Joanne, died of cancer three weeks ago, Tunstall said. The couple had been married for about 45 years.

The former chief is survived by two sons, Mike, who has been a police officer in Orange for 10 years, and Scott, an Orange County attorney; a daughter, Lori Lilly, a Santa Ana nurse; and seven grandchildren.

Streed’s funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Family Cathedral, 566 S. Glassell St., in Orange. Burial will be at Fairhaven Memorial Park, 1702 Fairhaven Ave., Santa Ana. Viewing is from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Fairhaven Memorial Park.