LAPD Honors Detective for 44 Years of Service

It was a big day for anniversaries at Los Angeles police headquarters Tuesday. And the biggest honor belonged to robbery Det. Jack Giroud, who joined the LAPD 44 years ago, when Norris Poulsen was mayor and the city was a little more than half its current size.

On hand to congratulate Giroud was wife Dixie, who marked her 24th anniversary with the Los Angeles Police Protective League, and Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, who said Feb. 1 was his 35th anniversary with the department.

Giroud’s grandson David Friedrich, who wasn’t observing an anniversary, delivered what was perhaps the most personal note during the celebration in the Robbery-Homicide squad room at Parker Center.

“He’s the reason I became a police officer,” said Friedrich, a six-year LAPD veteran. “If I can fill half of his [44 years], then I’ll be satisfied with my career.”

More than 50 well-wishers crowded into the squad room to honor Giroud, dubbed “Mr. Robbery,” who has worked on hundreds of cases over the years. He is such a well-known figure in law enforcement circles that he is routinely sought out by corporations plagued with robberies.

He is also a founding member of the California Robbery Investigators Assn.

The modest detective seemed to shrug off the attention showered on him during the ceremony, for which Parks and the Police Commission broke away from a meeting to put in an appearance.

“Thank you” was all Giroud told the crowd. And unlike other police old-timers, Giroud said he had no favorite case that he solved or any funny stories to tell.

“I really enjoy my job,” he said. “Putting bad guys away, working with the public.”

It was up to others to tell Giroud’s story--how he caught the “Mini-Market Splasher,” who threw coffee at clerks in robbing more than 100 stores. Giroud developed some leads that led to a stakeout, where the robber was captured.

They also talked about a boundless energy that surprises much younger officers and about how Giroud has inspired others.

Part of the inspiration is his reputation as one of the longest-serving officers. Officials said they believe that only one other policeman has Giroud beat on that score.

“He could have left when he [became eligible] for the maximized pension 14 years ago,” said Capt. Jim Tatreau, the Robbery-Homicide Division’s commander. “But he’s still here, and that’s got to tell you something. Jack is everything that’s right with the department.”

One detective added, “I don’t know how he does it.”

Glancing over at Giroud, who has gained considerable weight since joining the department Feb. 1, 1956, Parks prompted a roar of laughter when he told the squad room crowd that he was still wearing the same police belt he wore at his Police Academy graduation in 1965.

Then the chief got serious. “Forty-four years is quite a milestone,” he said.

Longevity seems to be one thing Robbery-Homicide excels in. The legendary homicide detective John “Jigsaw” St. John served for 51 years before retiring in 1993.

As Tuesday’s festivities ended, Police Commissioner Dean Hansell told Giroud: “Keep up the good work, and we’ll be here for your 75th.”