Once a WWII gunner, still an LAPD detective
While many 80-year-olds are enjoying retirement, John O’Toole gets up every morning before dawn, climbs into his uniform, straps on his gun and heads to his job as a detective in the Valley Traffic Division for the Los Angeles Police Department.
On Friday, the sergeant made a detour to City Hall, where Chief William J. Bratton and the City Council honored his remarkable career of 54 years wearing an LAPD badge.
“John is a tremendous motivator for all of us,” said Capt. Ronald Marbrey, O’Toole’s boss at the traffic division.
Marbrey noted that O’Toole joined the force in 1953, four years before Marbrey was born. O’Toole is the LAPD’s longest-serving employee and oldest detective.
“I’d like to thank the Police Department for putting up with me all these years,” O’Toole said with a grin during the City Hall ceremony.
Later, O’Toole, who turned 80 on March 12, told reporters he had no plans to retire anytime soon.
“It’s a pleasure to come to work and help people every day,” he said.
Councilman Dennis Zine, who once worked in traffic control with O’Toole, said the detective had seen death-defying action in 1943 at an age before many cops graduate from high school, turning in doctored papers so he could enlist in the Navy at 16. The teenager was sent to the South Pacific, where he was a tail gunner in a B-24 bomber. He was wounded in combat and was awarded the Purple Heart.
After the war, O’Toole joined the LAPD and was assigned to the Central Police Station. Later he transferred to the accident investigation division.
He policed the streets during the Watts riots in 1965 and L.A. Riots in 1992. He also was assigned to protect Sen. John F. Kennedy at the Democratic National Convention in 1960.
He was promoted to sergeant in 1964 and detective in 1972. He has been married for 44 years.
“His dedication to his job, it seems, is only surpassed by the dedication to his lovely wife, Rita,” Zine said.
Bratton pointed out the sleeve of O’Toole’s uniform, which has 10 hash marks, one for every five years on the force.
“It’s good that he has long arms,” the chief joked. Then he turned serious, adding:
“He has served this city and its department in an honorable way, and we should all see John as our model.”
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