Pictured from Left to Right, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; L.A. Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten; L.A. Dodgers Owner Earvin "Magic" Johnson; L.A. Dodgers Owner and Chairman Mark Walter; Chief Charlie Beck and True Blue Event Co-Chair Jim Wiatt.
On Saturday, November 10, the LAPF honored the new Los Angeles Dodgers owners, Mark Walter, Stan Kasten, and Earvin "Magic" Johnson at the 13th annual True Blue Gala at Dodger Stadium's Top of the Park.
Approximately 500 guests had the opportunity to view the latest police technology, vehicles, weapons, anti-terrorism and crime-prevention equipment. LAPD officers were also on hand to provide demonstrations of the equipment and answer questions about all of the interactive exhibits.
The event raised just under $2 million dollars for the LAPF that will go to benefit programs for the LAPD in the areas of new equipment, upgraded technology, training, youth programs and community outreach.
Hall of Fame Broadcaster Vin Scully mastered the event that included a special performance by multi-platinum singer Brian McKnight. Chief Beck and LAPF Board Chair Lloyd Greif presented the honorees with the True Blue Award for sharing the LAPF's commitment to making Los Angeles safe.
Also in attendance at the event were Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; L.A. Dodger Hall of Famers Don Drysdale and Tommy Lasorda; Former L.A. Dodger Ron Cey; True Blue Event Co-Chairs Jeffrey L. Glassman and Jim Wiatt; Los Angeles Police Commission Vice President, John Mack; Los Angeles Police Commissioners Rafael Bernardino, Richard Drooyan, and Andrea Ordin; Inspector General Alex Bustamante; Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel; Los Angeles City Council Members Mitch Englander, Eric Garcetti, Paul Krekorian, Jan Perry, and Dennis Zine; Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich; and Assemblyman Mike Feuer.
A huge thank you goes to our True Blue sponsors. Your support of the LAPF is a tribute to those who protect our lives, our workplaces and our homes. Thank you for providing the resources that allow the LAPF to support the LAPD and the safety of our great city.
LAPD Heroes Honored at Inaugural Above & Beyond Awards Ceremony
LAPD's 2012 Medal of Valor and Purple Heart recipients pose on stage beside Chief Charlie Beck and Mistress of Ceremonies Jamie Lee Curtis.
On Thursday, May 10, 14 LAPD heroes were awarded the Department's highest honors - the Medal of Valor or the Purple Heart award - at the Los Angeles Police
Foundation's first Above & Beyond Awards Ceremony.
Nearly 850 guests gathered in the Grand Ballroom of Hollywood and Highland to honor the LAPD officers who had gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep our city safe.
Some made the ultimate sacrifice and many still carry the wounds they received during the harrowing incidents for which they were recognized. Mistress of Ceremonies Jamie Lee Curtis retold these officers' traumatic stories of bravery, partnership, and of fulfilling an oath to protect and to serve the community at all costs.
Check out news coverage of the Above & Beyond Awards Ceremony from the LA Times, the Daily News, and ABC7! Be sure to also take a look at the complete Above & Beyond photo album on our LAPF Facebook page.
Thanks to our top sponsors for helping us to honor our heroes in blue!
*2012 Above & Beyond top event sponsors as of 5/2
for LAPD
(L-R) True Blue Co-Chairs Richard Kagan and Jim Wiatt, Ryan Seacrest, Tim Leiweke, Bernadette Leiweke and Chief Charlie Beck pose for a photo with the True Blue Award
The Los Angeles Police Foundation honored well-known Angelenos Bernadette and Tim Leiweke for their outstanding commitment to public safety and community development in Los Angeles at the 12th annual True Blue Gala on Saturday, November 5, 2011, atop L.A. LIVE’s Event Deck. The event marked the Police Foundation’s most successful True Blue gala to-date raising nearly $2 million to help fund essential equipment and programs for LAPD not provided for in the city’s budget.
Nearly 700 guests were in attendance including elected officials who had the opportunity to view and interact with the latest police technology, vehicles, weapons, anti-terrorism and crime-prevention equipment purchased by the Police Foundation for the LAPD.
Master of Ceremonies, host of Access Hollywood Billy Bush, entertained guests along with live entertainment from singer-songwriter Emma-Jane Thommen and special guest Ryan Seacrest, who presented the True Blue Award to the Leiwekes.
Click here to see more True Blue photos on our Facebook page.82 LAPD officers are presented with
first-ever LAPD Purple Heart Award
Eighty-two Los Angeles police officers were honored on Thursday, September 15 with LAPD’s first-ever Purple Heart ceremony held to pay tribute to their acts of heroism and bravery that resulted in injury or death. Nearly 1,000 guests filled the Platinum Ballroom of the JW Marriott at LA Live for this somber ceremony including LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles City Council members.
The medals for the 40 officers killed on duty since 1921 were accepted mostly by their sons, daughters, widows and parents. Approximately 40 officers who had been seriously injured were on hand to receive the award themselves.
During his address, Beck admitted that as a young cop, he couldn't relate to a civilian and the trauma they undergo when losing a police department relative. Now, with two children of his own on the force, he said he could fully appreciate what they endure.
The creation of a LAPD Purple Heart Award, Beck said, is an effort to symbolize not just the force's appreciation for the sacrifice of the injured or killed, but a gesture of love for the family members.
Among the 82 honorees were 72 incidents of bravery that occurred over a 90-year period dating back to 1921. Included in those incidences were the:
- 1923 killing of LAPD's first African-American police officer killed in the line of duty, Charles Williams
- 1963 execution killing of Officer Ian Campbell known as the Onion Field Killing
- 1986 incident where Detective Arleigh McCree and Officer Ronald Ball sacrificed their lives to save fellow officers while attempting to diffuse a booby-trapped bomb
- 1992 killing of LAPD's first female police officer killed in the line of duty, Tina Kerbrat
- Four police officers involved in the 1997 North Hollywood bank robbery shoot-out
- 2008 killing of LAPD's first SWAT officer killed in the line of duty, Randy Simmons
A highlight of the ceremony was when Chief Beck presented the Purple Heart medal to brothers Brandon and Landon Dorris, Jr., (pictured above) the two young sons of Officer Landon Dorris. Officer Dorris was killed on October 22, 2006, while he and his partner were investigating a traffic collision. The brothers received a standing ovation by the audience while accepting the medal on behalf of their father.
Take a look at photos and news coverage of the Purple Heart ceremony on Facebook.
Click here to download the Purple Heart Ceremony Program Book.
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