Mervin Paul King (August 1, 1914 – March 18, 2008)LA Times Obituary for Mervin Paul King
/ref> was a Captain for the Los Angeles Police Department who commanded officers during the SLA shootout in 1974.

Biography

King was born August 1, 1914 in San Francisco, California as the only child to the late George and Geneva King. He served with United States Navy from 1934 to 1946 and participated in combat operations in the

Pacific Theater The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

of World War II on both the , a , and the , a destroyer tender.

LAPD career

Appointed in 1946 as a policeman for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) (Serial Number 3224), and appointed

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in 1970, he completed 30 years of service before retiring in 1976. During his career with the LAPD, King served at Accident Investigation Division, Newton Street Division, Central Traffic Division, 77th Division, and North Hollywood Division prior to retiring from Detective Support Division in 1976.

SLA

Throughout his service the LAPD he received more than 50 commendations from both the department and outside agencies for his dedication to duty and recognition from outside law enforcement agencies. He never once received a personnel complaint. His recognition included that of the Los Angeles City Council for supervising the investigation of the Alphabet Bomber and an improvised explosive device detonated at

Los Angeles International Airport Los Angeles International Airport , commonly referred to as LAX (with each letter pronounced individually), is the primary international airport serving Los Angeles, California and its surrounding metropolitan area. LAX is located in the W ...

. Commanding police efforts in the 1974 S.L.A. shootout led him to be commended by the Los Angeles City Council again for his supervision of the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) investigation, one which "broke the back and thrust of the SLA".Los Angeles City Council Commendation for Captain Mervin P. King 1974

Personal

King spent the greater part of his life as a resident of Alhambra, California, dedicated to his wife Pauline of nearly 68 years, and their family including children Terence Michael King, Thomas Patrick King, and Kathryn Mary (Brandlin); 8 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren. He died on March 18, 2008 in South Pasadena, California.

LAPD Ranks

* Appointed Policeman February 25, 1946 * Appointed

Sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

June 6, 1952 * Appointed Lieutenant December 21, 1961 * Appointed

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

July 12, 1970 * Retired December 26, 1976

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:King, Mervin Los Angeles Police Department officers 1914 births 2008 deaths People from Alhambra, California Burials at Calvary Cemetery (Los Angeles) United States Navy personnel of World War II