Today is the 80th anniversary of LAPD's use of radio. Their system went into service on the morning of May 1, 1931. Callsign was KGPL, frequency was 1712 kc AM (shared locally with Pasadena PD, and often joined by skip from St Louis, Dallas and Chicago PDs). The transmitter at Elysian Park ran 400 watts, and the building housing the transmitter is still in use today,
Elysian Park Transmitter Building for L.A.P.D.'s Radio Station "KGPL"
They initially had 44 radio-equipped cars, receive only. Regular use of two-way radios by LAPD didn't begin until 1938. (I can just picture today's breed of officers having to cope with no ability to transmit, no tac frequencies, no portable radios, no MDCs)
First two calls for service 80 years ago today were a bonfire on Avenue 61 and then a found 5-year-old child for Highland Park Unit 112, who telephoned in their arrival at the scene 4 minutes after being dispatched. They ID'd the girl and took her home.
At 1:10 pm Hollywood units 66 and 67 were dispatched to a 211 (robbery) just occurred w/shots fired at 1162 N Las Palmas. Car 66 duly telephoned in their arrival within one minute, but the suspects were GOA after having locked the grocer in his refrigerator.
University unit 31W had better luck after being dispatched to a reported traffic accident at Exposition & Vermont, which turned out to be the result of a chase and capture of two burglary suspects by their victim, who jammed their car against a curb.
In the first month, there were 9414 radio calls dispatched, with an average response time of 3 minutes and 34 seconds. Felony arrests were up from 41 in April to 173 in May, and misdemeanors down from 518 to 447.
Elysian Park Transmitter Building for L.A.P.D.'s Radio Station "KGPL"
They initially had 44 radio-equipped cars, receive only. Regular use of two-way radios by LAPD didn't begin until 1938. (I can just picture today's breed of officers having to cope with no ability to transmit, no tac frequencies, no portable radios, no MDCs)
First two calls for service 80 years ago today were a bonfire on Avenue 61 and then a found 5-year-old child for Highland Park Unit 112, who telephoned in their arrival at the scene 4 minutes after being dispatched. They ID'd the girl and took her home.
At 1:10 pm Hollywood units 66 and 67 were dispatched to a 211 (robbery) just occurred w/shots fired at 1162 N Las Palmas. Car 66 duly telephoned in their arrival within one minute, but the suspects were GOA after having locked the grocer in his refrigerator.
University unit 31W had better luck after being dispatched to a reported traffic accident at Exposition & Vermont, which turned out to be the result of a chase and capture of two burglary suspects by their victim, who jammed their car against a curb.
In the first month, there were 9414 radio calls dispatched, with an average response time of 3 minutes and 34 seconds. Felony arrests were up from 41 in April to 173 in May, and misdemeanors down from 518 to 447.
