Description
Robert Lee Heath (1881-1974) joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 1904 and rose through the ranks to serve as
Chief of Police from 1924-1926. The R. Lee Heath scrapbook contains a total of more than 200 newspaper clippings and items
of ephemera. Heath began this scrapbook in 1913, at about the time he was placed in command of the Boyle Heights division.
He clipped newspaper articles written about or by police (e.g., "Officer Leo W. Marden Commanding the Juvenile Bureau of the
Police Department, Writing His Views on How Best to Curb the Forces of the Underworld in Los Angeles") and on unusual or sensational
crimes and criminals, incidents in which Los Angeles police were injured or killed, and occasional unrelated subjects. The
scrapbook documents Heath's accomplishments in various positions, including as commander of the LAPD's newly created Wilshire
Division and as the LAPD's Assistant Chief. Heath's tenure as Chief of Police is not covered in this scrapbook, but he is
remembered elsewhere for overseeing the construction of five new police stations and the creation of forensic labs and a new
police training division.
Background
Robert Lee Heath (1881-1974) joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 1904 and rose through the ranks to serve as
Chief of Police from 1924-1926. Heath began this scrapbook in 1913, at about the time he was placed in command of the Boyle
Heights division. He clipped newspaper articles written about or by police (e.g., "Officer Leo W. Marden Commanding the Juvenile
Bureau of the Police Department, Writing His Views on How Best to Curb the Forces of the Underworld in Los Angeles") and on
unusual or sensational crimes and criminals, incidents in which Los Angeles police were injured or killed, and occasional
unrelated subjects. In 1917, two days after the United States entered World War I, Heath was charged with supervising companies
of armed citizens who had signed up to be home guardsmen. His scrapbook includes two articles on this work (Home Guard is
Ready for Defense," "Many Rush to Join; Home Guards Ready") and another reporting that "Enemy Aliens in Los Angeles Are Ordered
to Disarm." Heath's leadership qualities (and ambitions) are further documented by articles from 1918-1920 describing his
work as chairman of a new Police Relief Association and head of a new police training school. "The average policeman believes
he has a right to arrest anyone, at any time, or at any place," he is quoted as saying. "We are going to instruct the officers
on the legal rights of a police officer, and we hope to make all the members of the department familiar with the rights of
the citizen, as well as their own."
Extent
1 Linear Feet
1 box
Restrictions
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Availability
Advance notice required for access.