Emil Harris
Encyclopedia
Emil Harris was the only Jewish police chief in Los Angeles
, California. He was appointed to serve for one year from 1877 to 1878. He was born in Prussia
and immigrated to Los Angeles in 1869. He helped create the city's first volunteer fire department
. He began on six-person police department where he quickly became a deputy chief. The Yiddish-speaking cop became chief after his leadership in the Chinatown massacre of 1871
. He was also a detective. His conduct during the capture of the horse thief Tiburcio Vasquez
in 1874 at the present-day intersection of Santa Monica Blvd. and Kings Road led to his promotion to chief.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California. He was appointed to serve for one year from 1877 to 1878. He was born in Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and immigrated to Los Angeles in 1869. He helped create the city's first volunteer fire department
Volunteer fire department
See also the Firefighter article and its respective sections regarding VFDs in other countries.A volunteer fire department is a fire department composed of volunteers who perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction.The first organized force of...
. He began on six-person police department where he quickly became a deputy chief. The Yiddish-speaking cop became chief after his leadership in the Chinatown massacre of 1871
Chinese Massacre of 1871
The Chinese massacre of 1871 was a racially motivated riot on October 24, 1871, when a mob of over 500 white men entered Los Angeles' Chinatown to attack, rob and brutally murder Chinese residents of the city...
. He was also a detective. His conduct during the capture of the horse thief Tiburcio Vasquez
Tiburcio Vasquez
Tiburcio Vásquez was a Californio bandit who was active in California from 1854 to 1874. The Vasquez Rocks, 40 miles north of Los Angeles, were one of his many hideouts and are named for him.-Early life:...
in 1874 at the present-day intersection of Santa Monica Blvd. and Kings Road led to his promotion to chief.
Resources
- "L.A. Then and Now A Forgotten Hero From a Night of Disgrace," Cecilia Rasmussen, Los Angeles Times, May 16, 1999.