David A. Davidson
Encyclopedia
David A. Davidson was the 39th Chief of Police
of the Los Angeles Police Department
, succeeding James E. Davis
. Promoted from the rank of inspector, Davidson served as acting Chief of Police from November 19, 1938 to June 23, 1939, and was succeeded by Arthur C. Hohmann
, a police lieutenant who was appointed chief by the Police Commission. During his term of office, Davidson authorized policewomen
to be armed. Under his directive, in 1939, L.A.P.D. policewomen were ordered to go through fire arms training, after which they were issued .38 caliber revolvers.
In 1939, Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron
, a reformer who had closed down 600 bordellos in L.A. after assuming office in a drive against corruption, and his Police Commission had all the extant L.A.P.D. promotion lists jettisoned and a new round of testing implemented. The office of chief was officially put into play, and acting chief Davidson declined to test for it. Davidson said he was not interested in continuing as chief as he did not want "to be pushed around every time a new administration took office."
Lieutenant Hohmann placed first on the test, and became the official selection of the Police Commission. The members of the Commission had been personally appointed by Bowron, who honored the appointment.
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
of the Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
, succeeding James E. Davis
James E. Davis (police)
James Edgar Davis was Chief of Police of the City of Los Angeles Police Department from 1926–1931 and from 1933-1939. During his first term as Police Chief, Davis emphasized firearms training. Under Davis, the L.A.P.D. developed its lasting reputation as an organization that relied on brute force...
. Promoted from the rank of inspector, Davidson served as acting Chief of Police from November 19, 1938 to June 23, 1939, and was succeeded by Arthur C. Hohmann
Arthur C. Hohmann
Arthur Clarence Hohmann served as Los Angeles Police Department Chief of Police from 1939 to 1941, when he voluntarily relinquished the position during a police corruption scandal. Hohmann was the 40th Chief of the L.A.P.D., succeeding acting Chief David A. Davidson in July 1939...
, a police lieutenant who was appointed chief by the Police Commission. During his term of office, Davidson authorized policewomen
Policewomen
Policewomen is a 1974 exploitation film about a female police officer who infiltrates an all-women criminal gang. The film was written and directed by Lee Frost, and stars Sondra Currie , Tony Young, and Phil Hoover.Despite the fact that the story actually features...
to be armed. Under his directive, in 1939, L.A.P.D. policewomen were ordered to go through fire arms training, after which they were issued .38 caliber revolvers.
In 1939, Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron was the 35th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from September 26, 1938 until June 30, 1953. Until Thomas Bradley passed his length of service during the 1980s, Bowron held the distinction of having the longest tenure in that position in city history.Bowron was born in Poway,...
, a reformer who had closed down 600 bordellos in L.A. after assuming office in a drive against corruption, and his Police Commission had all the extant L.A.P.D. promotion lists jettisoned and a new round of testing implemented. The office of chief was officially put into play, and acting chief Davidson declined to test for it. Davidson said he was not interested in continuing as chief as he did not want "to be pushed around every time a new administration took office."
Lieutenant Hohmann placed first on the test, and became the official selection of the Police Commission. The members of the Commission had been personally appointed by Bowron, who honored the appointment.