Daryl Gates Dies At 83

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LOS ANGELES (GaeaTimes.com)- Daryl Gates, the former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, died on Friday at his Dana Point, California home after a battle with cancer. The Los Angeles Police Department has issued a statement in which it has been divulged that the former cop passed away on Friday with his family present by his side during the time of his demise. Daryl Gates‘ brother had brought to light that the former cop was struggling with bladder cancer for quite some time now and recently his condition has worsened as the cancer had spread.

Daryl Gates had been the chief of the Los Angeles Police Department from 1978 to 1992, when he was forced to resign in the wake of the criticism received by the police department with regard to their handling of the deadly 1992 riots witnessed by the city of Los Angeles. The ex-police officer, who was 83 at the time of his demise, held the position for 14 long chaotic years. During his tenure as the city’s police chief, Daryl Gates had to handle a number of hazards confronting the city at that point of time which included illegal drug trade, increasing racial conflicts as well as armed gangs. The ex-cop is also known to have developed the first Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit as well as take the help of helicopters to patrol the city.

However, Daryl Gates had to offer his resignation in 1992 due to the violent riots that took place in Los Angeles after four officers of the department were acquitted in the Rodney King case. The riots which is regarded as the most horrible riots in the modern history of Los Angeles, claimed 53 lives.