LAPD Deputy Chief Kenneth Garner dies at 53

Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief Kenneth Otto Garner, who played a central role in helping diversify the LAPD, improve the agency’s ties to minority communities and stem crime in South L.A., died unexpectedly at home early Sunday. He was 53 and had spent nearly 32 years in an LAPD uniform.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Department has not determined the cause of death, although people close to Garner said they believed it to be heart failure.

Police Chief William J. Bratton praised Garner’s service, highlighting his work as commander in charge of recruitment at the start of the department’s ongoing push to increase its ranks, as well as his efforts since taking over the LAPD’s South Bureau a year ago. Garner largely will be remembered, Bratton said, for his success in improving the relationship between officers and the black and Latino communities they serve, which for decades had been strained by distrust and fear.

After holding an array of positions in the department, including command posts in the Foothill area of the San Fernando Valley and on the city’s Westside, the assignment to South Bureau marked a return to the streets where Garner had grown up.

“He grew up at a time when the department he loved so much wasn’t loved in these neighborhoods,” Bratton said. “He committed his professional life to changing that.”

In recent months Garner, the second highest ranking black officer in the department, had launched an unusual program in cooperation with local community groups aimed at helping young men re-enter society after being released from prison. The first group of convicts in the program will soon be released, Bratton said, adding that he believed it would have grown into Garner’s proudest achievement. “Instead, it will be his legacy,” Bratton said.

Garner was born in Hot Springs, Ark. He is survived by his daughter and his parents. Funeral arrangements are pending.

-- Joel Rubin

Comments

[AVRIL]

MAY HE REST IN PEACE....GOD BLESS HIS SOUL

[Arlene Montgomery]

This is a heartfelt tragic loss for the community as well as his friends. He was one of our most beloved soldiers who will be sorely missed.

[Patricia Davenport]

What a tragic loss for all of us. Those who knew and loved Kenny are sick at heart, those who never had the chance to know him missed on of the great ones. His humanity, his decency and his intelligence all were put to the service of this city and everyone who lived here benefited from that.

My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

[Captain Greg Meyer, LAPD (Retired)]

Kenny Garner was one of the finest police officers the LAPD has ever seen. Thoroughly professional, thoroughly dedicated, and with an easy sense of humor that endeared him to almost everyone. Gone too soon. Rest in peace, my friend.

[One of Thousands...]

At 53 he died??? Whats that all about must have been from all that unnecessary stress and ability to burn fellow Ofcrs for his own personal gain up the Brass LAPD ladder. He will not be missed by the real "LAPD" (Everyone from a rank of Sgt and below), Bratton will miss him its his excuse to tell the Black community he cares about them. As a human it is tragic but as a Officer he won't be missed, I dont even think I would even consider him an Officer more like Administrator with a gun. I wonder if Bratton and the admin staff will again FORCE Ofcrs to attend this funeral because if you let Ofcrs chose to attend. Lets just say it will be a small ceremony......

[Alonso]

It is always sadening to hear about the death of a police officer when they are an important and responsible person. Not like the recent shooting of a victim in the back in Oakland, California. My sympathy goes out to the family and the citizens of Los Angeles. May the Gods bless the dead officer.

[Andy]

Thank you for all that you have done sir. May you rest in peace.

[Vic/LASD]

I had the pleasure ofspeaking with Deputy Chief Garner on a couple occasions. I found him to be a personable man with an open mind and big ideas. His family and the LAPD lost a good man. May God bless his family, friends and co-workers.

[lf]

I did not know this gentleman, LAPD Deputy Ken Garner, but I am very impressed with the contributions attributed to him in his professional life. People like him respond to greater causes not seen by many. He accomplished much through his life and others to make this a better world. He must have believed in second chance, new directions and beginnings for many as he demonstrated. He apparently believed in enforcement and compassion at the same time.

His legacy is the best commentary on his Life. Those who served with him knew him best and their lives must be enriched! God bless his family friends, and others as they will surely miss him!!

[Debora Fore]

Chief Garner always urged members of the LAPD family to give back. Support, encourage, educate, and always help those who can not help themselves. He will be sorely missed. The true embodiment of the LAPD goals and values. Always reaching out, in a time when many pull back. I am proud to say Chief Kenneth O. Garner was my boss, but first and foremost he was my friend. Pray for the LAPD family for we have suffered a great loss.

[Cecil Rhambo, Jr., Division Chief LA Sheriff's Department]

Deputy Chief Garner will be sorely missed by the community and fellow law enforcement personnel. In my 28+ years working for the LA Sheriff's Department, I have never had a better working relationship with anyone else inside the LAPD. His compassion for the community as well as our hard working officers and deputies was unsurpassed. He will be deeply missed.

[LAPD Detective]

One of the best, if not the best and most respected staff officer on the department. He knew everybody's name and always motivated those working for him or around him. A true inspiration.

[J.B. Williams]

"K.G." as he was known was truly a statesman. He was involved in a variety of community efforts to help young men and women, regardless of their positions in life to become productive members of society. He used his position as a means of showing them that they could achieve their dreams.

"K.G." was a principled man who didn’t mind that his beliefs might not sit well with others. I remember him taking a position on a highly charged and controversial officer-involved-shooting (Devin Brown) which was counter to that of many in the department; including his superiors. I believe that because it was Kenney Garner who took that stand, many folks within the department gave it a second look and viewed the situation with much more fairness and objectivity. People who worked for "K.G." can attest to him pushing them to the limits and leaving them with a greater sense of accomplishment. I can remember receiving many an e-mail from him that regardless of however short, sweet and to the point they were, you could picture his direct eye contact and smile as if he were saying to your face.

The residents of Los Angeles (especially, the Mid-City area and the South Bureau) have lost a great leader and friend in the passing of Deputy Chief Kenneth Otto Garner. Rest in Peace K.G.

[Yut Yut]

Chief Garner was one of the few good ones in command at LAPD.

Rest in Peace

[paul wiley]

Such a great loss! He will be remembered as an outstanding leader.

[deborah]

I would like to express my sincere and heartfelt sympathy to the family of Kenneth O. Garner.He was a tremendous asset to L.A.P.D. and the community in which he worked.He will be sorely missed by those that had the privilege of working for him and with him-he was a true leader.God Bless his family and may their faith be a blanket of comfort in this time of sorrow.

[anjelika]

Im going to miss my uncle alot.

[Steve Williams]

Kenny Garner was a prince of a man who did not let his status as DC change him. He was the same thoughout his career. What a nice man! Godspeed Kenny! Miss ya man

[Kevin Williams]

Kenny G was my immediate supervisor when I was a brand new officer just off probation with the LAPD. He was a gentleman, a professional and a GREAT supervisor. He was fair, but firm and I learned a lot from him. Kenny had a great sense of humor and I will miss him. I truly believe he is one of the people who helped blaze a trail for people like me.

Kevin Williams, Chief
Director of Public Safety
Eugene, Oregon

[Michael Adams]

God Bless the Garner family at this most trying time. Kenny was a good man, and a great partner. He will be sorely missed. Rest in Peace, my friend.

[debi cali-davis]

Kenny G. was an officer and a gentleman. I meet him years ago while attending CSULB, and am very proud to have been associated with such a great man for so many years. May GOD bless his family.

[Uletas Greene Carter]

I was shocked and profoundly grieved to hear about the untimely death of an amazing man, Chief Kenny. I feel privileged to have counted Kenny as a friend who embraced me with words of encouragement and hope during one of the darkest hours of my life. He was a caring and compassionate human being. My heartfelt condolences are with the family during this difficult time. The world has lost someone very special.

[Benita Calloway]

Whoever posted under "One of Thousands," sounds like you are most likely bitter because Kenny held your feet to the fire, like he did everyone! Trust me, you don't speak for one of thousands! You are the weak voice of an irresponsible coward, and that is certainly not the majority of the "real LAPD" as you call it. Since you're so bitter with the LAPD, why don't you go work for another Department? The LAPD certainly won't miss officers like you.

[ANA RODRIGUEZ]

KENNETH WAS A GREAT MAN, AND A WONDERFUL HUMAN BIENG, HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED, FROM THOSE THAT NEW HIM,INBOUND AND OUTBOUND OF THE LAPD DEPARTMENT. GOD BLESS HIS FAMILY, STRENGTHEN THE LAPD FORCE, CARRY HIS MANTEL AND CHERISH THE MEMORIES, EMBRACE HIS LOST WITH STRENGTH. HE IS IN HIS NEW LIFE, AND TAKING A NEW JOURNEY.AGAIN, GOD BLESS HIS FAMILY, ESPECIALLY HIS PRECIOUS DAUGHTER LAUREN, WITH WHOM SHE WAS DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL, HIS NUMBER ONE LADY, TO HIS PARENTS AND ALL OF HIS FRIENDS THAT LOVED HIM.

[Ana Rodriguez]

I AM NOT SURE IF MY POST WENT THREW, BUT I WILL SAY IT AGAIN, KENNETH OTTO GARNER WAS A GREAT FRIEND, AND FOR THOSE I SPEAK ON THE BEHALF THAT LOVED HIM BOTH IN-BOUND AND OUT-BOUND OF THE LAPD DEPARTMENT. HE WAS COMMUNITY ORIENTED, HE WAS A MAN OF HIS WORD, AND EVERYBODY JUST LOVE THEM SOME KENNETH, WE ALL AS A WHOLE HAD TH E OPPORTUNITY TO EMBRACE AND SHARE A PIECE OF HIS HEART, MY CONDOLENCES TO LAUREN, WITH WHOM HE HAD TAKEN IMMENSE PRIDE, AND SHE WAS TRULY DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL, AND HIS NUMBER ONE LADY, TO HIS PARENTS MR. AND MRS. GARNER AND TO THE REST OF HIS FAMILY AND ALL OF HIS FRIENDS, REST IN PEACE MY FRIEND.

[Ana Rodriguez]

kenneth rest in peace my friend.....

[J.B. Williams]

“One of Thousands” is extremely shortsighted and certainly not representative of those hard working men and women who serve the citizens of Los Angeles as Police Officers.

As a nearly 19-year veteran officer, I can name several command staff members with whom I didn’t agree. In fact, it took me to having been injured, involved in three on-duty shootings and sued several times, to truly understand how difficult it’s to serve as a supervisor, manager and executive of a law enforcement agency. We don’t make policy, we help to craft it, we seek to reduce risks, ensure the communities we serve are safe and leave the world a better place than we inherited it. Deputy Chief Kenneth Otto Garner did just that, and did it very well.

However, I think that what “K.G.” did best was; he inspired people to be sincere about the job of policing based on the parameters established by the law, department policy, and more importantly, to do so in a manner that left people feeling as if they were treated with respect and dignity. Chief Bratton is wise to have put “K.G.” in a place (South Bureau) wherein the residents of these communities can receive service that is consistent with what he (Garner) espoused. Your comments referencing the “Black Community” indicate that you have sadly refused to accept that everyone in Los Angeles is entitled to dignity and respect. In fact, your comments have clearly given away who you are! Didn't have the courage to sit down with the man to express your opinion as did he?

How dare you claim to represent the fine men and women of LAPD… let alone paint yourself as a protector of the United States Constitution? "K.G. had principles and he stood by them til death! Turn in your badge and find a rock to crawl under.

[b. l0ve]

You truly were an Amazing Man. Glad I got to share in some Bitter-Sweet moments cause thier were Many. As far as "One of Thousand" seems like your thee 0NLY 1 who thinks s0 negative about K.G. For someone to go out thier way for some1 they don't respect that just doesn't HAPPEN so all who attended were DEF. there WILLINGLY w/ nothing but positive stories. But u keep speaking for Y0URSELF cause that's all that is.

We'll l0ve and miss u K.G.

[Amandla]

I really am going to miss my uncle I loved him so much and thank you everyone for your support and keeping my family in your prayers.

[anjelika]

i love and miss my uncle alot.