Pubdate: Wed, 24 Sep 2014
Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Los Angeles Times
Contact:  http://www.latimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/248

JOSEPH MCNAMARA DIES AT 79; PROGRESSIVE SAN JOSE POLICE CHIEF

Joseph McNamara, the former San Jose police chief whose outspoken
criticism of the war on drugs, the gun lobby and Daryl Gates gave him
a national profile as a progressive leader in law enforcement, died
Friday at his home in Carmel. He was 79.

The cause was pancreatic cancer, his family said.

McNamara led the police force in Kansas City, Mo., before becoming
chief of San Jose's police department in 1976. Over the next 15 years,
until his retirement in 1991, he introduced broad reforms, including
putting computers into patrol cars, hiring more women and minorities
and emphasizing community policing.

At the same time, he demonstrated his effectiveness as a crime
fighter. During his tenure as chief, San Jose's population grew by
40%, but major crimes - including homicide, rape, robbery, assault and
burglary - dropped by 9%."He was clearly looked upon as a leader =C2=85
within the field of progressive police executive leadership," retired
Seattle police Chief Norm Stamper said Tuesday. "He was particularly
committed to his police officers being effective crime fighters but
also honoring the civil liberties of the citizens they were hired to
serve."
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MAP posted-by: Matt