The start of police training over 80 years ago a vision came to a handful of Los Angeles Police Officers. This vision, with the support and involvement of the Chief of Police, who was at that time James Davis, was to establish an organized training program for every Los Angeles Police Officer. A secure location in the Elysian Park, Chavez Ravine area was identified. Land permits were obtained from the city to occupy over 20 acres, and the Los Angeles Police Pistol Club (now known as the Los Angeles Police Revolver and Athletic Club (LAPRAAC) was founded. The year was 1931 and this was the beginning of police training for the Los Angeles Police Department.
The Venue For The Olympics
In its initial phases, the LAPRAAC was only concerned with marksmanship (shooting) and standardizing the weaponry to be used by LAPD officers. This training was performed by off duty LAPRAAC members. Being a sworn LAPD officer was a requirement for membership in LAPRAAC. Also, at that time, LAPRAAC directors could only come from the LAPD Pistol Team. As the years progressed, a symbiotic relationship developed between the City and LAPRAAC to provide training and recreational facilities for sworn (training & recreational) and civilian (training) members of the police department. Buildings and equipment that were acquired by LAPRAAC from the 1932 United States Olympic Organizing Committee came into use for training purposes (LAPRAAC was the pistol venue site for the 1932 Olympic Games). As LAPRAAC continued to grow and become active in the sparsely residential area of Chavez Ravine, an elderly lady resident became a LAPRAAC benefactor. She deeded 3.7 acres of land to LAPRAAC that is now the tiered parking lot, from the west curb, west, to beyond the hillside obstacle course. Included in this transaction was the meridian of land adjacent to and south of the main administration building.
As the years progressed, police officers became more and more involved in the maintenance of the Academy grounds. There was a time when the entire staff including cooks and gardeners, were sworn police officers. Trustees also assisted a great deal in the maintenance of the Academy grounds. Trustees and off duty LAPRAAC members were responsible for building the beautiful Rock Garden, which is now a city historical landmark on the Academy grounds.
The Training Division
The LAPRAAC continued to grow and become more and more involved in the training of LAPD officers. All training at this time was performed by off-duty LAPRAAC members. The importance of police officer training became obvious and the LAPD (City of Los Angeles) took it upon themselves to move Training Division into the LAPRAAC facility. The year was 1936. It was at this point in time that a relationship between LAPRAAC and the City of Los Angeles was established. Handshake agreements were made by both parties that in effect, the City would take over all police officer training and LAPRAAC would permit the City to use all of it’s available building. In return, the city took on the responsibility of grounds keeping, maintenance, and facility security. The LAPRAAC bylaws were amended to include the Commanding Officer of Training Division as the Operations Officer of LAPRAAC. This gave the city a voice in LAPRAAC operations. The spirit of cooperation that exists between Training Division and LAPRAAC has been cultivated for more than 70 years.
LAPRAAC Income
LAPRAAC is a private club governed by a Board of Directors who are sworn police officers elected by the membership. The Board is responsible to the Bylaws of the LAPRAAC organization and to the membership. LAPRAAC enjoys a tax exempt status 4 of the tax code. Another responsibility of the Board of Directors is the financial solvency of LAPRAAC. The LAPRAAC income is derived from the Academy Store (gift shop), cafe lounge, and facility rental for movie projects, recreations, and retirement parties, etc. The majority of income is produced by the academy store sales and from a nominal voluntary membership dues structure.
Building Ownership: Initially LAPRAAC obtained some of the buildings from the 1932 Olympic Organizing Committee (buildings that were brought over from the Olympic Village which was located in the Baldwin Hills). LAPRAAC has continued to add building and large classroom space in an effort to facilitate Training Divisions growth. LAPRAAC owns all structures except:
- The Women’s Locker Room located adjacent to the swimming pool (Franchon Blake Building).
- The Situation Simulator Building located immediately North of the pistol/target range.
- One – half of the office space of the combat range.
- The evidence bunkers located on the property.
The Finance Committee of LAPRAAC are the trustees of the Academy Trust Fund which allowed money earned from the television shows Dragnet and Adam 12 to be donated to LAPRAAC. This money was to be used to assist in the training of police officers. Construction of the Mark VII Building and the Jack Webb Building was financed with money from the Academy Trust Fund (approximately $500,000).
Land Rites
Simplified: At one time, the LAPRAAC/Academy was located within the boundaries of Elysian Park. However, a ballot measure in 1972 removed the property from the jurisdiction of Parks and Recreation Department and gave it to the management of the Department of Public Works.
Other LAPRAAC Functions: LAPRAAC was originally founded in the early 1939’s to:
- Provide police marksmanship (shooting) and general training
- Provide the membership a Club atmosphere for relaxation and socialization. The relaxation and socialization came in the form of sporting events. Baseball, basketball, handball, and volleyball were the events of the day.