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Ken Gunnell & Dan Johansen
77th Division
Ken Gunnell’s first contact with the LAPD was in 1959 when he joined the LAPD Junior Band, where he played trombone for seven years. After graduating from UCLA, he began his career in corporate finance, yet his positive experiences in the band and with LAPD officers kept him thinking about the LAPD as a possible career.
Ken graduated as the top recruit in his class from the Reserve Academy in September 1972. His first duty assignment was Wilshire Station, where he worked at least one shift a week during his first two years. Due to his knowledge and abilities, he was given the rare opportunity to work a U car, and continued to average 6 to 7 shifts per deployment period.
In 1982, after 10 years at Wilshire Station, Ken was desirous of a change, so he picked the most active station in the city, which was 77th Station. It was at 77th Station where he met another reserve officer, Dan Johansen.
Dan Johansen was a truck driver for his family’s business when he heard of the LAPD Reserve Program. In fact, he was delivering syrup to the Coca Cola Bottling Plant on Newton Street when the SLA shooting occurred. Following the news of the SLA shooting that night was a public service announcement containing information on LAPD’s reserve program. The following Monday morning, he applied to join the Reserve Program, and graduated as the top recruit in his class in 1974.
In 1987, with the support of the commanding officer, the Newton Station’s reserve program kicked off a pilot program which allowed qualified reserve officers to work together. Ken and Dan worked together on this pilot program on PM shifts in August 1987. They realized that all eyes would be upon them as they performed their duties in the field. That first night, they turned in a seven page log containing 47 incidents.
Because of their success, they worked additional Saturdays in an X car at Newton. They officially transferred to Newton and worked an average of 6 shifts a deployment period until the pilot program was terminated in 1990. The dynamic duo then transferred to Northeast Station where once again they were allowed to work together as a Z car. Ken and Dan worked behind the scenes to convince the Department to allow qualified reserve officers to work together, and in March, 1991, the CDL 1 program was established.
In 1991, Ken and Dan transferred back to 77th Station, where they were accepted and treated as P2 Officers. They were a sought after pair, and were asked to go on loan to DSD Fugitive. They eventually transferred back to 77th Station where they utilized their knowledge of warrants and specialized skills to locate individuals to develop the Warrant Detail at their station.
Ken has 32 years of service under his belt, while Dan has 30. Between the two of them, they have 62 years of invaluable experience. Their contributions to the people of the city are innumerable, and they continue to serve with distinction and honor. It is reserve officers like these who personify the LAPD reserve program and are the reasons for its success.
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Do you know a particular reserve that goes above and beyond the call-of-duty? Let us know! We're looking for outstanding reserves to profile in future issues.
Please contact the editor, Randi Tahara, at the following email address RTahara@bos.co.la.ca.us.
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