Police Historian Amador Espinosa Dies

Longtime Redondo Beach Police Department secretary and historian Amador Espinosa died Thursday after an illness, according to the Daily Breeze. He was 84.

Born Aug. 20, 1923, Espinosa lived in Redondo Beach for most of his life. He described life in Redondo Beach in the early part of the 20th Century in a 2005 interview posted on YouTube last year.

He graduated from Redondo Union High School in 1942. He served as a gunner in World War II before returning home in 1945, according to the Daily Breeze. He began to work at the police department in 1956; however, though he initially passed the exam to become an officer, he was later told that "the examiners made a mistake," which he suspected was due to discrimination against Latinos, according to the newspaper.

He retired from the department in 1995 after serving as secretary to six police chiefs and multiple interim chiefs, though he later served as the official police historian of Redondo Beach.

"Amador's work, positive outlook and commitment, his love for this department and the people who have served with him in this community are an example for all of us," Chief Joe Leonardi told reporter Larry Altman. "A great man has passed from this life, but his influence will remain with us for many years to come."

Espinosa received the Redondo Beach Lifetime Community Service Award in 2008.

Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 23 at St. James Catholic Church, located at 415 Vincent St. in South Redondo Beach, according to LAFuneral.com.