Art Fusco
  • Home
  • Scribe's Journal
    • NuTrek articles
    • Kevin Smith
    • Frank Kimball
    • Before First Contact
    • NCPD History
    • Local Newspaper Clippings
  • Store
The purpose:
If you have ever been to a police museum, you might have noticed that they like to whitewash their history. You may be able to sit in the back of a police vehicle and take pictures, but you'll never see an exhibit about the negative impacts of police on a community. I have decided to choose one special police department and will preserve such history here. 

NCPD History before 1956

The National City, California police department was formed in 1887 with the founding of the City. J.C. Crain was appointed as Town Marshall. The original headquarters was beneath City Hall on 1243 National City Blvd. There is very little on NCPD during this time other than announcements of officer promotions or heading up lectures. As for anything negative about the department between 1887 and 1956, media reports are silent. By 1935, the department had twelve officers, which would grow to thirty-four in 1954. Around that time, before 1956, Harry Smith became the Chief of Police. 
​

NCPD History: 1950s

NCPD Cheif frustrated over search and seizure laws:
Chief of Police Hits Law that Hampers Search for Contraband, August 16, 1956

Star News reporter does ride-alongs with NCPD:
THE BIG STORY, October 6, 1957

NCPD/CVPD arrest young couple on felony possession of marijuana:
'Largest' Marijuana Cache Found, May 21, 1959

NCPD History: 1960s

Harry Smith retires as NCPD Chief. Walter Cagle takes over:
Cagle Is Named NC's New Chief of Police, February 04, 1960


NCPD Chief hides evidence of two riots from the public:
Editorial - Hiding the Truth, December 28, 1961

A response to claims that National City has "no racial problems":
Editorial - No Racial Problems, August 08, 1963

NCPD authorizes frivolous towings, an investigation was ordered the following year:
Towaway Scheme Vexes Resident, January 19, 1967
South Bay Summary, May 16, 1968

NCPD officers "over-zealousness" in chase leads to accident:
Too Fast on the Gas, June 24, 1968

NCPD gives lecture called "Legalized Marijuana - Social Suicide":
Marijuana to be topic for GOP club, April 24, 1969

NCPD History: 1970s

By 1975, John Liesman was NCPD Chief

Charges of brutality by NCPD:
Letter from Virginia Weatherbie accusing NCPD of brutality, October 24, 1975

NCPD officer kills man and doesn't face trial. A journalist critical of NCPD gets beat up:
Judge dismisses shooting case/Columnist leaves town to 'pull self together', December 4, 1975

Manuel Rodriguez graduates from Sweetwater High School in 1977

By 1977, Warren Kanagy was NCPD Chief

NCPD Chief openly says that he will not hire homosexuals as police officers:
Some might hire gays, August 21, 1977

More charges of police brutality by NCPD:
Bernice Hatter affidavit, December 8, 1977

Even more charges of police brutality by NCPD:
Andy Pacheco affidavit, February 19, 1978

NCPD History: 1980s

By 1983, ​Terry Hart was NCPD Chief

Stopping Hispanics for immigration status. NCPD claim they use 'instinct':
CCR letter regarding NCPD's enforcement of immigration law, February 4, 1983
National City Police Claim "Instinct" In Finding Illegal Aliens!, February 04, 1983
A crime of color?, February 10, 1983

After harassment charges against NCPD are still published on the Star-News, reporter's car gets vandalized:
Chicano charges repeated, July 28, 1983
Chicano-police words lead to vandalism, July 31, 1983

Charges of brutality and harassment. NCPD investigate themselves and find no wrongdoing:
Harassment by police alleged, June 30, 1983
Woman guilty in police fight, August 21, 1983

NCPD officer Samuel W. Rattray was fired in 1985. He will file a lawsuit. 

Manuel Rodriguez joined SDPD in 1986

After SDPD joins NCPD in arresting a man, SDPD accuses NCPD of brutality. Starts a third FBI probe:
National City Police Brutality Complaints Spur FBI Probe, April 9, 1987

Man accuses NCPD officer of grabbing him by neck during evacuations. Man was looking for his family:
Complaint says officer used excessive physical force, August 30, 1987

NCPD follows man wrong way on freeway and causes accident. CHP blames NCPD officers:
Truck flips onto cruiser in police chase, September 21, 1987
Probe blames officer, September 23, 1987

After years of brutality and failed ballot vote to build a new NCPD station, group call for Chief's resignation:
National City Group Calls for Police Chief's Firing!, November 13, 1987

NCPD Chief fired for saying things that made City Council mad when ballot initiative failed, not brutality:
Fired Police Chief Hart Stopped Being a 'Team Player,' Mayor Claims, March, 25, 1988

NCPD arrests man for "resisting arrest": 
NC Blotter, July 12, 1989

NCPD History: 1990s

NCPD shoots business manager who was opening the door for them: 
False alarm results in police shooting July 21, 1990

Former NCPD officer Samuel W. Rattray wins lawsuit:
Fired National City policeman wins suit, August 7, 1990

Editorial on Police killings:
Trigger-happy cops can be the death of us, August 22, 1990

By 1991, Stan Knee was NCPD Chief

Man shot by NCPD after they mistook a hammer for a gun sues city:
Man shot by National City policeman files suit, seeks $3.2 million damages, May 18, 1991

Two National City police officers resigned over ste​roid prescriptions:
Omission of Steroids from police drug testing surprises officers, August 8, 1991

Woman accidentally shot by NCPD officer:
​Woman awarded $137,000 in shooting by policeman

NCPD continues their pattern of abuse, but expands to harassing Filipino businesses:
Patrons complain of police high-handedness in bar raid, December 1991
 NCPD PERFORMANCE (?) December 1991

NCPD shoots a man with a knife:
​Family looking for answers in police shooting, January 15, 1994

NCPD History: 2000s

Debate on a task force to review NCPD incidents: 
NC City Council is a disgrace February 15, 2002
National City police defended, February 22, 2002
Police review board needs to be on ballot, March 22, 2002

Manuel Rodriguez becomes NCPD Captain in 2005

Manuel Rodriguez becomes NCPD Assistant Chief in 2007

2010s

Manuel Rodriguez becomes NCPD Chief in 2013

Proudly powered by Weebly