Peter J. Pitchess

Peter J. Pitchess (February 26, 1912 – April 4, 1999) was the 28th Sheriff of Los Angeles County, California. He was originally from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Pitchess served on the Los Angeles County Civil Defense and Disaster Commission during the nuclear crisis in the early 1960s.^[1] The position was of importance as it was at the time of the peak of the cold war nuclear scare.^[1]

Pitchess started his career as an FBI Special agent. In 1953, he was appointed Under-Sheriff.

Pitchess' name is well known as a party in a famous California legal case entitled Pitchess v. Superior Court 11 Cal.3d 531 (1974) which entitles a defendant to obtain records of public complaints about the use of excessive force by police officers. Pitchess' office had claimed that such records were proprietary, and had refused to provide them following a subpoena duces tecum. His petition was ultimately denied by the State Supreme Court in a 7-0 decision. See Pitchess motion.^[2]

Misc.

The Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center in Los Angeles County is named after him.

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Los Angeles Times, December 3, 1961 “Businessman Appointed to Civil Defense Group”
2. ↑ Badge History