Daryl Gates (1926)

Gates

Founder of the SWAT team and Chief of the Los Angeles Police department for longer than any other Chief in the history of the Los Angeles Police department. Daryl Gates was born on August 30, 1926 in California. He is considered one of the most influential leaders in LAPD history and was famous for his strong stance against drugs. Before becoming the chief of the LAPD in 1978 he was head of intelligence, and in the early 1960s the security/driver for the legendary Chief Parker. Later on in 1993 he joined the Sierra Online company to help out with the PC game Police Quest Open Season and also with other Police Quest games including Police Quest: SWAT, Police Quest: SWAT 2. On April 16, 2010, Daryl Gates died of Bladder Cancer at his home in Dana Point, California at the age 83.