Emil Harris

Emil Harris (December 29, 1839 – April 28, 1921)^[1][2] was the only Jewish police chief in Los Angeles, California.^[3] He was also the second to have occupied the position since it was established in 1877.^[4] Harris was appointed to serve for one year from December 27, 1877 to December 5, 1878.^[5]

Emil Harris
Born	Emil Harris December 29, 1839 Prussia
Died	April 28, 1921
Known for	First Jewish Chief of Police of Los Angeles, California
Police career
Service	Police Officer
Allegiance	United States
Department	Los Angeles Police Department
Service years	1877–1878 (Chief of Police)
Status	Retired
Rank	Chief of Police; Deputy Chief; Detective
Other work	Mayor pro tempore of Los Angeles (1879)

Background

He was born in Prussia and immigrated to Los Angeles in 1869. He helped create the city's first volunteer fire department. He began a six-person police department where he quickly became a deputy chief. The Yiddish-speaking cop became chief after his leadership in the Chinatown massacre of 1871.^[4] He was previously a detective who - together with then chief B.F. "Frank" Hartley and other officers - captured the horse thief Tiburcio Vasquez in 1874^[6] at the present-day intersection of Santa Monica Blvd. and Kings Road.

In 1879, he also became the mayor pro tempore of Los Angeles.^[5]