Dragnet's Sherlock Holmes

 

Dragnet’s Sherlock Holmes 

Joe Friday, the iconic fictional detective from Dragnet, roamed the streets of Los Angeles on both radio and television, “Just with the facts” and always by the book. But one key character  in the show was not just a fictional creation—he was based on a real person: Chief Forensic Specialist Raymond Pinker.  Pinker was the inspiration for his own role in Dragnet, even though he never saw a penny from the show.

Raymond Pinker worked for the LAPD for nearly 40 years, helping solve crimes not by chasing down suspects but through forensic science—using tools that resembled those of a detective out of a Sherlock Holmes novel. Pinker joined the LAPD’s Police Scientific Investigation Division in 1929. It  was the first of its kind in the country and had a modest budget. But  Pinker helped transform it into a world-renowned crime lab with 61 experts and cutting-edge technology. The lab became a model for police departments nationwide.

Pinker was a pioneer in forensic techniques, developing methods such as the use of paraffin tests and gamma rays to determine if someone had fired a weapon. He also introduced 3-D crime-scene photography, Breathalyzers, and lie detector tests—training officers and legal professionals to utilize them. The cases featured on Dragnet were drawn from real-life files, often with Pinker’s expertise at the heart of the investigations.

 

 Pinker played a critical role in solving some of the most challenging and notorious cases in Los Angeles history, including the 1938 car bombing of former detective, His  work often dangerous but his keen observational skills were key in convicting criminals.

 

Pinker’s forensic work also extended to high-profile cases like the Black Dahlia murder. In 1947, he began investigating the unsolved killing of Elizabeth Short, whose body was found dismembered and drained of blood in a vacant lot. Pinker’s forensic analysis indicated that the mutilations had been inflicted while she was still alive.

He spent decades in the dilapidated LAPD Central Police Station. Yet, it was here that Pinker became a key figure, often called upon to assist in evidence collection late into the night.

Pinker’s contributions didn’t go unrecognized. In 1955, when the LAPD moved its headquarters to a modern facility, Pinker was thrilled to work with a state-of-the-art lab filled with precision equipment. By 1965, after receiving global acclaim and numerous commendations, Pinker left the LAPD to teach police science at California State University, Los Angeles.

Raymond Pinker died in 1979. Although his pioneering work in forensic science and his significant contributions to law enforcement earned him recognition, his legacy remains quietly revered. Today, the Ray Pinker Award, which honors outstanding civilian employees of the LAPD, stands as a tribute to the man who shunned  the limelight, left an indelible mark on the field of criminal investigation.

 

Día de los Muertos (pronounced DEE-ah deh lohs MWEHR-tohs) — whether you chose French or a Shop Class — means “Day of the Dead” in Spanish. Celebrated on November 1st and 2nd, it is a time to honor those who have passed and to seek out the people who deserve to be remembered. For me, it’s about noticing the lives that might otherwise be completely forgotten and keeping their stories alive. Despite the name, it is not a mournful occasion; it is a joyful celebration of memory, love, and continuity, built on the simple truth that we live on as long as someone remembers us.

 

Meme:

In 1948, "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry left his job as an airline pilot to become a writer, but he needed money, so he joined the  LAPD. After about a year, he was writing articles for the department's in-house magazine. "Dragnet's" partnership with the LAPD gave Roddenberry his start in  for writing television shows.