Homicide Detective Retiring After 33 Years With LAPD
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — After spending 33 years with the Los Angeles Police Department, most in the homicide division in South L.A., Sal LaBarbera is retiring.
LaBarbera, 55, is leaving behind a legacy in the community and city as one of the department's most respected homicide detectives when he retires on Jan. 31.
"I've been touched by over 6,000 cases that have occurred on my watch while I worked homicides since 1987," LaBarbera told CBS2's Rachel Kim.
A New York native, LaBarbera decided to pursue his dreams with the LAPD and knew his calling early on.
"Especially in homicide when you're really working for the victim's families, everything is moving forward to solving the case, to finding out who committed this violent act," he said.
Over the years, LaBarbera was captured on many of CBS2's newscasts and his television appearances earned him the nickname, "Hollywood Jack."
But LaBarbera says, behind the media attention, was a true passion for the work, compassion, and empathy for the victim's families.
"It's absolutely devastating to see some of the scenes that I've been at as far as double-homicides, quadruple-homicides, anytime there's children involved. You can't help but let it affect you," he said.
LaBarbera says it'll be bittersweet to say goodbye to the work and the residents of South L.A. he's known for over three decades.
But he says he feels good about leaving at a time when the has fostered a good relationship with the community and drastically brought down the number of homicides. He's also pleased he's had a chance to train the next generation of homicide detectives.
As for what's next, LaBarbera says he plans to spend time with his two daughters.
[Editor's Note: video used in this story source: Joris Debeij "I am Los Angeles"]