Los Angeles, August 9, 2012- On Friday, August 10, 2012, at 1:30 p.m., the intersection of Carlos and Gower in Hollywood will be officially named in honor of LAPD Officer Ian Campbell.

Glynn Martin of the Los Angeles Police Museum, in partnership with the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums and the Los Angeles Police Protective League, spearheaded the idea of renaming the intersection. Council members Eric Garcetti and Tom LaBonge introduced a Council motion to make it happen.

A dedication ceremony to unveil the sign will be held at Carlos Street and Gower Street in Hollywood at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow. The case known as “The Onion Field” remains one of the great tragedies in LAPD history. On Friday, Officer Ian Campbell will be formally honored, while we keep his partner, Karl Hettinger, in our thoughts.

Background on the case
Ian Campbell and Karl Hettinger were assigned to a detail from Hollywood station known as a felony car. On March 9, 1963, both officers were in plainclothes and driving an unmarked police car. Their task was to identify and apprehend persons involved in street felonies such as car burglaries and liquor store robberies. The officers stopped a car containing two ex-convicts, Gregory Powell and Jimmy Lee Smith. The suspects “got the drop” on the officers and held them at gunpoint. The suspects demanded the officers to surrender their revolvers and that was done.

The officers were then taken by gunpoint and forced to drive out of town. When the foursome reached southern Kern County, they proceeded off the road to the middle of field where onions were being grown. The two felons believed they had violated the “Lindbergh Law” and thought they would be facing the death penalty when captured. As such, when all four were out of the car, Powell shot Campbell in the face. His own weapon malfunctioned, so Powell used one of the officer’s own handguns to kill Campbell while he was lying defenseless on the ground.

When the gunfire broke out, Officer Hettinger ran into the night and was not struck by the gunfire aimed at him. At this point, it was very dark and remote, so Hettinger ran for miles before encountering a farm worker on a lighted tractor. He was taken to a nearby farmhouse where the occupants summoned aid.

Both suspects were ultimately captured, tried and sentenced to the death penalty. The case was overturned and tried again in 1968. Both were again convicted. Jimmy Lee Smith was paroled and was repeatedly arrested by the LAPD. He died in prison serving time for a parole violation a few years ago. Powell is still in prison.

In 1963, the LAPD had no formal written policy on weapons retention until this case. Hettinger was taken to stations to provide training on the incident, and needless to say he was embarrassed and shaken by the death of his partner.

Hettinger began drinking, and was ultimately arrested for shoplifting a few years later. This led to his resignation from the Department. Hettinger remained haunted for a number of years, went into the nursery business, and as time went by began to cope with the case a little better. He later relocated to Kern County where he served as a Kern County supervisor from 1987 until 1992. Hettinger died in 1994, still haunted by the tragic incident.

Ian Campbell was a bagpiper. Bagpipes were played at his funeral, and have been at the funerals for all LAPD officers killed in the line of duty since then. Out of this horrible murder was born a lasting LAPD tradition.

Contact: Eric Rose (805) 624-0572 or Paul Haney (626) 755-4759.

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents the more than 9,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education. The LAPPL can be found on the Web at www.LAPD.com.