Lindo Giacopuzzi

Lindo Giacopuzzi, last surviving member of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Gangster Squad and longtime San Fernando Valley resident died peacefully at his Tarzana home surrounded by his loving family. He was 102.

Lindo was born and spent his early years in El Sereno, CA. The only male and last of six children of an immigrant Italian family, he was named “Lindo”, Italian for “beautiful”. In 1923, his parents John and Rose (Dal-Mas) Giacopuzzi purchased land in Canoga Park to start the Giacopuzzi dairy. The iconic dairy, a landmark for many generations of Valley residents is now the site of Giacopuzzi Plaza on the corner of Van Owen St. and Corbin Ave. As he worked at the dairy, alongside his parents and sisters Marie, Allenta, Palma, Nellie and Erma, Lindo played football for Owensmouth High School, now Canoga Park High, where he met his wife Phyllis Jane Dolan. He graduated in 1935 and went on to marry Phyllis in 1942.

He and his wife settled in Reseda, and raised three children, Joanne, Sandra and John. For the remainder of his life, he lived in the San Fernando Valley.

As a young man, Lindo Giacopuzzi joined the LAPD in 1942. When World War II broke out he served in the U.S. Coast Guard until 1945 when he returned to the LAPD. In 1947, he was recruited for the Gangster Squad primarily due to his ability to speak fluent Italian. Lindo was actively involved in such famous cases as the Black Dahlia and gangster Bugsy Siegel murders. He was also key to the investigation leading to the prosecution and imprisonment of the well-known gangster Mickey Cohen. Lindo retired in 1964 as the West Valley Division watch commander.

Lindo’s compelling story about his experiences during the gangster years in Los Angeles contributed significantly as a contemporaneous account of that period. He was interviewed extensively for the book “Gangster Squad: Covert Cops, the Mob, and the Battle for Los Angeles” by author and former L.A. Times writer and editor Paul Lieberman. The 2013 Warner Bros. movie “Gangster Squad” was based in part on Liebermans book. In 2016, Lindo Giacopuzzi celebrated his 100th bday and was honored at a ceremony led by Captain Paul Vernon of the West Valley division, as reported by ABC7. According to Vernon: “Lindo is a legend in the LAPD and it was an honor for me to meet him and introduce him to a new generation of LAPD officers”.

During an active retirement, Lindo pursued a wide variety of interests. He enjoyed building his home, breeding and training thoroughbreds, bowling, golfing and gardening. Lindo may be most remembered in his devotion to a large extended family.

Lindo Giacopuzzi is preceded in death by his wife Phyllis and daughters Joanne and Sandra. He is survived by his dearly loved sister Nellie of Burbank, son John of Calabasas, grandchildren Stacy, Tiffany, Kari, Dana, Jamie, Joseph, Rachel and twelve great-grandchildren.

Services will be held Monday, July 16 at 10:30am at the San Fernando Mission 15151 San Fernando Mission Blvd, Mission Hills, CA 91345.