T R A V I S  T I M E S 

K. Brown Monday, 5/27/02, 4:46 PM

 

I will add a story to the legend of Doug Travis which was told to me by my training officer, Bob "Micky" Cochrane. It was late at night in Palm Lane and a 415F needed to be settled. It seems to have been an ongoing, troublesome dispute so Travis called upon his special powers; "by the authority invested in me by the Sheriff of Los Angeles I hereby decree a divorce! Lula Mae, you keep the house. Willy, you get the easy chair". So off goes Willy into the night, groaning under the weight of an overstuffed chair, call handled to conclusion. He also told me a story of a local North end gunsel with a big rep and a street moniker of "spaceman". During a 2 or 3 unit 415 at some second story apartment, it seems Spaceman was challenged to fly by some red haired Deputy (NFD). He sailed out over the balcony but was unable to deploy either wings or a parachute and was never again a problem. KTP. So go stories of legends.

 

Dates at FPK:  68-76

Bud Landreth Monday, 5/27/02, 12:56 PM

 

Doug Travis,a legend? Hell, he is more than that. I worked Car 15 with him many times. I have seen the Wig and watched Doug use it. There was never a better partner or friend than Doug. One time My Dad got ill and I had to go on leave, Doug snuck up to me when no one was looking and tried to give me a couple of hundred dollars in case I needed it for the trip. You can write all you want about him but no one can ever ask for a better partner than Doug. One anecdote, Doug backed me up on a silent 459 on Firestone Blvd once, about 3AM in the morning, a guy was walking along and we had him against the wall and Doug said, "Hell he must be the burglar, lets just shoot him" and set off a cherry bomb. The poor guy started to climb straight up the brick wall and nearly collapsed and wet himself. Then we spent the rest of the night calming him down and telling him all sorts of things, short of bribery, to just forget it happened. He also nearly killed me when he lit the flare in the phone both at the Hot Spot and blocked me in. Thank God I had a friendly Dr at the hosp who treated me without any report. So, in his memory. lets all have an English Muffin loaded with peanut butter (one of his favorites). Bud Landreth

 

Dates at FPK:  62-67

Jack Miller Monday, 5/27/02, 8:26 AM

 

Hi Mike: I don't have a specific memory of the wig incident only a vague one, (to be honest, I've gotten to the age where all of my memories are vague). Do I believe it happended? You bet I do! It would totally in character for Doug. You have to understand the point in time that we worked at FPK in order to comprehend some of the things that went on there. I'm sure anyone who worked there at that time will attest to the fact that Doug Travis owned Willowbrook, lock, stock and barrel. I can remember on several occasions rolling from the North end (11A) to assist on major 415's only to get there and find Travis totally in charge with the jitterbugs linded up against a wall eating out of his hand and the 415 code-4. (Kinda reminds me of the story of the Texas Ranger who in the 1800's arrived in a town to quell a riot, and when the mayor asked if he was the only one sent, the ranger responded "you only have one riot"). I was reminded not long ago by someone that every era at FPK had it's legends. And I agree, but I'm of the opinion that there are legends and then there are LEGENDS. There was only ONE Atilla, ONE Patton, ONE Bull Hallsey, and in my opinion ONE Doug Travis. Don't get me wrong, this is NOT hero worship. This is my dispassionate assessment of one hell of a cop who happened to be the right guy, at the right place, at the right time and who took advantage of it. I can't comment on what happened after my time at FPK, nor do I want to viewed as trying to diminish the accomplishments of those who followed. But, it was my pleasure to have worked at Firestone at a unique time, with a collection of great cops at a time in history when the toughest gang on the streets was us. We did kick ass and take names with a lot of curb side justice handed out. Warmest Regards

 

Dates at FPK:  61-66  

Mike Devereaux Friday, 5/24/02, 7:45 AM

 

This is a little story of Mr. Firestone, Doug Travis. Now I never really got the great chance to work with him, except for one great night. Doug and I had met several times and swapped some stories about Firestone, but this night, boy was I glad he was around. I was working Norwalk station and engaged in a pursuit of a stolen car with speeds exceeding 80-90 mph on Los Nietos rd. Doug by the grace of God was flying his helicopter and monitering my pursuit. The suspect spun out near a K-mart store and was beginning to bail, so I jumped out of the drivers seat and engaged the suspect. This guy was huge, I mean 6'4 at least, and all I could do was hang onto him. My partner was no where in sight. All of sudden Doug appears, raps the guy up side of the head and drops him. Doug helped me hook him up and then looks at me with a grin, sticks his middle finger at me and says "Firestone". I said "Firestone" and then Doug gets in his copter and flies off. My partner by the way said he had been monitering the radio and all the way back to the station kept yelling "you are crazy". Heck I always thought I was normal. Worked out good as he transferred to a Day traffic unit because he wouldn't ride with me anymore, and I got my old Firestone buddy Fred Bighorse back. It seems the world is not quite as safe without Doug in it. Hey Jack Miller is it true that Doug on one Holloween was answering calls in a Beatle wig and driving around Willowbrook with the wig on and a flare hanging out the window. Hello Don Kennedy, you were a good man.

  Sorry, this is a PS: Doug had sat his helicopter down in the empty K-Mart parking lot. And thanks Jack and Don, I did get a hold of Russ. Can you believe the guy flies old vintage planes for fun??? Hey everyone, have a safe and fun Memorial weekend.

 

Dates at FPK:  65-69 

JOHN 'SHAD' HEADRICK Sunday, 6/16/02, 1:22 PM

 

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH DOUG TRAVIS ON CALLS. I ALSO KNEW HIM AS A FRIEND SOCIALLY.I HAVE READ MANY STORIES SUBMITTED TO THIS BOOK, BUT HAVE FAILED TO READ MUCH ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE. DOUG WAS AN VERY TALENTED MAN, A 'JACK OF ALL TRADES' YOU MIGHT SAY AND MASTER OF MOST. HE WAS KIND HEARTED,LOVING AND DEVOTED PERSON, THOUGH YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE IT WHILE HE WAS ON DUTY. AS MOST OF YOU WHO KNEW HIM...HIS SENSE OF HUMOR WOULD BOARDER, AT TIMES, ON THE EXTREME. HE FEARED NO MAN AND WAS A MANS MAN. 

 

Dates at FPK:  1956-1968

Gar Austin Thursday, 1/2/03, 12:49 PM

  BILL WHITE'S REVENGE. O.K. After emails urging me on, here it is. Just before change of shift I was in the WC's office when I heard the sound of rapid gun shots. I grabbed my gun and headed for the sound. The hall was clear and as I went inside the locker room door I was followed by the desk Deps. who had also grabbed guns to respond. We went in the door and someone called out "Code 4". There stood Big Bill White at his locker half dressed with a s.e. grin. A few feet away stood Doug Travis, his ruddy complexion looked pale as if all the blood had drained from his face. The rest of the story comes from witnesses and my conversation with Doug and Bill. Big Bill, rest in peace, had his locker just inside the door of the locker room. His buddy Doug Travis knew Bill was "goosey" and nailed him everytime he passed buy when getting ready for their shift and Bill would jump a foot off the ground. This time when Doug nailed him again as he passed, Bill reached onto the top shelf of his locker, pulled out a pistol and said "@#$% Travis I told you to stop that. I've had enough". Bill then fired two quick shots at Doug striking him in the chest. Doug was sure he had just been shot as he felt the impact on his chest. It turns out Bill had used blank cartridges in a starter pistol but the wadding struck Doug and shocking him and everyone nearby. Thank God no one overreacted and Doug quickly obs'd the starter pistol and realized he hadn't really been shot. After the obligatory ass chewing in my office re: the extreme hazard of the prank of shots fired in the Station. Doug burst out laughing and said "Bill you SOB. You really got me" and threw his arms around Bill hugging him. They remained the closest of friends and needless to say Doug tred lightly as he passed Bill's locker from that day on. True to FPK tradition that story stayed in house. No harm, no foul.

 

Dates at FPK:  1962-1963

Gar Austin     1-10-03

Harry: Just read your funny and well written story [SEE "STORIES & POEMS PAGE]. Reminded me of Travis again. He was undoubtedly the one in the prior incident you referred to. Doug and his partner found a rank 647f, (sounds just like yours) who had been dumped  in the county. They headed for LAPD's area and saw an LAPD unit at the 24hr spot on Alameda. The officers were inside eating and had locked their unit and left it running with the heater on as it was one of those bitterly cold EM's. Same scenario, generic keys. Doug and his partner put the puker in the back seat and drove across the street and waited. The two LAPD  came out unlocked the car and got in without noticing their passed out passenger. I can only imagine the stench created by the heated wretch as Doug said almost immediately both doors came flying open as the officers bailed out. It must have been in our unwritten FPK training manual that you tip your hat, (flip the lights and blip the siren) as you drive away leaving no doubt about who returned the LA City resident to his rightful place. 77th had a great bunch of guys also. Yes, I must admit those really were the "Good Old Days".    

FPK        62-63

SCROTE

GAR AUSTIN      3-9-04  e-mail.

Bill: Just read the poignant remarks by Taryn on your site. As I don't have her e-address perhaps you could forward my comments to her.  Taryn: Your Grandfather Doug was a very good friend of mine. We went to Pasadena City College together and joined the Sheriff's Dept at about the same time and was fortunate to work together on many occasions. I related a couple of particularly memorable incidents on the "Travis Times" when we were both assigned to Firestone Patrol. Our friendship continued outside of the Department when we both had places and kept our boats down at Parker, Arizona on the Colorado River. Doug was truly a unique individual and a man of great personal integrity. One of those rare persons about whom you never heard a negative remark. As a Deputy Sheriff he was the one you would always want to have as a partner or anywhere nearby when you were in a dangerous or tense situation. The kind of a man who would run through a brick wall if that is what it took to help. He was the consummate officer that everyone looked up to. He was also one of the most talented guys I have ever known. He could make, build, or fix anything and if you even asked him a question about how to fix something he wanted to know where and when you needed him to help you do it. If you haven't already seen the helicopter that he reduced in size to use as a showcase exhibit inside the Sheriff's Museum at the Academy in Whittier I hope you get the chance to see it. I could go on and on about this very special person but just wanted you to know how much he was loved and respected. He was a friend, a man's man and a cop's cop and that's the highest praise we can give to such a person. Incidentally we live in Vandenberg Village near you at UCSB and wish you the very best there and at Med. School. I know Doug would be busting buttons with pride about his very special granddaughter. Thanks for your warm comments about Doug on the Firestone site. It will bring back fond memories to all who read them.    Gar Austin, Chief, LASD, Retired.

Taryn Elise Travis, DOUG's Granddaughter Wednesday, 3/3/04, 3:50 PM

 

I was just 9 years old when cancer robbed me of the best grandfather anyone could ever imagine. My father is Lance Travis, Doug Travis' youngest son. I am now in my 3rd year at the Unversity of California, Santa Barbara, and am headed for medical school in the fall of 2005. I know that Grandpa Doug would have been so proud that one of his two youngest grandkids is attending college, living in Isla Vista, (where he once helped control a riot) and is living a life as disciplined and nonsense free as he would have wanted. I just want to thank those of you who have left your great stories in the "Travis Times" link. Grandpa Doug's widow has not allowed our family access to anything to remember him by, and because I was young when he passed, there is little I can recall on my own. This compilation of stories is a priceless resource for my little sister and me. Thank you so much. Keep up all of your good work. -Taryn Elise Travis

SNOW

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  By Harry Penny

  A  L E G E N D A R Y   L A W M A N

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  NEW        8/9/08