(February 11, 2003) -- LB said farewell on Feb. 10 to LBPD Corporal Ed Davenport -- a 40 year veteran of the Department -- who died Feb. 4 following injuries sustained in a fall from a ladder at the LB Police Academy where he served as rangemaster for over two decades. He was 64.

Photo source: LBPD

LB police officers, department co-workers, LB officialdom and ordinary people gathered at the Terrace Theater to pay their respects to Corporal Davenport.

LBPD said in a written release that Corporal Davenport was performing range maintenance duties prior to being found, but a specific cause of death had (as of last week) not been determined.

Corporal Davenport, who joined the force in May, 1962, worked assignments including patrol, motors and special investigations. He was a SWAT team member for over 30 years, most recently serving as SWAT team armorer. He became a range master at the Police Academy in 1991 and provided firearm instruction, testing and maintenance for not only LBPD but law enforcement personnel world wide.

Corporal Ed Davenport is survived by his wife Beverly of 46 years, his adult children Robert, Darren and Christy, three brothers, one sister, and six grandchildren.

Corporal Davenport’s sons followed in their father's footsteps into law enforcement. Robert Davenport joined the LBPD in 1982 and transferred to the Murrietta PD in 1997. (He became one of its founding members and is currently a detective sergeant and their SWAT team leader.) Darren Davenport joined LBPD in 1987 and is currently a motor sergeant in the Dept.'s Field Support Division.

The family has requested that donations in lieu of flowers be sent to the LB Police Officers Association in honor of the "Corporal Ed Davenport Memorial Scholarship Fund." [LBPOA's address is 2865 Temple Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90806].