Brian McGaren

**Brian Daniel McGaren** is a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Detective III currently serving with the Criminal Investigations Section (CIS) of the Major Crimes Division.

## Early Life

Brian Daniel McGaren was born on May 11, 1962 in Hawthorne, California, to administrative assistant Helen McGaren (nee Keil) and bricklayer Terry McGaren. Brian graduated from Leuzinger High School in 1980. Brian described his father as a 'drunken old fool' and his mother by saying "She could have made one heck of a boxer; she took a beating better than anyone I ever met." in reference to his father's domestic abuse. Brian was the first member of his family to attend college, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of California, Los Angeles in 1984.

## Career

Brian applied to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) right out of college and was accepted in mid 1984, Brian was one of the new generation of college educated police officers within the LAPD. Brian began his career working patrol in Wilshire Division of the West Bureau, from the very beginning Brian showed a firm but fair approach to policing and a dedication on par with officers with decades of experience. In 1990, Brain was promoted to Detective I, slightly earlier than was the norm at the time but Brian was considered a 'model LAPD officer'. Later that year, Brian joined Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH), the elite and infamous gang intelligence unit of the LAPD. Despite CRASH's reputation, Brian stuck to his firm but fair and community orientated approach to policing. Brian's respect for others led to good working relationships with several local community leaders.

Brian stayed with CRASH until it was disbanded in 2000 in the wake of the Rampart scandal, Brian decided to forgo transferring to the newly created CRASH successor, the LAPD Gang and Narcotics Division (GND) and instead decided to transfer to the Special Investigation Section (SIS) of the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division (RHD). SIS is the LAPD's elite tactical surveillance unit which targets violent and repeat offenders who are considered a threat to public safety. During his time with RHD, Brian met and first worked with future partner Joshua Kalen. Brian served with SIS from 2000 until 2010, in 2010 Brian transferred to the Criminal Investigations Section (CIS) of the Major Crimes Division.

During his time with MCD/CIS, Brian has also served with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs (LAMTFVG), part of the FBI's Safe Streets Gang Task Forces.

### Controversies

Brian's first significant controversy came in 1996 when he got into a fistfight with a community activist on live television. Brian had called out the activist's double standards and using 'racism to fight racism', this led to a war of words and eventually a fistfight which Brian easily won.

Brian came under scrutiny again in 2004 when he shot gang member Drake Bellows through the windshield of his unmarked car, Brian was criticized for describing the incident in a report by simply saying "He shot first, I shot last!". Brian was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing.

### Service History

* **West Bureau**: 1984 to 1990 (Wilshire Division Patrol)
* **Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums**: 1990 to 2000
* **Robbery-Homicide Division**: 2000 to 2010
* **Major Crimes Division**: 2010 to Present
* **Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs**: 2010 to 2012, 2018 to Present (Temporary Duty Assignment)

## Personal Life

Brian was married to Eloise Fletcher between 1984 and 2001, they have one daughter, Tracy (b 1991). Brian has been in a long-term relationship with FCS Detective Alyssa James, 18 years his junior, since 2010. Brian is an avid fisher and boater; he also enjoys hosting barbecues and amateur baseball games with colleagues.

## Information

### Trivia

* Brian is right-handed.
* Brian was present at the 1997 North Hollywood Shootout.
* Brian still carries a Smith & Wesson 4506 which was issued shortly after the North Hollywood Shootout.
* Brian hates smartphones.
* Brian abhors and situation that requires him to wear a uniform.
* Brian once claimed to have a personal policy of "If you shoot at me, you die!"

### Quotes

* "Tasers are for pussies!"
* "All feds are pussies, except for you and Maggie, all other feds are pussies. Especially you!"
* "I treat everyone fairly, white, black or brown. If you're a scumbag, I'll call you a scumbag regardless of color!"