Russell Poole
| Russell Poole | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1956 La Mirada, California |
| Died |
(aged 58) Los Angeles, California |
| Police career | |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Years of service | 1981–1999 |
| Rank | Sworn in as an Officer - 1981 - Police Officer 3 - 1984 - Detective I - 1987 - Detective II (Sergeant) - 1996 |
| Other work | author, private investigator |
Russell Poole (1956 – August 19, 2015) was a Los Angeles Police Department detective most noted for investigating of the murder of the rapper known as The Notorious B.I.G.. Poole also investigated the March 18, 1997 killing of LAPD Officer Kevin Gaines by LAPD Officer Frank Lyga. After retiring in 1999, he formed a private detective agency.
The son of a 27-year L.A. County Sheriff, Poole would "follow in his father's footsteps" and join the LAPD in 1981. He rose quickly, becoming a detective trainee only three years after being sworn in. Before being chosen to work in the Robbery-Homicide division in 1996, he spent over 9 years as a homicide investigator at the South Bureau and Wilshire Division. He served as the primary investigator (taking a case all the way through the trial) on at least 135 homicide cases, and assisted on over 500 more. Noteworthy cases investigated personally by Poole before the Rampart scandal included the murder of actor/activist/comedian Bill Cosby's son Ennis. He also was one of the officers involved in the investigation into the North Hollywood shootout, just days before the murder of the Notorious B.I.G. Throughout his career up to his involvement in the Rampart scandal, Poole was a highly respected and decorated LAPD detective.
Poole's involvement in the Rampart scandal began less than six months before the murder of the Notorious B.I.G. and a year before Rafael Perez was arrested. His involvement started when Poole and his Robbery/Homicide unit partner Fred Miller were assigned to investigate the March 1997 Studio City shooting death of LAPD Officer Kevin Gaines. Gaines was killed in a road rage dispute after he brandished a gun at another motorist, who was undercover officer Lyga.
On March 9, 1997, at around 12:30 a.m., Biggie Smalls, Bad Boy Records CEO Sean Combs, and their entourage left the 11th Annual Soul Train Music Awards after-party, held at the Petersen Automotive Museum, in two GMC Suburbans to return to his hotel after an announcement was made that the party would finish earlier than planned. Biggie traveled in the front passenger seat of the second Suburban alongside his associates, Damion "D-Rock" Butler, Junior M.A.F.I.A. member Lil' Cease and driver, Gregory "G-Money" Young. Combs traveled in the first vehicle with three bodyguards. The two trucks were trailed by a Chevrolet Blazer carrying Bad Boy's director of security.
...
Wikipedia