The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, at the recommendation of 4th District LA County Supervisor Don Knabe, last week issued a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the murder. The Long Beach Police Officers Association and the Fraternal Order of Police increased the reward to $50,000. Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia is working with the Long Beach City Council in an effort to add an additional $25,000, which would raise the total reward to $75,000 if successful.
The request will be on the council agenda for Tuesday, Nov. 10, according to the mayor’s office.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”400px ” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Police-investigation-2.jpg” align=”left” lightbox=”on” caption=”Photo of the east Long Beach neighborhood where Long Beach Police Officer Franke Lewis was murdered in 1975″ captionposition=”left”] “I am calling on anyone with information about this case to come forward right away and help bring Officer Lewis’s killer to justice,” Garcia said in an emailed statement this week. “No one who takes the life of a Long Beach police officer should be walking free, and we need your help to bring closure to Officer Lewis’s family and to our community.”
On Dec. 13, 1975, just before 3am, 28-year-old Long Beach Police Officer Franke Lewis was murdered in the 6200 block of Cantel Street in east Long Beach, down the street from his home. Lewis, who had been with the department for about two years, was returning home after his patrol shift ended when he tried to stop a crime in progress and was murdered.
According to police, about 30 minutes prior to Lewis arriving home, Denis Gitschier was driving on the freeway but began to feel tired. He pulled off the freeway, onto Cantel Street, and went to sleep in his car. He was awakened by a suspect or suspects beating him, possibly in an attempt to steal his car.
Based on the investigation, detectives believe Officer Lewis arrived home, parked his personal car and, seeing this activity down the street, went to investigate. As Lewis approached, the suspect or suspects who had beaten Gitschier confronted Lewis, shot him and fled. Residents called police after hearing the gunfire.
Lewis was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Gitschier was transported to a local hospital, where he remained for several days due to the extent of his injuries.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”350px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Police-investigation-3.jpg” align=”left” lightbox=”on” caption=”Photo of LBPD Officer Franke Lewis’s police badge and identification recov- ered in Compton after his murder” captionposition=”left”] Lewis’s duty weapon, police badge and police identification were taken from his person the night he was killed. On March 12, 1976, his badge and police identification were recovered from a vacant residence at 915 South Acacia Ave. in Compton. Lewis’s duty weapon remains outstanding.
Long Beach homicide detectives have revisited the case multiple times over the years, according to Long Beach Police Department (LBPD). Most recently, detectives have spent time looking at the case, locating witnesses and conducting interviews across the country.
The investigation revealed at least one and possibly two vehicles with several male and female African-American occupants were in the area the night Lewis was killed. These occupants were not known to reside in the area. The vehicles are described as a mid ’70s, black top, blue body four-door Fleetwood Cadillac, and an early ’60s white four-door Fleetwood Cadillac.
Detectives have canvassed the east Long Beach neighborhood where the murder occurred and are looking for additional witnesses. They are hopeful the reward will prompt reluctant witnesses to come forward, according to the LBPD.
Those who may have lived in the Long Beach or Compton areas in 1975, or who may have been involved or have any information about the murder are asked to contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Johnson, Robertson or Bigel at (562) 570-7244. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call 1-800- 222-TIPS (8477), or text TIPLA plus their tip to 274637 (CRIMES) or visit LACrimeStoppers.org .
