Lifetime Achievement Award
Detective Sergeant Jack A. Giroud
Robbery-Homicide Division, Los Angeles Police Department
For Detective Sergeant Jack Giroud, his dedication to duty and seasoned experience is in a category of its own. Imagine, if you will, having the luxury of investigating a Robbery or Homicide with a partner who was on the force when Sam Sheppard (of The Fugitive) was convicted of murdering his wife, or who was working the detective bureau when Albert DeSalvo, aka The Boston Strangler, was an active serial killer in Massachusetts, who was working patrol when stop signs were changed from black on yellow to white on red, and when Lloyd Sigmon created the “SigAlert.”
Detective Sergeant Jack A. Giroud has been pounding the streets of Los Angeles for 50 years, with 43 of them spent investigating some of L.A.’s most complex and high-profile robberies. L.A.’s Mayor was Norris Paulson and its Police Chief was William Parker when Jack hired on as one of L.A.’s finest. If you did the math correctly, you’ll know that he hired on when President Eisenhower was in office.
Over his 50-plus years with L.A., Jack has obtained training experience and knowledge that is irreplaceable. Some of his training includes: Senior Instructor at the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation, Instructor and Faculty Advisor at San Jose State University, Instructor at the Los Angeles Police Academy, founding member of the California Robbery Association and a participant in several POST Advisory Committees.
His numerous awards include but are not limited to: The Presley Institute’s Excellence in Instruction Award, the Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Peace Officer Training, LAPD Detective Bureau’s Detective of the Year, LAPD’s Meritorious Service Medal, California’s Robbery Association’s Mr. Robbery Award, and San Jose Police Department’s Robbery Division’s Alligator Award for assisting with the investigation of major cases.
One would think that after 50 years on the job, an investigator would slow down a bit and start preparing himself for retirement. But Jack is old-school and continues to take pride in his work and well-earned reputation. Jack continues being a mentor, counselor and guide for new robbery detectives as he has done for generations. With all of his accolades and experience, he remains active, energetic and driven to excel in his craft. Jack maintains an average clearance rate of 65-70 percent, with a high of 90 percent in 2004.
Jack Giroud is an icon among robbery detectives and according to many, the type of guy Joseph Wambaugh writes about in his books.
It is with the greatest honor that the Golden Badge Foundation presents this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Detective Sergeant Jack A. Giroud.
