Security Chief at Harvard-Westlake is Former LAPD Homicide Detective

(found the body tied to a tree at the Harvard-Westlake grounds on Friday. Please click here to link to the story  profiling the Harvard-Westlake director of security.)

At 19, only a year older than many of the seniors, Jim Crawford began working as a security officer at Harvard School. Crawford, now Director of Security, has operated security for both campuses of Harvard-Westlake since 1980.

When he turned 20, Crawford joined the Los Angeles Police Academy, working at the school to earn extra money.

In the police force, Crawford worked the night shift from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. as a patrol in South Central division of the LAPD.

"When I was younger, chasing [criminals] on foot and in cars was fun, but now that I am 50, it is not what I want to do anymore," Crawford said.

He became a homicide detective in Rampart, where he investigated arrests made by patrol officers involving gang homicides as part of the City Resources Against Street Hoodlums program.

"I did not quite know the stuff that went on — shootings and the family issues, crimes against women and children. I have seen just about everything," Crawford said.

After about 20 years, Crawford moved to the San Fernando Valley, where he handled robberies, burglaries and juvenile crimes. While in the LAPD, Crawford continued to run security at the school and experienced its change over the years.

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