The Bulldog logo of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau, has become
one of the most recognized law enforcement insignias in the nation. Homicide investigations often
require travel throughout the United States and sometimes abroad. When law enforcement
professionals exchange memorabilia representing their agencies, the LASD “Bulldog” has become
prized as a symbol of excellence.

     The Homicide Bulldog was born more than 25 years ago when, on December 18, 1977, the
“Los Angeles Times” featured a story comparing homicide cases investigated by the Sheriff’s
Department with those investigated by other departments. In that article, a veteran prosecutor
was quoted as saying,

     “You want to know why the Sheriff’s conviction rate is so much higher in homicide, not just last
     year, but for several years? It is because the guys from the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau are a
     bunch of bulldogs.”

     “From the time they are called to the murder scene, until we prosecutors get the case through the
     courts, they never let go....and I mean on every murder case, not just the high publicity cases....”

     “They are routinely tenacious, and the investigator assigned to the case sticks with it until the
     end. There is no shuttling cases to somebody else... . With the Sheriff’s people, if you need
     follow-up done, they are marvelous; they are super. They even give you their home phone
     numbers in volunteering to help out.”

     In the same article a defense attorney with more than 10 years of trial experience was
quoted as saying,

     “I can tell you that almost every defense attorney I’ve ever talked to would rather try a murder
      case against anyone but the Sheriff’s people. The Sheriff’s are just tougher.”

     In the two decades since that story appeared, every detective in the Homicide Bureau places great importance on maintaining the investigative standards established so long ago. The highest compliment that one detective can award another is to say,

      “If someone in my family was murdered; I’d want you standing in my living room.”