LAPD's 25th annual Jack Webb Awards

LOS ANGELES - The police band played and the blue carpet was rolled out. Four members of the LA community were honored, including citizen cops at the 25th annual Jack Webb Awards.

The LAPD is marking its 150th anniversary this year. Part of its story includes citizen support as witnessed at Friday's gala. It was held Friday at Pasadena's Langham, Huntington Pasadena hotel to benefit the Los Angeles Police Museum. LAPD Chief Michel Moore says remembering history, and its mistakes, matters.

The four honorees have given years of time to support the LAPD. Bill and Karla Ahmanson hail from the famous Ahmanson family of philanthropists. Bill is a reserve police officer and first put on a badge in 1986. Karla is president of the Police Reserve Foundation. They were presented by LAPD Assistant Chief Bea Girmala. 

Dr. Kenji Inaba is a life-saving USC trauma surgeon turned reserve officer. He was presented by Chief Moore. Inaba called it "an honor and very different work from his work as a trauma surgeon."

The fourth honoree is Steven Kasten, a Lincoln Heights businessman with a history with the Police Historical Society. His honor presented by the LAPD's first Deputy Chief, Peggy York.

Of course, there's the Hollywood history. The awards are named after the late actor Jack Webb, who played Sgt. Joe Friday in the 1950's series 'Dragnet.' His wife Opal, who's 100-years strong attended the gala and posed for pictures.

The Los Angeles Police Museum is an old police station located in Highland Park. Chairman of the board Sergeant Bob Alaniz notes LAPD had the first woman officer, as well as the first African American officer, and the first police chief ever was Latino. The museum is open to the public.

For full insight on the museum with Alaniz, listen to this podcast episode on Olympic and Bundy.