Louis “Lou” Peter Heeres

I was born on November 20, 1933 in Loma Linda, CA, the first son of Dr. Peter Sidney Heeres and Frances E. Heeres, nee Stone. I was named after my paternal grandfather who moved his family to California from Michigan in the early 1900’s, and established the Magnolia Drug Company in Arlington. My father later managed the store before entering medical school, and I had my first paying job there working for my uncle Nick as a soda jerk. During my youth our family lived in, and I attended school, in Arlington, Ontario, Crestline, and San Bernardino CA., graduating San Bernardino High School in 1951. I spent the summers of my high school years as the head life guard at the public beach on Lake Gregory near Crestline.

In December 1951 I enlisted in the United States Air Force, attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, and was then assigned to the Air Police school at Camp Gordon, GA (Army). Upon graduation I was assigned to Rapid City AFB. While there I participated in an honor guard when President Eisenhower attended the ceremony renaming the base in honor of General Ellsworth. In 1954 I was transferred to Fairchild AFB in Spokane WA., where in December 1955 I was separated from the service with the rank of sergeant. At that time we had an eight year obligation, and I did not receive my honorable discharge until 1959.

In 1956 I enrolled in San Bernardino Valley College. While at SBVC I was a member of the Veterans Club, lettered in basketball and drove for the California Intercity Armored Car Service. I graduated in 1958 with an AA degree in social science.

In 1958 I enrolled in the School of Criminology at the University of California at Berkeley with a law enforcement major. While at Cal I was a member of the honor students society, and worked at Larry Blake’s Rathskeller as a bar tender and waiter. My first contact with the City of Newport Beach occurred during my junior year when I noticed a flier on the Crim. School bulletin board advertising summer employment opportunities with NBPD. I applied, and along with two other Cal students and one from Cal State Long Beach, was hired for the summer of 1959. We were assigned parking control duties, and I rode a three-wheel HD on the peninsula. I graduated Cal in June, 1960

with a BA in criminology, and went to work as a police officer for NBPD that same month.

When I joined the NBPD, the COP was John Upson, and the captains were Harry Lace, Al Johnson, and Vince McManigal. Jim Glavas became chief in 1961. On June 15, 1960 I went to work as a police officer, and worked patrol until November 15, 1961 when I was assigned as a motor officer. At that time we had seven motor officer positions. I rode with John Marshall, Jim Parker, Jim Spears, Bill Laughlin, Hal Sheflin, Don Picker, and Al Luke.

On December 1, 1962 Anna (Mickey) Albu and I were married, and a short time later I adopted her son Phillip W. Albu.

On October 1, 1963 I was promoted to sergeant, where I worked as a patrol supervisor and part time training sergeant. I was promoted to lieutenant on November 20, 1965 and assigned as a watch commander. On March 6, 1967 I was promoted to captain and assigned as detective division commander. During my career I twice rotated through command of all four divisions of the department. I was involved in establishing the helicopter program and the construction of the new police facility.

In 1973 I was selected to attend the FBI National Academy. I was a member of the 92nd Session, the second at the new facility in Quantico, and the second following the death of J. Edgar Hoover. At the academy I was appointed as Coordinator of Section F, and received the John Edgar Hoover Certificate of Scholastic Excellence.

While at the NA I had the opportunity to renew a friendship with Howard “Bud” Teten. Bud had been a classmate at Cal, taking classes while working full time at the San Leandro PD. In 73 he was an instructor at the academy and a member of the behavioral science unit.

On June 5, 1975 I received a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California.

I retired on December 31, 1985, and on January 1, 1986 Mickey and I were in Arizona in our new Alfa Gold 5th wheel trailer. We spent the summer in AZ, then moved north to Idaho and to WA where we bought a home in Sequim. We sold the 5th wheel, and bought a new Gold Wing 1500/6 and Bushtec trailer. We toured the eleven western states on the M/C, and in 1991 sold our house and bought a Foretravel motor home. We traveled through most of the US until Mickey’s back gave out. She had surgery, but could not travel full time.

We sold the motor home and bought a house in Prescott, AZ in 1993. While there I attended Gunsite and took up competitive shooting at age 60. I shot both IPSC/USPSA (B Limited), and SASS cowboy action shooting. I stopped IPSC in 2005, but still shoot three cowboy matches a month.

In 1996 we moved to Cedaredge, CO and in 2002 to Montrose, CO where we think we have finally settled down.

I hold a FCC general class amateur radio license (HAM). Mickey holds a technician class license. I am a Life Member of the California Peace Officers Association, a Life (Endowment) Member of the National Rifle Association, a Life Member of the Cal Alumni Association, a Life Member of the USC Alumni Association, and a member of the Newport Beach Police Department Retirees Association.

Revised July 2013