UPDATE | Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors renewed the $10,000 reward for information leading to the killer or killers of a Long Beach police officer shot in 1975.
The reward is part of the total $75,000 being offered for information about the death of Officer Franke Neal Lewis, with the $10,000 offered by the board of supervisors, the $25,000 approved by Long Beach City Council in November and $40,000 being offered by the Long Beach Police Officers Association and the Fraternal Order of Police.
City News Service contributed to this report.
PREVIOUSLY: County Supervisors to Renew $10K Reward In 1975 Murder of Long Beach Cop
01/18/16 at 2:15PM | The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is expected to renew Tuesday the $10,000 reward for information leading to the killer or killers of the Long Beach police officer shot in 1975.
The reward is part of the total $75,000 being offered for information about the death of Officer Franke Neal Lewis, with the $10,000 offered by the board of supervisors, the $25,000 approved by Long Beach City Council in November and $40,000 being offered by the Long Beach Police Officers Association and the Fraternal Order of Police.
City News Service contributed to this report.
PREVIOUSLY: County Supervisors Offer $10K Reward In 1975 Murder of Long Beach Cop
10/28/15 at 2:09PM | The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors offered a $10,000 reward on Tuesday for information about the fatal shooting of a Long Beach police officer 40 years ago.
Supervisor Don Knabe recommended the reward, noting the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) had resumed the investigation into the unsolved killing of Officer Franke Neal Lewis.
“We are coming up on the 40 year anniversary of when this murder occurred and it remains unsolved,” LBPD spokeswoman Megan Zabel said. “We are hoping that by reopening the case, maybe some tips or witnesses will come forward with new information for us to look into.”
On December 13, 1975, Lewis was driving home at about 3:00AM after having completed his shift when he spotted suspicious activity in a car parked a few doors down from his Long Beach house in the 6200 block of Cantel Street, police said.
Investigators think Lewis parked his car and walked toward the disturbance to investigate and was shot as he approached.
The gunman had attacked a man named Dennis Gitschier. Gitschier, tired while driving home, had pulled off the freeway to park and was lying across his front seat when he was assaulted.
According to Knabe, Gitschier credits Lewis with saving his life that night.
Anyone with information is asked to call LBPD Detective Todd Johnson or Shea Robertson at 562.570.7244.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Above, left photo courtesy of LBPD.