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Jan 7, 2010, 4:12 PM
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Re: [The Publisher] EIGHT BELLS: Arnie Schmeling
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Schmeling was 'legendary' LBPD officer
By Tracy Manzer, Staff Writer Posted: 01/06/2010 07:39:00 PM PST
Retired LBPD officer Arnie Schmeling poses with his Medal of Valor from the department. Schmeling died Christmas Eve.
LONG BEACH - Words like hero and legend get thrown around a lot it seems.
Perhaps that's partly because there is a little bit of hero and legend in a lot of people.
When it comes to someone like Arnold "Arnie" Schmeling, however, the mantle of hero and legend is not taken lightly.
With a guy like Arnie, his legend is epic and his heroism was proven repeatedly throughout his life; from staring down the barrel of many a bad guy's gun during his nearly 30 years with the Long Beach Police Department to his fight for the rights of fellow officers, minorities and women.
And though Arnie died this past Christmas Eve at the age of 79, those who knew and loved Arnie swear his legend will not fade.
"He's probably the single most legendary police officer in the history of the (Long Beach) Police Department," said Bob Shannon, Long Beach's city attorney and Arnie's friend for 30 years.
Arnie was born on March 6, 1930, in Hawaii where he developed a love of sailing, surfing - he learned from none other than Duke Kahanamoku - and the military.
His wife, Linda, said Arnie would recall hanging out on the ships that docked near his home as a child. He was a mascot of sorts for the sailors and did whatever he could on the ships.
Arnie was riding his bike with his 2-year-old brother sitting on the handlebars early the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, when his life and so many others were shattered.
As the first wave of Japanese bombers came in, Arnie grabbed his brother and dove under a nearby railroad car for shelter. When the crashing bombs ceased for a moment Arnie hopped back on his bike and pedaled backward furiously with his little brother in his arms and watched as the second wave of bombers streaked in, destroying the very ships he played upon.
Schmeling was also an avid sailor, participating in many America's Cup and other events.
"He said they were flying so low he could see the expressions on their faces," Linda said.
Arnie's family eventually left Hawaii and moved to Long Beach, where Arnie attended Poly High School and played football and ran track. But the bombing of Pearl Harbor stayed with Arnie and he lied about his age in order to join the Marine Corps at 15 so that he could serve in the war.
Arnie earned numerous medals after he and his fellow Marines landed on the Ryukyu Islands in Okinawa, Japan, before military officials realized he was still a minor and discharged him from duty. Arnie of course re-enlisted as soon as he was 18 and went on to serve in Korea, again distinguishing himself with several honors.
Among the medals he earned during both his military tours were the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
"He loved his country, he loved the Corps and he loved cops," said friend and retired Burbank Police Officer Al Angele.
It is no surprise that Arnie went on to devote himself to a career of service as a Long Beach police officer from 1955 to 1982, Angele and others said.
Arnie was the quintessential cop and loved every minute of it. Stories of his days patrolling the Pike and other rough-and-tumble areas include him kicking down doors to thwart crazed gunmen and putting himself in the path of bullets to protect the public and fellow officers.
"He got into this job for the same reason a lot of us did ... to be a cop," said longtime friend and retired LBPD Sgt. Bob Bell. "He never put for in a promotion because he liked being a cop, he didn't need the bureaucratic B.S."
Friends can tell many stories of Arnie's heroism, including the day Arnie disarmed a man who had stolen a California Highway Patrolman's gun and squad car before taking several people hostage inside a Long Beach apartment.
After the suspect took numerous shots at police with a CHP shotgun and the officer's pistol, Arnie stormed the apartment with the SWAT team and found the gunman hiding in a crawl space in a closet.
Arnie found the suspect pointing a cocked, 6-inch-barrel Colt Python directly at his head and tried to calm the suspect by telling him he just wanted to talk. Standing just 2 feet from the armed man, Arnie took his own gun and handed it to a fellow officer, then put his hands up so the suspect could see them. As the gunman told Arnie "they're going to kill me," Arnie assured him that no one wanted to kill him.
Lightning fast Arnie reached out and grabbed the pistol as the hammer of the suspect's gun slammed down to fire, puncturing the flesh between Arnie's index finger and thumb. The move prevented the gun from discharging and Arnie soon wrestled the pistol away. Without rearming himself he continued to talk to the distraught suspect who then asked if Arnie would pray with him.
Witnesses said Arnie didn't hesitate and recited the 23rd Psalm with the suspect. When the gunman said he would surrender only with Arnie, Arnie told him "Climb down and we'll walk out like men. We're going to walk out like men. I'm not going to handcuff you."
The two then walked arm-in-arm to Arnie's police car where Arnie sat in the back seat with the un-handcuffed suspect as they rode to the police station.
It's only one story of many about Arnie's daring deeds. His many acts of heroism resulted in Arnie being one of the most highly decorated officers in the LBPD's history, including the highly distinguished Medal of Valor.
Arnie didn't just fight injustice in the streets, he was a longtime advocate of police rights - helping to form the Long Beach Police Officers Association and, later, at the forefront of the formation of California's Police Officers Bill of Rights.
Even after his retirement, Arnie remained active with the police union and made his feelings known when he thought something wasn't right, serving as an outspoken critic of controversial LBPD Chief Lawrence Binkley and speaking out against arcane policies, such as a brief push for police to report illegal residents they came across to INS in the early 1990's.
Arnie was also an amazing athlete who excelled in football - he played in the NFL briefly for the San Francisco '49ers and the Chicago Bears under Coach George Halas until knee injuries got in the way - and sailing - which saw him compete directly or behind the scenes in three America's Cup races.
Officers on the job were astounded that Arnie could move so smoothly from working in the toughest parts of town to sailing in a regatta with royalty, including King Olav of Norway and Prince Philip of England, and with the world's famous skippers, such as Dennis Conner and Ted Turner.
Even when enjoying his hobbies Arnie was pushing for what was just, including his work to help America's Cup winner Bill Koch launch the Cup's first all-woman team.
For all his adventure, few would ever know what Arnie had done during his lifetime. He was humble and preferred to sing the praises of others, friends and family agreed.
"I don't know there was anybody he didn't like, unless you crossed him. You didn't want to cross him," Bell mused. "But he was a good man. I loved him like everybody else, and he wasn't afraid to tell a guy he loved them."
It was Arnie's love for everyone that helped him live on despite many years of battling cancer and a myriad of related health issues, including the loss of his eyesight, his wife said.
"I guess it was his great big heart that he shared with everybody that couldn't take it all and gave out in the end," Linda said.
Arnie is survived by his wife, three children, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. His family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the LBPOA Widows and Orphans Fund, care of The Long Beach Police Officers Association, 2865 Temple Ave., Long Beach, CA 90755.
A service celebrating Arnie's life is planned for Saturday at 11 a.m. at the LBPOA Park, which is located at Long Beach Towne Center behind Lowe's and Wal-Mart, at Carson Street and the San Gabriel (605) Freeway.
A final service will be held at a later date with a private burial at sea.
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