William A. Worton

William Arthur Worton (January 4, 1897 – July 25, 1973) was a World War I combat veteran, a U.S. espionage chief in 1930s China, a Marine Corps major general who served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and an interim Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department from June 1949 to 1950.

Early life

Worton was born on January 4, 1897, in

After the war, Worton remained in the Marine Corps and served with 2nd Marine Brigade in Santo Domingo for next two years. He returned to the United States in December 1920 and was assigned to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, where he was stationed in the local Marine base. Worton also spent some time at the Marine base at the Naval Torpedo Station in Keyport, Washington.

At the beginning of December 1923, Worton was assigned to the Marine detachment within the American Legation Guard in

He was sent back to China with the 3rd Marine Brigade in May 1927 and spent there next two years. Worton returned to the United States in July 1929 and was appointed commanding officer of the Marine detachment aboard battleship USS Oklahoma.

On 8 September 1931, Worton was assigned again to the American Legation Guard in

In 1935, having already served in China for ten years as a Marine officer, Major Worton was assigned to the Far East Section of the

During 1938, Worton served as force Marine officer, Battleship Division 3, under Rear Admiral John D. Wainwright.

World War II Service

With the United States entry into World War II, Worton served as commander of the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines. His unit was sent as a part of 1st Provisional Marine Brigade under the command Brigadier General John Marston to Iceland, where Worton served until March 1942. He was promoted to rank of colonel on January 1, 1942. He subsequently sailed to England and served there as military advisor.

In September 1943, Worton was transferred to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, where 5th Marine Division was activated under the command of Major General Keller E. Rockey. He was appointed division's chief of staff.

During the summer of 1944, Worton was transferred to

Worton was appointed the 42nd chief of the L.A.P.D. on June 30, 1949, by Los Angeles Mayor Fletcher Bowron after the resignation of Chief Clemence B. Horrall in the wake of the Brenda Allen scandal. Horrall's assistant chief, Joe Reed, also eventually resigned after Worton took office, as he too was ensnared by the police corruption scandal.

Worton was tasked by Mayor Bowron with the job of cleaning up the department. A little more than a year later, Worton resigned on August 9, 1950, and was replaced by his chief of Internal Affairs, William H. Parker, whom he had groomed for the office.^[6]

Later life

After his stint with LAPD, Worton lived in Los Angeles, Carlsbad, and La Jolla, California.^[1] He died at the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.^[1]

Decorations

Major General Worton's ribbon bar:

See also

• List of Los Angeles Police Department Chiefs of Police

References