DIETRICH, R. David (Dave)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Sunday, June 21, 2015 R. David Dietrich December 17, 1944 - May 19, 2015 On May 19, 2015, Dave Dietrich lost his courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Dave was a wonderful husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, brother, uncle and a great friend to many. After his discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1966, Dave was hired by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. After graduating from the LASD Academy, Dave was given many different assignments and was selected to work SEB (Special Enforcement Bureau) a prestigious assignment, which was sought by many applicants but only given to deputies who met their very high standards. Dave was promoted to the rank of Sgt. in 1973. He excelled as a Sgt. and was soon promoted to the rank of Lt. in 1977. Dave was given many assignments as a Lt., including narcotics bureau and crimes against children. However, he spent the last several years before retirement in the Homicide Bureau where his team was used by the writer James Elroy as background material for several of his books. Dave was always meticulous about his appearance and was dubbed "the professor" by Mr. Elroy due to his dress and demeanor. Dave, in spite of his sometimes hectic schedule, also taught a criminal justice course at West LA Community College for many years After his retirement in 1999, Dave and his wife, Jan moved to Dewey, Arizona. Dave took up the game of golf and quickly became addicted, sometimes playing as many as five days a week. Dave achieved two 'hole-in-ones' and maintained a respectable handicap in the low teens. It broke Dave's heart when he was forced to give up the game after learning of his diagnosis last November. Dave is at peace now - free from tremendous pain and suffering. He will be missed by many, so in closing we say, "Fairways and Greens" Dave, "Fairways and Greens." A memorial will be at 10 a.m. on July 3, 2015, at the VA Chapel in Prescott, Arizona. A Celebration of Life will follow at noon at the Rosser Adult Center in Prescott, Arizona. Information provided by survivors.