Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach: Passings 2021
[Editor’s note: The following stories are excerpted from Easy Reader stories about Beach People who passed away in 2021. For their complete stories, go to easyreadernews.com] Kuhlmeyer was a ‘just the facts’ chief Harry Kuhlmeyer joined the Manhattan Beach Police Department, and rose through ranks to become chief in 1980. Three years later, in August 1983, the frank-talking, low profile chief was presented with the McMartin Preschool case. Therapists and medical doctors identified dozens of McMartin preschool children as sexual abuse victims. Raymond Buckey was the sole male teacher at the preschool. Parents demanded Buckey’s immediate arrest. Kuhlmeyer refused to take Buckey into custody. His detectives could find no corroborating evidence. “Why hadn’t any of the suspects copped a plea, why no mea culpas, no suicides? No one got drunk and bared his soul. If everything the kids said happened, it looked like the perfect crime. Even the Mafia has snitches,” Kuhlmeyer said at the time. Kuhlmeyer’s unpopular stance was vindicated seven years and $15 million in court costs later when two McMartin trials ended with no convictions. Kuhlmeyer passed away Jan. 12, 2021. He was 94. Boston…
Read this story on easyreadernews.com