Former Los Alamitos Police Chief Robert Cabot, who served the City of Los Alamitos during the 1970’s, died from natural causes at the age of 90 on Jan. 28.
Cabot had a distinguished law enforcement career that began in 1948 with the Long Beach Police Department. He was hired in 1957 at the rank of Sergeant by the City of Garden Grove when they formed their own police department, and was promoted to Captain only after two years. At times he served as Garden Grove’s acting Chief of Police.
Cabot joined the Los Alamitos Police Department (LAPD) in 1970 when he was hired as Assistant Chief under Chief Roy Kundtz. In 1974, when Kundtz accepted the police chief’s position in Carlsbad, Cabot became the LAPD’s third Chief of Police, a position he held until his retirement in 1979.
During his entire tenure with the LAPD, Cabot and his wife, Faye, chose Los Alamitos as their home to raise daughters Lori and Becky in the Suburbia Estates neighborhood.
Not only known as a dedicated professional throughout his law enforcement career, Cabot was regarded by those he worked with as a devoted family man. When speaking of his former boss, retired Commander Gary Biggerstaff said he always had a fond friendship with Cabot, and respect for him that that extended well beyond the job.
Current Los Alamitos resident Marillyn Whitman, who was Cabot’s secretary at the LAPD recalled, “He was the sweetest, gentlest man. I really enjoyed working for him. He was a good one.”