Episode 96 retired Los Angeles County Sheriff Department Homicide Detective Gil Carrillo

Interview with retired Los Angeles County Sheriff Department Homicide Detective Gil Carrillo

Years of Service: 1971-2009

Gil grew up in the 1970s in Los Angeles. As Gil explains, he was a lazy student who often hung around other young men who were going nowhere. At age 17, a police officer took an interest in Gil and recognized that if he didn’t get out of his environment, he was going to end up in jail or possibly dead. The officer brought Gil home one day and told his parents that if they didn’t sign Gil over to the military, they would probably lose their son.

Gil joined the military, served in Vietnam, and, as he tells it, changed his life. He came home with a new attitude and three goals. To graduate from college, to become a police officer, and to get back at his ex-girlfriend, who had sent him a dear John letter while he had been in Vietnam.

Gil joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at age 21 and became a correctional deputy. He soon was on patrol and then worked in plain clothes investigating gangs. With just 9 ½ years on the job, Gil joined the Homicide Unit where worked for over 21 years.

Gil is best known for being the co-lead on the Richard Ramirez “Night Stalker” case and, in this interview, discusses theories of the case that he had that no one else believed.

Gil also talks about how he was approached by George Lopez to host a podcast and what that experience was like.

Chapters:
00:00 The Incident at the T Intersection
00:45 Introduction to Gil Carrillo
01:25 Career Overview and Sheriff's Department
02:24 Jurisdiction and Structure of LA Sheriff's Department
04:31 Homicide Bureau Operations
07:06 Growing Up in Pico Rivera
07:50 Joining the Military and Vietnam Experience
10:55 Post-Military Life and Career Goals
13:47 Starting as a Deputy Sheriff
16:05 Working in the Jail and Handling Inmates
20:15 Transition to Patrol and Early Challenges
28:51 Gang Units and Plain Clothes Work
36:17 Training and Mentorship
47:24 Sergeant Bear Fitzgerald's Crime Scene Encounter
48:24 First Autopsy Experience
49:10 Career Aspirations and Job Offers
49:55 Dream Job in Homicide
50:51 First Day in Homicide
51:40 Avoiding Vice and Hard Work Recognition
56:46 Homicide Lifestyle and Family Support
58:15 Challenges and Rewards of Homicide Work
01:03:42 Dealing with Victim's Families
01:09:59 Night Stalker Case Introduction
01:12:50 Linking Child Abductions to the Night Stalker
01:14:26 Shoe Print Evidence and Skepticism
01:23:55 George Lopez and Podcast Experience