Sweet Memories………..

This journey is complete and another has begun, Wesley Calvin Mitchell transitioned from labor to reward on June 3, 2014. He was surrounded by love, as we witnessed the cares of his world fade away into a smile of eternal peace and joy. We share these sweet memories of a loving husband, devoted father, caring son, supportive brother, and a loyal friend ……..

Wesley Calvin Mitchell was born on July 22, 1946, in Los Angeles, California. Wesley and his siblings, Chester and Carolyn grew up in a loving home with Herman and Johnetta Mitchell in South Central Los Angeles, also known as Watts, California. He was an active youth member of Bellevue Presbyterian Church.

He attended Los Angeles Unified Schools, graduating from David Starr Jordan High School in 1964. While at Jordan, he was Sports Editor and Editor in Chief of the school newspaper. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served as a Military Policeman during the Vietnam War era. Wesley received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Redlands with a major in Political Science.

In November 1970, Wesley began his career with Los Angeles Unified School Police Department. He began as Campus Security at Edison Junior High and later at Crenshaw High. He served as supervisor of the School Gang Prevention Unit. He promoted into other management positions within the Department and ultimately became the first African American Chief of School Police. Wesley C. Mitchell was Chief of Police for the Los Angeles Unified School District from February 1989-January 2002, he commanded the largest school police department in the nation. In the Department's 53-year history, Wesley was the first chief to have worked his way up through the ranks from Police Officer to Chief of Police. He retired after 31 years of service to students, staff and the greater Los Angeles community.

Wesley served as advisor to many organizations, task forces and committees reviewing the issues of youth, violence and school safety. He served on the National Consortium on Violence Research at Carnegie Mellon University, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Office of Technology, and many other organizations.

Wesley's professional affiliations included: International Association of Chief's of Police, former National President, National Organizations of Black Law Enforcement Executives ( NOBLE), California Peace Officers Association, Council of Black Administrators, and Association of Black Educational Police Officers.

In 1997, he married the love of his life, Jean Anita. To this blessed union, Wesley’s sons, Konata and Jason embraced two sisters and one brother, Stacy, Kelli, and Ryan, now known as the blended Mitchell-Davis family.

Upon retirement from the Los Angeles Unified School District in 2001, he formed the Wesley Mitchell & Associates School Safety Consultants, LLP. He began providing his expertise as a consultant to the Department of Treasury, where he had the opportunity to work with then President Clinton, the U. S. Department of Education, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U. S. Secret Service. As a consultant, he conducted “Threat Assessment Seminars” throughout the United States, as well as being invited to the West African country of Ghana. He was also a sought after school safety forensics expert witness.

Wesley always supported young people, and served as the Chairperson of the Council of Black Administrators ' Annual Student Conference, recruiting friends from other entities , i.e., the Mayor's Office, Sony Pictures, IBM and other law enforcement agencies to volunteer their time and talents. He worked with and supported Jack and Jill of America by conducting workshops for the teens, as well as student leadership conferences.
Wesley was recruited to be the Interim Chief of Police, Inglewood Police Department. He served 2003-2004, while a national search was being conducted.

Friends were important to Wesley. He was a member of the “The Buckets”, a group of co-workers who enjoyed having lunch together for 15 years. Wesley was known for recording notes on paper napkins of all Bucket plans and events. He enjoyed golf and was a member of the Arroyo Golf Club. Wesley also enjoyed entertaining friends and family. He considered himself to be the “Bobby Flav” of Bar-B-Q. Wesley was a jazz enthusiast, attending festivals across the United States and internationally. He enjoyed gardening, planting flowers for every season, and at Christmas time, decorating his home both indoors and out with his collection of Black Santas. His grandchildren were the joy of his life. They have fond memories of going to plays, restaurants, Chargers football games, Lakers basketball games, train rides, golfing, and traveling to the Grand Canyon.

Wesley leaves to celebrate and cherish his life and memories his loving wife Jean Anita; sons: Konata and Jason; daughters: Stacy and Kelli; grandchildren: Hasan, Kobe, Kristen and Christopher; mother, Johnetta Mitchell; brother, Chester and sister, Carolyn Mitchell; and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Wesley was preceded in death by his father, Herman B. Mitchell and blended son, Ryan Davis.