The Onion Field Incident

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On the night of March 9, 1963, officers Karl Hettinger and Ian Campbell made a traffic stop on the corner of Carlos Avenue and Gower Street and Hollywood. Early that day, the officers had been instructed to seek out and bust anyone they suspected of being engaged in gay sexual activity, and that night they were confident they’d found two men that fit the bill. However, after Campbell instructed both men to step out of the car, the driver, Gregory Powell, pulled out a pistol and held it on Campbell, effectively disarming him, while other man, Jimmy Smith, disarmed Hettinger. The two officers were then forced into Powell’s car and driven more than one hundred miles away, where they executed Ian Campbell, while Hettinger escaped into a nearby onion field and managed to find help at the home of a farmer.  The murder of Ian Campbell in the onion field shocked residents of California, not only because it was so cold-blooded, but also because of how the incident unfolded. By yielding to the demands of their hostage taker and handing over his gun, many people felt that Hettinger was at least partially responsible for Campbell’s death. Powell and Smith were quickly captured, tried, and convicted for the murder, but the consequences of that night in the onion field would have a profound and lasting effect on police policy all over the country for years to come. Recommendations in this episode Follow @themhoffers  Follow @annaleegrace15  ( YouTube  or Instagram) Follow @ChefRileyMeehan and Purchase his book A Little Bit Extra References Associated Press. 1963. "2 policemen are kidnapped; 1 is slain." Sacramento Bee, 03 11: 1. Los Angeles Times. 1963. "Cold-blooded slaying of detective re-enacted." Los Angeles Times, March 12: 1. —. 1963. "Officer slain by accident, says former convict." Los Angeles Times, August 21: 27. —. 1963. "Pair guilty of slaying policeman." Los Angeles Times, September 5: 1. —. 1963. "Partner of murdered officer tells of ordeal." Los Angeles Times, March 20: 29. Malnic, Eric. 1994. "Karl Hettinger; s