Arleigh McCree
police officer · film actor
- August 24, 1939 · Los Angeles
- February 8, 1986
- 46 years
- bomb explosion
About Arleigh McCree
Arleigh McCree, 46, American police detective, bomb explosion.
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Full Biography
|Detective III Arleigh Eugene McCree (December 24, 1939 – February 8, 1986) was the Commander of the Firearms and Explosives Unit of the Los Angeles Police Department and counter-terrorism specialist, widely recognized as one of the top explosive experts in the world.
LAPD career
By the 1970s, McCree had employed his Navy Underwater Demolition Team training to create, with a few other ex-military officers, the LAPD's first SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Team, trained to conduct forced entry to "hardened" targets, hostage rescue, bomb disposal and other skills beyond the purview of ordinary street policing. SWAT Team members carried fully-automatic AR-15 rifles and other paramilitary gear in their police vehicles at all times in case they were called to a scene on short notice; however, they were not allowed to use the AR-15 in non-SWAT situations.
Around this time, McCree was responsible for the shooting deaths of four suspected Black Panther Party members who had allegedly fired on an LAPD officer from a parked vehicle. Though McCree had used his AR-15 in a non-SWAT situation, his use of deadly force was vindicated by the review board and he was thereafter commended by the LAPD.
McCree investigated the Symbionese Liberation Army bomb making operations in 1976 and was part of the bomb squad that investigated the Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983. A year later, McCree headed the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics bomb squad. McCree had written a text on explosive devices. In 1982 he testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism. He said government manuals on how to make bombs were too easy for terrorists to get.
Personal
McCree was also a contributor to Military Police magazine.
Death
McCree was killed along with officer Ronald Ball in a 1986 bomb disposal operation in North Hollywood, California. Both officers were attempting to defuse two pipe bombs in a murder suspect's garage when they both detonated. McCree died instantly, and Ball would die about an hour later.
He is honored among the fallen officers in the line of duty at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
16 Verified Trivia Questions About Arleigh McCree
Every question below is stored in the archive and checked against Arleigh McCree's record and biography. The correct answer and the reasoning behind it are given with each question.
1.Which international location did Arleigh Eugene McCree visit as part of a bomb squad investigating a 1983 bombing?
- A.Berlin, Germany
- B.Beirut, LebanonCorrect
- C.Paris, France
- D.London, England
Arleigh Eugene McCree was part of the bomb squad that investigated the Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon in 1983.
Source: LAPD career section
2.What responsibility did Arleigh Eugene McCree hold regarding the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics?
- A.Chief of security detail
- B.Liaison to international police
- C.Venue coordinator
- D.Head of the bomb squadCorrect
Arleigh Eugene McCree headed the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics bomb squad.
Source: LAPD career section
3.Before which body did Arleigh Eugene McCree testify in 1982 regarding the accessibility of bomb-making manuals?
- A.Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Security and TerrorismCorrect
- B.City Council
- C.State Legislative Committee
- D.Federal Bureau of Investigation
Arleigh Eugene McCree testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Security and Terrorism in 1982.
Source: LAPD career section
4.Arleigh Eugene McCree was a contributor to which publication?
- A.Tactical Weekly
- B.Military Police magazineCorrect
- C.Explosives Today
- D.Police Quarterly
Arleigh Eugene McCree was a contributor to Military Police magazine.
Source: Personal section
5.What was the name of the officer who died alongside Arleigh Eugene McCree in 1986?
- A.John Smith
- B.James Miller
- C.Robert Chase
- D.Ronald BallCorrect
Arleigh Eugene McCree was killed along with officer Ronald Ball in a 1986 bomb disposal operation.
Source: Death section
6.In what type of location were Arleigh Eugene McCree and Ronald Ball attempting to defuse pipe bombs when they were killed?
- A.Airport terminal
- B.Police training facility
- C.Murder suspect's garageCorrect
- D.Public park
The officers were attempting to defuse two pipe bombs in a murder suspect's garage.
Source: Death section
7.Where is Arleigh Eugene McCree honored for dying in the line of duty?
- A.Police Academy Plaza
- B.National Law Enforcement Officers MemorialCorrect
- C.The Pentagon
- D.Los Angeles City Hall
Arleigh Eugene McCree is honored among the fallen officers at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Source: Death section
8.What type of explosives were Arleigh Eugene McCree and Ronald Ball working on when they were killed?
- A.Grenades
- B.Plastic explosives
- C.Dynamite sticks
- D.Pipe bombsCorrect
The officers were attempting to defuse two pipe bombs.
Source: Death section
9.What professional text did Arleigh Eugene McCree author?
- A.A guide to counter-terrorism
- B.Manuals on police procedure
- C.A text on explosive devicesCorrect
- D.A history of SWAT tactics
Arleigh Eugene McCree had written a text on explosive devices.
Source: LAPD career section
10.On what date did Arleigh Eugene McCree pass away?
- A.August 29, 1981
- B.February 8, 1986Correct
- C.December 24, 1986
- D.January 1, 1985
Arleigh Eugene McCree died on February 8, 1986.
Source: biographical header
11.On what date was Arleigh Eugene McCree born?
- A.February 8, 1986
- B.December 24, 1939Correct
- C.August 29, 1981
- D.January 1, 1940
Arleigh Eugene McCree was born on December 24, 1939.
Source: biographical header
12.What was the official title held by Arleigh Eugene McCree in the Los Angeles Police Department?
- A.Lead Forensic Specialist
- B.Chief of Police
- C.Director of Intelligence
- D.Commander of the Firearms and Explosives UnitCorrect
Arleigh Eugene McCree served as the Commander of the Firearms and Explosives Unit of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Source: biographical header
13.Which specific military unit provided the training Arleigh Eugene McCree used to help create the LAPD's first SWAT team?
- A.Navy Underwater Demolition TeamCorrect
- B.Army Rangers
- C.Marine Corps Reconnaissance
- D.Navy SEALs
Arleigh Eugene McCree employed his Navy Underwater Demolition Team training to create the LAPD's first SWAT team.
Source: LAPD career section
14.What specific weapon were LAPD SWAT members required to carry in their vehicles but restricted from using in non-SWAT situations?
- A.Glock pistol
- B.Shotgun
- C.AR-15 rifleCorrect
- D.Submachine gun
SWAT Team members carried fully-automatic AR-15 rifles in their vehicles but were not allowed to use them in non-SWAT situations.
Source: LAPD career section
15.How many suspected Black Panther Party members were killed in a shooting incident involving Arleigh Eugene McCree?
- A.FourCorrect
- B.Three
- C.Two
- D.Five
Arleigh Eugene McCree was responsible for the shooting deaths of four suspected Black Panther Party members.
Source: LAPD career section
16.In 1976, which organization's bomb-making operations did Arleigh Eugene McCree investigate?
- A.Local criminal syndicate
- B.Black Panther Party
- C.Symbionese Liberation ArmyCorrect
- D.Libyan liberation front
Arleigh Eugene McCree investigated the Symbionese Liberation Army bomb making operations in 1976.
Source: LAPD career section
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arleigh_McCree
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
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