David Mack (police officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Mack
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| Born |
David Anthony Mack
May 30, 1961 |
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| Other names | D. Mack | ||||||||||||||||
| Known for | Involved in the Rampart police corruption scandal | ||||||||||||||||
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| Awards |  LAPD Medal for Heroism |
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| Police career | |||||||||||||||||
| Department |  Los Angeles Police Department |
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| Country |  United States |
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| Allegiance |  Los Angeles |
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| Years of service | 1988–1997 | ||||||||||||||||
| Rank |
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David Anthony Mack (born May 30, 1961) is a former professional runner and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer. He was part of the LAPD's Rampart Division unit called CRASH, which stood for Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums. Mack became a key figure in the LAPD Rampart police corruption scandal.
In December 1997, he was arrested in connection with an incident involving a Bank of America branch in Los Angeles. He faced legal consequences for his actions. Mack was released from prison in May 2010. The location of the money involved in the incident has never been found.
David Mack's Early Life and Athletic Career
David Mack was a talented athlete from a young age. He ran track for Locke High School and was a champion. He won the 880-yard race at the CIF California State Meet two years in a row. This is a big competition for high school athletes in California.
He then went to the University of Oregon where he continued to run track. He even dated Flo-Jo, a famous world record holder in sprinting. As a freshman in 1980, he placed sixth in the Olympic Trials.
While in college, Mack won three titles in the 800-meter race at the Pac-10 conference. He also won the NCAA Division I Championship in the 800 meters during his junior year. This is a major achievement for college athletes.
After college, Mack became a professional runner for the Santa Monica Track Club. He joined the U.S. national team and competed in the 800 meters at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics.
He also helped other runners achieve records. He was a "rabbit" for Sydney Maree and Steve Ovett. A "rabbit" is a runner who sets a fast pace at the beginning of a race to help others achieve a good time. Mack faced challenges, including an injury, which affected his ability to compete in later championships. His last professional race was in 1988.
Involvement in a Bank Incident
In November 1997, David Mack was involved in an incident at a Bank of America branch. An employee, Errolyn Romero, who knew Mack, allowed him into a secure area of the bank. Once inside, a large sum of money, $722,000, was taken from the bank's vault.
After an investigation, Romero admitted her part in the incident and said Mack was the main person behind it. He was arrested in December 1997. Two other people involved were never found.
Mack was sentenced to prison for his role in the incident. He was released on May 14, 2010. The money that was taken from the bank has never been recovered.
Connection to a Famous Case
David Mack's name has also come up in discussions related to the murder of a famous rapper, Christopher Wallace, known as The Notorious B.I.G.. This happened on March 9, 1997.
In 2007, Christopher Wallace's family filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles. The lawsuit claimed that some police officers, including Mack, were involved in Wallace's death. It suggested that Mack and another officer were present the night of the shooting.
However, in 2010, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit against the city and the officers. This means the court decided there wasn't enough evidence to continue the case against them.
