The case of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman’s murder in June 1994 is one of the most well-known criminal investigations in U.S. history. O.J. Simpson, one of the most famous people in sports and show business, was involved. People like David Gascon, who was in charge of media relations for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), were thrust into the public eye during this time. Gascon is now in a very different part of his life than he was almost 30 years ago.
THE O.J. SIMPSON CASE: GASCON’S ROLE
Five days after they were killed, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, O.J. Simpson was named as the main suspect on June 17, 1994. He was supposed to turn himself in to the police that morning. Gascon’s job was to let people and the media know what was going on.
But the day went in a different direction than planned. Simpson didn’t show up at the scheduled time, and his lawyer, Robert Shapiro, told the LAPD that he didn’t know where Simpson was. Gascon had to talk to the public at a press conference because of this, which was not a good situation.
Gascon talked about walking into a room full of over 800 reporters and cameras. It was one of the most disorganized scenes he had ever seen. Gascon relied on one thing to help him through everything: being honest. “Just tell the truth,” he said, adding that it was the only way to handle such a tough situation, even if it was painful.
THE INFAMOUS LOW-SPEED CHASE
Because Simpson didn’t turn himself in, police chased him through Los Angeles at low speeds. This was one of the strangest parts of the case. Simpson led police on a 60-mile chase in a white Ford Bronco driven by his friend Al Cowlings. The chase was shown live on TV to millions of people.
Gascon guessed how the manhunt would go. He thought Simpson would finally give up at his house, which is what happened. But Gascon never thought Simpson was suicidal, even after hearing Robert Kardashian read the so-called “suicide note” at Shapiro’s press conference. Gascon thought Simpson was a liar and was sure the case would end without any more tragedy. That night, Gascon finally told everyone what they had been waiting for: Simpson was in police custody.
GASCON’S LEGACY WITH THE LAPD
When Gascon worked on the O.J. Simpson case, it wasn’t the first time he was involved with a big investigation. A year ago, he was the public face of the investigation into Michael Jackson’s child abuse. Gascon’s ability to stay calm under pressure was shown in these high-stakes situations. Gascon left the LAPD as an assistant chief in 2002, after more than 30 years of service.
But he had a career that went beyond being a police officer. Gascon was a consultant for producers Steven Bochco and Stephen Cannell for 25 years. He worked on hit TV shows like Hill Street Blues, Murder One, and 21 Jump Street. It was his job to make sure that these shows stayed realistic, even though they were meant to be fun. Gascon liked making things, but he wasn’t as interested in shows like The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story on FX that made dramatic versions of real events.
LIFE AFTER LAW ENFORCEMENT: TEAM HANDBALL
After he retired, Gascon became interested in team handball. He got involved when his daughter Sarah, who was a great volleyball and baseball player for women, joined the USA Team Handball national team in 2005. Gascon was moved by her story and started volunteering. She later became the general manager of the organization’s high-performance program and was in charge of both the men’s and women’s national teams.
Team handball is a very rough and fast-paced sport that is popular in Europe but has had a hard time catching on in the US. There have been big steps taken to grow the sport under Gascon’s direction, like starting a residency program at Auburn University. It is hoped that team handball will become more popular in the U.S., and by 2020, the goal is to make it to the Olympics.
LAPD COMMANDER DAVID GASCON, TODAY
Gascon is still committed to promoting team handball and helping it grow in the United States. His daughter Sarah has continued her career in the sport as a team captain. The two of them have worked hard to get more people interested in the game. Gascon thinks that team handball is the perfect sport because it is fast, physical, and exciting. It’s clear how much he loves the sport because he often talks about how it could really interest American audiences.
David Gascon’s life has been marked by his ability to handle high-stakes situations, like when he had to stand in front of hundreds of reporters during one of the most famous cases in U.S. history or when he helped an underrated sport grow in the U.S. His work with the LAPD and other projects since then show that he is committed to honesty, leadership, and new ideas.
Many people remember Gascon for his part in the O.J. Simpson case, but he has done a great job of reinventing himself since retiring. His story shows that you can be strong and follow your dreams, even after a career in the public eye. It also shows that you can always grow and change.
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