Thursday, October 1, 2026
Dunne remembered for compassion
Decorated detective, a father of six, succumbs to cancer
By Doug Miller
The Long Beach Police Department is reeling after the death from cancer May 18 of Michael Dunne, 51, a highly decorated retired detective.
"Mike Dunne was the gentleman of the Long Beach Police Department," said Detective Lt. Vincent Buscemi, who runs the department's detective division and was a boyhood friend of Dunne's. "He showed all of us that respect and patience were very important components of police work. Mike was an extraordinarily compassionate man who happened to choose policework as a profession. The Long Beach Police Department and the Long Beach community are all fortunate that he made that choice."
Dunne graduated Long Beach High School in 1973 and joined the department in 1983. He earned his detective's shield in January 1993 and was involved over the next decade in some of the department's greatest triumphs. He was instrumental, Buscemi said, in bringing down Lonnie Lake, the notorious North Park drug kingpin who is currently awaiting sentencing on federal drug trafficking charges. In addition, Buscemi said, he helped solve the homicides of Michelle Donnelly, Manuel Williams and Max Kolb.
In the process, he earned 10 commendations for excellent police duty and several Long Beach Police Department Officer of the Month awards.
Buscemi said that besides being a natural detective, Dunne possessed a certain charisma that was invaluable in his dealings with the public. "Anytime a sensitive issue had to be dealt with, like a death notice, Mike would be the guy we sent, because he just had that caring way about him."
Dunne is survived by his wife, Sally, and six children: Maureen, 29, Billy 28 , Kelly 27, Michael 21, Jennifer, 15 and Caitlin, 13.
A funeral Mass was held Monday. The family requests that donations can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, www.jdrf.org. Click on "donate now" and enter "in the name of Caitlin Dunne."
His loss was felt throughout the city, officials said. "Detective Dunne was a role model for the community and a great example for every member of our police department," said City Council President Leonard Remo. "He will be sorely missed but fondly remembered."
