Andre Gawain Dawson

Andr Gawain Dawson, also known as Dr, was born on January 13, 1958, in Detroit, Michigan. Andrs life was dedicated to protecting and serving his community, aiding those in need, and being an unparalleled Fajah and husband. Andr had his last dance with the love of his life on February 10, 2018; he graced the earth for 60 years.

Andr was the youngest child born to Libbie and Elester Dawson. Andr had a truly blessed upbringing, so much so that he was dubbed Little Lord Fauntleroy, a term of endearment by his wife and family. Andrs father, Elester, was laid to rest in 1985; followed by his sister, Carol Pearson, in 2006. His mother, Libbie, died in 2007. Andr was the last surviving member of his immediate family.

Andr was educated in Detroit, attending elementary and middle school, graduating from Cass Tech High School in 1975. He furthered his education at Western Michigan University, where he received his Bachelors Degree in Psychology. As an undergraduate Andr pledged Phi Delta Psi and was known by his brothers as Duke.

Andrs first job out of college was as a counselor at a drug rehab facility, but this left him wanting to do more. As the son of a Detroit Police Sergeant, it was inevitable that Andr would, too, dedicate his life to law enforcement. In 1983 Andr kissed his mother goodbye, moved to the West Coast, and joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). It was shortly after joining the department that Debbie Powers set her sights on him. Though love at first sight, Debbie was determined to make him love herand she did. Andr and Debbie became one on May 9, 1987. In 1989, they were blessed with a daughterPilar Xavier Dawson. Andr was easily the best Fajah and husband: Always caring for his North Stars. Although family was his highest priority, he was able to balance a successful law enforcement career.

Andr served the City of Los Angeles and the LAPD for 33 years, with over 20 years of undercover operations and supervisory experience. His assignments included patrol, organized crime, transnational organized crime (FBI), vice, gangs and a history of successful command experience in the Police Commission and Office of the Chief of Police
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Andr supervised the daily operations of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Human Trafficking Task Force and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Innocence Lost Task Force. Both units are designed to investigate street level and organized human trafficking with the primary function of identifying and rescuing victims of commercial sex trafficking.

Andr also had the privilege of being a member of the California Department of Justice, Attorney Generals Human Trafficking Work Group and contributed to the 2012 State of Human Trafficking in California Report.

In November 2011, Andr was nominated and selected to participate in the FBI Police Executive
Fellowship Program, FBI Headquarters in Washington, DC. While assigned to the FBIs Criminal Investigative Division, Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, he was tasked with providing a local perspective to national and international law enforcement issues. During this assignment, Andr monitored human trafficking trends throughout the country, identified task force operation best practices and effective law enforcement strategies.

From 1998 until he retired in September 2015, Andr was a surveillance and undercover tactics instructor for the LAPD, Institute for Criminal Investigations (ICI). He also taught human trafficking enforcement strategies to officers throughout the state of California, including the Los Angeles County Sheriffs, Human Trafficking Bureau personnel.

After retirement, Andr continued his service with the LAPD as a reserve officer assigned to the Operations South Bureau, Human Trafficking Task Force and began working as an independent consultant specializing in human trafficking related crimes and undercover tactics.

In 2016, Andr partnered with the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives as a Senior Advisor and assisted in developing a human sex trafficking curriculum designed for school-aged children. Andr also partnered with the YWCA of greater Los Angeles and California Governor Unserved/Underserved Victim Advocacy and Outreach Program, which provide human sex trafficking training and community outreach throughout Los Angeles County. Andr also partnered with Congress member Karen Bass to assist in providing human trafficking education and awareness training to faith-based and community groups within her congressional district. Andr was also a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Southern California Chapter.

Andr was recognized as a subject matter expert in the field of commercial human sex trafficking, undercover vice operations, surveillance and prostitution related crimes. He has also provided expert testimony in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara County Superior Court regarding human sex trafficking related crimes. Andr has appeared in numerous human trafficking news print articles, the Dr. Phil Show and documentaries including Equal Means Equal, Winner Best U.S. Documentary Audience Award, Michael Moores Traverse City Film Festival.

Aside from his numerous accolades, Andr was known for his style and punctuality. The epitome of sharphe was tailor-made. Albeit untimely for all who loved him, Andr was right on time for his appointment with fate and eclipsed this worldly experience for another. Although he is no longer having his physical experience, he lives on through his beloved wife, Debra Dawson; daddys girl, Pilar; two sons, Damon Brown and Derrell Powers; three grandchildren, Arianna, Eric, and Jaxon; cousins, Kent Booth (Virgie), Southfield, Michigan; Kent Booth Jr., Saint Louis, Missouri; Darnell Booth, Robert Reginald James and Renae James, Detroit, Michigan; Diane Gaddy, Riverdale, New York; and a host of relatives from Georgia, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Tennessee.