"This will change the way policing is done in the United States.”

That’s how Chief Beck characterized the arrest of Grim Sleeper suspect Lonnie Franklin Jr., on 10 counts of murder and other charges in killings in Los Angeles between 1985 and 2007. It marked the first time in the nation that familial DNA had been used to break such a high-profile case and that fact made it an even bigger news story around the world.

We agree with the Chief’s assessment of the significance of this long-awaited arrest. And we’re sure he will agree with us that this case is very much about old-fashioned undercover police work and the determination of LAPD officers and detectives to never close a case until an arrest is made and a criminal is brought to justice – even if it takes 25 years.

The arrest in the Grim Sleeper case came after an LAPD undercover officer, pretending to be a waiter, collected tableware, napkins, glasses and pizza crust at a restaurant where the suspect dined, according to multiple news reports. That enabled LAPD detectives and California Department of Justice officials to get the conclusive DNA match that led to Franklin’s stunning arrest.

As details of what led to the arrest emerged on Thursday, the father of one victim admitted he thought police had given up ever making an arrest. "It shows today that the long arm of the law still prevailed," said Porter Alexander, father of victim Monique Alexander.

Advocates of familial searches believe more crimes will be solved in which there is DNA evidence. Indeed, LAPD detectives are reexamining at least 30 unsolved killings of women in South Los Angeles to determine if they can link any of them to the man accused of being the Grim Sleeper serial killer.

To all the LAPD officers, detectives and command staff who tirelessly worked this perplexing and often frustrating case over the past quarter century, the arrest was a very satisfying and even exhilarating moment. It brought a sense of huge relief and a degree of closure to the victims’ families and communities. Much work remains to be done in preparing the evidence for prosecution and conviction.

For now, we savor this moment of outstanding interagency cooperation, effective application of cutting edge technology, and - above all - the dedication and perseverance of the justifiably proud men and women of America’s premier police force.