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Incident
Police Officer Donald Nielson was killed in a motorcycle crash at 149th Street and MacArthur Boulevard in San Leandro. Officer Nielson had escorted Marines returning home from Korea. After completing his assignment, he was en route home when a car turned in front of him. He swerved to avoid striking the vehicle and was thrown to the ground. Officer Nielson had served with the Oakland Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Nielson gave the Oakland Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Nielson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Oakland Police Department has lost 54 officers; 17 of them lost to accidents.
Donald is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Donald is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Donald is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1951, 3 officers at Oakland Police Department were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1951, 11 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 1951, 70 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 48th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1951, 76 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 64th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Donald was 28. Of the 16 lost to accidents at Oakland Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 35.5; the middle age was 32. Donald had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Donald was 28. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Donald had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Donald was 28. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Donald had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Donald was 28. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Donald had served 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 5.9% of these deaths at Oakland Police Department; October holds the most, 17.6%. Sundays: 23.5%.
March holds 8.1% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 13.9%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 14%.
March holds 7.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 31.5% of all 54 deaths at Oakland Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Oakland Police Department has 54 officers remembered here, Donald among them.
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Richard B. Richardson
Oct 22, 1867
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William G. Cashin Mar 12, 1893
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James Hume Smith, Jr.
Nov 27, 1903
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George W. Brown
Dec 17, 1904
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George White
Nov 25, 1907
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James J. Fenton
Jan 4, 1908
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Charles A. Williams
Apr 21, 1912
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Alfred M. Poulter Aug 22, 1914
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Robert Franklin Gushe Mar 4, 1916
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Alvin C. Gillem Apr 12, 1917
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Corrento G. J. Gargadennec
Sep 6, 1919
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John F. McCarthy
Nov 30, 1922
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William J. Davis
Jan 5, 1928
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Ernest H. Philbrick
Feb 11, 1929
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Timothy Duane
Apr 18, 1930
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Richard Philpott
Jan 7, 1931
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William T. Kohler
Jul 4, 1931
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Osborn Asher Lyon
Aug 19, 1931
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Michael Moore
Apr 5, 1935
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Leo T. Cunningham
Jul 18, 1940
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Thomas W. Prindiville
Jul 6, 1941
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Elmer E. Norgren
Jan 15, 1943
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Wallace J. Muscovich
Apr 23, 1944
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John R. Johnston
Jun 27, 1946
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Fred B. Veretto
Jan 7, 1947
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James S. Weir
Jun 2, 1950
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Donald O. Nielson
Mar 25, 1951
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Marvin Siebert
Sep 19, 1951
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Eugene M. Oneto
Nov 18, 1951
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David L. Worcester
Jul 8, 1953
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John F. Frey
Oct 28, 1967
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William L. Martin
Oct 9, 1970
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Robert W. Blan
May 23, 1973
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David George Guider
Oct 2, 1973
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Wendell I. Troyer
Oct 2, 1973
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David John Branhan
Feb 7, 1974
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David Edward Marks
Feb 7, 1974
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Michael J. Faulkner
Jun 27, 1981
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Ramon Irizarry, Jr.
Jan 18, 1983
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Chesley Allen Stephens
Nov 13, 1984
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John William Grubensky
Oct 20, 1991
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William Blea Grijalva
Dec 15, 1993
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Miguel T. Soto
Jun 22, 1994
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Keith Stephen Konopasek
Jul 8, 1995
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James Williams, Jr.
Jan 10, 1999
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William Alberto Wilkins, Jr.
Jan 12, 2001
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William Lynchburg Seuis
Jul 22, 2004
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Mark Thomas Dunakin
Mar 21, 2009
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Ervin Julius Romans, II
Mar 21, 2009
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Daniel Takashi Sakai
Mar 21, 2009
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John Raymond Hege
Mar 24, 2009
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Paul Michael Carlisle
Dec 1, 2015
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Tuan Q. Le
Dec 29, 2023
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Jordan Wingate
Apr 20, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 56-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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