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Incident
Police Officer Franke Lewis was shot and killed when he went to investigate suspicious activity near his home after returning home from duty. A citizen had parked his car on the street and gone to sleep in it to avoid driving on the freeway while drowsy. A subject who was attempting to break into the car attacked the citizen. Officer Lewis, who was just arriving home following his shift, heard the commotion and went to investigate. As he approached the car the subject opened fire, killing him. The man fled the scene and has never been identified. A $75,000 reward has been offered in conjunction with the release of a sketch and vehicle description. Officer Lewis' wife was also home at the time and heard the shot that killed her husband.
Survivors
Officer Lewis is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Franke is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Lewis served with the Long Beach Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Long Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Lewis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Franke Neal Lewis served in the U.S. Army (1969â1971) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Long Beach Police Department has lost 28 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Franke is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Franke is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Franke is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1975, 2 officers at Long Beach Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1975, 14 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1975, 163 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 21st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1975, 181 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 19th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Franke was 28. Of the 12 killed feloniously at Long Beach Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 37.8; the middle age was 32.
Franke was 28. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35.
Franke was 28. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Franke was 28. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
December holds 23.1% of these deaths at Long Beach Police Department, more than any other month. Saturdays: 30.8%.
December holds 8.2% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 16.4%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 46.4% of all 28 deaths at Long Beach Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 38.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 26.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Long Beach Police Department has 28 officers remembered here, Franke among them.
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Thomas C. Borden
Mar 17, 1912
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J. R. Wilkinson
Jan 17, 1923
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Orlando E. Bridgeman
Mar 21, 1923
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Robert H. Halstead
Mar 6, 1926
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George A. Walls
Nov 18, 1928
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Ralph A. Morgan
Jul 13, 1931
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William J. MacLean
Dec 12, 1934
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Delbert P. Buckman
Feb 13, 1940
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Engebret Larson
Feb 25, 1942
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Harold W. Irwin
Mar 20, 1945
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Cecil W. Singer
Nov 18, 1945
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Marlin L. Evans
Jul 17, 1949
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Jesse M. Ream
Feb 28, 1950
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Robert H. Morgan
Nov 2, 1950
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William H. Waggoner
Dec 18, 1954
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Frederick W. Walsh, Jr.
Jan 20, 1957
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Vernon J. Owings
Jun 24, 1960
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Richard R. LeFebvre
Aug 15, 1965
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Robert G. Smith
Dec 12, 1965
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William L. Isham
Aug 26, 1967
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Donald V. Knott
Aug 26, 1967
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Robert Ray Birdsall
Sep 16, 1975
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Franke Neal Lewis
Dec 13, 1975
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Gary Orville Elkins
Jan 1, 1976
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Lloyd Marland Lund
Oct 30, 1981
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Karl Duane Simons
Oct 13, 1996
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Daryle Wayne Black
Apr 30, 2000
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Edward Roy Davenport
Feb 4, 2003
Where
Military Service
Franke Neal Lewis served in the U.S. Army (1969–1971) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Franke Neal Lewis’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 16-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Long Beach Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
