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Otto R. Ellinger
Deputy Sheriff

Otto R. Ellinger

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department — Monterey Park, CA
Felonious
United States flag California flag
End of Watch December 6, 1934
Age 52
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 69 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 119

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Otto Ellinger was shot and killed by a man who had just shot a woman whom he was infatuated with.

Deputy Ellinger, who also served as a captain with the MGM Studio Police Department through a contract with the sheriff's department, was driving home from a meeting with other peace officers when he saw the woman and a friend near the intersection of Vinton Street and Venice Boulevard, in Culver City. He recognized the women as being employees of MGM Studios and pulled his car over to talk with them.

As they spoke, the male subject approached the woman, pulled out a handgun, and shot her without warning, wounded her seriously. Deputy Ellinger exited his vehicle and started struggling with the subject but was also shot. He was transported to Culver City Community Hospital, where he died a short time later.

The suspect, 60, surrendered to police four days later. He later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years.

Deputy Ellinger had served with the MGM Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Deputy Sheriff Ellinger gave the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ellinger.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Type Other
Location Monterey Park, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lacso.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 6, 1934
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 52
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Otto is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1934, 178 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 16th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Otto was 52. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Otto had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Otto among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy Sheriff Otto R. Ellinger

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department · End of Watch December 6, 1934

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 2-E

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