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Arthur W. Bethel
Agency patch
Lieutenant

Arthur W. Bethel

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
United States flag California flag
End of Watch July 13, 1941
Age 55
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 173 · Column 2 · Line 12 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Department 239

Incident

Lieutenant Arthur Bethel succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on January 25th, 1923.

He was on patrol when he observed a vehicle that was the subject of a previous lookout following a suspicious event earlier in the evening. He stopped the vehicle near the intersection of Sixth Street and Figuera Street. He got into the backseat of the car, next to the backseat passenger, and ordered the driver to proceed to the Central Station for further questioning.

As the vehicle approached the intersection of First Street and Hope Street, the driver suddenly turned around and opened fire, striking Lieutenant Bethel three times. Despite the wounds, he was able to return fire and killed both subjects in the vehicle.

Lieutenant Bethel was taken to a local hospital where he underwent several surgeries, including the amputation of one leg and blood transfusions. His health never recovered, and he died as a direct result of the wounds on July 13th, 1941.

Lieutenant Bethel had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 11 years before medical retirement.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Lieutenant Bethel gave the Los Angeles Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Bethel.

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

Agency

Department Los Angeles Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 13, 1941
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 55
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Arthur is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1941, 92 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 61st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Arthur was 55. 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. Arthur had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Los Angeles Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Arthur among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Lieutenant Arthur W. Bethel

Los Angeles Police Department · End of Watch July 13, 1941

Where the Name Is Cut

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