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Incident
Chief Charles O’Neal was gunned down in his office by a 76 year old man for retaliatory reasons. Before the suspect was arrested he shot and critically wounded a rancher whom he held a grudge against. The suspect told the county sheriff he was mad with Chief O'Neal for arresting him six years earlier for recklessly driving a team of horses through Santa Rosa and sending him to jail when he refused to pay the fine. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder on September 21, 1935, and sentenced to life. He died in prison on February 26, 1943. Chief O’Neal holds the tragic place in the department’s history as being the first Santa Rosa officer killed in the line of duty.
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- August 2, 2026
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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.
Chief of Police O'Neal served with the Santa Rosa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Santa Rosa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police O'Neal.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Santa Rosa Police Department has lost 2 officers; 1 of them killed feloniously.
Charles is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Charles is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Charles 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 1935, 10 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 18th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1935, 154 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 25th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1935, 156 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 30th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Charles was 39. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35.
Charles was 39. 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.
Charles was 39. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
July holds 8.1% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 12.9%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 2 deaths at Santa Rosa Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.6% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Santa Rosa Police Department has 2 officers remembered here, Charles among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Santa Rosa Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
