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Oliver Columbus Grems
Incident
Special Agent Oliver Grems was shot and killed in Oakland, California, by two Oakland police officers in a case of mistaken identity.
He was sitting in his vehicle on Southern Pacific Railroad property on Bay Street Circle, near 7th Street, when the two plainclothes officers saw him and approached him to investigate why he was there. Not knowing the two were officers, and believing he was about to be robbed, Special Agent Grems drew his revolver. Not realizing he was an officer too, the two Oakland officers opened fire on him.
Agent Grems was fatally wounded in the exchange of gunfire.
Special Agent Grems was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of WWII and had previously served with the Denver, Colorado, Police Department for six years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, and two stepchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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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. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Oliver is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Special Agent Grems gave the Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Oliver Columbus Grems served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Accident
Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department has lost 23 officers; 8 of them lost to accidents.
Oliver is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Oliver is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Oliver is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1955, 1 officer at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1955, 10 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 10th heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 1955, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1955, 74 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 68th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Oliver was 33. Of the 7 lost to accidents at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 40; the middle age was 40. Oliver had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Oliver was 33. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Oliver had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Oliver was 33. 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. Oliver had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Oliver was 33. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Oliver had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 12.5% of these deaths at Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department; July holds the most, 25%. Saturdays: 25%.
April holds 7.2% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 13.1%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
How
Accident deaths account for 34.8% of all 23 deaths at Southern Pacific Railroad 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 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department has 23 officers remembered here, Oliver among them.
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Samuel S. Leffler Nov 29, 1891
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Lenard Harris
May 16, 1894
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John Luckie Elsberry
Aug 16, 1895
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John Thomas Montague Jan 5, 1905
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Edward Shay Jul 13, 1909
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Joel Robert Dubose Sep 5, 1910
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James Jebty Pipes
Oct 2, 1911
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M. A. Moore Aug 30, 1912
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Scott Percy Yolton
Jan 6, 1918
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Edward Baker Sep 15, 1920
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James Nathaniel Malone
Jul 8, 1924
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Eveleigh Bollman Bates
Nov 8, 1924
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Printess Jackson Varnon
Mar 7, 1928
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George Durst Farmer
Jan 19, 1929
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William M. Schuldt Jul 2, 1930
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Henry Clyde Hatcher
Sep 23, 1931
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Lester E. Roland Aug 23, 1934
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John Baptist Bradberry Mar 16, 1935
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Jose Sancedo Aug 11, 1937
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Owen McManus
Mar 31, 1938
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George Richard Kebort Jul 8, 1949
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Oliver Columbus Grems
Apr 23, 1955
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Brice Leon Woody
Jul 23, 1965
Where
Military Service
Oliver Columbus Grems served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit Oliver Columbus Grems’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 38-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
22 officers from Southern Pacific Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
