Arnold Z. Gamble
Agency patch
Police Officer

Arnold Z. Gamble

Sacramento Police Department — Sacramento, CA
Felonious
End of Watch February 15, 1963
Age 42
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Badge 153
The Vigil Panel 98 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Arnold Gamble was shot and killed at a local bar while responding to a robbery call at the 2300 block of Sutterville Road. The suspect was attempting to obtain money to hire a lawyer for another court case in which he had fired his public defender. During the arrest, the suspect was able to disarm Officer Gamble's partner and then shot Officer Gamble. Despite being mortally wounded, Officer Gamble returned fire and wounded the suspect, who was arrested nearby. The suspect was sentenced to death and executed in 1967. Officer Gamble had served with the Sacramento Police Department for 20 years and was killed the day before his 43rd birthday. He was survived by his wife, two children, and grandchild. His father was a retired Detective.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two children, and grandchild.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-67ADB417
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

20 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Gamble gave the Sacramento Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Gamble.

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

Agency

Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity spd.sacramento.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 15, 1963
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 42
Badge Number 153
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
Offender Executed in 1967

Police Officer Arnold Z. Gamble is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Sacramento Police Department, 10 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.8% of this agency's fallen.

Sacramento Police Department
10
of 17 officers
58.8% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Arnold Z. Gamble's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Arnold Z. Gamble Compares

Age at End of Watch
42
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Executed in 1967

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Arnold Z. Gamble is highlighted in Feb.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Arnold Z. Gamble was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location