Arthur McDonald
Agency patch
Constable

Arthur McDonald

Pinole Police Department — Pinole, CA
Felonious
End of Watch September 26, 1929
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 58 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Constable McDonald was shot and killed when he responded to a bank robbery call of the Bank of Pinole. The robbers had just stolen $35,000 and were making their escape when Constable McDonald arrived on the scene and attempted to stop them. The suspects opened fire on Constable McDonald with a sub-machine gun, striking him in the stomach. He was able to return fire and shot one of the suspects but all escaped. The three robbers were identified as members of the famous Fleagle Gang. The gang had terrorized the west robbing trains, banks, and post offices for 10 years. In July of 1930 three members of the gang were captured and hanged in Colorado for their involvement in a bank robbery in Lamar, Colorado in 1928, in which four people were killed. The gang's leader was shot and killed on October 14, 1930, when he resisted arrest on a train in Branson, Missouri. Three other members of the gang, including a woman, were captured and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. None of the gang members were ever tried for Constable McDonald's murder or the Pinole Bank robbery.

Survivors

Constable McDonald had been with the agency for 11 years and was survived by his wife and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-9C31D074
Stewardship
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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Tributes

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

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Pinole, Contra Costa County, CA
Platform Identity pinopd.contracosta.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 26, 1929
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Constable Arthur McDonald is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Pinole Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Pinole Police Department
3
of 3 officers
100% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Arthur McDonald's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Arthur McDonald Compares

Years of Service
11
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Arthur McDonald is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Arthur McDonald was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Pinole Police Department are honored on badge.nw.