Roll of Honor

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Officer

Carleton J. Bruce

Chico Police Department — Chico, CA

Felonious

End of Watch February 22, 1938

Age 36

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Badge 5

The Vigil Panel 74 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Officer Carleton Bruce was shot and killed while responding to a call of a man brandishing a rifle in a local restaurant.

As he and his partner entered the restaurant, the suspect turned and opened fire with a 30-30 rifle. The suspect was apprehended after a shootout but later committed suicide in his cell.

Officer Bruce had been employed with the Chico Police Department for three years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-EDEBDDE8
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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Bruce gave the Chico Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chico community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Bruce.

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

Agency

Department Chico Police Department

Location Chico, CA

Platform Identity cpd.butte.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 22, 1938

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 36

Badge Number 5

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .30-.30

Offender Committed suicide

Officer Carleton J. Bruce 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%.

Chico Police Department

of 1 officers

100% 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. Carleton J. Bruce'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 Carleton J. Bruce Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Carleton J. Bruce 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. Carleton J. Bruce was killed by rifle; .30-.30.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518