Charles Frederick Grau
Agency patch
Patrolman

Charles Frederick Grau

Manhattan Beach Police Department — Manhattan Beach, CA
Felonious
End of Watch September 11, 1952
Age 43
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Badge 3
The Vigil Panel 88 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Charlie Grau succumbed to injuries sustained when he was struck in the head with the butt of a gun while attempting to break up a fight. He returned to the station following the assault and suffered a stroke, which was attributed to the injury. Patrolman Grau had served with the Manhattan Beach Police Department for nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-CFEC004B
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.
Patrolman Grau gave the Manhattan Beach Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Manhattan Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Grau.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity mbpd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 11, 1952
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 43
Badge Number 3
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Blunt object

Patrolman Charles Frederick Grau 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 Manhattan Beach Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Manhattan Beach Police Department
2
of 4 officers
50% 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. Charles Frederick Grau's cause is highlighted.

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

How Charles Frederick Grau Compares

Age at Death
43
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles Frederick Grau 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. Charles Frederick Grau was killed by blunt object.

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