Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief Charles O’Neal was gunned down in his office by a 76 year old man for retaliatory reasons. Before the suspect was arrested he shot and critically wounded a rancher whom he held a grudge against. The suspect told the county sheriff he was mad with Chief O'Neal for arresting him six years earlier for recklessly driving a team of horses through Santa Rosa and sending him to jail when he refused to pay the fine. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder on September 21, 1935, and sentenced to life. He died in prison on February 26, 1943. Chief O’Neal holds the tragic place in the department’s history as being the first Santa Rosa officer killed in the line of duty.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-CA-9F65B6B8- Stewardship
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- 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.
Chief of Police O'Neal served with the Santa Rosa Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Santa Rosa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police O'Neal.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Charles O'Neal 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 Santa Rosa Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Charles O'Neal's cause is highlighted.
How Charles O'Neal Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles O'Neal is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charles O'Neal was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Santa Rosa Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
