Chesley A. Stephens

Oakland Police Department — Oakland, CA

Felonious

End of Watch November 13, 1984

Age 33

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 129 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 53

Incident

Officer Chesley Stephens died as a result of a gunshot wound received three days earlier. On November 10, Officer Stephens and another officer responded to a report of drug dealing in the 2600 block of San Pablo Avenue. As they made contact with several individuals, one suspect ran from them. Both officers set out on foot in pursuit of the man. The suspect ran down a walkway between two houses in the 700 block of 26th Street, and Officer Stephens followed. The suspect took up a position against the wall near the corner of the building, holding a gun in his hand. As Officer Stephens rounded the corner, the suspect fired, striking Officer Stephens in the head. Officer Stephens never regained consciousness and died three days later. After a lengthy search, the suspect, 19, was apprehended. On February 18, 1988, the suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to 40 years to life. He was denied parole on March 5, 2020. He has a tentative date for another parole hearing in March of 2025. Officer Stephens had served with the Oakland Police Department for six years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-22457B2E
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.
Police Officer Stephens gave the Oakland Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Stephens.

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

Agency

Department Oakland Police Department

Location Oakland, CA

Platform Identity opd.alameda.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 13, 1984

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Police Officer Chesley A. Stephens 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 Oakland Police Department, 37 of 54 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 68.5% of this agency's fallen.

Oakland Police Department

of 54 officers

68.5% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious