Darrell Keith Lee
Sergeant

Darrell Keith Lee

Rialto Police Department — Rialto, CA
Felonious
End of Watch July 24, 1970
Age 38
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 107 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Darrell Lee suffered a fatal heart attack as the result of being assaulted three months earlier.

He was assisting in the arrest of a violent arson suspect at a warehouse along the railroad tracks between Palm Avenue and 2nd Street when he was punched in the chest. The metal pin on his badge punctured his chest and injured his heart, causing him to suffer a major heart attack. While on medical leave he suffered a second heart attack and passed away on July 24th, 1970.

The subject who assaulted him was charged with battery with injuries to a peace officer.

Sergeant Lee had served with the Rialto Police Department for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three children, mother, and two siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-6A14892F
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.
Sergeant Lee gave the Rialto Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rialto community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Lee.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Rialto, CA
Platform Identity rpd.sanbern.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 24, 1970
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Assault
Weapon Person

Sergeant Darrell Keith Lee 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 Rialto 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.

Rialto 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. Darrell Keith Lee's cause is highlighted.

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

How Darrell Keith Lee Compares

Age at Death
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Darrell Keith Lee is highlighted in Jul.

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. Darrell Keith Lee was killed by person.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

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