David Martin Kieffer
Sergeant

David Martin Kieffer

Phoenix Police Department — Phoenix, AZ
Felonious
End of Watch May 21, 1997
Age 53
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Badge 2014
The Vigil Panel 143 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant David Kieffer died on May 21st, 1997, from injuries he had sustained on May 7th, 1977, when his patrol car was struck by a drunk driver at N. 16th Street and E. McDowell Road. The drunk driver was also killed in the crash. The crash left Sergeant Kieffer as a quadriplegic, and he died as a result of complications of injuries sustained in the crash. Sergeant Kieffer had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-AZ-F94FE159
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

20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Kieffer gave the Phoenix Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Kieffer.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ
Platform Identity phoepd.maricopa.az.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 21, 1997
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 53
Badge Number 2014
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile

Sergeant David Martin Kieffer 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 AZ, 204 of 330 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Phoenix Police Department, 28 of 47 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.6% of this agency's fallen.

Phoenix Police Department
28
of 47 officers
59.6% Felonious
AZ — Statewide
204
of 330 officers
61.8% 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. David Martin Kieffer's cause is highlighted.

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

How David Martin Kieffer Compares

Age at Death
53
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Martin Kieffer is highlighted in May.

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. David Martin Kieffer was killed by automobile.

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

Incident Location