Dess K. Phipps

Compton Police Department — Compton, CA

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch October 12, 1962

Age 37

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 97 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 3

Incident

Police Officer Dess Phipps was killed in an automobile crash during a high-speed pursuit of two subjects wanted for burglary. Another vehicle struck Officer Phipps' patrol car at the intersection of Artesia Boulevard and Wilmington Avenue. The vehicle then struck two other vehicles. A second accident then occurred when another car collided with several cars that were stopped for the first crash. One driver involved in the second accident was also killed. The subjects in the vehicle being pursued fled the scene but were later apprehended. They were charged with murder and burglary. Officer Phipps was a United States World War II Navy veteran who served with the Compton Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two daughters, two sons, parents, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-9E4405CC
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Dess is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Phipps gave the Compton Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Compton community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Compton Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Compton, Los Angeles County, CA

Platform Identity comppd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 12, 1962

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Automobile

Military Service

Dess K. Phipps served in the U.S. Navy (1943â1944) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Dess K. Phipps is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 39.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Compton Police Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Compton Police Department

of 4 officers

25% Accident

CA — Statewide

719

of 1,837 officers

39.1% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Accident