Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Donald Reed was shot and killed while attempting to serve a felony arrest warrant. He and three other officers arrested the man at a local bar at 8112 Garden Grove Boulevard. As they were walking him out of the back door, the man suddenly jerked free and pulled a .22 caliber pistol from his jacket pocket. He fatally shot Officer Reed and wounded two other officers. The suspect was sentenced to death in two separate trials. The man died in prison on July 7th, 2019, while still on death row. Officer Reed had served with the Garden Grove Police Department for three years and previously served with the Monterey Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-5A1C2653- 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.
Officer Reed gave the Garden Grove Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Garden Grove community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Reed.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Donald F. Reed 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 Garden Grove Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald F. Reed's cause is highlighted.
How Donald F. Reed Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald F. Reed is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald F. Reed was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Garden Grove Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
