Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Donald Sowma was shot and killed after he and other officers responded to a silent burglar alarm. While he was searching the premises, he was shot by a suspect. The suspect surrendered to a SWAT team six hours later. The 32-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life on July 7, 1977. He was denied parole on November 10, 2022. His next parole hearing is in October of 2024. Sergeant Sowma had served with the Cypress Police Department for 12 years. He is survived by his wife and four children. In his memory, a street near the Cypress Civic Center is named Sowma Way.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-CA3DAA27- 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 Sowma gave the Cypress Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Cypress community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Sowma.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Donald Jack Sowma Sr. served in the U.S. Navy (1950â1954) before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant Donald Jack Sowma Sr. 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald Jack Sowma Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Donald Jack Sowma Sr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald Jack Sowma Sr. is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald Jack Sowma Sr. was killed by gun.
Military Service
Donald Jack Sowma Sr. served in the U.S. Navy (1950–1954) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Donald Jack Sowma Sr.’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Cypress Police Department are honored on badge.nw.