Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Douglas Gibbs was shot and fatally wounded as he was placing a man under arrest for pickpocketing near the intersection of Jones Street and Golden Gate Avenue. Officer Gibbs was a member of the police decoy unit. After setting up an operation, the unit moved in on a suspect for an arrest. After the suspect was apprehended, he was placed on the hood of Officer Gibbs' car so he could be searched. As Officer Gibbs was conducting the search, another suspect walked up behind him and shot him twice in the back. He died from his wounds five days later. The shooting suspect, 33, later surrendered to police. He had been paroled one year earlier after serving a short sentence for beating to death a 93-year-old man. The suspect had been in trouble with the law since he was 13 years old. His long criminal record included robbery, burglary, child molestation, assault, and murder. In 1969 he was convicted of murdering a retired sea captain and seriously wounding his wife. After a few days in prison, he was released because of a legal technicality. On June 2, 1978, he was convicted of Officer Gibb's murder and sentenced to life without parole. Officer Gibbs had served with the San Francisco Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-81FD668E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Douglas. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Gibbs gave the San Francisco Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Gibbs.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Douglas E. Gibbs 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 San Francisco Police Department, 66 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Douglas E. Gibbs's cause is highlighted.
How Douglas E. Gibbs Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Douglas E. Gibbs is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Douglas E. Gibbs was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from San Francisco Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
